1 Hunters CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY P2 7.R35P7"l88r''"' '""'"^ .Plant hunters 3 1924 028 030 603 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028030603 THE PLANT HUNTERS ADVENTURES AMONG THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS. BT CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, AuTHOB or " Thi Dssebt Hohz," " Thx Todho Taoxbs," Era. etc. mo. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YORK: JAMES MlLtlJR, PFBIilSHER, 77 9 Bkoadway. 1881. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1866, by TICKNOR AND FIELDS, m the Clerk's Office ot the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. New Tobk, January Ist, 1869. Messrs. Fields, Osgood, & Co. : — I accept the terras offered, and hereby concede to you the exclusive right of publication, in the TTnited States, of all my juvenile Tales of Adventure, known as Boys' Novela BIATNE EEID. CONTENTS. 1. THE PLANT-HUNTBB 1 II. KAKL LINDEN 5 III. 0A8FAK, OSSAKOO, AND FHITZ 10 IT. IS IT BLOOD ? 15 V. THE PISHING-BIItDS 22 VI. THE TEEAI 28 VII. TAPPING THE PALMTEA 34 VIII. THE 8AMBUB STAG , 39 IX. A NIGHT MARAUDER 44 X. A TALK ABOUT TIGERS 51 XI. A TIOEB TAKEN BY BIRDLIME 56 XII. A BARE RAFT 63 XIII. THE TALLEST GRASS IN THE WORLD 69 XIV. TEE HAN-EATERS 75 XV. THE DEATH OP THE MAN-EATEE 80 XVI. KAKl's ADVENTURE WITH THE LONG LIPPED BEAR 89 XVII. O88AR0O IN TROUBLE 95 XVIII. THE AXIS AND PANTHER 100 XIX. THE PESTS OP THE TROPICS 108 XX. THE MUSK-DEER 116 XXI. THE GLACIER 121 XXII. THE GLACIER-SLIDE 127 XXIII. THE PASS 132 IXIV. THE LONE MOUNTAIN VAIXET 137 XIV. GRUNTING OXEN 141 XXVI. THE TAKS ^ . . . . 148 XXVII. CUBING THE TAK-MEAT 153 n CONTENTS. (BAI. rAU XXyill. THB BOII/IirO BFBINO 157 XXIZ. AS ALABMINO DISCOVEST 162 XXX. FBOSFECT3 AND FBGCAUTIONS 167 XXXI. UEASUBINa THB CBEVASSZ! 173 XXXII. THE HUT 178 XXXIII. THE BASKIKG-DEES 183 XXXIV. THE ABQD8-FHEA8Ai;T 189 xxxT. btalkino the taks 194 XXXri. CABPAB BETBEATS TO THE BOCK 199 XXXTII. FACE TO FACE WITH A FIEBCE BUI.L 204 KXXVIII. CASFAB IN THE CLEFT 209 ZXXIX. THE BEBOW 217 XL. OSSAEOO CHASED BY WILD DOGS 223 XLI. pBSABOO's BEVENOB 231 XLII. THE CBEVA8SE BBIDOED 236 XLIII. THE FASSAOE OF THE CBEYABBE 242 XLIV. NEW HOFEB 248 XLV. NEW 8UBVBT OF THE CLIFF 255 XLYI. KABL CLIMBS THE LEDGE 261 XLTII. KABL IN A FIX 267 XLTIII. THE TIBET BBAB 271 XLIX. AN AWKWABD DESCENT 276 L. A MYSTEBIOUS MONSTEB 282 LI. " BANG " 288 LII. SETTING THE NET 293 LIII. OSSABOO STUCK FAST 297 LIT. A DEILAND FOB BEAB's OBEABB 303 LV. BEAE-HUNT ET TOBCH-LIGHT 307 LVI. LOST IN THB CAVE 314 LVII. A EAMBLB IN THB DABK 318 LTIII. OAVBEN-LIFB 323 LIX. BXPLOEATION OF THB CAVE 327 LX. FEESEBVIN6 THU BEAe'S MEAT 323 LXI. DEEAMS 337 LXII. HOFES 341 LXIII. LIGHT IN DABKNBSS 341 LXIY. CONCLUSION 352 THE PLANT-HUNTERS. CHAPTER I. THE PLANT-HUNTEB. "A plant-hunter! what is that? " Wo have heard of fox-hunters, of deer-hunters, of bear and buffalo-hunters, of lion-hunters, and of ' boy- hunters ; ' of a plant-hunter never. " Stay ! Truffles are plants. Dogs are used in find- ing them ; and the collector of these is termed a truffle- hunter. Perhaps this is what the Captain means ? " No, my boy reader. Something very different from that. My plant-hunter is no fungus-digger. His occu- pation is of a nobler kind than contributing meiely to the capricious palate of the gourmand. To his labors the whole civilized world is indebted — yourself among the rest. Yes, you owe him gratitude for many a bright joy. For the varied sheen of your garden you are indebted to him. The gorgeous dahlia that nods over the flower-bed — the brilliant peony that sparkles on the parterre — the lovely camelia that greets you in Z THE PLANT-HUNTEE. the greenhouse, — ihe kalmias, the azaleas, the ihodo dendrons, the starry jessamines, the gerania, and a thou- sand other floral beauties, are, one and all of them, the gifts of the plant-hunter. By his agency England- cold cloudy England — has become a garden of flowers, more varied in species and brighter in bloom than those that blossomed in the famed valley of Cashmere. Many of the noble trees that lend grace to our English landscape, — most of the beautiful shrubs that adorn our villas, and gladden the prospect from our cottage- ■windows, are the produce of his industry. But for him, many fruits, and vegetables, and roots, and berries, that garnish your table at dinner and dessert, you might never have tasted. But for him these delicacies might never have reached your lips. A good word, then, for the plant-hunter ! And now, boy reader, in all seriousness I shall teU you what I mean by a " plant-hunter.'' I mean a per- son who devotes all his time and labor to the collection of rare plants and flowers — in short, one who makes this occupation his profession. These are not simply "botanists" — ^though botanical knowledge they must needs possess — but, rather, what has hitherto been termed " botanical collectors." Though these men may not stand high in the eyes of the scientific world — though the closet-systematist may aflfect to underrate their calling, I dare boldly affirm that tks humblest of their class has done more service tc the human race than even the great Linneus himself. They are, indeed, the botanists of true value, who have not only imparted to us a knowledge of the world's regetation, but have brought its rarest forms b( fore oiu THE PLANT-HUNTER. 8 very eyes — have placed its brightest flowers under our very noses, as it were — flowers, that but for them had been still " blushing unseen," and " wasting their sweety. ness on the desert air." My young reader, do not imagine that I have any desire to underrate the merits of the scientific botanist. No, nothing of the sort. I am only desirous of bringing !nto the foreground a class of men whose services in my opinion the world has not yet sufficiently acknowledged— I mean the botanical collectors — the plant-hunters. It is just possible that you never dreamt of the exist- ence of such a profession or calling, and yet from the earliest historic times there have been men who fol- lowed it. There were plant-collectors in the days of Pliny, who furnished the gardens of Herculaneum and Pompeii ; there were plant-collectors employed by the wealthy mandarins of China, by the royal sybarites of Delhi and Cashmere, at a time when our semi-barbarous ancestors were contented with the wild flowers of their native woods. But even in England the calling of the plant-hunter is far from being one of recent origin. It dates as early as the discovery and colonization of Amer- ica ; and the names of the Tradescants, the Bartrams, and the Catesbys — true plant-hunters — are among the most respected in the botanical world. To them we ai'e indebted for oa- tulip-trees, our magnolias, our ma- ples, our robinias, our western platanus, and a host of other noble trees, that already share the forest, and con- test with our native species, the right to our soil. At no period of the world has the number of plant- hunters been so great as at present. Will you believe it, hundreds of men are engaged in this noble and useful 1* I THE PLANT-HUNTEE. calling ? Among them may be found representatives oi all the nations of Europe — Germans in greatest num« ber ; but there are Swedes and Russ as well, Danes and Britons, Frenchmen, Spaniards, and Portuguese, Swiss and Italians. Tbey may be found pursuing their avo- cation in every corner of the world — through the sequestered passes of the Rocky Mountains, upon the pathless prairies, in the deep barrancas of the Andes, amid the tangled forests of the Amazon and the Ori- noco, on the steppes of Siberia, in the glacier valleys of the Himalaya— everywhere — everywhere amid wild and savage scenes, where the untrodden and the un- known invite to fresh discoveries in the world of vege- tation. Wandering on with eager eyes, scanning with scrutiny every leaf and flower — toiling over hill and dale — climbing the steep cliff — wading the dank morass or the rapid river — threading his path through thorny thicket, through " chapparal " and "jungle" — sleeping in the open air — ^hungering, thirsting, risking life amidst wild beasts, and wilder men, — such are a few of the trials that chequer the life of the plant-hunter. From what motive, you will ask, do men choose to undergo such hardships and dangers ? The motives are various. Some are lured on by the pure love of botanical science ; others by a fondness for travel. Still others are the employes of regal or noble patrons — of high-bom botanical amateurs. Not a few are the emissaries of public gardens and arboretums ; and yet another few — perchance of humbler names and more limited means, though not less zealous in their well-beloved calling, — are collectors for the " nursery." Tes ; you will no doubt be astonished to hear that THE PLANT-HinSTEE. 5 the plain " seedsman " at the town end, who sells you your roots and bulbs and seedlings, keeps in his pay a staff of plant-hunters — ^men of botanical skill, who traverse the whole globe in search of new plants and flowers, that may gratify the heart and gladden the eyas of the lovers of floral beauty. Need I say that the lives of such men are fraught with adventures and hair-breadth perils? You shall judge for yourself when I have narrated to you a few chapters from the experience of a young Bavarian botanist, — Karl Linden — while engaged in a plant- hundng expedition to the Alps of India — the stu^ pendous mountains of the Himalaya. EABL LINDEN. CHAPTER n. KABL LINDEN. Kahl Linden was a native of Upper Bavaria, near the Tyrolese frontier. Not high-born, for hia &ther was a gardener ; but, what is of more importance in modern days, well brought op and well educated. A gardener's son may still be a gentleman ; and so may a gardener himself, for that matter, or he may not. There are many senses to this much-abused title. It so happens, that young Linden was a gentleman in the true sense ; that is,-he was possessed of a feeling heart, a nice sense of honesty and honor, and was, not- withstanding his humble lineage, an educated and ac- complished youth. His father, the gardener, was a man of ambitious spirit, though quite unlettered ; and, having himself often experienced the disadvantage of this condition, he resolved that his son never should. In most parts of Germany, education is considered a thing of value, and is eagerly sought after. It is provided liberally for all classes ; and the Germans, as a people, are perhaps the best educated in the world. It is partly owing to this fact, and partly to their ener- getic industry, that they exercise so great an influence in the affairs of the world ; in the arts and sciences, in KAEL LINDEN. 7 music, painting, and the study of nature — above all, in a knowledge of botany. I cannot believe that the Ger- mans stand highest as an intellectual race, but only aa an educated people. What a pity I could not add, that they are a free people ; but in that their condition differs less from our own than we fondly imagine. At nineteen years of age, young Karl Linden did not consider them as free as they deserved to be. He was then a student in one of the universities ; and, na;,urally enough, had imbibed those principles of pa- triotic liberty, that, in 1848, were stirring in the Ger- man heart. He did more than advocate his faith by empty words. Joined with his college compatriots, he endeavored to have it carried into practice ; and he was one of those brave students, who, in 1848, gave freedom to Baden and Bavaria. But the hydra league of crowned heads was too strong to be so easily broken ; and, among other youth- ful patriots, our hero was forced to flee from his native land. An exile in London — " a refugee," as it is termed — Le scarce knew what to do. His parent was too poor to send him money for his support. Besides, his father was not over well pleased with him. The old man was one of those who still clung to a belief in the divine right of kings, and was contented with the " powers that be,'' no matter how tyrannical they be. He was angry with Karl, for having made a fool of himself by turning patriot, or " rebel," as it pleases crowned monsters to term it. He had intended him for better thuigs ; a secretary to som? great noble, a posl in the 8 KABL JLINSEK. Custom-house, or, may be, a commission in the l>ody« guard of some petty tyrant. Any of these would have fulfilled the ambitious hopes of Karl's father. The lat- ter, therefore, was displeased with the conduct of his son. Karl had no hope from home, at least until the anger of the old man should die out. What was the young refugee to do ? He found Eng- lish hospitality cold enough. He was free enough} that is, to wander the streets and beg. Fortunately, he bethought him of a resource. At intervals, during his life, he had aided his father in the occupation of gardening. He could dig, plant, and sow. He could prune trees, and propagate flowers to perfection. He understood the management of the greenhouse and hothouse, the cold-pit and the forcing- pit ; nay, more — he understood the names and nature of most of the plants that are cultivated in European countries ; in other words, he was a botanist. His early opportunities in the garden of a great noble, where his father was superintendent, had given him this knowledge ; and, having a taste for the thing, he had made botany a study. If he could do no better, he might take a hand in a garden, or a nursery, or some such place. That would be better than wandering idly about the streets of the metropolis, and half-stai-ving in the midst of its profuse plenty. With such ideas in his mind, the young refugee presented himself at the gate of one of the magnificent " nurseries," in which great London abounds. He told Us story ; he was employed. It was not long before the intelligent and enterpri». KAEL LINDEN. 9 'tog proprietor of the establishment discovered the bo- tanical knowledge of his German protege. He wanted just such a man. He had " plant-hunters " in other parts of the world ; in North and South America, in Africa, in Australia. He wanted a collector for India ; he wanted to enrich his stock from the flora of the Himalayas, just then coming into popular celebrity, on account of the magnificent forms of vegetation dis- covered there, by the great " plant-hunters " Royle and Hooker. The splendid pine-trees, arums, and screw-pines ; the varied species of bambusa, the grand magnolias and rhododendrons, which grow so profusely in the Himalaya valleys, had been described, and many of them introduced into European gardens. These plants were therefore the rage ; and, consequently, the deside- rata of the nurseryman. What rendered them still more interesting and valu- able was, that many of those beautiful exotics would bear the open air of high latitudes, on account of the elevated region of their native habitat possessing a similarity of temperature and climate to that of north- em Europe. More than one " botanical collector " was at this time despatched to explore the chain of the Indian Alps, whose vast extent offered scope enough for all. Among the number of these plant-hunters, then, waa our hero, Karl Linden. CASPAR, OSSAROO, AND FBITZ. CHAPTER m. CASPAR, OSSAKOO, AND FRITZ. An English ship carried the plant-hunter to Calcutta, and his own good legs carried him to the foot of the Himalaya Mountains. He might have travelled there in many other ways — ^for perhaps in no country in the world are there so many modes of travelling as in India. Elephants, camels, horses, asses, mules, ponies, buffaloes, oxen, zebus, yaks, and men, are all made use of to transport the traveller from place to place. Even dogs, goats, and sheep, are trained as beasts of burden ! Had Karl Linden been a Government emissary, or the employe of some regal patron, he would very likely have travelled in grand style — either upon an elephant in a sumptuous howdah, or in a palanquin with relays of bearers, and a host of coolies to answer to his call. As it was, he had no money to throw away in such B foolish manner. It was not public money he waa spending, but that of private enterprise, and his means were necessarily limited. He was not the less likely to BccompKsh the object for which he had been sent out. Many a vast and pompous expedition has gone forth regardless either of expense or waste — aye, many a one that has returned without having accomplished the ob- CASPAE, OSSAEOO, AND PKITZ. 11 j*ct intenaijd. " Too many cooks spoil the dinner," in a familiar old adage, very applicable to exploring expedi- tions ; and it is a question, whetlier unaided individual enterprise has not effected more in the way of scientific and geographical discovery, than has been done by the more noisy demonstrations of governments. At all events, it is certain enough, that the exploring ex- peditions to which we are most indebted for our geog- nostic knowledge are those that have been fitted out with the greatest economy. Aa an example, I may point to the tracing of the northern coasts of Amer- ica — which, after costing enormous sums of money, -^and the lives of many brave men, has been done, after all, by the Hudson's Bay Company with a simple boat's crew, and at an expense, that would not have franked one of our grand Arctic exploring expe- ditions for a week ! I might point to the economic mode by which the Americans are laying open their whole continent — a single officer having lately been sent to descend the Amazon alone, and explore its extensive valley from the Andes to the Atlantic. This was performed, and a copious report delivered to the American government and to the world at an expense of a few hundred dol- lars ; whereas an English exploration of simUar impor- tance would have cost some thousands of pounds, with perhaps a much scantier return for the outlay. As with the American explorer, so was it with our plant-hunter. There was no expensive equipment or crowd of idle attendants. He reached the Himalayas on foot, and on foot he had resolved to climb Iheir vast slopes and traverse their rugged valleys. 12 CASPAR, OSSAROO, AND FRITZ. Bat Karl Linden was not alone. Far from it. He was in company with him he held dearest of aU others in the world — his only brother. Yes, the stout youth by his side is his brother Caspar, who had joined him in his exile, and now shares the labors and perils of hia expedition. There is no great difference between them in point of size, though Caspar iatwo years the younger. But Caspar's strength has not been wasted by too much study. He has never been penned up within the walla of a college or a city ; and, fresh from his native hiUs, his stout build and bright ruddy cheek present a con- trast to the thinner form and paler visage of the student. Their costumes are in keeping with their looks. That of Karl exhibits the sombre hue of the man of learning, while on his head he wears the proscribed " Hecker hat." Caspar's dress is of a more lively style, and consists of a frock of Tyrolese green, a cap of the same color, with long projecting peak, over-alls of blue velveteen, and Blucher boots. Both carry guns, with the usual accoutrements of eportsmen. Caspar's gun is a double-barrelled fowling- piece, — while that of Karl is a rifle of the species knowa Bs a " Swiss yager." A true hunter is Caspar, and although stiU but a boy, Le has often followed the chamois in its dizzy path among his native mountams. Of letters he knows little, for Caspar has not been much to school ; but ia matters of hunter-craft he is well skilled. A bravo and cheerful youth is Caspar — ^foot-free and untiring— and Karl could not have found in all India a better «8sistant. CASPAE, OaSAROO, AND FRITZ. 13 But there is still another individual in the train of Ihe plant-hunter — the guide, Ossaroo. It would take pages to describe Ossaroo ; and he is worthy of a full description : but we shall leave him to be known by hia deeds. Suffice it to say, that Ossaroo is a Hindoo of handsome proportions, with the swarth complexion, large beautiful eyes, and luxuriant black hair, which characterize his race. He is by caste a " shikarree," or hunter, and is not only so by hereditary descent, but he is one of the noted " mighty hunters " in the province to which he belongs. Far and wide is his name known —for Ossaroo possesses, what is somewhat rare among his indolent countrymen, an energy of mind, combined with strength and activity of body, that would have given him distinction anywhere ; but among a people where such quaUties are extremely rare, Ossaroo is of course a hunter-hero — the Nimrod of his district. Ossaroo's costume and equipments differ entirely from those of his fellow-travellers. A white cotton tunic, and wide trousers, sandals, a scarlet sash around the waist, a check shawl upon the head, a light spear in the hand, a bamboo bow, a quiver of arrows on his back, a long knife stuck behind the sash, a shonlder-belt sus- taining a pouch, with various trinket-like implementa suspended over his breast. Such is the coup d'ail pre- sented by the shikarree. Ossaroo had never in his life climbed the mighty Himalayas. He was a native of the hot plains — a hunter of the jungles — but for all that the botanist had engaged him for a guide. It was not so much a guide to enable them to find their route, as one who could assist them in their daily duties, who knew the 14 CA8PAE, OSSAEOO, AND PEITZ. way of life peculiar to this part of the world, who knew how to keep house in the open air, Ossaroo was the very man of all others. Moreover the expedition was just to his mind. He had long gazed upon the gigantic Himalaya from the distant plains — he had looked upon its domes and peaks glittermg white in the robes of eternal snow, and had often desired to make a hunting excursion thither. But no good opportunity had presented itself,, although through all his life he had lived within sight of those stupendous peaks. He, therefore, joyfully accepted the offer of the young botanist, and became " hunter and guide " to the expedition. There was stiU another of the hunter-race in that company — one as much addicted to the chase as either Ossaroo or Caspar. This was a quadruped as tall as a mastiff dog, but whose black-and-tan color and long pendulous ears bespoke him of a different race — the race of the hound. He was, in truth, a splendid hound, whose heavy jaws had ere now dragged to the ground many a red stag, and many a wild Bavarian boar. A dog to be valued was Fritz, and highly did his master esteem hinu Caspar was that master. Caspar would not have exchanged Fritz for the choicest elephant in all India. IS IT BLOOD? 13 CHAPTER IV. IS IT BLOOD? Behold the plant-hunter and his little party en route / It was the same day on which they had engaged the guide Ossaroo, and this was their first journey together. Each carried his knapsack and blanket strapped to his back — and as each was to be his own travelling attend- ant, there was not much extra baggage. Ossaroo was some paces in the advance, and Karl and Caspar habit- ually walked side by side, where the nature of the path would permit. Fritz usually trotted along in the rear, though he sometimes busked up to the side of the guide, as if by instinct he recognized the bom hunter. Al- though the acquaintance was but a short one, already had Fritz become a favorite with the " shikarree." As they trudged along, the attention of Caspar was drawn to some red spots that appeared at intervals upon the path. It was a smooth road, and a very small object could be discerned upon it. The spots had aU the appearance of blood-spots, as if quite freshly dropped ! '' Blood it is," remarked Karl, who was also observ- ing the spots. " I wonder whether it's been a man or a beast," said Caspar, after an interval. 16 IS IT BLOOD? " Well, brother," rejoined Karl, " I think it must have been a beast, and a pretty large one too ; I have been noticing it for more than a mile, and the quantity of blood I've observed wouW have emptied the veins of a giant. I fancy it must have been an elephant that has been bleeding." " But there's no trace of an elephant," replied Cas- par ; " at least no tracks that are fresh ; and this blood appears to be quite newly spilled." " You are right, Caspar," rejoined his brother. " It cannot have been an elephant, nor a camel neither. "What may it have been, I wonder ? " At this interrogatory both the boys directed their glances along the road, in the direction in which they were going, hoping to discover some explanation of the matter. There was no object before them as far as they could see except Ossaroo. The Hindoo alone was upon the road. The blood could not be from him — surely not ? Such a loss of blood would have killed the shikarree long ago. So thought Karl and Caspar. They had fixed their eyes, however, upon Ossaroo, and just at that moment they saw him lean his head to one side, as though he had spat upon the ground. They marked the spot, and what was their astonishment an coming up and discovering upon the road another red spot exactly like those they had been noticing. Beyand a doubt Ossaroo was spitting blood 1 To make sure, they watched him a little longer, and about a hundred yards farther on they saw him repeat his red expectoration ! They became considerably alarmed for the lite (rf their guide. 18 IT BLOOD? 17 " Poor Ossaroo ! " exclaimed they, " he cannot live much longer after the loss of so much blood ! " And as this remark was made, both ran forward call- upon him to stop. The guide wheeled round, and halted, wondering what was the matter. He quickly unslung his bow and placed an arrow to the string, fancying that they were attacked by some enemy. The hound, too, catch- ing the alarm, came scampering up, and was soon upon the ground. " What's the matter, Ossaroo ? " demanded Karl and Caspar in a breath. " Matter, Sahibs ! me knowee noting — ^matter." " But what ails you ? are you iU ? " " No, Sahibs ! me not ill — why my lords askee ? " "But this blood? See?" They pointed to the red saliva on the road. At this the shikarree burst out laughing, still furthe? perplexing his interrogators. His laughter was not in- tended to be disrespectful to the young " Sahibs," only that he was unable to restrain himself on perceiving the mistake they had made. " Pawnee, Sahibs," said he, drawing from his pouch a small roU like a cartridge of tobacco-leaves, and tak- ing a bite off the end of it, to convince them that it was it — the "pawn" — which had imparted to his saliva such a peculiar color. The boys at once comprehended the nature of their mistake. The roll shown them by Ossaroo was the celebrated hetel ; and Ossaroo himself was a " betel- chewer," in common with many millions of his country- men, and still more millions of the natives of Assami 18 IS IT BLOOD? Burmah, Siam, China, Cochin China, Malacca, tha Philippine, and other islands of the great Indian Archi- pelago. Of course JLe boys were now curious to know what the betel was, and the shikarree proceeded to give them full information about this curious commodity. The « betel," or " pawn " as it is called by the Hin- doos, is a compound substance, and its component parta are a leaf, a nut, and some quicklime. The leaf is taken from an evergreen shrub, which is cultivated in India for this very purpose. Ossaroo stated that it is usually cultivated under a shed made of bamboos, and wattled all around the sides to exclude the strong rays of the sun. The plant requires heat and a damp at- mosphere, but exposure to the sun or dry winds would wither it, and destroy the flavor and pungency of the leaf. It requires great care in the cultivation, and every day a man enters the shed by a little door and carefully cleans the plants. The shed where it grows is usually a favorite lurking-place for poisonous snakes, and this diurnal visit of the betel-grower to his crop is rather a dangerous business ; but the article is so profitable, and the mature crop yields such a fine price, that both the labor and the danger are disregarded. Ossaroo chanced to have some of the leaves in his pouch still in an entire state. He only knew them as " pawn-leaves," but the botanist at once recognized a rare hothouse plant, he- longing to the pepper tribe, Piperaceee. It is in fact a species of Piper, the Piper-betel, very closely allied to the climbing shrub which produces the common black pepper of commerce, and having deep green oval and Bharply-pointed leaves of very similar appearance ta IS IT BLOOD? 