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

Thursday was a perfect day after
the storm. The air was fresh and
cool from the ocean. Sidney was up
ats>an early hour and took his OBJ
servation of the time of the sunrise.
1t was Mr.. Kent's turn to get break
fast, and he did himself credit. In
the meantime Sidney had been pre-
pairing for the exploration of the
island. He looked over the stock of
guns and selected rifle and a shot
gun. He found these weapons in
fairly good order, but oiled and
cleaned them carefully, and tested
both several times.
1t was about eight o'clock when
Sidney and Mr.. Kent disappeared in
the thicket through which the brook
took it's course. Mr.. Pence had been
detailed to explore the north shore
of the lake, and from the express
sion of his face he did not relish
the task.
He refused to take gun, and
armed with heavy club set out on
what he regarded most dangerous
expedition. 1t was low tide, and the
beach was clear of water to the
frowning rocks which formed the
gateway to "Morton's Bay"
For the first quarter of an hour
Sidney and Mr.. Kent found it fairly
easy to follow the course of the
brook. A trail had been cut along
the winding bank the preceding
year, but such is the virility of
tropical vegetation that already it
was well-nigh closed. On both sides
was jungle so dense as to be inn
penetrable.
At the end of an hours hard
work they came to q cleared space
and found where the dam had been
built across a gorge between two
rocks. The dam was about 10 feet
in height. Above was the reservoir;
lake covering perhaps 20 acres OF
ground, from which the timber ha6
been denutlcd. The character of the
forest around this artificial lake was
far different from that through
which they had passed. 1t, was more
open. Instead OF the jungle Of
4chaparral, Spanish bayonets, and
other forms of thorny plants, brusl
and tree, the plateau on which they
now stood was q noble tropica
forest-a veritable park with gfades
rocks, picturesque ravines and gen
tie hills.
"This is more like it," said Sid
.ney as they took seat on n rocl
beneath the spreading branches O
"a magnolia tree. eff the rest of tn,
island is like this our task is al
|. easy and pleasant one"
Their view was one to entrance /;
poet. They were at the edge of {
glade covering about 40 acres. Herr
and there a rock showed above thu
waving grass and flowers, but other
wise the vista was unbrolsen.
This is u superb spot said Sid
ncS. did you ever see such flower
and trees? How tame. the product
of conservatories seem compare,
with natures work! There is
bunch of roses which would be WORT
500 in New York. What kind of
tree is that?" Sidney pointed to
medium-sized tree about is feet il
height, with broad spreading leaves
"Why, it's a banana tree" he eA
claimed in great delight. "And wha
is more, it is loaded with bananas.
A huge bunch of yellow and We
low-biacll bananas hung from til
point where the broad leaves sprea
like IA stalk of celery. Sidney too
out his knife and cut several frol
the bunch.
''You are sure these are bananas
are you?" asked Mr.. Kent. don
poison yourself" =.
"They certainly are" said Sidne.
"and they are delicious. These III
the first ripe bananas I have eve
| tasted. The stuff we get in Ne,
York is no more like this than pr
| tatoes are like pears. They pic
them green, months before they q,
fipe. and shin them north tc ripe