Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-25


In our escape from the ship and
fight into the island wilderness, where
we hoped to live on wild fruits until
our ship departed without us, We had
to make our way along a steep water
course Progress was so slow that by
noon we had not advanced more than
a mile 1t was somewhat near this part
of the day that the noise of falling
waters. which we had family caught
in the early morning. became more dis
tinct II was not long before we were
stopped by a rocky precipice of nearly
a hundred feet in depth, that extended
all across the channel and over which
the wild stream poured in an unbroken
leap. On either hand the walls of the
ravine presented their overhanging
sides. both above and below the fall,
affording no means whatever OF avoid
ing the cataract by taking a circuit
around It,
Whats to be done nov. Toby?" said
I to my companion.
Why" he reioined. las we cannot
retreat suppose We must keep SHOW
ing along"
Very true. my dear Toby. but how do
you propose to accomplish that deSir-
able object?"
by jumping from the top of the fall,
If there be no other way" unhesitat-
ingly replied my companion, 1T will
be much the quickest way of descent,
but as you are not quite as active as
am we will try some other way"
And so saying. he crept cautiously
along and peered over in the abyss
while I remained wondering by what
possible means We could overcome this
apparently insuperable obstruction. AS
soon as my companion had completed
his survey | eagerly inquired the result.
The result of my observations you
wish To know do you?" began Toby
deliberately. with one of his odd looks.
Well my lad. the result of my OBJ
servations is very quickly impaired. II
is at present uncertain which of our
two necks will have the honor TO be
broken first, but about a hundred to
one would be a fair bet In favor of the
man who takes the first jump"
Then It is an impossible thing. isn't
it?" inquired gloomily.
mo. shipmate On the contrary. II
is the easiest thing In life The
only awkward point is the sort OF usage
which our unhappy limbs may receive
when We arrive at the bottom and what
sort of travelling trim we shall be in
afterward. But follow me now and
will show you the only chance We
have"
With this he conducted me To the
verge OF the cataract and pointed along
the side OF the ravine TO number OF
curious looking roots, some three or
four inches in thickness and several
feet long which. after twisting among
the tissues of the rock. shot perpen-
dicularly from IL ard ran tapering to a
point i'll the air, hanging over the
sides like SO many dark ictcleS, They
covered nearly the entire surface OF the
side of the gorge, the lowest of them
reaching even 10 the water Many were
moSs-grown and decayed with their
ends snapped short off, and those near
est the fall were slippery with moisture,
Toby'S Scheme--and It was deSper-
ate one-~was to intTllSt ourselves 10
these MISUNDERSTANDING roots. and by
slipping down from one 10 another 10
gain the bottom of the falls
Are you ready to venture it," asked
Toby looking at ME earnestly but
without saying a word as TO the prac-
ticahiity OF the plan,
II am" was my reply. for l saw II
was our only resource II We wished to