19 the leaves of the latter. Another species called Piper siriboa is also cultivated for the same purpose. So much for one of the component parts of this singular Oriental "quid." " Now," continued Ossaroo, facing to one side of the path and pointing upwards, " if Sahibs lookee up, dey Bee de pawn-nut." The boys looked as directed, and beheld with interest a grove of noble palms, each of them rising to the height of fifty feet, with a smooth cylindrical shank, and a beautiful tuft of pinnated leaves at the top. These leaves were fuU two yards in breadth, by several in length. Even the pinnae, or leaflets, were each over a yard long. Just below where the leaves grew out from the stem, a large bunch of nuts of a reddish orange color, and each as big as a hen's egg, hung downward. These were the famous betel-nuts, so long recorded in the books of Oriental travellers. Karl recognized the tree as the Areca catechu, or betel-nut pahn — ^by many considered the most beautiful pahn of India. Of the same genus Areca there are two other known species, one also a native of India, the other an Ameri- can pahn, and even a still more celebrated tree than the betel-nut, for it is no other than the great " cabbage- pahn " of the West Indies {Areca ohracea). This last tree grows to the height of two hundred feet, with a trunk only seven inches in diameter ! Thfs beautiful shaft is often cut down for the sake of the young heart- leaves near the top, that when dressed are eaten as a substitute for cabbage. Ossaroo showed his young masters how the betel was prepared for chewing. The leaves of the betel peppei 2 20 IS IT BLOOD? are first spread out. Upon these a layer of lime i« placed, moistened so as to keep it in its place. The betel-nut is then cut into very thin slices, and laid on top ; and the whole is rolled up like a cheroot, and de- posited with other similar rolls in a neat case of bam- boo — to be taken out whenever required for chewing. The nut is not eatable alone. Its flavor is too pun- gent, and too highly astringent on account of the tannin it contains ; but along with the pepper-leaf and the lime, it becomes milder and more pleasant. Withal, it is too acrid for a European palate, and produces intoxi- cation in those not used to it. An old betel-eater like Ossaroo does not feel these effects, and would smile at the idea of getting " tipsy " upon pawn. A singular peculiarity of the betel-nut is that of ita staining the saliva of a deep red color, so as to resem- ble blood. Ossaroo, who possessed a large share of in- telligence, and who had travelled to the great city of Calcutta and other parts of India, narrated a good anec- dote connected with this fact. The substance of his relation was as follows : — A young doctor, fresh from Europe and from the university, had arrived in one of the Indian cities in a big ship. The morning after his arrival he was walking out on the public road near the suburbs, when he chanced to meet a young native girl who appeared to be spitting blood. The doctor turned and followed the girl, who continued to spit blood at nearly every step she took I He became alarmed, thinking the poor girl could not live another hour, and following her home to her house, announced to her parents who he was, and assured them that, from the symptoms he had observed, their daughte* IS IT BLOOD ? 21 had not many minutes to live ! Her parents in theii turn grew alarmed, as also did the girl herself — ^for the Bkill of a great Sahib doctor was not to be doubted. The priest was sent for, but before he could arrive the young girl aetuaUy died. Now it was from /«ar that the poor girl had died, and it was the doctor who had frightened her to death ! but neither parents, nor priest, nor the doctor himself, knew this at the time. The doctor still believed the girl had died of blood-spitting, and the others remained in igno- rance that it was upon this he had founded his prognosis. The report of such a skilful physician soon spread abroad. Patients flocked to him, and he was in a fair way of rapidly accumulating a fortune. But ere long he had observed other people with symptoms of the same complaint which had caused the death of the poor girl, and had learnt also that these symptoms proceeded from chewing the betel-nut. Had he been discreet he would have kept bis secret ^ himself ; but, unluckily for his good fortune he was a talker, and could not help teUing his companions the whole aflfair. He related it rather as a good joke — ^for, sad to say, the life of a poor native is held but too lightly by Europeans. In the end, however, it proved no joke to the doctor. The parents of the girl came to understand the matter, as well as the public at large, and vengeance was vowed against him by the frieflds of the deceased. His pa- tients deserted him as rapidly as they had come ; and to get rid of the scandal, as well as to get out of the danger that surrounded him, he was but f»o glad to take pas&dge home in the same ship that had brought him out 32 THE FI8HING-BIKDS. CHAPTER V. THE FISHING-BIKD8. OcE travellers were following up one of the tribiK taries of the Burrampooter, which, rising in the Hima- layas, and running southward joins the latter near its great bend. The plant-hunter designed to penetrate the Bhotan Himalaya, because it had not yet been visited by any botanist, and its flora was reported to be very rich and varied. They were still passing through a settled part of the country, where fields of rice and sugar-cane, with groves of bananas, and various spe- cies of pahn, were cultivated ; some of the latter, as the cocoa-pahn and betel, for their nuts, while others, as the large-leaved Garyota, for the wine which they produce. The opium-poppy was also seen in cultivation, and mango-trees, and the great broad-leaved pawpaw, and black-pepper vines, with beautiful green leaves, trained against the stems of the palms. Jack-trees with their gigantic fruit, and figs, and nettle-trees, and the singu- lar screw-pines, and euphorbias, and various species of the orange, were observed along the way. The botanist saw many trees and plants, ■v\hich he recognized aa belonging to the Chinese flora, and he THE FISHING-BIRDS. 23 coiUd not help remarking many other things that re- minded him of what he had read about China. In feet, this part of India — for he was very near the boi* ders of Assam — ^bears a considerable resemblance tc China, in its natural productions, and even the customs of the people assimilate somewhat to those of the Ce« lestial land. To make the resemblance more com- plete, the cultivation of the tea-plant has been introduced into this part of the world, and is now carried on with success. But as our travellers proceeded, they became wit- nesses of a scene which brought China more vividly before their minds than anything they had yet ob- served. On rounding a dump of trees they came in view of a moderate-sized lake. On the water, near the edge of this lake, they perceived a man in a small light boat He was standing up, and held in his hands a long slen- der pole, with which he was poling the boat out towards the centre of the lake. Our travellers, Ossaroo excepted, uttered exclama- tions of surprise, and came at once to a halt. What had caused them such astonishment ? Not the boat, nor the man in it^ nor yeft the long bamboo pole. No. Such were common objects seen every day on their journey. It was none of these that had brought them to so sudden a stop, and caused them to stano wondering. It was the fact that along both sides of the boat — on the very edge or gunwale — ^was a row of lar^ birds as big as geese. They were white- throated, white-breasted birds, mottled over the wings uid back with dark brown, and having long crooked 24 THE FISHING-BIRDS. necks, large yellow bills, and broad tails rounded at the tips. Although the man was standing up in his boat, and working his long pole over their heads, now on one side, then on the other, the birds appeared so tame that they did not heed his manceuvres ; and yet not one of them seemed to be fastened, but merely perched upon the edge of the skiff ! Now and then one would stretch its long neck over the water, turn its head a little to one side, and then draw it in again, and resume its former attitude. Such tame birds had never been seen. No wonder the sight astonished the Bavarian boys. Both turned to Ossaroo for an explanation, who gave it by simply nodding towards the lake, and uttering the words, — " He go fishee." " Ah ! a fisherman ! " rejoined the botanist. " Yes, Sahib — ^you watchee, you see." This was explanation enough. The boys now re- membered having read of the Chinese mode of fishing with cormorants ; and even at the distance at which they saw them, they could perceive that the birds on the boat were no other than cormorants. They were the species known as Phalacrocorax Sinensis ; and although differing somewhat from the common cor- morant, they possessed all the characteristic marks of the tribe, — the long flat body, the projecting breast- bone, the beak curving downward at the tip, and the broad rounded tail. Desirous of witnessing the birds at work, our trav- ellers remained stationary near the shore of the lake. It WHS evident the fisherman had not yet commenced THE FISHING-BIRDS. 25 operations, and was only proceeding towards Ma ground. After a short while he reached the centre of the lake ; and then, laying aside his long bamboo, he turned his attention to the birds. He was heard giving them di- rections — -just as a sportsman might do to his pointer or spaniel — and the next moment the great birds spread their shadowy wings, rose up from the edge of the boat, and after a short flight, one and aU of them were seen plunging into the water. Now our travellers beheld a singular scene. Here a bird was observed swimming along, with its keen eye scanning the crystal below — there the broad tail of another stood vertically upwards, the rest of its body hidden below the surface — ^yonder, a third was alto- gether submerged, the ripple alone showing where it had gone down — a fourth was seen struggling with a large fish that glittered in its pincer-like beak — a fifth had already risen with its scaly prey, and was bearing it to the boat ; and thus the twelve birds were all ac- tively engaged in the singular occupation to which they had been trained. The lake, that but the moment before lay tranquil and smooth as glass, was now cov- ered with ripples, with circling eddies, with bubbles and foam, where the huge birds darted and plunged, and flapped about after their finny prey. It was in vain the fish endeavored to escape them — for tlie cor- morant can glide rapidly through the water, and swim beneath with as much rapidity as upon the surface. Its keel-like breast-bone cuts the liquid element like an arrow, and with its strong wings for paddles, and its broad tail acting as a rudder, the bird is able to turn 26 THE rlSHING-Bmi>S. Bharply round, or shoot forward with incredible r» pidity. A singular circumstance came under the observation of our travellers. When one of the birds had suc- ceeded in bringing up a fish, which was larger than common, and too large for its captor to convey to the boat, several others might be seen rushing forward, to render assistance in carrying the fish aboard ! Tou will wonder that these creatures — ^whose food is the very prey they were capturing for their master — did not swallow some of the fish they were taking. In the case of the younger birds, and those not fiiUy trained, such little thefts do occasionally occur. But in such cases the fisherman adopts a preventive precaution, by fastening a collar round the necks of the birds — taking care that it shall not descend to the thick part of the throat, where it might choke them. With well-trained old birds this precaution is unnecessary. No matter how hungry the latter may be, they bring aU they "take" to their master, and are rewarded for their honesty by the smaller and more worthless fish that may have been caught. Sometimes a bird becomes lazy, and sits upon the water without attempting to do his duty. In such cases, the fisherman approaches with his boat, stretches forward his bamboo, strikes with violence close to where the indolent individual is seated, and scolds him for his laziness. This treatment seldom fails in its efiect ; and the winged fisher, once more roused by the weU-known voice of its master, goes to work w'th renewed energy. For several hours this fishing scene is kept up, until THE FISHING-BIKDS. '£( the bird In approaching any great chain of mountains from the sea-level, you will find a large tract of country con- sisting of elevated hills and deep ravines, intersected by rapid streams and torrents. This tract is more or less broad, in proportion to the grandeur of the moun- tain chain ; and, in the case of mountains of the first class, it is usually from twenty to fifty miles in breadth. Such a tract of country lies along both sides of the great chain of the Andes in South and North America, and also marks the approach to the Rocky Mountains and the AUeghanies. It is well known in Italy, under the Alps ; and " Piedmont " is the French appellation for this sort of country, which is designated, in our Ian guage, by an equally appropriate phrase, " foot-hills." The " Alps of India " are not without this geological peculiarity. Along their whole southern flank, facing the hills of Hindustan, extends a belt of foot-hiUs, often above fifty mUes in breadth ; and characterized by steep ascents, deep dales and ravines, rapid foaming torrents, difficult paths and passes, and, consequently, by wild and picturesque scenery. The lower pai-t of this belt — that is, the portion which THE TERAI. 29 lies contiguous to the hot plains, is known to Europeans as the " Terai." The Terai is an irregular strip, of from ten to thirty miles in width, and extends along the whole base of the Himalayas, from the Sutledge River, on the west, to Upper Assam. Its character is peculiar. It differs both from the plains of India and from the Himalaya Mountains, possessing a botany and zoology almost totally distinct from either. It differs from both, in the malarious and unhealthy character of its climate, which is one of the deadliest in the world. In consequence of this, the Terai is almost uninhabited ; the few scat- tered settlements of half-savage Mechs, its only inhabi- tants, lying remote and distant from each other. Most of the Terai is covered with forest and thick jungle ; and, notwithstanding its unhealthy climate, it is the favorite haunt of the wild beasts peculiar to this part of the globe. The tiger, the Indian lion, the pan- ther and leopard, the cheetah, and various other large felidee, roam through its jungly coverts ; the wUd ele- phant, the rhinoceros, and gyal, are found in its forests ; and the sambur and axis browse on its grassy glades. Venomous snakes, hideous lizards, and bats, with the most beautiful of birds and butterflies, all find a home in the Terai. Several days' marching carried our travellers beyond the more settled portions of the country, and within the borders of this wUd, jungle-covered district. On the day they entered the Terai, they had made an early start of it; and, therefore, arrived at their camping* ground some hours before sunset. But the young bota- nist, filled with admiration at the many singular and 30 THE TEEil. novel forms of vegetation he saw around him, resolved to remain upon the ground for several days. Our travellers had no tent. Such an incumbrance would have been troublesome to them, travelling, aa they were, afoot. Indeed, all three had their full loads to carry, as much as they could well manage, without the additional weight of a tent. Each had his blanket, and various other impedimenta ; but one and all of them had often slept without roof or canvas, and they could do so again. At their present halting-place, they had no need for either. Nature had provided them with a cover quite equal to a canvas-tent They had encamped under a canopy of thick foliage, the foliage of the banyan tree. Young reader, you have heard of the great banyan of India; that wonderful tree, whose branches, after spreading out from the main trunk, send down roots to the earth, and form fresh stems, until a space of ground is covered with a single tree, under whose shade a •whole regiment of cavalry may bivouac, or a great public meeting be held I No doubt, you have read of Buch a tree, and have seen pictures of one ? I need not, therefore, describe the banyan very particularly. Let me say, however, that it is a fig-tree ; not the one that produces the eatable fig, of which you are so very fond, but another species of the same genus — the genus Ficus, Now, of this genus there are a great many species ; aa many, perhaps, as there are of any other genus of trees. Some of them are only creeping and climbing plants ; adhering to rocks and the trunks of other trees, like vines or ivy. Others, like the banyan, are among the largest trees of the forest. They are chiefly con- THK TEUAl. 31 fined to tropical countries, or hot regions lying on the borders of the tropics ; and they are found in both hemispheres, that is, both in America and the Old World. Some splendid species belong also to Austra- lia, All of them possess, more or less, the singular habit of throwing out roots from their branches, and forming new stems, like the banyan ; and frequently they embrace other trees in such a manner, as to hide the trunks of the latter completely from view ! This curious spectacle was witnessed by our travel- lers where they had encamped. The banyan which they had chosen as their shelter was not one of the largest — being only a young tree, but out of its top rose the huge fan-shaped leaves of a palm-tree of the kind known as the pahnyra palm (Borassus flageUiformis). No trunk of the palm-tree was visible ; and had not Karl Linden been a botanist, and known something of the singular habit of the banyan, he would have been puzzled to account for this odd combination. Above spread the long radiating fronds of the palmyra directly out of the top of the trunk of the fig, and looking so distinct from the foliage of the latter as to form a very curious sight. The leaves of the banyan being ovate, and somewhat cordate or heart-shaped, of course pre- sented quite a contrast to the large stiflF fronds cf the palmyra. Now the puzzle was, how the palm got there. Natur- ally one would suppose that a seed of the pahn had been deposited on the top of the banyan, and had there germinated and thrown out its fronds. But how did the palm seed get to the top of the fig ? Was it planted by the hand of man ? or carried thither 32 THE TEBU. by a bird ? It could not well have been by the latter mode— since the fruit of the palmyra is as large as a child's head, and each one of the three seeds it contains as big as a goose's egg I No bird would be likely to carry about such a bulky thing as that. If there were only one palm-tree growing from the top of one banyan, it might be conjectured that some one had so planted it ; but there are many such combinations of these trees met with in the forests of India, and also in districts en- tirely uninhabited. How then was this union of the two trees to be accounted for ? Of our three travellers Caspar alone was puzzled. Not so Karl and Ossaroo. Both were able to explain the matter, and Karl proceeded to offer the elucidation. " The fact is," said the botanist, " that the palm has not grown out of the fig, but vice versa. The banyan is the true parasite. A bird — wood-pigeon, or mino- bird, or tree-pheasant perhaps — has carried the berries of the fig-tree, and deposited them in the axil of the palmyra. This the smallest birds may easily do, since the fruit of the banyan is not larger than a diminutive cherry. Once in its place the seed has germinated, and sent its roots downward' along the trunk of the palm until they have reached the ground. These roots have then flattened around the stem of the palm, until they have enveloped it completely, with the exception of the top, as you see. Afterwards the fig has thrown out lateral branches, until the whole has assumed the appearance of a banyan-tree with a fan-palm growing out of its trunk 1 " This was the true explanation. Ossaroo added some remarks stating that the Hindoo people always regard THE TEKAl. SJ such a union of the two trees with great veneration, and believe it to be a holy marriage instituted by Prov- idence. For himself, Ossaroo — ^not being a very strict sectarian, nor much given to religion in any form- laughed at the superstition, and called it " humbug." 84 TAPPINfl THE PALMYRA. CHAPTER VIL TAPPING THE PALMTEA. Almost the first thing done by Ossaroo after he had got relieved of his baggage was to climb the banyan. This he was able to do with ease, as the trunk, in con- sequence of the peculiar mode of its growth, was full of ridges and inequalities, and moreover Ossaroo could climb like a cat. But what wanted he up the tree ? Was he after the fruit ? It could not be that, for the figs were not yet ripe, and even had they been quite mellow, they are but poor eating. Maybe he was going up for the nuts of the palmyra? No — it could not be that either, for these were not shaped. The great flower-spathe had not yet opened, and was only beginning to burst its green envelopes. Had the nuts been formed, and still in their young state, they would have afforded delicate eating. As already stated, the palmyra nuts grow to the size of a child's head. They are three-cornered, rounded off at the comers, consisting of a thick succu- lent yellowish rind, each containing three seeds as large as goose-eggs. It is the seeds that are eaten when young and pulpy ; but if allowed to ripen, they become quit's hard and blue-cclored, and are then insipid and TAPPING THE PALMTKA. JM aneatable. But it could not be the seed either which Ossaroo was after, since there were no seeds, nor nuts — only the flower, and that still hidden in its great Bpadlx. The boys watched Ossaroo narrowly. He had car- ried up with him a bamboo-joint which he had cut from a very thick cane. It was open at one end, and formed a vessel that would hold rather more than a quart. Another thing they had observed him to take with him ; and that was a stone about as big as a paving- stone. Still another implement he carried up the tree —his long knife. In a few seconds the shikarree had reached the top of the banyan ; and clutching the great leaf-stalks of the palm, he climbed up among its huge fronds. Here he was observed to lay hold of the spathe of the flower, and bending it against the trunk, he commenced ham- mering away with the stone, evidently with the inten- tion of crushing the young inflorescence. With a few blows he succeeded in doing this eflfectuaUy. He then drew the knife from his scarf, and, with an adroit cut, detached the upper half of the flower-spike, which fell neglected to the ground. The bamboo vessel was next brought into service. This he fixed on the spathe in such a manner that the incised end remained inside the hollow of the cane. Both flower-spike and cane were then tied to one of the leaf-stalks of the palm, so that the bamboo hung vertically bottom downward ; and this arrangement hav- ing been completed, the shikarree flung down his ham- mering stone, replaced his knife under his belt, and de- (cended frj m the tree. 86 TAPPING THE PALMYRA. « Now, Sahibs," said he, as soon as he had rea«hei terra firma, "you waitee hour — ^you drinkee Indoo champagne." In an hour or so his promise was fulfilled. The bamboo joint was released and brought down ; and, sure enough, it was found to be full of a cool clear liquor, of which all of them drank, esteeming it equal to the best champagne. In fact, there is no more seduo- ing and delicious drink in all India than the sap of the palmyra palm ; but it is also very intoxicating, and ig used too freely by the natives of the country where this splendid tree flourishes. Sugar can also be manufactured from this sap, simply by boiling it down. When sugar is to be made, the tree is tapped in a similar manner ; but it is necessary to have a little lime in the vessel while collecting the liquid, else it would ferment, and thus spoil it for sugar- boiling. The reason why Ossaroo was so ready in tapping this particular tree, was because the banyan which envel- oped its trunk offered him an excellent means of get- ting at it. Otherwise it would have been no easy matter to have ascended the smooth slender shaft of a palmyra, rising thirty or forty feet without knot or branch. Of course Ossaroo, as soon as the bamboo was empty, once more climbed up and readjusted it to the "tap," knowing that the sap would continue to run. This it does for many days, only that each day it ia necessary to cut a fresh slice from the top of the flower- stalk, so as to keep the pores open and free. Though the day had been hot, as soon as twilight came on the coolness of the air rendered it necessary TAPPING THE PALMTKA. 