The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-22

banks OF the canal consisted OF black
Shiny fetid mud, out OF which grew a
belt OF mangroves, their curious twisted
raats struggling In a thick complicated
mass OF network over the slime beneath.
The sun was shining brilliantly down
through the richly variegated foliage on
the opposite bank OF the stream, ana
lighting up the surface OF the thick turbd
water as It rolled sluggishly past; but
where we stood-just on the inner edge Of
the mangrove swamp-everything was
enshrouded I'm a somber green twilight.
and an absolute silence prevailed all
round US, which was positively oppressive
In Jts intensity.
lreathless. perspiring. and exhausted
with our unwonted exertions, we fiung
ourselves upon the ground for a moments
rest, during which the skipper and Smell
lie sought solace and refreshment in
cigar. AS for me. not having at that time
contracted the habit Of smoking. / was
contented TO sit still and gaze with ad-
miring eyes upon the weird beauty Of my
surroundings
For perhaps n quarter OF an hour my
companions gave themselves up TO the ST.
lent enjoyment OF their cigars. but at the
end OF that time the skipper. turning 10
Smellie. said:
81 think this must be the creek 10
which we have been directed; but there
are so many Of these inlets, creeks. and
canals on this side OF the river-and on
the other side also for that matter-that
one cannot be at all certain about IT, /
would have explored the place thoroughly
I'm the gig. and so have saved the labor
Of all this scrambling through the bush
but for the fact that IL we are right, and
any slave craft happen TO be lurking here
AS our Yankee friends suspicious con-
duct leads me to believe may be the
stumbling upon them unawares, and so
giving them the alarm And even II we
escaped that mischance | have no doubt
but that they keep sentnels posted here
and there on the lookout. and we could
hardly hope that the boat would escape
being sighted by one or other Of them, IL
there are any craft hereabout we may
rest assured that they are fully aware OF
the presence OF the Daphne in the river:
but am In hopes that our ruse OF openly
starting as upon sporting expedition
| has thrown dust I'm their eyes for once.
and that we may be able to steal near
| enough to get a sight Of them without eX-
citing their suspicious"
"I would be worth all our trouble II we
| could do So" responded Smellie. but I
don't half like this blind cropping about in
the bush; to cay nothing Of the tremend-
ously hard work which it involves there
is a very good chance. IL seems 10 me, Of
| our losing ourselves when we attempt 10
! make our way back
And then. again, we are quite uncer-
! tain how much further we may have TO
| go I'm order to complete our search salts
| factorly. DO you not think Il would be
| good plan fr one OF us 10 shin MP tree
| and take look round before we go any
! further? There are some fine tall trees
! here close AT hand from the higher
| branches Of which ono ought to be able
| to get pretty extensive view"
"A very capital idea!' assented the
| skipper. eve will act upon II at once.
There now" pointing to perfect forest
| giant only n few yards distant, "is n tree
admirably suited 10 our purpose Come.
| Mr.. Hawkesley, YOU are the youngest
and ought therefore 10 be the most ac-
! tive OF tho trio: give US a specimen OF
! your tree-climbing powers. Just shin up
! aloft as high as you can go. take n good
| look round, and let us know ~ you can
see anything worth looking at"
"Ay ay. sir" responded; but" with
"A somewhat blank look at the tall
straight. smooth stem TO which he point
| ed. where are the ratines?"
"Ratlines. you impudent young mon
key" responded the skipper with n
| laugh: why. an active young fellow like
| spar like that"
But when we reached the tree II be-
came evident that the task OF climbing n
was not likely 10 prove 80 easy as the
| skipper had imagined: for the bole was
! fully fifteen feet In circumference. with
| not a branch or protubcrance Of any de-
| scription for the first sixty feet.
ITO be continued tomorrow)