Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-25

medium-sized tree about IS feet in
height, with broad spreading leaves.
"Why, it's banana tree" he ex-
claimed in great delight. Sand what
is more, it is loaded with bananas"
A huge bunch of yellow and yell
low-black bananas hung from the
point where the broad leaves spread
like n stalk of celery. Sidney took
out his knife and cut several from
the bunch.
"You are sure these are bananas,
are you?" asked Mr.. Kent. "Dont
poison yourself"
"They certainly are" said Sidney,
land they are delicious. These are
the first ripe bananas l have ever
tasted. The stuff we get in New
York is no more like this than po-
tatoes are like pears. They pick
them green, months before they are
ripe, and ship them north to ripen
in Easements or in tenement houses.
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 can 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 a comforting one.
They returned to the brook and
followed it in a northwesterly d.
rection. For some time they had
heard the sound of falling water,
and soon circled ledge of rock and
had a full view of a beautiful cas-
cade. The brook leaped so feet; not
from the top of precipice, but
from a point fully 40 feet below the
top. 1t came yelling from cavern
and fell unbroken into a 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. II remember now that
underground rivers and brooks arc
common in these southern attitudes.
There are lots of them in Mexico and
especially in Yucatan. wonder II
can scale those rocks?"
81 know that I 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 Mt 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 n thicket SO
dense that no animal larger than
a rabbit could penetrate it for 8
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 tall logwood
tree, and after a 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 unbroken to the
top of hill fully 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 the valley. He was fear
full that his companion was in dam
ger. Mr.. Kent had selected the shot
gun, hoping to shoot grouse or quail.
| These birds had been seen in album
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