37 for our travellers to kindle a fire. Ossaroo was not long in striking a light out of his tinder-box, and hav- ing set Are to some dry leaves and moss, a blaze was soon p'xjduced. Meanwhile Karl and Caspai had broken some branches from a dead tree that lay near the spot, and carrying them up in armfuls, piled them upon the burning leaves. A roaring fire was created in a few minutes, and around this the party seated them- selves, and commenced cooking their supper of rice, with some pieces of dried meat, which they had brought along from the last village. Whilst engaged in this occupation, so agreeable to men who are hungry, the botanist, whose eye was al- ways on the alert for matters relating to his favorite calling, remarked that the wood out of which their fire had been made burned very much like oak. On taking up one of the fagots, and cutting it with his knife, he was astonished to find that it was oak in reahty — for there is no mistaking the grain and fibre of this giant of the northern forests. What astonished him was the existence of oak-trees in a country where the flora was altogether tropical. He knew that he might expect to find representatives of the oak family upon the sides of the Himalayas ; but he was still only at their foot, and in the region of the palms and bananas. Karl knew not then, nor is it yet generally known, that many species of oaks are tropical trees — in fact, many kinds may be found in the torrid zone, growing even as low as the level of the sea. It is no less strange, that although there are no oaks in tropical South America and Africa, in Ceylon, or even in the peninsula of India itself, yet there are numerous species 88 TAPPING THE PALMYRA. in East Bengal, the Moluccas, ar.d the Indian islands — perhaps a greater number of species than grows in any other part of the world ! The sight of this old acquaintance, as they termed the oak, had a cheering effect upon the Bavarian boys ; and after supper they sat conversing upon the subject, determined ' as soon as it was day to look out for some of the living trees as further confirmation of the strange fact they had observed. They were about thinking of wrapping themselves up in their blankets, and retiring to rest, when an in- cident occurred that kept them awake for another houi or two. THS SAMBUB STAO. 89 CHAPTER VIIL THE SAMBUB STAG. " SjiE 2 " cried Caspar, who was more sharp-eyed than KarL " Look ! look yonder ! two lights, I declare ! " "Indeed, yes," replied Karl; "I see them — ^bright round lights ! What can they be ? " "An animal ! " answered Caspar ; " I can afiSrm that much. Some wild beast, I fancy ! " They regarded the strange object with some uneasi- ness, for they knew they were in the haunts of dangerous wild beasts. " Maybe a tiger ? " suggested Karl. " Or a panther ? " added his brother. " I hope neither one nor the other," said KarL He was interrupted by Ossaroo, who had now ob- serred the shining spots, and who with a single word reassured the whole party. " Samboo," said the shikarree. Both knew that Ossaroo meant by " Samboo," the great deer or stag known to Europeans as the sambnr deer. It was the eyes of a deer, then, glancing back the blaze of the oak fagots, that had alarmed them. Their fears were suddenly changed to feelings of joy. 40 THE SAMBDE STAG They had a double ir.otive for being pleased at !he Bight. To shoot and bring down the deer would be such excellent sport ; besides, a fresh venison steak was a delicacy which both could appreciate. All of them, Ossaroo included, were too well ac- customed to the habits of hunters to act rashly. Any sudden movement among them might frighten the game ; and if it bounded off into the forest, or even turned its head, it could no longer be seen in the pitchy darkness that surrounded them. The shining eyes were all of it that were visible ; and if the creature had but chosen to shut its eyes it might have stood there till the morning light, without the least chance of being aimed at. The animal, however, was too full of its own curiosity to adopt this precaution. Instead, it remained where it had been first observed — its great round orbs uncovered to their fiiU extent and gleaming in the light like a pair of «buU's-eyes." Caspar in a whisper cautioned the others to remain silent and not to move hand or finger. He, himself gradually dropped his arm, until he was able to grasp his large double-barrelled gun ; and then, raising the piece slowly to a level, took aim and fired. He very prudently did not aim for the centre spot between the eyes. Had it been a bullet that was in his gun he might have done so ; but he knew that his piece was only loaded with shot, and shot — even though they were "buck-shot" —might not penetrate the hard thick skull of a stag so strong as the sambur. Instead of aiming for the eyes, therefore, he took sight at least a foot below them, and in a direct line below. He had already conjecturtd THE SAMBUR STAG. 41 fipom the even tet of the eyes, that the deer was stand- ing full front towards the camp-fire, and his object was to send the shot into its breast and throat. The instant after he had delivered the first barrel, although the shining eyes went out like the snuffing of candles, he fired the second, so as to take advantage of a random shot. He might have spared his load, for the first had done the business ; and the noise of kicking and sprawling among the dry leaves told that the deer was knocked over, and, if not killed, at least badly wounded. The dog Fmz had already leaped forth ; and before the hunters could procure a torch and reach the spot, the huge hound had seized the quarry by the throat, and finished its struggles by strangling it to death. They now dragged the carcass up to the light of the lire, and it was just as much as the three of them could manage — for the sambur deer is one of the largest ani- mals of its kind, and the one that had fallen into their hands was a fine old buck, with a pair of immense antlered horns, of which no doubt in his lifetime he had been excessively proud. The sambur deer is one of the most distinguished of the deer tribe. Although not equal in size to the American wapiti (^Oervus Canadensis), he is much superior to the stag or red-deer of Europe. He is an active, bold, and vicious animal ; and, when bayed, a dangerous antagonist either to dogs or hunters. His coat is close, the hair harsh, of a brown color, and slightly grizzled. Around the neck it is long and shaggy, but particularly upon the under line of the throat, where it forms a mane similar to that of the 42 THE SAMBUR STAG. American wapiti. Another mane runs along the back of the neck, adding to the fierce bold appearance of the animal. A blackish band encircles the muzzle, and the usial " crupper mark" around the tail is small and of a yellowish color. This is the description of the common sambur deer {Gervus hippelaphus) best known to Europeans, and among Anglo-Indian sportsmen called " stag " ; but it is to be observed that in different parts of Asia there are many different species and varieties of the sambur. Zoologists usually class them in a group called Rusa ; and one or other of this group may be found in every district of India from Ceylon to the Himalayas, and from the Indus to the islands of the Indian Archipelago. They haunt in timber, and usually by the banks of streams or other waters. America has long been regarded as the favorite re- gion of the deer tribe, as Africa is the. true home of the antelopes. This belief, however, seems to be rather an incorrect one, and has arisen, perhaps, from the fact that the American species are better known to Euro- peans. It is true that the largest of the deer — the moose ( Cervus dices) — is an inhabitafit of the Ameri- can continent in common with Northern Europe and Asia ; but the number of species on that continent, both in its northern and southern divisions, is very limited. When the zoology of the East — ^I mean of all those countries and islands usually included under the term East Indies — shall have been fully determined, we shall DO doubt find not only twice, but three times the number of species of deer that belongs to America. "When we consider the vast number of educated THE SAMBTJB STAG. 43 Englishmen — ^both in the army and in the civil service —who have idled away theiv lives in India, we cannot help wondering at the little that is yet known in rela- tion to the fauna of the Oriental world. Most of the Indian officers have looked upon the wild animals of that country with the eye of the sportsman rather than of the naturalist. With them a deer is a deer, and a large ox-like animal a buffalo, or it may be a gayal, or a jungle cow, or a gour, or a gyaU ; but which of all these is an ox, or whether the four last-mentioned bovine quadrupeds are one and the same species, remains to be determined. Were it not that these gentlemen have had spirit enough occasionally to send us home a skin or a set of horns, we might remain altogether ignorant of the existence of the creature from which these trophies were taken. Verily science owes not much to the Honorable East India Company. We are not blind to such noble exceptions as Sykes, Hodgson, and others ; and, if every province of India had a resident of their character, a fauna might soon be catalogued that would astonish even the spectacled taeauL 44 A NIGHT MARAUD EE. CHAPTER IX. A NIGHT MABAUDEB. UssAROO soon Stripped the stag of its skin, cut the carcass into quarters, and hung them on the limh of a tree. Although the party had already supped, the ex- citement which had been occasioned by the incident gave them a fresh appetite ; and venison steaks were broiled over the oak-wood cinders, and eaten with a relish. These were washed down by fresh draughts of the delicious palm-wine ; and then the travellers, having gathered some of the hanging moss {Usnea), and strewed it near the fire, rolled themselves in their blankets, and went to sleep. About midnight there was a camp alarm. The sleepers were awakened by the dog Fritz ; who, by his angry baying and fierce demonstrations, showed that some creature must have approached the fire that had no business to be there. On rousing themselves they thought they heard footsteps at a little distance, and a low growl as of some wUd beast ; but it was not easy to distinguish any sound in particular, as at this season the tropical forest is full of noises — so loud that it is often difficult for persons to hear each other in tonversation. What with the chirruping of cicadas, A NIGHT MARAUDBK. 45 the croaking of swamp-frogs, the tinkling of tree-toads, and the hooting and screeching of owls and night- hawks, the Indian forest is filled with a deafening din throughout the whole night. Fritz ceased barking ailer a time ; and they all went to sleep again, and slept till morning. As soon as day broke, they were up, and set about preparing breakfast. Fresh fagots were piled upon the fire, and preparations made for a savoury roast of venison rib. Ossaroo climbed up to his tap, while Caspar went for the meat. The quarters of the deer had been suspended upon a tree, at the distance of about fifty paces from the camp- fire. The reason of their being hung at such a distance was that a stream flowed there, and in order to clean the meat, they had carried it down to the water's edge A horizontal branch, which was about the proper height &om the ground, had tempted Ossaroo, and he had chosen it for his " meat-rack." An exclamation from Caspar now summoned the others to the spot. " See ! " cried he, as they came up, " one of the quar- ters gone ! " " Ha ! there have been thieves ! " said Karl. " That was what caused Fritz to bark." " Thieves ! " ejaculated Caspar. " Not men thieves I They would have carried oflf the four quarters instead of one. Some wild beast has been the thief! " " Yes, Sahib, you speakee true," said the shikarree, who had now reached the spot ; " he wild beast — ^he very wild beast — ^big tiger ! " At the mention of the name of this terrible animal, 16 A NIGHT MAKAUDEE. both boys started, and looked anxiously around. Even Ossaroo himself exhibited symptoms of fear. To think they had been sleeping on the open ground so close to a tiger — ^the most savage and dreaded of all beasts— and this, too, in India, where they were constantly hearing tales of the ravages committed by these ani- mals! " You think it was a tiger ? " said the botanist, inter- rupting Ossaroo. " Sure, Sahib — ^lookee here ! — Sahib, see him track ! " The shikarree pointed to some tracks in the selvidge of sand that lined the bank of the rivulet. There, sure enough, were the footprints of a large animal ; and, upon inspecting them closely, they could easily be distinguished as those of a creature of the cat tribe. There were the pads or cushions smoothly imprinted in the sand, and the slight impression of the clSws — ^for the tiger, although possessed of very long and sharp claws, can retract these when walking, so as to leave very little mark of them -in the mud or sand. The tracks were too large to be mistaken for those either of a leopard or panther, and the only other animal to which they could appertain was the lion. There were lions in that district. But Ossaroo weU knew how to distin- guish between the tracks of the two great carnivora, and without a moment's hesitation he pronounced the robber to have been a tiger. It now became a matter of serious consideration what they should do under the circumstances. Should they abandon their camp, and move forward? Karl was very desirous of spending a day or two in the neigh- borhood. He made no doubt of being able to find *. NIGHT MARAUDER. 47 wvcnd new species ol plants there. But with the knowledge of having such a neighbor they would not Bleep very soundly. The tiger would, no doubt, return to the ci&ap. He was not likely to stay away from a quarter where he had found such hospitable entertain- ment — such a good supper. He must have seen the rest of the venison, and would be sure to pay them another visit on the following night. True, they might kindle large fires, and frighten him ofif from their sleep- ing place; still, they would be under an unpleasant apprehension ; and even during the day they had no confidence that he might not attack them — particularly if they went botanizing in the woods. The very places into which their occupation would lead them, would be those in which they were most likely to meet this dreaded neighbor. Perhaps, therefore, it would be best to pack up, and proceed on their journey. While eating their breakfasts the thing was debated among them. Caspar, fuU of hunter-spirit, was desirous of having a peep at the tiger anyhow ; but Karl was more prudent, if not a little more timid, and thought it was better to " move on." This was the opinion of the botanist ; but he at length gave way to Caspar, and more particularly to Ossaroo, who proposed kitting the tiger if they would only remain one night longer upon the ground. " "What ! with your bow, Ossaroo ? " asked Caspar ; " with your poisoned arrows ? " " No, young Sahib," replied Ossaroo. " 1 thought you would have but little chance to kill a great tiger with such weapons. How do you mean to io it thsn ? " 48 A NIGHT MARAUDER. " If Sahib Karl consent to stay till to-morrow, Ossb- roc shjiw you — ^he kill tiger — he catch 'im 'live." « Catch him alive ! — In a trap ? — In a snare ? " " No trapee — no snaree. You see. Ossaroo do what he say — ^he take tiger 'live." Ossaroo had evidently some plan of his own, and the others became curious to know what it was. As the ehikarree promised that it was unattended with danger, the botanist consented to remain, and let the trial be made. Ossaroo now let them into the secret of his plan ; and as soon as they had finished eating their breakfasts, all hands set to work to assist him in carrying it into execution. They proceeded as follows. In the first place, a large number of joints of bamboo were obtained from a neighboring thicket of these canes. The bark of the banyan was then cut, and the canes inserted in such a manner that the white milky sap ran into them. Each joint was left closed at the bottom, and served as a vessel to collect the juice, and such stems of the fig only were tapped as were young and fuU of sap. As soon as a sufficient quantity of the fluid had been distilled into the canes, the contents of all were poured into the cooking-pot, and hung over a slow fire. The sap was then stirred — afresh juice being occasionally thrown in — and in a short while the whole attained the toughness and consistency of the best birdlime. It was, in fact, true birdlime — the same that is used by the bird- catchers of India, and quite equal to that manufactared from the holly. During the time that this was being prepared, Kari A NIGHT MAKATTDEK. 49 and Caspar, by the directions of Ossaroo, had climbed into the trees, and collected an immense quantity of leaves. These leaves were also taken from the banyan figs, and for this purpose they had selected those that grew on the youngest trees and shoots. Each leaf was as large as a tea-plate, and they were covered with a woolly pubescence, peculiar only to the leaves upon the younger trees — ^for as the banyan grows old its leaves become harder and smoother on the surface. The fig-leaves having been gathered to his hand, and the birdlime made ready, Ossaroo proceeded to carry out his design. The two remaining quarters of the venison still hung on the tree. These were permitted to remain — as a bait to the siugular trap that Ossaroo was about to set — only that they were raised higher from the ground, in order that the tiger might not too readily snatch them away, and thus defeat the stratagem of the hunter. The venison having been hung to his liking, Ossaroo now cleared the ground for a large space around — di- recting his assistants to carry off all the brush and dead wood to a distance from the spot. This was quickly done, and then the shikarree put the finishing stroke to his work. This occupied him for two hours at least, and consisted in anointing all the fig-leaves that had been gathered with a coat of birdlime, and spreading them over the ground, until they covered a space of many yards in circumference. In the centre of this space hung the venison ; and no creature could have approached within yards of it without treading upon the smeared leaves. The leaves had been anointed upon both sides, so that they adhered slightly to tho 60 A NIGHT MARAXJDEB. grass, and a breeze of wind could not have disarranged them to any great extent. When all was fixed to their satisfaction, Ossaroo and the others returned to the camp-fire, and ate a hearty dinner. It was already late in the day, for they had been many hours at work, and they had not thought of dining untU their arrangements were complete. Noth- ing more remained to be done, but to await the resoli of their stratagem. A. TALK ABOUT TIGERS. 51 CHAPTER X- A TALK ABOtTT TIGEBS. I KEES not describe a tiger. You have seen one, ot the picture of one. He is the great striped cat. The large tpotted ones are not tigers. They are either jagu- ars, or panthers, or leopards, or ounces, or cheetahs, or Bervals. But there is no danger of your mistaJdng the tiger for any other animal. He is the largest of the feline tribe — the Hon alone excepted — and individual tigers have been measured as large as the biggest lion. The shaggy mane that covers the neck and shoulders of an old male Hon gives him the appearance of being of greater dimensions than he really is. Skin him and he would not be larger than an old he-tiger also divested of his hide. Like the lion, the tiger varies but little in form or color. Nature does not sport with these powerful beasts. It is only upon the meaner animals she plays off her eccentricities. The tiger may be seen with the ground color of a lighter or deeper yellow, and the stripes or bars more or less black ; but the same general appear- ance is preserved, and the species can always be recog- nized at a glance. The range or habitat of the tiger is more limited than 3* 32 A TALK ABODT TIGERS. that of the lion. The latter exists throughout the whole of Afiica, as well as the southern half of Asia ; whereas the tiger is found only in the southeastern countries of Asia, and some of the larger islands of the Indian Archipelago. Westwardly his range does not extend to this side of the Indus river, and how far north in Asia is uncertain. Some naturalists assert that there are tigers in Asia as far north as the Obi River. This would prove the tiger to be not altogether a tropical animal, as he is generally regarded. It is certain that tigers once did inhabit the countries around the Caspian Sea. There lay Hyrcania ; and several Soman writers speak of the Hyrcanian tigers. They could not have meant any of the spotted cats, — ounce, panther, or leop- ard, — ^for the Bomans knew the difference between these and the striped or true tiger. If, then, the tiger was an inhabitant of those trans-Himalayan regions in the days of Augustus, it is possible it still exists there, as we have proofs of its existence in Mongolia and northern China at the present day. Were we to believe some travellers, we should have the tiger, not only in Africa, but in America. The jaguar is the tiger {tigre) of the Spanish Americans ; and the panther, leopard, and cheetah, have all done duty as " tigers " in the writings of old travellers in Africa. The true home of this fierce creature is the hot jun- gle covered country that exists in extended tracts in Hindostan, Siam, Malaya, and parts of China. There the tiger roams undisputed lord of the thicket and forest; and although the lion is also found in these countries, he is comparatively a rare animal, and, ironi A TALK ABOUT TIGBES. 53 being but seldom met with, is less talked »bout or feared. We who live far away from the haunts of these great camivora, can hardly realize the terror which is inspired by them in the countries they infest. In many places human life is not safe ; and men go out upon a journey, with the same dread of meeting a tiger, that we would have for an encounter with a mad dog. This dread is by no means founded upon mere fancies or fabricated stories. Every village has its true tales of tiger attacks and encounters, and every settle- ment has its list of killed or maimed. You can scarce credit such a relation ; but it is a weU-known fact that whole districts of fertile country have from time to time been abandoned by their inhabitants out of pure fear of the tigers and panthers which infested them ! Indeed, similar cases of depopulation have occurred in South America, caused by a far less formidable wild beast— the jaguar. In some parts of India the natives scarce attempt resistance to the attack of the tiger. Indeed, the superstition of his victims aids the fierce monster in their destruction. They regard him as being gifted with supernatural power, and sent by their gods to destroy ; and under this conviction yield themselves up, without making the slightest resistance. In other parts, where races exist possessed of more energy of character, the tiger is hunted eagerly, and various modes of killing or capturing him are practised in different districts. Sometimes a bow is set with poisoned ftm)ws, and a eord attached to the string. A bait is then placed en 54 A TALE ABOUT TIGEES. the grotiud, and arranged in such a way that the tigei on approaching it, presses against the cord, sets th« bow-string free, and is pierced by the arrow — the poison of which eventually causes his death. A spring-gun is set off by a similar contrivance, and y had finished their day's journey, and were recUning under a great taktuma tree — & species of magnolia, with very large leaves — ^by the edge of a little glade. They had not yet made any preparations for their camp. The day's march had been a severe one, for they were now among the foot-hills of the great Himalaya chain ; and though they appeared to travel as much down hill as up they were in reality ascending, and by evening they were really more than five thou- sand feet above the plains of India. They had arrived in a new zone of vegetation, among the great forests of magnolias which gird the middle parts of the mountains. It is in this part of the world that the remarkable genua of magnoUa is found in its greatest vigor and variety ; and many species of these trees, in forests of vasl extent, cover and adorn the declivities of the lower Himalayas. There are the white-flowered magnolias, at an elevation of from four thousand to eight thousand feet, which are then replaced by the still more gorgeouii (lurple magnolia (Magnolia Campbellia) — the latter 102 THE AXIS AND PANTHBE. being the most superb species known, its brilliant corol« las often arraying the sloping sides of the hills as with a robe of purple. Here, too, our travellers observed chestnut-trees of rare species, and several kinds of oak — laurels also, not in the form of humble shrubs, but rising as tall trees, with straight smooth boles, to the height of the oaks themselves. Maples, too, were seen mingling in the forest, and the tree rhododendrons growing forty feet high ! What appeared singular to the eyes of the botanist, was the mingling of many European forms of plants among those of a strictly tropical character. For in- stance, there were birches, willows, alders, and walnut- trees, growing side by side with the wild plantain, the Wallich pahn, and gigantic bamboos ; while the great Gedrela Toona, figs of several species, melastomas, bal- sams, poiAo* plants, peppers, and gigantic climbing vines and orchids, were intermixed with speedwell, common bramble, forget-me-not, and stinging-nettles, just such as might have been met with in a European field! Tree ferns were seen rising up and towering high above the common brake-fern of the English moors ; while the wild strawberry of Britain was seen covering the ground in patches of large extent. Its fruit, however, in the Himalayas is quite insipid, but a fine yellow raspberry — one of the most luscious &uits met with in these mountains — was found growing in the same dis- tricts, as if to compensate for the absence of flavor in the strawberry. Under one of these magnificent magnolias, whose large wax-like corollas filled the air with their odorous perfume, our travellers had just stretched themselves— THE AXIS AND FANTHEB. 103 btending, after a few minutes of rest, to make the necessary arrangements for passing the night there. Ossaroo was chewing his betel-nut, and Karl and Caspar, both very tired, were doing nothing and saying as little. Fritz, too, lay along the ground, with his tongue out, and panting after the hot day's rambling among the bushes. Just at that moment, Caspar, whose sharp hunter eye was always on the alert, caught Karl by the sleeve, and in a hurried whisper, said, — " See, Karl ! see !— Isn't it a beauty ? " As Caspar said this, he pointed to an animal that had just come out of the jungle, and stood within a few feet of its edge. The creature in question had the shape size, and general appearance of a fallow-deer, and its slender limbs and well proportioned body bespoke it to be a near kin to that animaL In color, however, it essentially differed from the fallow-deer. Its ground color was much the same, but it was spotted aU over with snow-white spots that gave it a very beautiful ap- pearance. It looked somewhat like the young of the fallow-deer, and might have been taken for an over- grown fawn. Karl, however, knew what it was. " A spotted deer," he replied, also in a whisper. " It is the axis. Hold back Fritz, and let us watch it a moment." Karl had guessed coirectly what kind of animal it was. It was the axis, one of the best known of the Indian deer, and closely allied to the Susa group of Asia as well as to the fallow-deer of Europe. There are several species of the axis in eastern Asia, more or less marked with spots, and in no part are they more 104 THE AXIS AND PANTHER. common than in the country through which the plant* hunters were passing — the country of the Gianges and the Burrampooter. Caspar caught Fritz as desired, and held him fast ; and the travellers, without making any noise, sat watch- ing the movements of the axis. To their surprise, another axis now showed itself upon the ground, but this one was of such small dimen- sions that they saw at once it was the young of the first. It was a tiny little fawn, but a few days old, and speckled all over with similar snow-white spots. The deer, unconscious of the presence of the travel- lers, walked several paces out upon the meadow, and commenced browsing upon the grass. The little fawn knew not, as yet, how to eat grass ; and occupied itself by skipping and playing about its mother, like a kid. The hunters, all speaking in whispers, now counselled among themselves as to what they should do. Ossaroo would have liked a bit of venison for supper, and, cer- tainly, the fawn was a tempting morceau. Caspar voted to kill ; but Karl, of gentler nature, opposed this de- sign. " A pity ! " he said. " Look, brother, how gentle they appear ? Remember how we felt after killing the savage bear, and this would be far worse." WhUe engaged in this undertone discussion, a new party made his appearance upon the scene, which drove all thoughts of killing the deer out of the minds both of Caspar and Ossaroo. This intruder was an animal quite as large as the axis, but of an entirely different form. Its ground* colour was not unlike that of the deer, with a deeper THE AXIS AND PANTHER. 