Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-03-18
CHAPTER XVI.
An EXPLORATION.


Scrvation of the time of the sunrise
1t was Mr.. Kent's turn TO pet breal,-
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 Il rife and "A shot
gun. He found these weapons i'm
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 i'm
the thicket through which the brook
took its course. Mr.. Pence had been
d"tailed to explore the north shore
of the lake, and from the EXPIRES
sion of his face he did not relish
the task
lie refused to take a gun nnd
armed with heavy club set out ON
what he regarded "a most dangerous
expedition. II 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. trail had been cut along
the winding bank the preceding
year. but such is the virilitv of
tropical vegetation that already it
was well-nigh closed On both sides
was a Jungle so dense as to he i'm
penetrable.
At the end of an hours hard
work they came TO cleared spacc
and found where the dam had been
buiIt across gorge between two
rocks. The dam was about II feet
IN height. Above was the reservoir:
lake covering perhaps 20 acres of
ground. from which the timber had
been dcnuded. 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
chaparral, Spanish bayoncts. and
other forms of thorny plants. brush
ana tree. the plateau on which they
now stood was noble tropical
f"reSt-a veritablc park with glades.
rocks. picturesque ravincs and gen
tie hills.
Z.
ney as they took Il seat on rocl,
beneath the spreading branches of
a magnolia tree. IF the rest of the
island is like this our task * AN
easy and pleasant one"
Their view was one TO entrance q
poet. They were at the edge of n
glade covering about 40 acres. Here
ana there rock showed above the
waving grass and flowers. but other
wise the vista was unbroken.
This is a superb spot" said sid
ncN. Did YOU ever see such flowers
and trees: How tame the products
of Conservatives seem comparcd
with natures work, There *
lunch of roses which would bc worth
500 i'm New York. What kind of n
tree i~ that?" Sidney pointed TO
Wcdium-silcd tree about 10 feet i'm
height, with broad spreading leaves.
Why. its banana tree" me cN-
claimed i'm great delight. "Nud what
- more. it is loaded with harrnas."
y huge bunch of yellow 100 v,i-
I"N-bIack bananas hung tom the
point where the broad leaves spread
Iitc % stalk Of celery Sidney tool,
cat bis knife and cu, several from
the bunch.
"U are sure these arc bananas.
are Fou?'' asked SIR. Kent Don.
poison yourself
They certainly are" said Sidney.
and they are delicious. These are
the first ripe bananas have ever
tasted. The stuff wc get in New
"rh i~ o." more like this than poo
i"i"'- arc like pears They pick
'h'" green months before they are