El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-30
PAGES 9 TO II,

Tom Lambournes old shirt still waved
in vain from the boon-end on the
mountain-top
On the fifth day, however, to our
surprise, the signal was no longer Wis
ible, so we supposed that a gust of
wind had overthrow it in the night.
Lambourne, Carlton and Probar
started for the mountain-top to re-
store it, while Hislop and l rambled
into the woods, where we had a view
of the shining sea to the westward
The waves came in long rollers, as
there was fresh breeze blowing from
the west, and the foam rose white and
high on the tremendous bluffs of the
Inaccessible Isles, as We named them.
All the water between them was
sheet of sparkling and snowy froth,
amid which, had we been nearer, we
should doubtless have seen the black
heads of the sealions, as they sported
in the spray and sunshine.
On asking Hislop how far he thought
we were from the continents of Africa
and South America, he replied, without
hesitation:
I'VE are about fifteen hundred miles
from the mouth of the Rio de la Plata
on the westward, and twelve hundred
odd from the Cape of Good Hope on
the east; but there is land nearer to
U.s.
Land nearer!" I reiterated.
There are the three isles of Tristan
da Cunha, and about five hundred miles
southwest of us desolate rock called
the Isle of Diego Alvarez; and fortu-
nate it is indeed for us that We were
not cast away there, asst yields only
g.
seals or sea-elephants may be seen up
on the reefs about it. Dut, Dick Rod
ney, does it not make one long to be
afoat again, with good ship under
foot, both tacks and the breeze, too,
alta cloud of canvas, carrying the
three masts into one when seen astern
the lower studding-sail booms rig
ged out and dipping in the flying
spray as she rolls from side to side
does it not, I say, bring all this to
mind, when from here we can watch
the waves that rose, perhaps, between
the shores of Mexico, rolling in foam
between these rocky isles? Do you
remember Homer's description of the
curling wave?" And without waiting
my reply he began to recite from the
Iliad with wonderful facility:
when blows the stormy west,
The billowy tide comes surging wide,
from oceans dark blue breast:
First in mid-sea it's born, then swells
and RACES more and more,
And rolling on with snowy hack
comes laundering near the shore;
Then rears it crest, firm and sublime.
and with tumultuous bray
Smiles tho grim front ~ Tho
rock, and splits the briny spray.'
How far Hislop, in his classical en-
thusiasm might have pursued his free
translation, till we had all the deeds
of Agamemnon and others on that ire
mendous day before the walls of Troy,
I cannot say, had not crashing sound
in the adjacent thicket reused and
alarmed us
We started up and had just time to
conceal ourselves behind the trunk of
tree when herd of seven wild boars
came plunging out of the thicket to
drink at runnel which flowed toward
the sea.
They were unlike any of the swim
ish race we had ever seen before, and
but for our vague sensations of alarm
we could have watched them with
pleasure, as they inserted their long.
fierce shouts in the water that sparkled
under the forest leaves.
They were all broad-shouIdered ami
mails, with high crests and thick,
bristly names, and all were black in
color or dark1y brindled.
Unlike those Of the styled hogs, to
which we had been accustomed at
home, their erected bristles shone like
silver or polished steel in the rays of
sunshine that fell through the waving
branches, their eyes were flashing and
clear, and their skins were all clean.
as If washed for a show of prize pigs.
Thin fianked, active and strong, they
began to grunt and gambol, and to
splash up the glittering water, till
suddenly they caught sight of us, and
all fled, save one, a fierce old boar,
which, after tearing up the grass with
his hind feet, came resolutely forward.
showing pair of tusks that made me
tremble for the calves of my legs if
I ventured to run off, and still more
for those of poor Hislop, who was
alike unable to escape or confront him.
fortunately 1 had my teakwood
spear.
While keeping a tree between me
and the boar, he prepared for the of
ny WuStlIuS MS terrible tuSkS
against stone and grunting hoarsely
Excited and bewildered, as he came
On at a quick run, charged my weap-
On full at him, and by the mercy of
the point entered one of
his fierce. glittering eyes, which made
linn rear up and recoil, while in his
age and pain the bristles on his ridgy
back rose up like little blades of steel.
Into his throat with your spearr'
'ried Hislop; but 1 anticipated the sug-