105 tinge of yellow, aud it, too, was spotted all over the body. Herein, however, a striking contrast existed between the two. As already stated, the spots upon the axis were snow-white ; while those upon the new comer were just the reverse — black as jet. Spots they could hardly be termed, though, at a distance, they pre- sented that appearance. When closely viewed, how- ever, it would have been seen that they were rather rosettes, or rings ; the centre part being of the same yellowish ground-color as the rest of the body. The animal had a stout, low body ; short, but strong limbs ; a long, tapering tail, and a cat-like head. The last is not to be wondered at, since it was in reality a cat. It was the panther. The attention of the hunters was at once taken away from the axis, and became fixed on the great spotted cat, which aU three knew to be a panther; next to the lion and tiger, the most formidable of Asiatic felidtB. AU knew that the Indian panther often attacks man ; and it was, therefore, with no very comfortable feelings that they hailed his appearance. The boys grasped their guns more firmly, and Ossaroo his bow, ready to give the panther the volley, should he approach within range. The latter, however, had no design of molesting the travellers. He was unaware of their presence. His whole attention was occupied with the axis ; upon whose ribs, or, perhaps, those of the fawn, he intended to make his supper. With crouching gait and silent tread he approached Us intended victims, stealing along the edge of the 106 THE AXIS AND PANTHER. jungle. In a few seconds, he was near enough to spring and, as yet, the poor doe browsed unconsciously. He was just setting his paws for the leap, and, in all prob- ability, would have pouilced next moment upon the back of the deer, but, just in the nick of time, Caspar chanced to sneeze. It was not done designedly, or with any intention of warning the deer ; for all three of the hunters were so absorbed in watching the manosuvres of the panther, that they never thought of such a thing. Perhaps the powerful odor of the magnolia blossoms had been the cause ; but, whether or no, Cas- par sneezed. That sneeze was a good thing. It saved the tender mother and her gentle fawn from the fangs of the ferocious panther. She heard it, and, raising her head on the instant, glanced round. The crouching cat came under her eyes ; and, without losing a second of time, she sprang up to the fawn, seized the astonished little creature in her mouth, and, bounding like an arrow across the glade, was soon out of sight, having disappeared into the jungle on the opposite side 1 The panther, who had either not heard or not re- garded the sneeze, sprang out, as he had intended, but missed his aim. He ran a few stretches, rose into the air, and, a second time, came down without touching the deer ; and then, seeing that the latter had sped beyond his reach, according to the usual habit of all the felidcB, he desisted from farther pursuit. Trotting back whence he had come, he entered the jungle before the hunters could get within shooting distance of him, and was never more seen by any of the three. As they returned to camp, Karl congratulated Cas« MIK AXIS AND PANTHER. 107 par for having sneezed so opportunely ; though Caspar acknowledged that it was quite accidental, and that, for his part, he would rather he had not sneezed at all, and thfi, he had either got a shot at the panther, or had a bk of the fawn for his supper 108 THE FEdTd OF THB TSOPIOS. CHAPTER XIX. THE PESTS OF THE TROPICS. Much has been said and written in praise of the bright sun and the blue skies of tropical countries ; and travellers have dUated largely upon the magnificent fruits, flowers, and foliage of tropical forests. One who has never visited these southern climes is disposed to indulge in very fanciful dreams of enjoyment there. Life would seem to be luxurious ; every scene appears to be couleur de rose. But Nature has not designed that any portion of her territory should be favored beyond the rest to such an extreme degree ; and, perhaps, if a just comparison were instituted, it would be found that the Esquimaux, shivering in his hut of snow, enjoys as much personal happiness as the swarth southerner, who swings in his hammock under the shade of a banyan or a palm- tree. The clime of the torrid zone, with its luxuriant vege- tation, is also prolific of insect and reptile Ufe ; and, from this very circumstance, the denizen of a hot coun- try is often subject to a greater amount of personal dis- comfort than the dweller in the Arctic zone. Even the scarcity of vegetable food, and the bitter, biting frost, THE PESTS OP THE TROIIC'S. 109 we far easier to endure than the plague of tipulary insects and reptiles, which swarm between Cancer and Capricorn. It is a well-known fact, that there are large districts in tropical America where human life is scarce endur- able, on account of the mosquitos, gnats, ants, and other insects. Thus writes the great Prussian geognosist : — " Persons who have not navigated the rivers of equi- noctial America can scarcely conceive how, at every instant, without intermission, you may be tormented by insects flying in the air, and how the multitudes of these little animals may render vast regions almost uninhab- itable. Whatever fortitude be exercised to endure pain without complaint, whatever interest may be felt in the objects of scientific research, it is impossible not to be constantly disturbed by the mosquitos, zancudos, jejens, and tempraneros, that cover the face and hands, pierce the clothes with their long, needle-formed suck- ers ; and, getting into the mouth and nostrils, occasion coughing and sneezing, whenever any attempt is made to speak in the open air. " In the missions of the Orinoco, in the Tillages on the banks of the river, surrounded by immense forests, the plaga de las moscas, or plague of the mosquitos, affords an inexhaustible subject of conversation. When two persons meet in the morning, the first questiona they address to each other are : ' How did you find the zancudos during the night ? ' ' How are we to-day for the mosquitos ? ' " An atmosphere filled with venomous insects always appears to be more heated than it is in reality. We 110 THE PESTS OF THE TKOPICS. were horribly tormented in the day by mosquitas and the jejen (a small venomous fly), and at night by the zanciidos, a large species of gnat, dreaded even by the natives. "At difiFerent hours of the day you are Htung by different species. Every time that the scene changes, and, to use the simple expression of the missionaries, other insects ' mount guard,' you have a few minutes— often a quarter of an hour, of repose. The insects that disappear have not their places instantly supplied by their successors. From half-past sis in the morning till five in the afternoon the air is filled with mos- quitos. An hour before sunset a species of small gnats — called tempraneros, because they appear also at sunrise — ^take the place of the mosquitos. Their pres- ence scarcely lasts an hour and a half. They disap- pear between six and seven in the evening. After a few minutes' repose, you feel yourself stung by zan- cudos, another species of gnat, with very long legs. The zancudo, the proboscis of which contains a sharp- pointed sucker, causes the most acute pain, and a swell- ing that remains several weeks. " The means that are employed to escape from these little plagues are very extraordinary. At Maypures the Indians quit the village at night to go and sleep on the little islets in the midst of the cataracts. There they enjoy some rest, the mosquitos appearing to shun air loaded with vapors. " Between the little harbor of Higuerote and the mouth of the Rio Unare the wretched inhabitants are accustomed to stretch themselves on the ground, and pass the night buried in the sand three or four inches THE PESTS OF THE TROPICS. Ill i£eep, leaving out the head only, which they cover with a handkerchief. " At Mandanaca we found an old missionary, who told us with an air of sadness that he had had his 'twenty years of mosquitos' in America. He desired ui. to look at his legs, that we might be able to teU one day beyond sea ' what the poor monks suffer in the forests of Cassiquiare.' Every sting leaving a small darkish broTiTi spot, his legs were so speckled that it was difficult to recognize the whiteness of his skin, through the spots of coagulated blood ! " Just such torments as the great Prussian traveller suffered from insects in the forests of South America, our plant-hunters had to endure while passing through the humid woods of the Lower Himalayas. By night and by day the air seemed filled with insects, in count- less swarms, — ^large and small moths, cockchafers, glow- flies, cockroaches, winged ants, may-flies, flying ear- wigs, beetles, and " daddy long-legs." They experienced the bite of ants or the stings of mosquitos every mo- ment, or they were attacked by large ticks, a species of which infests the bamboo, and which is one of the most hateful of insects. These the traveller cannot avoid coming in contact with while brushing through the for- est. They get inside his dress, often in great numbers, and insert their proboscis deeply, but without pain. Buried head and shoulders, and retained by its barbed lancet, this tick can only be extracted with great force, and the operation is exceedingly painful. But of the tortures to which they were subjected by insects and reptiles, there was one more disagreeable and disgusting than all the rest, and on their first eipe- rience of it the three were quite horrified. Il2 THE PESTS OF THE TKOPICS- It happened to them on the very day after their ad- venture with the bear and the bees. They had walked several miles for their morning stage, and the sun hav- ing grown quite hot, they agreed to rest for some hours tiU afternoon. Having thrown off their packs and ac- coutrements, all three lay down upon the grass close by the edge of a little stream, and under the shadow of a spreading tree. The fatigue of the walk, combined with the heated atmosphere, had rendered them drowsy, and one and all of them fell fast asleep. Caspar was the first to awake. He did not feel quite comfortable during his sleep. The mosquitos or some other kind of insects appeared to be biting him, and this had prevented him from sleeping soundly. He awoke at length and sat upright. The others were still asleep close by, and the eyes of Caspar by chance rested upon Ossaroo, whose body was more than half naked, the slight cotton tunic having fallen aside and exposed his breast to view ; besides, his legs were bare, as the shikarree had rolled up his trousers on account of the damp grass they had been passing through. What was the astonishment of Caspar at perceiving the naked part of Ossaroo's body mottled with spots of dark and red — the latter being evidently blotches of blood ! Caspar perceived that some of the dark spots were in motion, now lengthening out, and then closing up again into a smaller compass ; and it was only after he had drawn closer, and examined these objects more minutely that he was able to determine what they were. They were leeches ! Ossaroo was covered with leeches/ Caspar uttered a cry that awoke both of his com« panioEs on the instant THE PESTS OF THE TROPICS. 113 Ossaroo was not a little disgusted with the fix he found himself in, but Karl and Caspar did not waste much time in condoling with him, for upon eiiiamination they found that they themselves had fared no better, both of them being literally covered with the same bloodthirsty reptiles. A scene now ensued that would not be easy to de» scribe. All three pulled off their garments, and went to work to extract the leeches with their fingers — for there was no other mode of getting rid of the trouble- some intruders — and after a full half-hour spent in picking one another clean, they rapidly dressed again, and took the route, desirous of getting away from that spot as quickly as possible. Of all the pests of warm Oriental climates, there are none so troublesome to the traveller, or so disgusting, as these land-leeches. They infest the humid woods on the slopes of the Himalaya Mountains from about two thousand to eleven thousand feet of elevation/; but they are not confined to the Himalayas alone, as they are common in the mountain forests of Ceylon, Sumatra, and other parts of the Indies. There are many species of them — and even upon the Himalayas more than one kind — the small black species swarming above the ele- vation of three thousand feet, while a large yellow kind, more solitary, is found farther down. They are not only troublesome and annoying, but dangerous. They often crawl into the fauces, noses, and stomachs of human beings, where they produce dreadful sufferings and even death. Cattle are subject to their attacks ; and hundreds perish in this way — the cause of theit ieath not being always understood, and usually attrib- uted to some species of vermin. 114 IflE PESTS OF THE TROPICS. It is almost impossible to keep them off the person while travelling through a track of woods infested by them. If the traveller only sit down for a moment, they crawl upcn him without being perceived. They are exceedingly active, and move with surprising rapid- ity. Indeed, some fancy they have the power to spring from the ground. Certain it is that they possess the powers of contraction and extension to a very great degree. When fully extended they appear as thin as a thread, and the next moment they can clue themselves up like a pea. This power enables them to pass rapidly from point to point, and also to penetrate into the small- est aperture. They are said to possess an acute sense of smell, and guided by this they approach the traveller the moment he sits down. They will crowd up from all quarters, until fifty or a hundred crawl upon one person in a few minutes' time, so that one is kept busy in removing them as fast as they appear. They occur in greatest numbers in moist shady woods, and cover the leaves when heavy dew is on them. In rain they are more numerous than at other times, and then they infest the paths ; whereas in dry weather they betake themselves into the streams, or the thickly-shaded interior of the jungle. Those who know not their haunts, their love of blood, their keenness and immense numbers, cannot understand the disgust and annoyance experienced from them by travellers. They get into the hair, hang by the eyelids, crawl up the legs, or down the back, and fasten them- selves under the instep of the foot ; and if not removed, gorge 'themselves with blood till they roll off. Often the traveller finds his boots filled with these hideous THE PESTS OF THE TROPICS. 115 creatures when arrived at the end of his day's journey. Their wound at the time produces no pain, but it causes a sore afterwards, which is frequently months in healing, and leaves a scar that remains for years I Many antidotes are adopted, and tobacco-juice or snuff will keep them off when applied over the skin i but in passing through moist woods and the long wet jungle grass, such applications require to be continually renewed, and it becomes so troublesome and vexatious to take these precautions, that most travellers prefer wearing long boots, tucking in their trousers, and then keeping a good look-out for these insidious cr^vlera. 116 THE MUSK-DEEB. CHAPTER XX. THE MU8K-DBEB. A FEW days' more journeying up the mo4 conjecture that there are in Asia a dozen species of wild sheep, and quite as many belonging to the goat- tribe ; and when that continent shall be thoroughly explored by scientific travellers, a very large addition wiU be made to the catalogue of ruminant animals. Nearly every extensive valley or chain of the Asiatic mountains possesses some species of the sheep or goat- tribe peculiar to itself, and differing from all others of the same genus; and in ascending the stupendous heights of the Himalayas you find that every stage of elevation has its peculiar species. Some dwell in dense forests, others in those that are thin and open. Some prefer the grassy slopes, while others affect the barren ridges of rock. There are those that are found only upon the very limits of vegetation, spending most of their lives within the region of eternal snow. Among these are the famed ibex and the large wild sheep known as the Ovis ammon. There was none of the Himalayan animals that in-- terested our travellers more than the curious little crea- ture known as the " musk-deer." This is the animal from which the famous scent is obtained ; and which is consequently a much persecuted creature. It dwells in the Himalayan Mountains, ranging from an eleva- tion of about eight thousand feet to the limits of per- petual snow, and is an object of the chase to the hunters of these regions, who make their living by collecting the musk and disposing of it to the merchants of the THE MUSK-DEER. 119 plains The animal itself is a small creature, less in size than our fallow-deer, and of a speckled brownish gray color, darker on the hind-quarters. Its head is saiall, its ears long and upright, and it is without horns. A peculiarity exists in the males which renders them easy to be distinguished from other animals of the deer kind. They have a pair of tusks in the upper jaw pro- jecting downwards, each full three inches in length, and about as thick as a goose's quiU. These give to the animal altogether a peculiar appearance. The malea only yield the musk, which is found in grains, or little pellets, inside a sac or pod in the skin, situated near the navel ; but what produces this singular substance, or what purpose it serves in the economy of the animal, it is not easy to say. It has proved its worst foe. But for the musk this harmless little deer would be com- paratively a worthless object of the chase ; but as it is, the valuable commodity has created for it a host of enemies, who foUow no other occupation but that of hunting it to the death. The plant-hunters had several times seen musk-deer as they journeyed up the mountain ; but as the animal is exceedingly shy, and one of the swiftest of the deer kind, they had not succeeded in getting a shot. They were all the more anxious to procure one, from the very difficulty which they had met with in doing so. One day as they were proceeding up a very wild ravine, among some stunted juniper and rhododendron bushes, they started from his lair one of the largest musk-deer they had yet seen. As he kept directly on, and did not seem to run very fast, they determined to pursue him. Fritz, therefore, was put upon his traU, 120 THE MtTSE-DEEB. and the others followed as fast as they were able to get over the rough ground. They had not gone far, when the baying of the dog told them that the chase had forsaken the ravine in which they had first started it, and had taken into a lateral valley. On arriving at the mouth of this last, they perceived that it was filled by a glacier. This did not surprise them, as they had already seen several glaciers in the mountain valleys, and they were every hour getting farther within the region of these icy phenomena. A sloping path enabled them to reach the top of the glacier, and they now perceived the tracks of the deer. Some snow had fallen and still lay unmeltcd upon the icy surface, and in this the foot-prints of the animal were quite distinct. Fritz had stopped at the end of the glacier, as if to await further instructions ; but without hesitation the hunters climbed up on the ice, and followed the traiL THE GLACIER. 121 CHAPTER XXL THE GLACIEB. Fob more than a mile they toiled up the sloping glacier which all the way lay between two vertical cliffs. That the musk-deer was stUl in advance of them, they had evidence from the imprint of its tracks. Even without this evidence they could not doubt that the game was stiU before them. It would have been impossible for it to have scaled the cliffs on either side, BO far as they had yet seen them ; and as far before them as they could see, both sides appeared equally Bteep and impracticable. , As the hunters advanced, the cliffs gradually con- verged ; and at the distance of a few hundred yards before them, appeared to close in — as if the ravine ended there, and there was no outlet in that direction. In fact they appeared to be approaching the apex of a fery acute angle, the sides of which were formed by the black granite cliffs. This singular formation was just what the hunters desired. If the valley ended in a cvi-desae, then the game would be hemmed in by their approach, and they might have a chance of obtaining a shot. 122 THE GLACIEB. In order the more surely to acoomplisl thi', they separated, and deployed themselves into a line wiiich extend-°d completely across the vaUey. In this forma- tion they continued to advance upward. When they first adopted this plan, the ravine waa about four hundred yards in width — so that less ttan one hundred lay between each two of them. These equal distances they preserved as well as they could, but now and then the cracks in the icy mass, and the immense boulders that lay over its surface, obliged one or other of them to make considerable detours. As they advanced, however, the distance between each two grew less, in consequence of the narrowing of the valley, until at length a space of only fifty yards sepa- rated one ffom the other. The game could not now pass them without affording a fine opportunity for aU to have a shot ; and with the expectation of soon obtaining one, they kept on in high spirits. All at once their hopes appeared to be frustrated. The whole Hne came to a halt, and the hunters stood regarding each other with blank looks. Directly in front of them yawned an immense crevasse in the ice, full five yards in width at the top, and stretching across the glacier from cliff to cliff. A single glance into this great fissure coivinced them that it was impassable. Their hunt was at an end. They could go no farther. Such was the con- viction of all. The glacier filled the whole ravine from cliff to cliff. There was no space or path between the ice and the rocky walL The latter rose vertically upward for five hundred feet at least, and no doubt extended downward THE GLACIER. 123 to as great a depth. Indeed, by looking into the fissure, they could trace the waU of rock to an immense dis- tance downward, ending in the green cleft of the ice below. To look down into that terrible abyss made their heads reel with giddiness ; and they could only do BO with safety by crawling up to the edge of the lye, tad peeping over. A glance convinced one and all of them that the trevasse was impassable. But how had the deer got over it ? Surely it had aot leaped that fearful chasm ? But surely it had. Close by the edge its tracks were traced in the snow, and there, upon the lower side of the cleft, was the spot from which it , had sprung. On the opposite brink the disarrangement of the snow told where it had alighted, having cleared a space of sixteen or eighteen feet ! This, however, was nothing to a musk-deer, that upon a deal level often bounds to more than twice that length ; for these animals have been known to spring down a slope to the enormous distance of sixty feet ! The leap over the crevasse, therefore, fearful as it appeared in the eyes of our hunters, was nothing to the musk-deer, who is as nimble and sure-footed as the chamois itself. " Enough ! " said Karl, after they had stood for some minutes gazing into the lye. " There's no help for it ; we must go back as we came — what says Ossaroo ? " " You speakee true. Sahib — no help for we — we no get cross — too wide leapee — no bridge — no bamboo foj makee bridge — no tree here." Ossaroo shook his head despondingly as he spoke. 6* 124 THE GLACIER. He was vexed at losing the game — ^particularly as fhe buck was one of the largest, and might have yielded an ounce or two of musk, which, as Ossaroo well knew, was worth a guinea an ounce in the bazaars of Cal- cutta. The Hindoo glanced once more across the lye, and then turning rounds uttered an exclamation, which told that he was beaten. " Well, then, let us go back ! " said Karl. " Stay, brother ! " interrupted Caspar, " a thought strikes me. Had we not better remain here for a while ? The deer cannot be far oflf. It is, no doubt, up near the end of the ravine ; but it won't stay there long. There appears to be nothing for it to eat but rocks or snow, and it won't be contented with that. If there's no outlet above, it must come back this way Now I propose we lie in wait for it a while, and take it as it comes down again. What say you to my plan?" " I see no harm in trying it, Caspar," replied KarL " We had better separate, however, and each hide be- hind a boulder, else it may see us, and stay back. We shall give it an hour." "Oh!" said Caspar, "I think it'll tire of being cooped up in less time than that ; but we shall see." The party now spread themselves right and left along the lower edge of the crevasse — each choosing a large rock or mass of snowy ice as a cover. Caspar went to the extreme left, and even to the edge of the glacier, where a number of large rocks rested on its surface. Having entered among these, he was hidden from th« athers, but presently they heard him calling out,-^ THE GLACIEB. 125 " Hurrah ! come here ! — a bridge ! a bridge ! " Kai-1 and Ossaroo left their hiding-places, and hastened to the spot. On arriving among the boulders, they saw, to their delight, that one of the largest of these — an enormous block of gneiss — lay right across the crevasse, spanning it like a bridge, and looking as though it had been placed there by human hands I This, however, would have been impossible, as the block was full ten yards in length, and nearly as broad as it was long. Even gianta could not have built such a bridge ! A little examination showed where it had fallen from the overhanging precipice — and it had rested on the glacier, perhaps, before the great cleft had yawned open beneath it. Its upper end overlapped the ice for a breadth of scarce two feet, and it seemed a wonder that so huge a weight could be sustained by such an apparently fragile prop. But there it rested ; and had done so for years — ^perhaps for ages — suspended over the beethng chasm, as if the touch of a feather would precipitate it into the gulf below ! If Karl had been near, he might have warned hia brother from crossing by such a da,ngerous bridge ; but before he had reached the spot, Caspar had already mounted on the rock, and was hurrying over. In a few moments he stood upon the opposite side of the crevasse ; and, waving his cap in the air, shouted to the rest to foUow. The others crossed as he had done, and then the party once more deployed, and kept up the ravine, which grew narrower as they advanced, and appeared to be regularly closed in at the top, by a perpendicular 126 THE GLACIER. wall. Surely the deer could not escape tnem much longer ? " What a pity," said Caspar, " we could not throw down that great stone and widen the crack in the ice, so that the deer could not leap over it ! We should then have it nicely shut up here." "Aye, Caspar," rejoined Karl, "and where should we be then ? Shut up too, I fear." " True, brother, I did not think of that. What a terrible thbg it would be to be imprisoned between these black cliffs ! It would, I declare." The words had scarce issued from Caspar's lip, when a crash was heard like the first bursting of a thunder- clap, and then a deafening roar echoed up the ravine, mingled with louder peals, as though the eternal moun- tains were being rent asunder ! The noise reverberated from the black cliffs ; eagles, that had been perched upon the rocks, rose screaming into the air ; beasts of prey howled from their lurking- places ; and the hitherto silent valley was all at once filled with hideous noises, as though it were the doom of the world I THE GLACIEE SLIDE. 127 CHAPTER XXIL THE GLACIER SLIDE. "An avalanche!" cried Karl Linden, as the first crash fell upon his ear ; but on turning, he saw his mistake. " No." he continued, with a look of terror, " it is not an avalanche ! M7 God ! my God 1 the glacier is in motion f " He did not heed to point out the spot. The eyes of Caspar and Ossaroo were already turned upon it.