The morning call., 1893-04-09

bucking, piunging running, and at every
jump down comes The riders stick on Hanks,
back and shoulders. The next mile or two
are quickly done, ana the plug Is doing
very good time, when all at once, making
bucSiug jump he comes down in kicking,
struggling heap on his rider. The latter
quickly scrambles out, and an instant later
up comes the plug. a sorry spectacle. The
blood streams from one cut over the eye,
another on the foreleg and still another on
the hind quarter. He trembleS violently,
hut looks wicked still. The driver does not
feel like having another bout, SO the
Ii. L. remnuntS, and the Journey is con-
tinued without further incident, until the
halfway House Is reached Just ut noon.
Here a substantial lunch is waiting, and you
discover that You are hungry.
1t is raining when you start out. an hour
later, so siekers are unstrapped and put on.
Then. like two damp yellow ghosts. You ride
on through the cool tropical forest. Ihe
ferns begin TO gov thckly, now. and foot
or two from the roadway, on either side, the
way seems impenerable. You note a dense
bamboo grove at one place, with its closely
interviewer shoots. through which not even
birl could pass. The ohela berries begin
to appear, species OF Dlueberry, but
gro wing red, ont here in the lava and sui
phur beds. and attaining TO the size OF the
cherry, which they resemble In flavor. Gu
could gather bushels of them by stopping for
an hour, but you push on 10 where, four
miles ahead, the carriage must be left and
the balance Of the journey made in the
saddle.
Arriving at this point you learn with
great satisfaction that an extra horse is to
be had, and the Il. R. at once secures it,
leaving his battered steed to be taken back
by the driver. The rain is coming down in
sheets, but you are dry as bone under
your big Slicker, and rather enjoy il than
otherwise. You wonder how the baggage
is to be brought up, and presently gray
donkey is led OUT, about the size OF Il sheep.
-Four big yatses, two SatehelS. big box,
little box, bandbox aud bundle" are all
securely packed upon his little back. When
the process is finished. an oiled cloth is
dashed over the whole, and nothing is visible
beneath II but two long, tapping ears, a
tasseled tail and four tiny legs that trip IN
| though they bore no load, yet the bag
gage must weigh as much as the
beast himself. On you all 90, for
about mile. then sharp turn
TO the left and you are riding along
the famous fern trail" 1t is marvellous
road, built on the corduroy" principle of
the Southern States, but the logs used are
the trunks OF the great tree fern laid side
| by side. 1t is mere bridle-path, and that
none of the widest. You have not gone far
before you meet a native on horseback, and
| passing is tickliSh undertaking, as there
| is no footing for the horses off the trail.
| The dense forest growths meet above your
| head. Branches brush across your face as
| you pIOtetu, duQ NutBefSl Abu PISS Il
| banana tree growing beside the trail
| Harry insists upon stopping to take a
! bite. The banana grows rank in this
| wonderful forest, and almost every known
variety of fern spreads out its fronds 10
catch the rain that drips and drips through
the green masses overhead. You cannot
! see the sky; you cannot see very far on
either side for the heavy growth. Beautiful
| blossoms bloom everywhere, and there is a
| constant whstling OF many birds. There Is
| no gait possible over that rough road save
| walk, but You could travel cOnten tedly all
| day in that delicious shade. Even the rain
| lends an added charm TO the weird scene.
| At times the road goes down like flight OF
stairs, so steep is the descent. Then I'D it
| climbs again. and you wonder how the
| horses keep their fOOIhold. Three miles
| are passed over thus, when suddenly the
| forest ends and you emerge upon an open.
| Such a country as lies before you'll Rough
| and broken, with the way lying over what
| the natives call pahoehOe-the ancient lava
| flow. hard as stone. with rough surface
| that catches your clothes and tears your
| hands il you touch 1t, but affords an excel
| lent foothold to men and horses in travelling
| over it. Broad swift streams are running
| over ii, fed by the heavy rains. Before you,
| with her snOw-crOwned head in the clouds,
Mauna LOa LOOMS up majeslically. She