Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-03
CHAPTER WI.
Tomorrow We Disappear Into the Un-
known"

known"
WH WILL not bore those whom this
narrative may reach by an ac.
count Of our luxurious voyage
upon the ocean liner. nor win \
tell OF our weeks stay at Para save
that should wish to acknowledge the
great kindness Of the company In help.
ing us TO get together our equlpmen0.
/ will also alhde very briefly to our
river journey up a wide, slow moving,
clay tinted stream in steamer which
was little smaller than that which had
carried us across the Atlantic. Eventu-
aily we found ourselves through the
uarrOws of Obldos and reached the
town Of Manaos. Here we were res
cued from the limited attractions OF
Tue local Inn by Mr. Shortman, the rep
rcsentatiye Of the British and Brazil
i'm Trading company In his hospital
bazenda we spent our time until the
day when we were empowered to open
the letter of instructions given TO US
bg Professor Challenger Before
reach the surprising events of that date
/ should desire to give Il clearer sketch
O1 my comrades in this enterprise and
sc the associates whom we had already
gathered together In South America. I
speak freely, and leave the use Of my
material to your own discretion, Mr..
BlcAulle, since 1t is through your hands
that this report must pass before 1t
reaches the world.
The scientific attalnments of Profes-
aor Summerlee are too well known for
nc to trouble to recapltulate them. He
is better equipped for a rough expedl-
zion Of this sort than one would i'm.
agine at first sight His tall, gaunt,
stringy figure is insenslble to fatigue,
aud his dry, half sarcastic and often
wholly unsympathetic manner Is unin-
hueneed by any change IN his sur.
roundings. Though In his slXty-sixth
year. | have never heard him express
any dissatisfaction at the occasional
hardshps which we have had to en-.
counter | had regarded his presence
os an encumbrance 10 the expedition;
hdt as a matter OF fact ! am now well
convinced that his power OF endurance
Is as great as my own, In temper he
q naturally acid and skeptical.
lord John Roxton has some points
Ia common with Professor Summerlee
ana others IN which they are the very
8ntllhesis to each other lie Is TWEEN
ty years younger, but has something
0t the same spare, scraggy physique.
AS TO his appearance, have as rec
0lect, described II IN that portion OF
my narrative which have left behind
ine In London He is exceedingly neat
aud prlm IN his ways, dresses always
with great care In white drlll suits
nad high brown mosquito boots and
shayes at least once day. Like most
tncn Of action, he Is laconic In speech
und sinks readily Into his own
thoughts, but he Is always quick to
ouswer question or Join In con.
versation. talking Ia a queer, jerky,
half humorous fashion His knowl.
edge Of the world, aud very especially
OF South America, is surprising, and
hc has whole hearted belief In the
possibilities OF our Journey which Is
not be dashed by the sneers Of Profes.
sor Summerlee lie has gentle voice
aod quiet manner, but behind his
tWmkling blue eyes there turks a ca
paclty for furious wrath and lmpaca.
he resolution, the more dangerous be.
cause they are held in leash
so much for the moment for my two
white companions, whose characters
aud limitations viii be further ex.
posed, as surely as my own, as this
narrative proceeds But already we
hive eprolled certain retainers who
may play no small part IN what IS to
come. The llrst is a gigantic negro
named Zambo who is black Her
culcs, as willing as any horse ANA
about ns intelligent Him we enlisted
90 Para on the recommendation Of the
areamship company, on whose vessels
he had learned to speak a haltIng Eng
heh
n was at Para also that we engaged
Gomez and Manuel, two half breeds
tcam up the river just come down
Win q cargo OF redwood They were
sWarlhy fellows, bearded aud fierce, a.
active and wlry as ponthers Both Of
them had spent their lives in those
uppes waters Of the Amazon which