— Away down the ravine as far as they could see the sur- face of the glacier appeared in motion, like sea-billows ; huge blocks of ice were thrown to the top and rolled over, with a rumbling crashing noise, while large blue fragments raised high above the general surface, were grinding and crumbling to pieces against the faces of the chffs. A cloud of snow-spray, rising like a thick white mist, filled the whole ravine — as if to conceal the work of ruin that was going on — and underneath this ghostly veil, the crushing and tearing for some moments continued. Then all at once the fearful noises ceased, and only the screaming of the birds, and the howling of beasts, disturbed the silence of the place. Pale, shuddering, almost paralyzed by fear, the hunt' 128 THE GLACIEE SLIDE. ers had thrown themselves on their hands and knees, expecting every moment to feel the glacier move beneath them,— expecting to sink beneath the surface, or be crushed amidst the billows of that icy sea. So long as the dread sounds echoed in their ears, their hearts were filled with consternation, and long after the crashing and crackling ceased, they remained the victims of a ter- rible suspense ; but they felt that that portion of the glacier upon which they were did not move. It still remained firm ; would it continue so ? They knew not the moment it, too, might commence sliding downward, and bury them under its masses, or crush them in some deep crevasse. O heavens ! the thought was fearful. It had par- alyzed them for a moment ; and for some time after the noises had ceased, they remained silent and motionless. Indeed, absurd as it may seem, each dreaded to stir, lest the very motion of his body might disturb the icy mass upon which he was kneeling ! Reflection soon came to their aid. It would never do to remain there. They were still exposed to the danger. Whither could they retreat ? Up the ravine might be safer ? Above them the ice had not yet stir- red. The ruin had all been below — below the crevasse they had just crossed. Perhaps the rocks would aflPord a footing ? They would not move, at all events, even if the upper part of the glacier should give way ; but was there footing to be found upon them ? Thsy swept their eyes along the nearest cliff. It offered but little hope. Yes — upon closer inspection there was a ledge— a very narrow one, but yet capable THE GLACIER SLIDE. 129 of giving refuge to two or three men ; and, above all, it WHS easy of access. It would serve their purpose. Like men seeking shelter from a heavy shower, o* running to get out of the way of some impending dan- ger, all three made for the ledge; and after some moments spent ia sprawling and climbing against the cliff, they found themselves standing safely upon it- Small standing-room they had. Had there been a fourth, the place would not have accommodated him. There was just room enough for the three side by side, and standing erect. Small as the space was, it was a welcome haven of refuge. It was the solid granite, and not the fickle ice. It looked eternal as the hills ; and, standing upon it, fliey breathed freely. But the danger was not over, and their apprehensions were still keen. Should the upper part of the glacier give way, what then ? Although it could not reach them where they stood, the surface might sink far below its present level, and leave them on the cliff — upon that little ledge on the face of a black precipice ! Even if the upper ice held firm, there was another thought that now troubled them. Karl knew that what had occurred was a glacier slide — a phenomenon that few mortals have witnessed. He suspected that the slide had taken place in that portion bf the glacier below the crevasse they had just crossed. If so, the lye would be widened, the huge gneiss rock that bridged it gone, and their retreat down the glacier cut off! Upward they beheld nothing but the beetling cliffs meeting together. No human foot could scale them.— If no outlet offered in that direction, then, indeed, mighl 130 THE GLACIEE SLIDE. the jesting allusion of Caspar be realized. They might be imprisoned between those walls of black granite, with nought but ice for their bed, and the sky for their ceil- ing. It was a fearful supposition, but all three did not fail to entertain it. As yet they could not tell whether their retreat down- wards was in reality cut off. Where they stood an abutment of the cliff hid the ravine below. They had rushed to their present position, with the first instinct of preservation. In their flight, they had not thought of looking either toward the crevasse or the gneiss rock.— Other large boulders intervened, and they had not ob- served whether it was gone. They trembled to think of such a thing. The hours passed ; and still they dared not descend to the glacier. Night came on, and they still stood upon their narrow perch. They hungered, but it would have been of no use to go down to the cold icy surface. That would not have satisfied their appetite. All night long they remained standing upon the nar- row ledge ; now on one foot, now on the other, now resting their backs against the granite wall, but all nighty without closing an eye in sleep. The dread of the ca- pricious ice kept them on their painful perch. They could bear it no longer. With the first light of morning they determined upon descending. The ice had remained firm during the night. No farther noises had been heard. They gradually recov- ered confidence ; and as soon as the day began to break, all three left the ledge, and betook themselves onca more to the glacier. At first they kept close to the cliff; but, after a whQe THE QLACIEB SLIDE. 131 ventured out far enough to get a view of the ravine below. Caspar mounted upon a rocky boulder that lay upon the surface of the glacier. From the 'top of this he could see over the others. The crevasse waa numy yards wide. The bridge-rock was gone 1 ?32 THE PASS. CHAPTER XXin. THE PASS. The I'hilosophy of the movement of glaciers is but ill understool, even by the most accomplished geologists. It is supposed that the under surface of these great icy masses is detached from the ground by the thaw which continually takes place there, caused by the radiating heat of the earth. Water is also an agent in loosening their hold ; for it is well known that currents of water, — sometimes large streams, — run under the glaciers. The icy mass thus detached, and resting on an inclined surface, is carried down by its own weight. Sometimes only a very small portion of a glacier moves, causing a fissure above the part that has given way ; and at other times these fissures are closed up, by the sliding of that portion next above them. An un- usually hot summer produces these effects upon the glacier ice, combined with the falling of avalanches, or mountain slides, which, with their weight, serve to im- pel the icy mass downwards. The weight of our three hunters was but as a feather, and could have had no effect in giving motion to the glacier ; but it is possible that the gneiss rock was just upon the balance when they crossed it Thawed arountf THE PASS. 133 lis surface, it had no cohesion with the ice on which it rested ; and, as a feather turns the scale, their crossing upon it may hare produced a motion, which resulted in its fall. So vast a mass hurled into the great cleft, and acting as a driven wedge, may have been the feather's touch that imparted motion to a section of the glacier, already hanging upon the balance, and ready to slide down- wards. Whether or not they had any agency in producing this fearful phenomenon, our travellers reflected not at the time. They were far too much terrified at the re- sult to speculate upon causes. One after another they mounted upon the great boulder, and satisfied them- selves of the facts that the crevasse had widened, — the bridge-rock had disappeared, — and their retreat was cut off! After a little, they ventured closer to the fearfiil chasm. They climbed upon a ledge of the precipice, that gave them a better view of it. From this elevation they could partially see into the clefl. At the surface it was many yards wide. It ap- peared to be hundreds of feet in depth. Human agency could not have bridged it. All hope of gettiug back down the glacier was at an end ; and with consterna- tion in their looks, they turned their faces away, and commenced ascending towards the head of the ravine. They advanced with timid steps. They spoke not at aU, or only in low murmuring voices. They looked right and left, eagerly scanning the precipice on both sides. On each side of them towered the black cliffs, like prison walls, frowning and forbidding. No ledge 134 THE PASS. of any size appeared on either ; m terrace, no sloping ravine, that might afford them a path out of that dark valley. The cliffs, sheer and smooth, presented no hold for the human foot. The eagles, and other birds that screamed over their heads, alone could scale them. Still they had not lost hope. The mind does not yield to despair without fuU conviction. As yet they were not certain that there was no outlet to the ravine ; and until certain they would not despair. They observed the tracks of the musk-deer as they went on. But these were no longer fresh ; it was the trail of yesterday. They followed this trail with renewed hopes, — with feelings of joy. But it was not the joy of the hunter who expects ere long to overtake his game. No, directly the reverse. Hungry as all three were, they feared to overtake the game ; they dreaded the dis- covery of fresh tracks ! You will wonder at this ; but it is easily explained. They had reasoned with themselves, that if there existed any outlet above, the deer would have gone out by it. If the contrary, the animal would stUl be found near the head of the ravine. Nothing would have been less welcome than the sight of the deer at that moment. Their hopes rose as they advanced. No fresh tracks appeared upon the glacier. The trail of the musk-deer stiU continued onward and upward. The creature had not halted, nor even strayed to either side. It had gone straight on, as though making for some retreat already known to it. Here and there it had made detours ; but these had beeii caused by lyes in the ice, or boulder^ that lay acrass the path. THE PASS. 135 With beating hearts the trackers kept on ; now scan,-" ning the cliffs on each hand, now bending their eyes in advance. At length they saw themselves within a hundred paces of the extreme end of the ravine, and yet no opening appeared. The precipice rose high and sheer as ever, on the right, on the left, before their faces. Nor break nor path cheered their eyes. Where could the deer have gone ? The ground above was pretty dear of debris. There were some loose rocks lying on one side. Had it hidden behind these ? If so, they would soon find it ; for they were within a few paces of the rocks. They approached with caution. They had prepared their weapons for a shot. Despite their fears, they had still taken some precautions. Hunger instigated them to this. Caspar was sent on to examine the covert of rocks, while Karl and the shikarree remained in the rear to 'intercept the deer if it attempted to retreat down the ravine. Caspar approached with due caution. He crawled silently up to the boulders. He placed himself close to the largest ; and, raising his head, peeped over it. There was no deer behind the rock, nor any traces of it in the snow. He passed on to the next, and then to the next. This brought him into a new position, and near the nead of the ravine ; so that he could now see the whole surface of the glacier. There was no musk-deer to be seen ; but a spectacle greeted his eyes far more welcome than the sight of 136 THE PASS. the largest herd ol deer could have been to the keenest hunter ; and a cry of joy escaped him on the instant. He was seen to start out from the rocks, shouting a> he ran across the ravine, — " Gome on, brother I we are safe yet I There's • pas* I there's a pass ! " THE LONE MOUNTAIN VALLET, 187 CHAPTER XXIV. THE LONE MOUNTAIN VALLET. A PASS there was, sure enough, that opened between the cUffs like a great gate. Why they had not per- ceived it sooner was because the gorge bent a little to the right before openiag to this outlet ; and, of course, the bend &om a distance appeared to be the termina- tion of the ravine. A hundred yards from the bend brought them into the great gate between the cliffs, and there a view opened before their eyes that filled their hearts with joy and admiration. Perhaps in all the world they could not have looked upon a more singular landscape. Bight before their faces, and somewhat below the level on which they stood, lay a vaUey. It was nearly of a circular shape, and, perhaps, a league or more in circumference. In the middle of this vaUey was a lake several hundred yards in diameter. The whole bottom of the valley appeared to be a plane, but slightly elevated above the water level, consisting of green meadows, beautifully interpersed with copses of shrubbery and clumps of trees, with foliage of rich and varied colors. What appeared to be droves of cattle and herds of deer wer« 138 THE LONE MOUNTAIN VALLET. browsing on the meadows, or wanderivg around the copses ; while flocks of waterfowl disported themselves ever the blue water of the lake. So park-like was the aspect of this sequestered val- ley, that the eyes of our travellers instinctively wan- dered over its surface in search of human dwellings or the forms of human beings ; and were only astonished at not perceiving either. They looked for a house, — a noble mansion, — a palace to correspond to that fair park. They looked for chimneys among the trees — for the ascending smoke. No trace of all these could be detected. A smoke there was, but it was not that of a fire. It was a white vapor that rose near one side of the valley, curling upward like steam. This surprised and puzzled them. They could not tell what caused it, but they could tell that it was not the smoke of a fire. But the form of the valley — its dimensions — its cen- tral lake — its green meadows and trees — ^its browsing herds — its wild fowl might have been seen elsewhere. All these things might occur, and do occur in many parts of the earth's surface without the scene being regarded as singular or remarkable. It was not these that have led us to characterize the landscape in ques- tion as one of the most singular in the world. No — ^its singularity rested upon other circumstances- One of these circumstances was, that around tht valley there appeared a dark belt of nearly equal breadth, that seemed to hem it in as with a gigantic fence. A little examination told that this dark belt was a line of cliffs, that, rising up from the level bottom on all sides, fronted the valley and the lake. In other THE lONE MOUNTAIN VALLEY. 139 wordv, the valley was surrounded by a precipice. In the distance it appeared only a few yards in height, but that might be a deception of the eye. Above the black line another circular belt encom- passed the valley. It was the sloping sides of bleak barren mountains. Still another belt higher up was formed by the snowy crests of the same mountains — here in roof-like ridges, there in rounded domes, or sharp cone-shaped peaks, that pierced the heavens far above the line of eternal snow. There seemed to be no way of entrance into this singular basin except over the line of black cliff. The gap in which our travellers stood, and the ravine through which they had ascended appeared to be its only outlet ; and this, filled as it was by glacier ice, raised the summit of the pass above the level of the valley ; but a sloping descent over a vast debris of fallen rocks — the "moraine" of the glacier itself — afforded a path down to the bottom of the valley. For several minutes all three remained in the gap, viewing this strange scene with feelings that partook of the nature of admiration — of wonder — of awe. The sun was just appearing over the mountains, and his rays, falling upon the crystallized snow, were refracted to the eyes of the spectators in all the colors of the rainbow. The snow itself in one place appeared of a roseate color, while elsewhere it was streaked and mot- tled with golden hues. The lake, too— here rippled by the sporting fowl, there lying cahn and smooth — reflected from its blue disk the white cones of the mountains, the darker belting of the nearer cliffs, or the green foliage upon its shores. 140 THE LONE MOUNTAIN VALLEY. For hours Karl Linden could have gazed upon that fairy-like scene. Caspar, of ruder mould, was entranced by its beauty ; and even the hunter of the plains — the native of palm-groves and cane fields— confessed he had never beheld so beautiful a landscape. All of them were well acquainted with the Hindoo superstition con- cerning the Himalaya Mountains. The belief that m lonely valleys among the more inaccessible peaks, the Brahmin gods have their dwelling and their home ; and they could not help fancying at that moment that the superstition might be true. Certainly, if it were true, some one of these deities, Vishnu, or Siva, or even Brahma himself, must dwell in that very valley that now lay before them. But poetical and legendary sentiment soon vanished from the minds of our travellers. All three were hun- gry — hungry as wolves — and the ruling thought at the moment was to find the means for satisfying their appe- tites. "With this intent, therefore, they strode forward out of the gap, and commenced descending towards the bottom of the valley. GBUNTING OXEN. 14\ CHAPTER XXV. GRUNTING OXEN. Theee were several kinds of animals in sight, \ ut it was natural that the hungry hunters should choose those that were nearest for their game. The nearest also chanced to be the largest — though in the flock there were individuals of different sizes, from the bigness of a large ox to that of a Newfoundland dog. There were about a dozen in all, evidently of one kind, and the difference in size and other respects arose from ti differ- ence of age and sex. What sort of animals they were, not one of the party could tell. Even Ossaroo did not know them. He had never seen such creatures on the plains of India. It was evident to all, however, that they were some species of oxen or buffaloes, since they bore a general resem- blance to animals of the family of hovidce. First there was the great massive bull, the patriarch of the herd, standing nearly as tall as a horse, and quite as tall reck- oning from the top of the stately hump on his shoulders. His curved horns spreading outward rose from a mass of thick curled hair, giving him the fierce aspect which characterizes animals of the buffalo kind. But his chief peculiarity lay in the drapery of long silky haii, 142 j GRUNTING OXEN. that from his sides, flanks, neck, belly, and thighs, hung downward until its tips almost dragged upon the grass. This singular appendage gave the animal the appear- ance of being short-legged, and the massive thickness of the legs themselves added to the effect. Earl could not help remarking in the old bull a con- siderable resemblance to the rare musk-ox of America j an animal with which he was acquainted, from having seen stuffed specimens in the museums. He noted, however, that there was one point in which the musk- ox differed essentially from the species before him — in regard to the tail. The musk-ox is almost tailless ; or, rather, his tail is so small as to be quite inconspicuous amidst the long masses of hair that adorn his croup ; whereas the strange creature before them was remark- able for the large development of this appendage, which swept downward, full and wide, like the tail of a horse. The color of the buU's body appeared black in the distance, though, in reality, it was not black, but of a dark, chocolate brown ; the tail, on the contrary, was snow-white, which, from this contrast in color, added to the singularity of the animal's appearance. There was but one large bull in the herd ; evidently the lord and master of all the others. These consisted of the females or cows, and the young. The cows were much smaller, scarce half the size of the old bull ; their horns less massive, and the tails and long hair less fall and flowing. Of the young, there were some of different ages; from the half-grown bull or heifer, to the calves lately dropped; which last were tearing about over the ground, and gambolling by the feet of their motLera. GRUNTING OXEN. 143 About these little creatures there was a peculiarity. 1 he long hair upon their flanks and sides had not yet made its appearance ; but their whole coat was black and curly, just like that of a water-spaniel, or New- foundland dog. In the distance, they bore a striking resemblance to these animals ; and one might have fan- cied the herd to be a flock of buffaloes, with a number of black dogs running about in their midst. " Whatever they be," remarked Caspar, " they look like they might be eatable. I think they're beef of some kind." " Beef, veiiison, or mutton — one of the three, ' re- joined Karl. Ossaroo was not particular at that moment. He could have picked a rib of wolf-meat, and thought it palatable. " WeU, we must stalk them," continued Karl. " I see no other way of getting near them but by crawling through yonder copse." J"he speaker pointed to a grove, near which the ani- mals were browsing. Caspar and Ossaroo agreed with this suggestion, and all three, having now reached the bottom of the descent, commenced their stalk. Without any difficulty, they succeeded in reaching the copse; and then, .creeping silently through the underwood, they came to that edge of it which was closest to the browsing herd. The bushes were ever- greens — rhododendrons — and formed excellent cover for a stalk ; and, as yet, the game had neither seen, nor heard, nor smelt the approaching enemy. They were too distant for the arrows of Ossaroo, therefore Ossaroo 144 GRUNTING OXEN. eould do nothing ; but they were within excellent range of the rifle and double-barrel, loaded, as the latter was, with large buck-shot. Karl whispered to Caspar to choose one of the calvea for the first barrel, while he himself aimed at the larger game. The bull was too distant for either bullet or buck- shot. He was standing apart, apparently acting as sentry to the herd, though this time he did not prove a watchful guardian. He had some suspicion, however, that aU was not right ;-for, before they could fire, he seemed to have caught an alarm, and, striking the ground with his massive hoofs, he uttered a strange noise, that resembled the grunting of a hog. So ex- actly did it assimilate to this, that our hunters, for the moment, believed there were pigs in the place, and act- ually looked around to discover their whereabouts. A moment satisfied them, that the grunting came from the bull ; and, without thinking any more about it, Karl and Caspar levelled their pieces, and fired. The reports reverberated through the valley ; and the next moment the whole herd, with the bull at their head, were seen going in full gallop across the plain. Not all of them, however. A calf, and one of the cows, lay stretched upon the sward, to the great delight of the hunters, who, rushing forth from their cover, soon stood triumphant over the fallen game. A word or two passed between them. They had determined on first cooking the calf, to appease their Lunger, and were about proceeding to skin it, when a long, loud grunting sounded in their ears ; and, on look ing around, they beheld the great bull coming full tilt GRTTNTniG OXEN. 145 towards thein, his head lowered to the ground, and his large, lustrous eyes flashing with rage and vengeance. He had only retreated a short distance, fancying, no doubt, that his whole family was after him ; but, on missing two of its members, he was now on his return to rescue or revenge them. Strange as was the animal to all three, there was no mistaking his prowess. His vast size, his wild, shaggy front and sweeping horns, the vengeful expression of his eyes, all declared him a powerful and dangerous assailant. Not one of the hunters thought for a mo- ment of withstanding such an assault ; but, shouting to each other to run for their lives, all three started off as fast as their legs would carry them. They ran for the copse, but that would not have saved them had it been mere copsewood. Such a huge creature as their pursuer would have dashed through copsewood as through a field of grass ; and, in reality, he did so, charging through the bushes, goring them down on all sides of him, and uttering his loud grunting like a savage boar. It so happened that there were several large trees growing up out of the underwood, and these, fortu- nately, were not difficult to climb. The three hunters lid not need any advice, as to what they should do under the circumstances. Each had an instinct of his own, and that instinct prompted him to take to a tree ; where, of course, he would be safe enough from an animal, whose claws, if it had any, were encased in hoofs. The buU continued for some minutes to grunt and charge backward and forward among the bushes, but, t4C UEUNTING OXEN. not finding any of the party, he^t length returned tc the plain, where the dead were lying. He first ap- proached the cow, and then the calf, and then repeat« edly passed from one to the other, placing his broad muzzle to their bodies, and uttering his grunting roar, apparently in a more plaintive strain than before. After continuing these demonstrations for a while, he raised his head, looked over the plain, and then trotted sullenly off in the direction in which the others had gone. Hungry as were the hunters, it was some time before they ventured to come down from- their perch. But hunger overcame them at length, and descending, they picked up their various weapons — ^which they had drop- ped in their haste li> climb — and, having loaded the empty barrels, they returned to the game. These were now dragged up to the edge of the timber —so that in case the bull should take it into his head to return, they might not have so far to run for the friendly trees. The calf was soon stripped of its skin — a fire kindled — several ribs broiled over the coals, and eaten in the shortest space of time. Such delicious veal not one of the three had ever tasted in his life. It was not that their extreme hunger occasioned them to think so, but such was really the fact, for they were no longer igno- rant of what they were eating. They now knew what sort of animals they had slain, and a singular circum- stance had imparted to them this knowledge. As the bull charged about in front of the thicket, Ossaroc from his perch en the tree had a good view of him, and one thing belonging to the animal Ossaroc recognized as an GECNTING OXEN. H7 old acquaintance — ^it was his tail! Yes, that tail was not to be mistaken. Many such had Ossaroo seen and handled in his young days. Many a fly had he brushed away with just such a one, and he could have recognized it had he found it growing upon a fish When they returned to the quarry, Ossaroo pointed to the tail of the dead cow — ^not half so full and large •s that of the bull, but still of similar character — and with a significant glance to the others, said, — " Know 'im now, Sahibs — Chowry." \i? THE TAK8. CHAPTER XXVI. THE YAKS. What Ossaroo meant was that he knew the tail; bat he was as ignorant of the animal to which it was attached, as if the latter had been a dragon or a comet. Ossaroo saw that the tail was a " chowry,'' in other words, a fly-flapper, such as is used in the hot countries of India for brushing away flies, mosquitos, and other winged insects. Ossaroo knew it, for he had often handled one to fan the old sahib, who had been his master in the days of his boyhood. The word chowry, however, at once suggested to the plant-hunter a train of ideas. He knew that the chow- ries of India were imported across the Himalayas from Chinese Tartary and Tliibet ; that they were the tails of a species of oxen peculiar to these countries, known as the yak, or grunting ox. Beyond a doubt then the animals they had slain were " yaks." Karl's conjecture was the true one. It was a herd of wUd yaks they had fallen in with, for they were just in the very country where these animals exist in their wild state. Linneus gave to these animals the name of B light. THE BOILING SPKINW. 