Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-11-07

where around us. Many Of the trees
under which we passed had their
branches bowed down with fruit. some
of which We're oA familiar sorts, while
other varieties We're new. By observ-
ing which Of them were pecked by the
birds we avoided all danger of poison
and added delicious variety to our
food reserve. In the jungle which we
traversed were numerous hard trodden
paths made by the wild beasts, and in
the more ntarshy places we saw a pro-
fusion of strange footmarks, including
many Of the -iguanodon. Once in a
grove we observed several of these
great creatures grazing, and Lord John
with his glass was able to report that
they also We're spotted with asphalt,
though in different place from the one
which we had examined in the morn
ing What this phenomenon meant we
could not imagine.
We saw many small animals, such as
porcupines. scaly anteater and
wild pig, piebald in color and with
long, curved tusks. Once, through
break in the trees. we saw clear
shoulder of green hill some distance
away, and across this large dun col
ored animal was travelling at consid-
cradle pace. 1t passed so swiftly that
we Wee unable to say what it was.
but if it We're deer, as was claimed
by Lord John, it must have been as
large as those monstrous Irish elk
which are still dug up from time to-
time in the Dogs Of my native land.
Ever since the mysterious visit
which had been paid to our camp we
always returned to it with some mis-
givings. However,, on this occasion
we found everything in order.
1t was about this time that had an
inspiration. My eyes Glanced to light
upon the enormous gnarled trunk Of
the gingko tree which cast its huge
branches over us. Surely if it's bole
exceeded that of all others its height
must do the same. If the rim Of the
plateau was indeed the highest point,
then why should this mighty tree not
prove to be watchtowcr which COM
manded the whole country? Now,
ever since / ran wild as lad in Ire
land have been bold and skilled
tree climber. My comrades might be
my masters on the rocks, but I knew
that I would be supreme among those
branches. Could only get my legs on
to the lowest Of the giant offshoots
then it would be strange indeed if
could not make my way to the top.
My comrades We're delighted at my
idea.
"Our young friend" said Challenger,
punching up the red apples Of his
cheeks, sis capable Of acrobatic exer-
tons which would be impossible to a
man Of more solid though possibly
of more commanding appearance.
applaud his resolution"
"By George. young fellah, you've put
/ your hand on it," said Lord john clap
/ ping me on the back. ''How we never
came to think of it before I can't i'm
agine. There's not more than an hour
of daylight left. but if you take your
notebook you may be able to get some
rough sketch of the place. If we put
these three ammunition cases under
the branch I will soon hoist you on
to it."
He stood on the boxes while l faced
the trunk and was gently raising me
when Challenger sprang/ forward and,
gave me such thrust with his huge
hand that he fairly shot me into the
tree. With both arms clasping the
branch, scrambled hard with my feet
until had worked, first my body and
then my knees, on to it. There We're
three excellent offshoots, like huge
rungs Of ladder, above my head and
tangle Of convenient branches be-
yond, so that clambered onward with
such speed that I soon lost sight Of
the ground and had nothing but foil
age beneath me. Now and then I en-
countered a check, and once l had to
shin up creeper for eight or ten
feet, but 1 made excellent progress,
and the booming Of Challenger's voice
seemed to be a great distance beneath
me. The tree was, however, enOr
nous, and, looking upward, could see
no thinning of the leaves above my
head. There was some thick, buShlike
clump which seemed to be a parasite
upon branch up which was swarm
ing. l leaned my head round it in or
der to see what was beyond. and !
nearly fell out of the tree in my sur
prise and horror at what l saw.
A face was gazing into mine at the
distance Of only foot or two. The
creature that owned it had been
crouching behind the parasite and had
looked round it at the same instant
! r)k -