Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-30

Did you ever taste anything so de-
licious?"
"They are fine" said Mr.. Kent.
"Cut some more"
They found scores of banana trees
with punches of fruit in various
stages of Development. They knew
that life San be supported for an in
definite period from the banana tree
alone, and while they had no inten-
ton of remaining on the island, the
thought was comforting one.
They returned to the brook and
followed it in a northwesterly di-
rcction. For some time they had
heard the sound of falling water,
and soon circled ledge of rock and
had full view of beautiful cas-
cade. The brook leapcd 80 feet; not
from the top of precipice, but
from point fully 40 feet below the
top. 1t came yelling from cavern
and fell unbroken into pool below.
| There could be no mistake as to this.
! On the crest of the rocks there were
trailing vines and ivy directly above
the tunnel from which poured the
waterfall.
"There is the end of our brook"
said Sidney as he studied the view
before him. 81 remember now that
underground rivers and brooks are
i common in these southern ATTITUDES.
There are lots of them in Mexico and
especially in Yucatan. l wonder if
can scale those rocks?"
II know that 1 cannot" said Mr..
Kent as he sat down on boulder.
go ahead and will stay here and
watch you.''
! 1t was hard climb, but Sidney
made it. He stood at last directly
over the waterfall. Without stop
ping to admire the view spread out
before him, he plunged into the for
est which sloped upward. 1t grew
thicker as he advanced. Suddenly.
he came to solid mass of trees
and brush, woven into a thicket so
dense that no animal larger than
a rabbit could penetrate it for a
yard. Sidney walked along the edge
of this jungle for half mile or
more, but his search for an opening
was stopped by the fact that the
vegetable barrier finally extended
to the edge of the cliff. The ex-
plorer then selected a tall logwood
tree, and after hard struggle
Skinned" up to the lower branches
and climbed nearly to the top. From
this elevation he had fair view of
this part of the jungle, but could
only guess at its extent. He found
that it continued unbrolsen to the
top of hill fully a mile away, and
beyond he made out the outlines of
other and higher hills, probably four
or five miles away.
Sidney Hammond was not unfa-
miliar with such jungles, having
encountered them in the mountains
of New Mexico, but those northern
thickets were not to be compared
to the tropical mass which now con-
fronted him. He sat in the branches
of the tree for some time. Suddenly
he realized it was hot, and at the
same moment the sound of two shots
came from thetyalley. He was fear
full that his companion was in dan
ger. Mr.. Kent had selected the shot
gun, hoping to shoot grouse or quail.
These birds had been seen in abun-
dance, but it had been decided to bag
none until the time came to start
for camp. In few minutes Sidney
was at the bottom of the cliff. Mr..
Kent was not to be seen. Sidney
ran to where he had left the million
aire Spectator. He then yelled at
the top of his voice.
An answering call came from q
ravine to the left. Sidney ran in
that direction. Mr.. Kent was stand
ing under a tree, with the shotgun
half raised. He was looking intently
at jagged pile of rocks short dis
lance away. AT his feet was dead
deer.
"Hurry up!" said Mr.. Kent as Sid
ney approached. do you see that
fellow on that rock over there? See
him?"
| Mr.. Kent pointed at the rocks.
Stretched out at full length on a
fiat slab of sandstone was lean.
1.-THE, dun-colored beast. He looked
and acted like big cat. When Sid
ney approached the large round head
was lowered over the edge of the
rock, and the animal was intently
watching Mr.. Kent and the deer.
A moment later he rose to his feet,
stretched out his neck, and emitted
a half-yawn and half-growl. Sidney
brought the rifle to his shoulder.
The beast snarled and poised for
leap to the ground below. The
shot rang out. The big cat turned
his head like flash and bit at his
shoulder us if bee had stung him
He gave roar, leaped into the air
and fell in heap at the bottom OF
the rocks. Sidney advanced toward
him slowly, but no caution was nee
&ssary. The mountain lion was
dead.
| ut seemed shame to kill him.
said Sidney, as he lifted one of his
big paws. SHE looked fine on that
rock"
"He didn't look so blamed fine tc
me-" said Mr.. Kent.
/ 1t was noon. and although the sur
was warm. Sidney was reluctant tt
return to the bungalow without
making one more attempt to pene
trate the jungle to the west, and il
| roscsh1a raaob tho enact of tho b;11,