157 CHAPTER XXVnL THE BOILINQ SPRING. Thet ate their breakfasts of boiled yak-steak, wiiflh- ing it down with a draught of water. They had not even a cup to hold the water. They knelt down and drank it out of the lake. The water was clear enough, but not as cold as they might have expected at such an elevation. They had noticed this on the preceding day, and now expressed their surprise at finding it so warm. They had no thermometer with which to test it, but it was evidently of much higher temperature than the air ! Whence came this water? It could not be from the melting snow — else it would certainly have been colder than it was. Perhaps there was a spring some- where ? Perhaps there was a hot spring ? This was not at all improbable, for, strange to say, hot springs are numerous on the Himalaya Mountains — often bursting out amidst ice and snow, and at very great elevations. Karl had read of such springs, and this it was that led him to infer the existence of one in the valley. How else could the water be warm ? Now they recollected that on the previous morning (hey had noticed a singular cloud of vapour that hung 158 THE BOILING SPBINO. over the tops of the trees on one side of the valley. It was no longer visible, after they had descended from the elevation at which they then were ; but they re- membered the direction in which it had been seen, and now went in search of it. They soon reached the spot, and found it just as they had conjectured. A hot spring was there, bubbling out from among the rocks, and then running off in a rivulet towards the lake. Caspar thrust his hand into the water, but drew it back again with an exclamation that betokened both pain and surprise. The water was al- most boiling ! " Well," said he, " this is convenient at all events. If we only had a teapot, we should need no kettle. Here's water on the boil at all hours ! " " Ha ! " ejaculated Karl, as he dipped his fingers into the hot stream ; " this explains the high temperature of the valley, the rich luxuriant vegetation, the presence of plants of the lower region ; I thought that there was some such cause. See, yonder grow magnolias ! How very interesting ! I should not wonder if we meet with palms and bamboos ! " Just at that moment the attention of the party was called away from the hot spring. A noble buck came bounding up until he was within twenty yards of the spot, and then halting in his tracks, stood for some moments gazing at the intruders. There was no mistaking this creature for any other animal than a stag. The vast antlers were characteris- tics that left no room to doubt of his species. He was about the size of the European stag or red deer, and his branching horns were very similar. His color, too. THE BOILING SPRING. 15S was reddish gray with a white mark around the croup, and his form and proportion were very like to those of the English stag. He was, in fact, the Asiatic repre- sentative of this very species — ^known to naturalists as the Genrus- Wallichii. At sight of the party around the spring,^ he exhibited symptoms more of surprise than of fear. Perhaps they were the first creatures of the kind his great large eyes had ever glanced upon. He knew no* whether they might prove friendly or hostile. Simple creature ! He was not to remain long in doubt as to that point. The rifle was brought to bear upon him, and the next moment he was prostrate upon the ground. It was Karl who had fired, as Caspar with the double- barrel was standing at some distance oflT. All three, however, ran forward to secure tlfe game, but, to their chagrin, the stag once more rose to his feet and bounded oflf among the bushes, with Fritz following at his heels. They could see that he went upon three legs, and that the fourth — one of the hind ones — was broken and trailing upon the ground. The hunters started after, in hopes of still securing the prize ; but after passing through the thicket they had a view of the buck still bounding along close by the bottom of the cliflfs, and as yet far ahead of the hound. It was near the cliff where the animal had been wounded, for the hot spring was close in to the rocks that bounded that side of the valley. The dog ran on after him, and the hunters followed as fast as they were able. Karl and Ossaroo kept along the bottom of the cliff, while Caspar remained 160 THE BOILING SPEDKl. out in the open valley, in order to intercept the gama should it turn outwards in the direction of the lake. In this way they proceeded for more than half-a-mila before seeing anything more of the stag. At length the loud baying of Fritz warned them that he had overtaken the game, which was no doubt standing to bay. This proved to be the case. Fritz was holding the buck at bay close to the edge of a thicket ; but the moment the hunters came in sight, the stag again broke, dashed into the thicket, and disappeared as before. Another half-mUe was passed before they found the game again, and then the dog had brought him to bay a second time ; but just as before, when the hunters were approaching, the stag made a rush into the bushes, and again got off. It was mortifying to lose such noble game after hav- ing been so sure of it, and all determined to follow out the chase if it should last them the whole day. Karl had another motive for continuing after the deer. Karl was a person of tender and humane feelings. He saw that the ball had broken the creature's thigh-bone, and he knew the wound would cause its death in the end. He could not think of leaving it thus to die by inches, and was anxions to put an end to its misery. "With this view as well as for the purpose of obtaining the venison, he continued the chase. The stag gave them another long run, before it was again brought up; and again, for the third time, it broke and made off. They began to despair of being able to come up with THE BOILING SPRING. 161 It. All this while the deer had kept along the base of the cliffs, and the hunters as they ran after it could not help noticing the immense precipice that towered above their heads. It rose to the height of hundreds of feet, in some places with a slanting face, but generally almost as vertical as a wall. The chase of the wounded stag, however, occupied too much their attention to allow of their observing anything else very minutely ; and so they pressed on without halting anywhere — except for a moment or so to gain breath. Six or seven times had they seen the wounded stag, and six or seven times had Fritz brought him to bay, but Fritz for his pains had only received several severe scores from the antlers of the enraged animal. The hunters at length approached the great gap in the cliff, through which they had first entered the valley, but the chase was carried past this point and continued on as before. Once more the loud barking of the dog announced that the deer had come to a stand ; and once more the hunters hurried forward. This time they saw the stag standing in a pool of water up to the flanks. The ground gave Caspar an opportunity to approach within a few yards without being observed by the game, and a dificharge from th« double-barrel put an end to the chase. 163 AN ALAEMina DISC07£HT CHAPTER XXIX. AN ALARMING DISCOVEKT. Yot will naturally suppose that this successful termi- nation of the chase gave great satisfaction to the hunt- ers. It might have done so under other circumstances, but just then their minds became occupied by thoughts of a far different nature. As they came up to the spot where the stag had fallen, and were preparing to drag it from the pool, their eyes rested upon an object which caused them to turn toward one another with looks of strange significance. This object was no other than the hot spring — the place where the chase had begun. Within ' less than a hun- dred yards of the spot where the stag had received his first wound was he now lying dead ! The pool in fact was in the little rivulet that ran from the sprins; to the lake. I have said that the hunters on observing this ox- changed significant glances. One fact was evident to all of them — that they had got back to the spot whence they started. A very little reasoning taught them another fact^ — that in the pursuit of the stag they must have made the full circuit of the valley. They had not turned back anywhere — they had not crossed the AN ALAEMING DISCOVEKT. 163 valley — they had not even been in sight of the lake during the whole chase. On the contrary, Karl with Ossaroo had kept continually along the bottom of the cMs, sometimes in the timber, and at intervals passing across stretches of open ground. What was there remarkable about all this ? It only proved that the valley was small, and of roundish form ; and that in about an hour's time any one might make the circuit of it. What was there in this discovery that should cause the hunters to stand gazing upon one another with troubled looks ? Was it surprise at the stag having returned to die where he had received his wound ? Certainly there was something a little jugu- lar about that, but so trifling a circumstance could not have clouded the brows of the hunters. It was not surprise that was pictured in their looks — more serious feelings were stirring within them. Their glances were those of apprehension — ^the fear of some danger not fuUy defined or certain. What danger ? The three stood, Ossaroo lightly grasping his bow, but not thinking of the weapon ; Karl holding his rifle with its butt resting on the ground, and Caspar gazing interrogatively in the face of his brother. For some moments not one of them spoke. Each guessed what the other was thinking of. The stag lay untouched in the pool, his huge antlers alone appearing above the surface of the water, while the dog stood bay- ing on the bank. Karl at length broke silence. He spoke half in solilo- quy, as if his thoughts were busy with the subject. "Yes, a precipice the whole way round. I saw no break — no signs of one. Ravines there were, it is true, 8 164 AN AXA.KMING DISCOVEBT. but all seemed to end in the same high cliflfs. Ton ob' served no outlet, Ossaroo ? " " No, Sabib ; me fearee de valley shut up, no clear o dis trap yet Sahib." Caspar oflfered no opinion. He had kept farther out from the cliflFs, and at times had been quite out of sight of them — the trees hiding their tops from his view. He fully comprehended, however, the meaning of hia brother's observations. '^ Then you think the precipice runs all around the valley ? " he asked, addressing the latter. " I fear so, Caspar. I observed no outlet — ^neither has Ossaroo ; and although not specially looking for such a thing, I had my eyes open for it ; I had not for- gotten our perilous situation of yesterday, and I wished to assure myself. I looked up several gorges that ran out of the valley, but tiie sides of all seemed to be pre- cipitous. The chase, it is true, kept me from examining them very closely ; but it is now time to do so. If there be no pass out of this valley, then are we indeed in trouble. These cliffs are five hundred feet in height — they are perfectly impassable by human foot. Come on ! let us know the worst." " Shall we not draw out the stag? " inquired Caspar, pointing to the game that still lay under the water. " No, leave him there ; it will get no harm till our return : should my fears prove just, we shall have time enough for that, and much else beside. Come on!" So saying Karl led the way toward the foot of the precipice, the others following silently after. Foot by foot, and yard by yard, did they examine the AN ALAKMING DISCOVERT. 165 beetling front of those high cliffs. They viewed them from their base, and then passing outward scanned them to the very tops. There was no gorge or ravine which they did not enter and fuUy reconnoitre. Many of these there were, all of them resembling little bays of the ocean, their bottoms being on the same level with the valley itself, and their sides formed by the vertical wall of granite. At some places the chffs actually hung over. Now and then they came upon piles of rock and scattered boulders — some of them of enormous dimensions. There were single blocks full fifty feet in length, breadth, and height ; and there were also cairns, or collections of rocks, piled up to four times that elevation, and standing at such a distance from the base of the chff, that it was evident they could not have fallen from it into their present position. Ice, perhaps, was the agent that had placed them where they lay. None of the three were in any mood to speculate upon geological phenomena at that moment. They passed on, continuing their examination. They saw that the cUff was not aU of equal height. It varied in this respect, but its lowest escarpment was too high to be ascended. At the lowest point it could not have been less than three hundred feet sheer, whUe there were portions of it that rose to the stupendous height of one thousand from the valley ! On went they along its base, carefully examining every yard. They had gone over the same path with lighter feet and lighter hearts. This time they were three hours in making the circuit ; and at the end of these three hours they stood in the gap by which they 166 AN ALARMING DISCOVERT. had entered, with the full and painful conviction that that gap was the only outlet to this mysterious valley— the only one that could be traversed by human foot ! The valley itself resembled the crater of some extinct volcano, whose lava lake had burst through this gate* like gorge, leaving an empty basin behind. They did not go back through the glacier ravine. They had no hope of escaping in that direction. That they knew already. From the gap they saw the white vapor curling up over the spring. They saw the remaining portion of the precipice that lay beyond- It was the highest and most inaccessible of all. AU three sat down upon the rocks ; and remained for 8ome minutes silent and in a state of mind bordering npon despair. FROSPECTS AND PEECAUTIONS. 167 CHAPTER XXX. PROSPECTS AND PEBOATJTIONB. Bkave men do not easily yield to despair. Karl was brave. Caspar, although but a mere boy, was as brave as a man. So was the shikarree brav» — that is, for one of his race. He would have thought light of any ordinary peril — a combat with a tiger, or a gayal, or a bear ; but, like aU his race, he was given to super- stition. He now firmly believed that some of his Hin- doo gods dwelt in this valley, and that they were all to be punished for intruding into the sacred abode. There was nothing singular about his holding this belief. It was perfectly natural, — in fact, it was only the belief of his religion and his race. Notwithstanding his superstitious fears, he did not yield himself up to destiny. On the contrary, he was ready to enter heart and soul into any plan by which he and his companions might escape out of the territory of Brahma, Vishnu, or Siva — whichsoever of these it belonged to. It was in thinking over some plan that kept all three of them in silence, and with such thoughts Ossaroo was fts busy as the others. Think as they would, no feasible or practicable idea 168 PROSPECTS AND PEECADTI0N8. could be got hold of. There were five hundred feet of a cliflf to be scaled. How was that feat to be accom- plished ? By making a ladder? The idea was absurd. No ladder in the world would reach to the quarter of such a height. Eopes, even if they had had them, could be in no way made available. These might aid in going Aown a precipice, but for going wp they would be per- fectly useless. The thought even crossed their minds of cutting notches in the cliff, and ascending by that means I This might appear to be practicable, and viewing the matter from a distance it certainly does seem so. But had you been placed in the position of our travellers,— seated as they were in front of that frowning wall of granite, — and told that you must chmb it by notches cut in the iron rock by your own hand, you would have turned from the task in despair. So did they ; at least the idea passed away from their thoughts almost in the same moment in which it had been conceived. For hours they sat pondering over the affair. What would they not have given for wings ; wings to carry them over the walls of that terrible prison ? All their speculations ended without result ; and at length rising to their feet, they set off with gloomy thoughts toward the spot where they had already en- camped. As if to render their situation more terrible, some wild beasts, — wolves they supposed, — had visited the encampment during their absence, and had carried off eveiy morsel of the jerked meat. This was a painful PEOSPF.CTS AND PRECAUTIONS. 169 discovery, for now more than ever should they requira Buch provision, Ihe stag still remained to them. Surely it was not also cairied off ? and to assure themselves they hurried to the pool, which was at no great distance. They were gratified at finding the deer in the pool where it had been left ; the water, perhaps, having protected it from ravenous beasts. As their former camp ground had not been well chosen, they dragged the carcass of the deer up to the hot spring; that being a better situation. There the animal was skinned, a fire kindled, and after they had dined upon fresh venison-steaks, the rest of the meat Ossaroo prepared for curing, — just as he had done that of the yak, — ^but in this case he took the precaution to Lang it out of reach of all four-footed marauders. So careful were they of the flesh of the deer, that even the bones were safely stowed away, and Fritz had to make his supper upon the offal. Notwithstanding their terrible situation, Karl had not abandoned one of the national characteristics of hia countryman, — prudence. He foresaw a long stay in this singular valley. How long he did not think of asking himself; perhaps for life. He anticipated the straits in which they might soon be placed ; food even might fail them ; and on this account every morsel was to be kept from waste. Around their night camp-fire they talked of the pros- pects of obtaining food ; of the animals they supposed might exist in the valley ; of their numbers and kinds, —they had observed several kinds ; of the birds upon the Iak3 and among the tre^s ; of the fruits and berries s 170 PROSPECTS AND PEECaOTIONS. of the roots that might be in the ground , in short, of every thing that might be found there from whieh they could draw sustenance. They examined their stock of ammunition. This exceeded even their most sanguine hopes. Both Cas- par's large powder-horn and that of his brother were nearly full. They had used their guns but little since last filling their horns. They had also a good store of shot and bullets ; though these things were less essen- tial, and in case of their running short of them they knew of many substitutes, but gunpowder is the siiu qua non of the hunter. Even had their guns failed them, there was stLU the unerring bow of Ossaroo, and it was independent of either powder or lead. A thin reed, or the slender branch of a tree, were nearly all that Ossaroo required to make as deadly a shaft as need be hurled. They were without anxiety, on the score of being able to kiU such animals as the place afforded. Even had they been without arrows, they felt confident that in such a circumscribed speoe they would have been able to circumvent and capture the game. They had no uneasiness about' any four-footed creature making its escape from the valley* any more than themselves. There could be no other outlet than that by which they had entered. By the ravine only could the four-footed denizens of the place have gone out and in ; and on the glacier they had observed a beaten path made by the tracks of animals, before the snow had fallen. Likely enough the pass was well known to many kinds, and likely also there were others that stayed continually in the valley, and there brought forth their young. In- PEOSPBC'TS AND PRECAUTIONS. 171 deed, it would have been difficult for a wild animal to have found a more desirable home. The hope of the hunters was that many animals might have held this very opinion, and from what they had already observed, they had reason to think so. Of course they had not yet abandoned the hope of being able to find some way of escape from their singu- lar prison. No, it was too early for that. Had they arrived at such a conviction, they would have been in poor heart indeed, and in no mood for conversing as they did. The birds and the quadrupeds, and the fruits and roots, would have had but little interest for them with such a despairing idea as that in their minds. They still hoped, though scarce knowing why ; and in tlfis uncertaiirfy they went to rest with the resolve to giva the cliffs a fresh examination on the morrow. 17S MEASUEING THE CRBVA88B. CHAPTER XXXI. MEASURING THE CKEVASSE. Again, on the morrow, every foot of the precipitoui blufib was minutely scanned and examined. The cir- cuit of the valley was made as before. Even trees were climbed in order the better to view the face of the cliflfs that soared far above their tops. The Ksult was a fuU conviction, that to scale the precipice at any point was an utter impossibility. Until fuUy convinced of this, they had not thought of going back through the gap that led to the glacier ; but now that all hopes of succeeding elsewhere had van- ished from their minds, they proceeded in that direc- tion; They did not walk towards it with the light brisk step of men who had hopes of success ; but rather me- chanically, as if yielding to a sort of involuntary impulse. As yet they had not examined the ice-chasm very mi- nutely. Awed by the terror of the glacier slide, they had retreated from the spot in haste. One glance at the crevasse was all they had given; but in that glance they had perceived the impossibility of crossing it. At the time, however, they were not aware of the resources MEASURING THE CKEVASSB. 173 >hat were so near. They were not aware that within less than five hundred yards of the spot grew a forest of tall trees. Indeed, it was not until they had fully reconnoitred the cliffs, and turned away from them in despair, that such a train of reasoning occurred to tha mind of any of the three. As they were entering the portals of that singular passage, the thought seemed foi the first time to hava taken shape. Karl was the first to give expression to it, Suddenly halting, he pointed back to the fornet^ and said, — " If we could bridge it ! " Neither of his companions asked him what he con- templated bridging. Both were at that moment busy with the same train of thought. They knew it was the crevasse. " Those pine-trees are tall," said Caspar. " Not tall enough. Sahib," rejoined the shikarree. " We can splice them," continued Caspar. Ossaroo shook his head, but said nothing in reply. The idea, however, had begotten new hopes ; and all three walked down the ravine with brisker steps. They scanned the cliffs on either side as they advanced, but these they had examined before. Treading with caution they approached the edge of the crevasse. They looked across. A hundred feet wide — ^perhaps more than a hundred feet — ^yawned that fearful gulf. They knelt down and gazed into the chasm. It opened far away into the earth — hundreds of feet below where they knelt. It narrowed towards the bottom. They could see the crystal cliffs, blue at th« top, grow greener and darker as they converged 174 MEASUHING THE CKEVASSE. towardg each other. They could see huge boulders o' rock and masses of icy snow wedged between them, and could hear far below the roaring of water. A tonent ran there — no doubt the superfluous waters of the lake escaping by this subglacial stream. A sublime, but terrible sight it was ; and although the nerves of aU were strung to an extreme degree, it made them giddy to look into the chasm, and horrid feelings came over them as they listened to the unnat- ural echoes of their voices. To have descended to the bottom would have been a dread peril : but they did not contemplate such an enterprise. They knew that such a proceeding would be of no use, even could they have accomplished it. Once in the bottom of the chasm the opposite steep would still have to be climbed, and this was plainly an impossibility. They thought not of crossing in that way — their only hope lay in the possibility of bridging the crevasse ; and to this their whole attention was now turned. Such a project might appear absurd. Men of weaker minds would have turned away from it in despair ; and so, too, might they have done, but for the hopelessness of all other means of escape. It was now life or death with them — at all events, it was freedom or captivity. To give up all hope of returning to their homes and friends — to spend the remainder of their lives in this wild fastness — was a thought almost as painful as the prospect of death itself. It was maddening to entertain such a thought, and as yet not one of them could bring himself to dwell upon the reality of so terrible a destiny. But the fact that 8uch in reality would be their fate, unless they could UEASTJBING THE CEEVASSB. 175 discover some mode of escaping from tLeir perilous situation, sharpened all their wits ; and every plan was brought forward and discussed with the most serious earnestness. As they stood gazing across that yawning gulf, the conviction entered their minds that it was possible to bridge it. Karl was the first to give way to this conviction. Caspar, ever sanguine, soon yielded to the views of his brother ; and Ossaroo, though tardily convinced, ac- knowledged that they could do no better than try. The scientific mind of the botanist had been busy, and had already conceived a plan — which though it would be difficult of execution, did not seem altogether imprac- ticable. On one thing, however, its practicability rested — the width of the chasm. This must be ascertained, and how was it to be done ? It could not be guessed — that was clear. The simple estimate of the eye is a very uncertain mode of meas- uring — as was proved by the fact that each one of the three assigned a different width to the crevasse. In fact, there was full fifty feet of variation in their esti- mates. Karl believed it to be only a hundred feet in width, Ossaroo judged it at a hundred and fifty, while Caspar thought it might be between the two. How, then, were they to measure it exactly ? That was the first question that came before them. Had they been in possession of proper instruments, Karl was scholar enough to have determined the dis- tance by triangulation ; but they had neither quadrant nor theodolite ; and that mode was therefore impossible. I have said that their wits were sharpened by tlieii 176 MEASUEINQ THE CREVASSE. Bitiialion, and the difficulty about the measurement was soon got over. It was Ossaroo who decided that point. Karl and Caspar were standing apart discussing the subject, not dreaming of any aid from the shikarree upon so scientific a question, when they perceived the latter unwinding a long string, which he had diawn from his pocket. " Ho ! " cried Caspar, " what are you about, Ossaroo ? Do you expect to measure it with a string ? " " Yes, Sahib I " answered the shikarree. " And who is to carry your line to the opposite side, I should like to know ? " inquired Caspar. It seemed very ridiculous, indeed, to suppose that the chasm could be measured with a string — so long as only one side of it was accessible ; but there was a way of doing it, and Ossaroo's native wit had suggested that way to him. In reply to Caspar's question, he took one of the ar- rows from his quiver, and, holding it up, he said, — « This, Sahib, this carry it." " True I true ! " joyfuUy exclaimed the brothers ; both of whom at once comprehended the design of the shikarree. ' It cost Ossaroo but a few minutes to put his design into execution. The string was unwound to its fuU extent. There were nearly a hundred yards of it It was stretched tightly, so as to clear it of snarls, and then one end was adjusted to the shaft of the arrow. The other end was made fast to a rock, and after that the bow was bent, and the arrow projected into the air. A shout of joy was raised as the shaft was seen to fall upon the snowy surface on the opposite side ; and MEASURING THE CKETA83B. 177 the tiny cord was observed, like the thread of a spider's web, spanning the vast chasm. Ossaroo seized the string in his hand, drew the arrow gently along until it rested close to the oppo- site edge; and then marking the place with a knot, be plucked the arrow till it fell into the chasm, and hand over hand commenced winding up the string. In a few moments he had recovered both cord and arrow ; and now came the important part, the measure- ment of the string. The hearts of all three beat audibly as foot after foot was told o£F; but a murmur of satisfaction escaped from all, when it was found that the lowest estimate was neare were hUly, and great rocks lay scattered over the sur- face here and there, in some places forming grea* mounds several hundred feet high, with cliffs an« ravines between them, and trees growing in the clefts Then there were dark woods and thick tangled jungle tracts, where it was almost impossible to make one's wav through. Oh, there was plenty of covert for game, and the dullest animal might escape from the keenest hunter in such places. Still the game could not go clear away; and although the yaks might get off on an occasion, they were sure to turn up again ; and Caspar trusted to his skill to be able to circumvent them at one time or another. Never in his life before had Caspar such motives for displaying his hunter skill. His liberty — that of all ot them — depended on all his success in procuring the necessary number of hides ; and this was spur enough to excite him to the utmost. In starting forth from the hut, he had taken his way along the edge of the lake. Several opportunities offered of a shot at Brahmin geese and wild ducks but, in anticipation of finding the yaks, he had loaded both barrels of his gun with balls. This he had done in order to be prepared for the great buU, whose thick hide even buck-shot would scarce have pierced. A shot at the waterfowl, therefore, could not be thought THE BAEKING-DEEE. 185 of. There would be every chance c^ missing them with the bullet; and neither powder nor lead were such plentiful articles as to be thrown away idly. He there- fore reserved his fire, and walked on. Nothing appeared to be about the edge of the lake ; and after going a short distance he turned off from the water ^nd headed the direction of the cliffs. He hoped to find the herd of yaks among the rocks — ^for Karl, who knew something of the natural history of these animals, had told him that they frequented steep rocky places in preference to level ground. Caspar's path now led him through a belt of timber, and then appeared a little opening on which there was a good deal of tall grass, and here and there a low copse or belt of shrubbery. Of course he went cautiously along — as a hunter should do — at every fresh vista looking ahead for his game. While passing through the open ground his attention was attracted to a noise that appeared to be very near him. It exactly resembled the barking of a fox — a sound with which Caspar was famiUar, having often heard foxes bark in his native country. The bark, however, appeared to him to be louder and more dis- tinct than that of a common fox. " Perhaps," said he to himself, " the foxes of these mountains are bigger than our German reynards, and can therefore bark louder. Let me see if it be a fox I'm not going to waste a bullet on him either ; but J should like just to have a look at a Himalaya fox." "With these reflections Caspar stole softly through tlw grass in the direction whence issued the sounds. 186 THE BAEKING-DBEB. He had not advanced many paces when he came in Bight of an animal differing altogether from a fox ; but the very one that was making the noise. This was certain, for while he stood regarding it, he perceived it in the very act of uttering that noise, or larMng, as we already called it. Caspar felt very much inclined to laugh aloud, on perceiving that the barking animal was neither fox, nor dog, nor yet a wolf, nor any other creature that is known to bark, but on the contrary an animal of a far differ- ent nature — a deer. Yes, it was really a deer that was giving utterance to those canine accents. It was a small, slightly-made creature, standing about two feet in height, with horns seven or eight inches long. It might have passed for an antelope ; but Cas- par observed that on each horn there was an antler — a very little one, only an inch or so in length — and that decided him that it must be an animal of the deer fam- ily. Its color was light red, its coat short and smooth, and, on a closer view, Caspar saw that it had a tusk in each jaw, projecting outside the mouth, something like the tushes of the musk-deer It was, in fact, a closely- allied species. It was the " kakur," or " barking-deer ; " BO called from its barking habit, which had drawn the attention of the hunter upon it. Of the barking-deer, like most other deer of India, there are several varieties very Uttle known to natural- ists ; and the species called the " muntjak " ( Oervm vaginalis) is one of these. It also has the protruding tushes, and the solitary antler upon its horns. The " barking-deer is common on the lower hills of the Himalaya Mountains, as high as seven or eight THE BAEKING-DEEE. 18/ ihouaand feet; but they sometimes vander up the courses of rivers, or valley gorges, to a much higher elevation ; and the one now observed by Caspar had possibly strayed up the glacier valley in midsummer, guided by curiosity, or some instinct, that carried it into the beautiful ralley that lay beyond. Poor little fellow ! it never found its way back again ; for Caspar bored its body through and through with a bullet from ^8 right-hand barrel, and hung its bleeding carcass on Jie branch of a tree. He did not shoot it upon sight, however. He hesi- tated for some time whether it would be prudent to waste a shot upon so tiny a morsel, and had even per- mitted it to run away. As it went off, he was surprised at a singular noise which it made in running, not unlike the rattling of two pieces of loose bone knocked sharply together ; in fact, a pair of castanets. This he could hear after it had got fifty yards from him, and, perhaps, farther; but there the creature suddenly stopped, turned its head round, and stood barking as before. Caspar could not make out the cause of such a strange noise, nor, indeed, has any naturalist yet offered an explanation of this phenomenon. Perhaps it is the cracking of the hoofs against each other, or, more likely, the two divisions of each hoof coming sharply together, when raised suddenly from the ground. It is well known that a similar, only much louder noise, is made by the long hoofs of the great moose-deer ; and the little kakur probably exhibits the same phenomenon on a smaller scale. Caspar did not speculate long about the cause. The 9 188 THE BAKKINGf-DEEK. creature, as it stood right before the muzile of his gun, now offered too tempting a shot, and the right-hand barrel put an end to its barking. " You're not what I came after," soliloquized Caspar ; " but the old stag's no great eating, he's too tough for me. Tou, my little fellow, look more tender, and, I dare say, will make capital venison. Hang there, then, tiU I return for you ! " So saying, Caspar, having already strung the kakur's legs, lifted the carcass, and hung it to the branch of a tree. Then, reloading his right-hand barrel with a fresh bullet, he continued on in search of the herd of yaks THE AKGUS-PHEASANT- 189 CHAPTER XXXIV. THE ARGUS PHEASANT. Caspar proceeded with increased caution. His de- sign was to stalk the wild oxen ; and he had left Frita at the hut, as the dog could be of no use in that sort of hunting. He intended to stalk the animals with more than ordinary caution, for two reasons. The first was, of course, in order to get a shot at them ; but there was another reason why he should be careful, and that was, the fierce and dangerous nature of the game. He had not forgotten the way in which the old bull had behaved at their last interview ; and Karl had particularly cau- tioned him, before setting out, to act prudently, and to keep out of the way of the bull's horns. He was not to fire at the yaks, unless there was a tree near, or Bome other shelter, to which he could retreat if pursued by the bull. The necessity, therefore, of choosing such a point of attack, would make his stalk all the more diflScult. He walked silently on, sometimes through spots of open ground ; at others, traversing belts of woodland, or tracts of thickefry jungle. Wherever there was a reach, or open space, he stopped before going out of 190 THE ARGUS-PHEASANT. the cover, and looked well before him. He had no wish to come plump on the game he was in search of, lest he might get too close to the old bull. Fifty or sixty yards was the distance he desired ; and, with the large bullets his gun carried, he would have been near enough at that. Several kinds of large birds flew up from his path, ftg he advanced ; among others, the beautiful argus- pheasant, that almost rivals the peacock in the splendor of its plumage. These rare creatures would whirr upwardj and alight among the branches of the trees overhead ; and, strahge to say, although nearly as large as peacocks, and of a most striking and singular form, Caspar could never get his eyes upon them after they had once perched. It is the habit of these birds, when aware of tho presence of the hunter, to remain perfectly silent and motionless, and it requires the keenest eyes to make them out among the leaves. In fact, the very beauty of their singular plumage, which makes the argus- pheasant so marked and attractive an object when side by side with other birds, is the very thing which, amid the fohage of trees, renders it so difficult to be seen. OcaUated as the bird is all over its body, wings, and tail, the general effect is such as rather to conceal it. A disk of the same size of an unbroken color, even though the tints- be less brilliant, is far more likely to arrest the eye-glance. Besides, the collected foliage of the trees, when gazed at from beneath, presents a spe- cies of ocellation, to which that of the argus-pheasant is in some way assimilated. This may be a provision of nature, for the protection of this beautiful and otherwise THE ARGUS-PHEASAN'l. 1 /I helpless bird ; for it is no great creature at a flighty with all its fine plumes ; and, but for its power of thus concealing itself, would easily fall a prey to the sportsman. Naturalists often, and, perhaps, oftener hunters, have noted this adaptation of the color of wild animals to their haunts and habits. The jaguars, the leopards, and panthei^, whose bright, yellow skins, beautifully spotted as they are, w(juld seem to render them most conspic- uous objects, are, in reality, the most difficult to be per- ceived amid the haunts which they inhabit. An animal of equal size, and of the dullest coloring, provided it were uniform, would be more easily seen than they. Their very beauty renders them invisible ; since their numerous spots, interrupting the uniformity of color, breaks up the large disk of their bodies into a hundred small ones, and even destroys, to the superficial glance, the form which would otherwise betray their presence. For some such reason then the argus-pheasant is most difficult to be seen, when once settled on his perch among the leaves and twigs of the trees. But though himself not observed, he sees all that passes below. He is well named. Although the eyes all over his body be blind, he carries a pair in his head, that rival those of the famed watchman from whom he borrows his surname. He keeps the sportsman well in sight ; and should the latter succeed in espying him, the argus knows well when he is discovered, and the moment a cock clicks or a barrel is poised upward, he is off with a loud whirr that causes the woods to ring. But, as already stated, he is no great flyer. The emallness of the primary quills of his wing — as well as 192 THE ARGUS-PHEASANT. the unwieldy size of the secondaries, forms an impedi ment to his progress through the air, and his flight i» short and heavy. He is a good runner, however, like all birds of his kind ; and he passes rapidly over the ground, using his wings in running like the wild tur- key, to which bird he is kindred. When the argus- pheasant is at rest or unexcited, his plumage is neither so bright nor beautiful. It is when showing himself off in the presence of his females that he appears to best advantage. Then he expands his spotted wings, and trails them on the ground in the same manner as the peacock. His tail, too, becomes spread and raised erect, whereas at other times it is carried in a line with the body with the two long feathers folded over each other. The argus-pheasant (which closet-naturalists now say is not a pheasant, but an argus/) is peculiar to the southern parts of Asia, though the limits of its range are not well understood. It is found in all parts of India, and also, as is supposed, in China, even in the northern provinces of that country. But the argus is not the only beautiful pheasant of these regions. India, or rather southern Asia, is the true home of the pheasant tribe. Already nearly a dozen species of these birds, some of them far more beautiful than the birds of paradise, are known to naturalists ; and when the ornithology of the Indian Islands has been thoroughly investigated, a still greater number will be found to exist there. The Impeyan pheasant, larger than the common fowl, rivals the crested peacock in the brilliancy of its hues. No words can give any adequate idea of the THE ARGUS-PHEASANT. 193 splendour of this bird. Nearly the whole surface of itj plumage is resplendent — dazzling with changing hues of green and steel-blue, of violet and gold. It looks as if its body was clothed in a scale armor of bright shining metal, while the plumage is soft and velvety to the touch. This magnificent bird is a native of the Hima- laya Mountains ; where is also found another splendid species, the peacock-pheasant of Thibet, the latter close- ly alied to a still more gorgeous bird, the crested poly- plectron of the Moluccas. On 3 cannot look upon these lovely winged creatures without a feeling of gratitude to Him who sent them to adorn thfl earth, and give pleasure to all who may behold tb«m. 194 STALKING THE TAK9. CHAPTER XXXV. STALKING THE TAKS. Caspak was not out pheasant-shooting, and there fore these beautiful birds were permitted to fly ofi unscathed. Caspar's game was the grunting bull. Where could the herd be? He had already trav- ersed half the extent of the valley without finding the yaks; but there was nothing singular in this. There was plenty of covert among the rocks and woods ; and wild animals, however large, have an instinct or a faculty of concealing themselves that often surprises the hunter. Even the gigantic elephant will get out of sight amidst thin jungle, where you might suppose his huge body could hardly be hidden ; and the great black buffalo often springs unexpectedly out of a bushy covert not much bigger than his own body. Just as partridges can squat unseen in the shortest stubble, or squirrels lie hid along the slenderest branch, so have the larger wild animals the faculty of concealing them- selves in a covert proportionately scanty. The young hunter was aware of this fact ; and there- fore was not so much surprised that he did not at once come in sight of the yaks. The former attack upon them, resulting in the loss of two of their number, had rendered them wary; ard the noises made in building STALKING THE YAKS. 195 the hut had, no doubt, driven them to the most secluded corner cf the valley. Thither Caspar was bending hia steps. He was calculating that they would be found in some cover, and was beginning to regret that he had not brought Fritz, instead of trying to stalk them, when all at once the herd came under his eyes. They were quietly browsing out in a stretch of open ground — the young calves, as on the former occasion, playing with each other, tearing about over the ground, biting one another, and uttering their tiny grunts, like so many young porkers. The cows and yearlings were feeding unconcernedly — occasionally raising their heads and looking around, but not with any signs of uneasiness or fear. The buU was not in sight ! "Where can he be?" inquired Caspar of himself. ' Perhaps these may be a different herd ; ' one, two, three ; ' " and Caspar went on to tell over the individ- uals of the flock. " Yes," he continued, muttering to himself, " they are the same, I fancy : three cows — four yearlings — the calves — exactly the number — all except the bull.— Where can the old rascal have concealed himself ? " And with his eyes Caspar swept the whole of the open space, and looked narrowly along the selvidge of the timber which grew around it. No bull, however, was to be seen. " Now where can the old grunter have gone to ? " again inquired Caspar of himself. " Is he off by him- self, or along with some other herd ? Surely there is but the one family in this valley. Yaks are gregarious animals : Karl says so. If there were more of them, 9* X96 STAI,KING THE TAKS. Ihey would be all together. The bull must be ranging abroad by himself, on some business of his own. After all, I suspect he's not far off. I dare say he's in yonder thicket I'd wager a trifle the knowing old fellow has a trick in his head. He's keeping sentry over the flock, while he himself remains unseen. In that way he has the advantage of any enemy who may assail them. A wolf, or bear, or any preying beast that should want to attack the calves where they now are, would be certain to approach them by that very thicket. Indeed, I should have done so myself, if I didn't knowlhat there was a bull. I should have crouched round the timber and got under cover of the bushes, which would have brought me nicely within range. But now I shall do no such thing ; for I suspect strongly the old boy's in the bushes. He would be on me with a rush if I went that way, and in the thicket there's not a tree big enough to shelter a chased cat. It's all brush and thorn bushes. It won't do ; I shan't stalk them from that direction ; but how else can I approach them ? There's no other cover. Ha I yonder rock will serve my purpose ! " Caspar was not half the time in going through this soliloquy that you have been in reading it. It was a mental process entirely, and, of course, carried on with the usual rapidity of thought. The interjection which ended it, and the allusion to a rock, were caused by his perceiving that a certain rock might afford him the necessary cover for approaching the game. This rock he had observed long before — ^in fact, the moment he had seen the herd. He could not have failed to obseiTe it, for it lay right in the middle of the open ground, neither tree nor bush being near to hide it. It STALKING THE YAKS. 197 was of enormous size, too — nearly as bi^ as a hovel, 8qu»»re-sided and apparently flat-topped. C f course, he had noticed it at the first glance, but had not thought of making it a stalking-horse — the thicket seeming to offer him a better advantage. Now, however, when he dared not enter the thicket — lest he might there encounter the buU — ^he turned hia attention to the rock. By keeping the boulder between him and the yaks, he could approach behind it, and that would bring him within distance of the one or two of the herd that were nearest. Indeed, the whole flock appeared to be inclin- ing towards the rock ; and he calculated, that by the time he could get there himself they would aU be near enough, and he might make choice of the biggest. Up to this time he had remained under cover of the timber, at the point where he first came in sight of the yaks. Still keeping in the bushes, he made a circuity until the rock was put between him and the herd. Big as the boulder was, it hardly covered the whole flock ; and much caution would be required to get up to it without alarming them. He saw that if he could once pass over the first one hundred yards, the rock, then subtending a larger angle of vision, would shield him from their sight, and he might walk fearlessly forward But the first hundred yards would be awkward stalking. Crawling fiat upon his breast appeared to be his only chance. But Caspar had oflen stalked chamois on his native hills ; and many a crawl had he made, over rocks and gravel, and ice and snow. He thought nothing, therefore, of progression in this w»y, and a hundred yards would be a mere bagatelle. 198 STALKING THE TAKS. Without farther hesitation, therefore, he dropped t« his marrow-bones, and then flat upon his breast, and in this attitude commenced wriggling and shuffling along like a gigantic salamander. Fortunately the grass grew a foot or more in height, and that concealed him frwn the view of the yaks. On he went, pushing his gun before him, and every now and then raising his eyes cautiously above the sward to note the position of the herd. When it changed, he also deflected slightly from his course — so as always to keep the centre of the rock aligned upon the bodies of the animals. After about ten minutes of this horizontal travelling, the hunter found himself within thirty paces of the great boulder. Its broad sides now appeared suflicient to cover the whole flock ; and as crawling along the ground was by no means pleasant, Caspar was fain to give it up, and take once more to his feet. He rose erecti therefore ; and running nimbly forward, in another mo- ment he stood behind the rock. CA8PAB RETEEAXS TC THE KOCK. 199 CHAPTER XXXVI. CA8PAB RETEEATS TO THE BOCE. Caspar now perceived that the rock was not all in one piece. In other words, there were two rocks — ^both of them immense boulders, but of very unequal size. The largest, as already observed, was of the size of a small house, or it might be compared to a load of hay ; while the smaller was not much bigger than the wagon. They lay abnost contiguous to each other, with a nar- row space, about a foot in width, forming a sort of alley between them. This space resembled a cleft, as if the two blocks had once been united, and some terrible force had cloven them asunder. Caspar only glanced at these peculiarities as he came up — his eye mechanically searching for the best pomt of the rock to shelter him from the game, while it af- forded him an opportunity of aiming at them. It was altogether a very awkward cover — the rock was square- sided as a waU, with no jutting point that he could crawl behind and rest his gun over. In fact, at the corners it rather hung over, resting on a base narrower than its diameter. There was no bush near to it — not even long grass to accommodate him. The ground was quite bare, and had the appearance of being much trampled, as if 200 CASPAE RETREATS TO THE ROCK. it was a favorite resort — in fact, a " rubbing-stone " for the yaks. It was their tracks Caspar saw around it — some of them quite fresh — and conspicuous among the rest were some that by their size must have been made by the hoofs of the bull. The sight of these large fresh tracks conducted Cas* par; and very suddenly tooy into a train of reflectioni thai were anything but agreeable. " The bull's tracks ! " muttered he to himself. " Quite fresh, by thunder ! Why he must have been here but a minute ago ! What if" • Here Caspar's heart thumped so violently against his ribs, that he could scarce finish the interrogation. — " What if he be on the other side of the rock ? " The hunter was in a dilemma. Up to that moment he had never thought of the probability of the buU being behind the rock. He had taken it into his fancy, that the thicket must be the place of his concealment, but without any very good reason did he fancy this. It was assigning more cunning to the animal than was natural ; and now on second thoughts Caspar perceived that it was far more probable the buU should be sunning himself on the other side of the great boulder ! There he would be near to the herd, — ^and likely enough there he was. " By thunder ! " mentally exclaimed Caspar, " if he be there, the sooner I get back to the timber the better for my health. I never thought of it. He could run me down in half a minute. There's no place to escape to. Ha !— what !— good ! " These ejaculations escaped from the hunter as he cast his eyes upward. It was a peculiarity in the form CASPAB RETREATS TO THE ROCK. 201 of the rocks that had caused him to utter them. He noticed that the lesser one had a sloping ridge that could be easily ascended ; and from its highest point the top of the larger might also be reached by a little active climbing. "Good!" repeated he to himself; "I'll be safe enough there, and I can easily get up if I'm chased. The top of the rock's equal to any tree. It'll do if I am put to the pinch ; so here goes for a shot, bull or no buU!" Saying this, he once more looked to his gun ; and kneeling down close in to the great rock, he commenced shuffling round one of its impending comers, in order to get within view of the herd. He did not move one inch forward without looking well before him into the plain where the yaks were feeding, but quite as anxiously did he bend his eyes around the edge of the boulder, where he surmised the bull might be. He even listened at intervals, expect- ing to hear the latter breathing or giving a grunt, or some other sign, by which his presence might be made known. If behind the rock at aU he must be very near, thought Caspar — ^near enough for his breathing to be heard ; and once Caspar fancied that he actually heard a grunt, which did not proceed from any of the herd. The hunter, however, had less fear now, as he be- lieved he could retreat to the rock before even the swiftest animal could overtake him. He therefore moved on with sufficient confidence. Tou are not to suppose that aU these thoughts and movements occupied much time. There were not fiva 202 CASPAB RETKEATS TO THE EOCE. minutes consumed from the time Caspar arrived at the rocks, until he had taken all his measures ; and another minute or two were occupied in creeping round within view of the herd — where at length Caspar arrived. As yet no buU was seen. He might still be there, but if so, he was farther round the comer of the rock ; and the sight of the others now fair before the muzzle of Caspar's gun drove all thoughts of the bull out of his mind. He resolved to fire at the nearest. Quick as thought the gun was to his shoulder, his finger touched the trigger, and the loud report echoed from the distant cliffs. The ball told, and a cow was bowled over, and lay sprawling on the plain. Bang went the second barrel, and a young buU with a broken leg went hobbling off toward the thicket. The rest of the herd tore away at top speed, and were soon lost sight of in the bushes. A little calf alone remained by the cow that had fallen. It ran frisking around, uttering its singular cries, and seemingly astonished and unable to compre- hend the catastrophe that had befallen its mother ! Under other circumstances Caspar would have pitied that calf — ^for though a hunter, he was not hard-hearted. But just then he had something else to do than give way to pity. He had scarce aimed his second shot — even while his finger was still resting on the trigger — when a sound reached his ears that made his heart leap. It spoiled his aim in fact, or the yearling would have had it be- tween his ribs instead of in his hind-leg. That sound could be nothing else than the grunt of the old buU himself ; and so close to Caspar did it appear that the CASPAR RETREATS TO THE ROCK. 203 hunter suddenly dropped the muzzle of his gun, and looked around thinking the animal was right by nim! He did not see the bull on looking around ; but he knew the latter could not be many feet off, just behind the angle of the boulder. Under this impression Cas- par sprang to his feet, and ran with lightning speed to ascend the rock 204 FACE TO PACE WITH A FIERCE Bin.1.. CHAPTER XXXVn. FACE TO FACE WITH A FIERCE BULL. Caspar leaped on to the lower one, and scrambled op its sloping ridge. His eyes were turned more be- hind than before him, for he expected every moment to see the bull at his skirts. To his astonishment no bull had yet appeared, although as he was running around the rock twice or thrice had he heard his terrific grunt- ing. He now faced toward the summit, determined to climb up to the safest place. From the top he would be able to see all around, and could there watch the movements of the bull, as he fancied, in perfect security. He laid his hand on the edge of the rock and drew him- self over it. It was as much as he could do. The parapet was chin high, and it required all his strength to raise himself up. His attention was so occupied in the endeavor, that he was fairly upon the top ere he thought of looking before him; and when he did look, he saw, to his amazement and terror, that he was not alone. The bt/M was there too ! Yes I the buU was there, and had been there all the while. The top of the boulder was a flat table, sevnral rACB TO FACE WITH A TIERCE BULL. 205 yards in length and breadth, and upon this the old bull had been quietly reclining, basking himself in the sun, and watching his wives and children as they browsed on the plain below. As he had been lying down, and close to that edge of the table which was most distant from Caspar, the latter could not have perceived him while approaching the rock. He did not even think of turning his eyes in that direction, as he would as soon have thought of looking for the old buU in the top of one of the trees. Caspar had quite forgotten what Karl had told him, — that the summits of rocks and isolated boul- ders are the favorite haunts of the yaks, — else he might have kept out of the scrape he had now fairly got into. On perceiving his dilemma, the young hunter was quite paralysed ; and for some moments stood aghast, not knowing how to act. Fortunately for him the buU had been standing at the farthest extremity of the table, looking out over the plain. The trouble he was in about his family occupied aU his attention, and he stood loudly grunting to them as if calling them back. He was unable to comprehend what had caused such a rout among them ; although he had already experienced the dire effect of those loud detonations. He was " craning " forward over the edge, as if half determined to leap from the summit, in- stead of turning to the easier descent by which he had got up. As Caspar scrambled up to the ledge, the rattle of his accoutrements on the rock reached the e8,rs of the buU ; and just as the former had got to his feet the latter wheeled round, and the two were now face to face! 206 FACE TO FACE WITH A FIERCE BULL. There was a moment's pause. Caspar stood in ter- ror ; his antagonist, perhaps, also surprised at the unex- pected rencontre. It was a very short pause, indeed. Almost in the next instant the fierce yak, uttering his terrific cry, charged forward. There was no chance to evade the shock by spring- ing to one side or the other. The space was too cir- cumscribed for such a manoeuvre, and the most adroit matador could not have executed it where Caspar stood. He was too near the edge of the rock to make the ex- periment. His only hope lay in bounding back as he had come ; which he did almost mechanically upon the instant. The impetus of the leap, and the slanting surface of the lower boulder, carried him onward to the bottom ; and, unable any longer to retain his feet, he fell for^ ward upon his face. He heard the rattle of the bull's hoofs upon the rock behind him ; and before he could recover his feet again he felt the brute trampling over him. Fortunately he was not hurt, and fortunately the same impetus that had flung him upon his face also carried his antagonist far beyond him ; and before the latter could turn from his headlong charge, the young hunter again stood erect. But whither was he to run ? The trees were (oo far ofi ; — oh ! he could never reach them. The fierce beast would be on him ere he could half cross the open ground, and would drive those terrible horns into his back. Whither ? — whither ? Confused and irresolute, he turned and rushed back up the rock. FACE TO PACE WITH A PIEKCE BULL. 207 This time he scaled the slope more nimbly ; more lightly did he leap upon the ledge, but without any feel- ing of hope. It was but the quick rush of despair, — the mechanical effort of terror. The manoeuvre did not yield him a minute's respite. His fierce antagonist saw it all, and went charging after. Lightly the huge brute bounded up the slope, and then leaped upon the table, as if he had been a chamois or a goat No pause made he, but rushed straight on with foaming tongue and flaming eye-balls. Now, indeed, did Caspar believe his last moment had come. He had rushed across the table of granite, and stood upon its extremest end. There was no chance to get back to the place where he had ascended. His vengeful antagonist was ia the track, and he could not pass him. He must-either spring down from where he stood, or be tossed from the spot upon the horns of the fierce buU. Dizzy was the height,— over twenty feet, — but there was no alternative but take the leap. He launched himself into the air. He came down feet foremost, but the terrible shock stunned him, and he fell upon his side. The sky was darkened above him. It was the huge body of the bull that had bounded after, and the next moment he heard the heavy sound of the animal's hoofs as they came in contact with the plain. The hunter struggled to regain his feet. He rose and fell again. One of his limbs refused to perform its functions. He felt there was something wrong ; he believed that his leg was broken ! Even this fearful thought did not lause the brave 208 FACB TO PACE WITH A PIEECB BULL. youth to yield. He saw that the bull had recovered himself, and was once more approaching him. He scrambled towards the rock, dragging the useless limb behind him. You will suppose that there was no longer a hope for him, and that the wild ox rushing upon him must certainly gore him to death. And so he would have done, had not Caspar been in the hands of Providence, who gave him a stout heart, and enabled him to make still another effort for his safety. As he turned toward the boulder, an object came be- fore his eyes that filled him with fresh hopes. That object was the cleft between the rocks. It was, as already described, about a foot in width, and separated the two boulders at all points, — except along the top, where they rested against each other. Caspar's quick mind at once perceived the advan- tage. If he could only reach this crevice, and crawl into it in time, he might still be saved. It was big enough for his body ; it would be too narrow to admit that of his huge antagonist. On hands and knees he glided along with desperate speed. He reached the entrance of the crevice. He clutched the angle of rock, and drew himself far inward. He had not a moment to spare. He heard the horna of the bull crash against the cheeks of the chasm ; but the charge was followed by a grunt of disappointment uttered by the furious animal. A cry of joy involuntarily escaped from the lips of the hunter, — ^who felt that he was saved I CASPAR IN THE CLEFT. 208 CHAPTER XXXVm. CASPAB IN THE CLEFT. Caspar breathed freely. He had need; for the peril he had passed, and the rushing backward and for- ward, and springing over the rocks, had quite taken away his breath. He could not have lasted another minute. The bull, thus balked of his revenge, seemed to be- come more furious than ever. He rushed to and fro, uttering savage grunts, and at intervals dashing his horns against the rocks, as if he hoped to break them to pieces, and open a passage to his intended victim. Once he charged with such fury that his head entered the cleft till his steaming snout almost touched Caspar where he lay. Fortunately, the thick hairy shoulders of the bull hindered him from advancing farther ; and in drawing back his head, he found that he had wedged himself; and it was with some difficulty that he suc- ceeded in detaching his horns from the rock ! Caspar took advantage of his struggles ; and seizing a stone that lay near at hand, he mauled the bull so severely about the snout, that the brute was fain to get his head clear again ; and although he still stood madly pawing by the outside of the cleft, he took care not to repeat his rude assault 210 CASPA^ IN THE CLEFT. Caspar now seeing that he was safe from any imme* diate danger, began to feel uneasiness about his broken limb. He knew not how long he might be detained there — ^for it was evident that the yak was implacable, and would not leave him while he could keep his eyes upon him. It is the nature of these animals to hold their resentment so long as the object of their ven- geance is in sight. Only when that is hidden from them, do they seem to forget — for it is probable they we^^r forgive. The buU showed no signs of leaving the ground. On the contrary, he paced backward and forward, grunting as fiercely as ever, and at intervals making a rush towards the entrance as if he still had hopes of reach- ing his victim. Caspar now regarded these demonstrations with in- difference. He was far more concerned about his limb ; and as soon as he could turn himself into a proper posi- tion, he began to examine it. He felt the bone carefully from the knee downward. He knew the thigh was safe enough. It was his ankle* joint, he feared, was broken. The ankle was already swollen and black — badly swollen, but Caspar could detect no evidence of a fracture of the bones. "After all," soliloquized he, " it may be only sprained. If so, it will be all right yet." He continued to examine it, until he at length arrived at the conviction that it was " only a sprain." This brought him into good spirits again, though the leg was very painful ; but Caspar was a boy who could b jar pain very stoically. He now began to ponder upon his situation. Hov CASPAR IN THE CLEFT. 211 was be to be rescued from his fierce besieger ? Would Karl and Ossaroo hear him if he were to shout ? That was doubtful enough. He coald not be much less than a mile from them ; and there were woods and rough ground between him and them. They might be chop- ping, too, and would not hear his calls. Still, they would not always be chopping, and he could keep up a con- stant shouting till they did hear him. He had already noticed that in the valley, shut in on all sides as it was by cliffs, sounds were transmitted to a great distance — in fact, the cliffs seem to act as conductors somewhat after the manner of a whispering-gallery. No doubt, then, Karl and Ossaroo would hear him — especially if he gave one of his shriU whistles ; for Caspar knew how to whistle very loudly, and he had often made the Bavarian hills ring again. He was about to make the Himalayas ring, and had already placed his fingers to his lips, when the thought occurred to him that it would be wrong to do EO. " No," said he, after reflecting a moment, " I shall not call them. My whistle would bring Karl, I know. He would come running at the signal. I might not be able to stop him till he had got quite up to the rocks here, and then the bull ! No — Karl's life might be sacrificed instead of mine. I shall not whistle." With these reflections, he removed his fingers from his Ups, and remained silent. " If I only had my gun," thought he, after a pause, — " if I only had my gun, I'd soon settle matters with you, you ugly brute! You may thank your stars I have dropped it." 212 CASPAR IN THE CLEFT. The uun had escaped from Caspar's hands as he fell upon his face on first rushing down from the rock. It was no doubt lying near the spot where he had fallen, but he was not sure where it had been flung to. " If it was not for this ankle," he continued, " I'd chance a rush for it yet. Oh 1 if I could only get the gun here ; how I'd fix the old grunter off, before he flould whisk that tail of his twice — that I would." " Stay ! " continued the hunter, after some minutes' pause, " my foot seems to get well. It's badly swollen, but the pain's not much. It's only a sprain ! Hur- rah ! — it's only a sprain 1 By thunder ! I'll try to get the gun." With this resolve, Caspar raised himself to a standing attitude, holding by the rocks on both sides. The lane between them just gave him room enough to move his body along ; and the cleft being of a uniform width from side to side, he could get out on either side he might choose. But, strange to relate, the old bull, whenever he saw the hunter move towards the opposite side, rushed round to the same, and stood prepared to receive him upon his horns ! This piece of cunning, on the part of his antagonist, was quite unexpected by Caspar. He had hoped he would be able to make a sally from one side of the rook while his adversary guarded the other ; but he now saw that the animal was as cunning as himself. It was but a few yards round from one side to the other, and it would be easy for the bull to overtake him, if he only ventured six feet from the entrance. He made one attempt as a sort of feint or trial ; bul '•^^"^' ^_. '', Ik ' . . ■« \*«.^ St CASPAR IN THE CLEFT. 213 was driven back again into the crevice almost at the point of Iiis antagonist's horns. The result was, that the yak, now suspecting some design, watched his victim more closely, never for a moment taking his eyes off him. But withal Caspar had gained one advantage from the little sally he had made. He had seen the gun where it lay, and had calculated the distance it was off. Could he only obtain thirty seconds of time, he felt certain he might secure the weapon ; and his thoughts were now bent on some plan to gain this time. All at once a plan was suggested to him, and he re- solved to make trial of it. The yak habitually stood with his head close up to the crevice — the froth dropping from his mouth, his eyes rolling fiercely, and his head lowered almost to the earth. Caspar could have thrust his head with a spear — ^if he had been, armed with one — or he could even have belabored it with a cudgel. " Is there no way," thought he, " that I can blind the brute ? Ha ! By thunder, I have it ! " exclaimed he, hitting upon an idea that seemed to promise the desired result. As quick as thought he lifted over his head his pow- der-horn and belt ; and, then stripping off his jacket, took the latter in both hands, held it spread out as wide as the space would permit. He now approached the edge of the cleft in hopes of being able to fling the jacket over the horns of the bull, and, by thus blinding him, get time to make a rush for his gun. The idea was a good one ; but, alas ! it failed in tha 214 CASPAK IN THE CLEFT. execution. Caspar's arms were confined betw>3en the boulders, and he was unable to fling the jacket adroitly. It reached the frontlet of the buU ; but the latter, with a disdainful toss of his head, flung it to one side, and stood fronting his sdversary, as watchful of his move- ments as ever. Caspar's heart sunk at the failure of his scheme, and he retreated despairingly back into the cleft. " I shall have to call Karl and Ossaroo in the end," thought he. " No ! not yet ! — not yet ! Another plan ! ril manage it yet, by thunder ! " What was Caspar's new plan ? We shall soon see. He was not long in putting it to the test. A youth quick in action was Caspar. He seized his huge powder-horn, and took out the stopper. Once more he crept forward towards the bull, and as near the snout of the latter as it was safe for him to go. Holding the horn by its thick end, and reach- ing far out, he poured upon the leveUest and driest spot a large quantity of powder ; and, then drawing the horn gradually nearer, he laid a train for several feet in- ward. Little did the grunting yak know the surprise that awaited him. Caspar now took out his flint, steel, and touchpaper, and in a moment more struck a fire, and touched off the train. As he had calculated, the exploding powder flashed outward and upward, taking the buU by surprise with the Eudden shock, at the same time that it enveloped him in its thick sulphury smoke. The animal was heard rout- ing and plunging about, not knowing which way to run. CASPAK at THE CLBi'T. 215 This was the moment for Caspar ; who, having al- ready prepared himself for the rush, sprang suddenly forth, and ran towa^ds his gun. With eagerness he grasped the weapon 5 and, for- getting aU ahout his sprained ankle, ran back with the speed of a deer. Even then, he was not a moment too soon in reaching his retreat ; for the buU, having re^ covered from his surprise, saw and pursued him, and once more sent his horns crashing against the rocks. " Now," said Caspar, addressing his fierce besieger^ and speaking with a confidence he had not hitherto felt, " that time you were more scared than hurt ; but the next time I burn powder, the case will be rather dif- ferent, I fancy. Stand where you are, old boy. An- other minute allow me ! and I'll raise this siege, with- out giving you either terms or quarter.'' As Caspar continued to talk in this way, he busied himself in loading his gun. He loaded both barrels— though one would have been sufficient; for the first shot did the business clear as a whistle. It tumbled the old bull off" his legs, and put an end to his grunting at once and for ever ! Caspar now came forth from the cleft ; and, placing his fingers to his lips, caused the valley to ring with his loud whistle. A similar whistle came pealing back through the woods ; and, in fifteen minutes' time, Karl and Ossaroo were seen running forward to the spot ; and soon after had heard the particulars of Caspar's adventure, and were congratulating him on his escape. The yaks were skinned and quartered, and then car- ried home to the hut. The young bull, that had been wounded, also turned up close at hand ; and was 216 CASPAE IN THE CLEFT. finished by the spear of Ossaroo. Of course, he too was skinned and quartered, and carried home ; but all this labor was performed by Karl and Ossaroo; for Caspar's ankle had got so much worse, that he had himself to be carried to the hut on the backs of Ossaroo and his brother. THE SEROW. 217 CHAPTER XXXIX. THE SEROW. Karl and Cfesaroo had their adventure, though it was not of so dangerous a character as that of Caspar. They were spectators rather than actors in it. Fritz was the real actor, and Fritz had come off only second best, as a huge gash in his side testified. They had chosen a pine, and were busy hacking away at it, when a confused noise — a mixture of yelp- ing and barking — fell upon their ears, and caused them to hold their hands, and listen. It was a thin piece of woods, where they were — composed principally of straggling pine-trees without underwood, and they could see to a distance of several hundred yards around them. As they stood looking out, a large animal, evidently in flight, came dashing past the spot. He did not ap- pear to be a fast runner, and they had a good view of him. He was nearly as large as a jackass, and had something of the appearance of one, but a pair of stout horns, twelve inches in length, and very sharp-pointed, showed that he was a cloven-hoofed animal. His hair was coarse and rough ; dark brown on the upper parb) of his body, reddish on the sides, and whitish under 218 THE SEEOTT. neath. Along the back of the neck he was maned lika a jackass, and the neck itself was thick with rather & large head to it. The horns curved backwards so as to lie close along the neck ; the legs of the animal were thick and stout, and he appeared to be altogether a stupid creature, and ran with a clumsy ungainly gait Neither Karl nor Ossaroo had ever seen such an animal before, but they guessed it to be the "thar," or "serow," — one of the tribe of antelopes, known as the goat-like antelopes, — of which there are several species in the East Indies. They guessed aright. It was the serow, ( CapricoT' nis hibalina.) But the creature was not alone. Although we have said he was not running very swiftly, he was going as fast as his thick legs would carry him. And he had good reason too, for, close upon his heels, came a pack of what Karl supposed to be red wolves, but which Ossaroo recognized as the wild dogs of India. There were about a dozen of these, each nearly as large as a wolf, with long necks and bodies, somewhat long muz- zles, and high, erect, round-tipped ears. Their general color was red, turning to reddish white underneath. The tops of their long bushy tails were black, and there was a brown patch between the orbits of their eyes, which added to the fierce wolf-like expression that char- acterized them. It was from them that the howling and yelping had proceeded. They were in full cry after the serow. Fritz, on hearing the music, would have bounded forth and joined them ; but to keep him out of harm's way, Karl had tied him to a tree before commencing THE SEEOW. 219 Work, and Fritz, nolens volens, was compelled to keep his place. The chase swept by, and both dogs and antelope were soon lost to the sight, though their howling could still b« heard through the trees. After a time it grew louder, and the wood-cutters, perceiving that the chase was again coming in their direction, stood watching and listening. A second time the serow appeared crossing the open tract, and the dogs, as before, close at his heels. Once more all disappeared, and then, after a short interval, " hark back " was the cry ; and, to their sur- prise, Karl and the shikarree again saw the wild dogs pressing the serow through the woods. Now it appeared to both that the dogs might easily have overtaken the antelope at any moment ; for they were close up to his heels, and a single spring, which any of them might have given, would have launched them upon its flanks. Indeed, it appeared as if they were running it only for their amusement, and at any moment could have overtaken it ! This observation of our wood-cutters was partially true. The wild dogs could at any moment have over- taken the antelope, for they had done so already ; hav- ing turned it more than once. But for all that, they were not running it out of mere sport. They were thus chasing the game back and forward in order to guide it to their hreeding-place, and save themselves the trouble of carrying its carcass thither ! This was in reality what the wild dogs were about, and this accounted for their odd behavior. Ossaroo, who knew the wild dogs iFell, assured the Sahib Karl, that such is their jiractice, 10* 220 THE SEKOW. that — whenever they have young ones — they hunt Ihe larger animals from point to point until they get them close to their common burrowing place ; that then they all spring upon the victim, and worry it to death, leav- ing the puppies to approach the carcass and mangle it at their pleasure ! The plant-hunter had already heard of this singular practice having been observed in the " wild honden,'' or hunting-dogs of the Cape, and was therefore less sur- prised at Ossaroo's account. Of course it was not then that Karl and Ossaroo conversed upon these topics. They were too busy in watching the chase, which once' more passed within twenty yards of the spot where they were standing. The serow seemed now to be quite done up, and it appeared as if his pursuers might at any moment have pulled him down. But this they evidently did not wish to do. They wanted to drive him a little farther. The creature, however, was not going to accommo- date them. He had run enough. A very large tree stood in his way. Its trunk was many feet in diameter, and great broad buttresses stood out from its flanks, enclosing angular spaces between them, any of which would have made a stall for a horse. It was just the sort of place which the serow was looking out for ; and making a sharp rush for the tree, he entered one of these divisions, and wheeling around, buttocks to the etump, stood firmly to bay. This suddea manoeuvre evidently disconcerted his fierce pursuers. There were many of them that knew the serow well, and trembled at the sight of his horna when brought too close to them. They knew his tactica THE SEEOW. 221 too, and were well aware that once in a posiJion, like that he had now taken up, he became a dangerous cus- tomer to deal with. Knowing this, most of the old dogs held back- But there were several young ones in the pack, rash, hot- blooded fellows, who, vain of their prowess, were ashamed to hang theii tails at this crisis ; and these, without more ado, rushed in upon the antelope. Then ensued a scene that caused Ossaroo to clap his hands and shake his sides with laughter. A desperate strug- gle was carried on. Right and left pitched the wild dogs, some yelping, some skulking back, crippled and limping ; while one or two soon lay stretched out dead ; transfixed as they had been by the pointed horns of the antelope. Ossaroo enjoyed this scene, for the shikarrea had a grgat dislike to these wild dogs, as they had often interfered with his stalking. How the battle would have ended, or whether the bold buck would have beaten off" his numerous enemies^ ■win never be known ; for while the contest was raging^ the great boar-hound, Fritz, contrived somehow or othet to slip his fastening, and the next moment he was seen rushing like a streak of fire towards the melee. The wild dogs were as much terrified by his sudden appear- ance in their midst as the quarry itself could have been, and, without staying to examine the interloper, one and all of them took to their heels, and soon disappeared behind the trees. Fritz had never seen a serow before, but taking it for granted it was fair game, he sprang at the creature on sight. Better for Fritz had it been a Saxon boar, for it cost him several sharp rips, and a long struggle be- 222 THE SEKO-W. fore l.e became master of the field ; and it is doubtful whether he would not have suffered still worse, had not a pea of lead from the rifle of his master aided in bring- ing the strife to an end. The game, but for its hide, was hardly worth taking home ; as the flesh of the serow is very coarse, and poor eating. For all that, the animal is eagerly hunted by the natives of the Himalayas ; partly because it is not difficult to come up with, and partly that these poof people are not very epicurean in their appetites. OSSABOO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. 223 CHAPTER XL. OSSAROO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. If Ossaroo hated any living creature more than Another, the wild dogs, as already hinted at, were his particular aversion. They had often spoiled a stdk upon him, when he was in the act of bringing down an axis or an antelope with his arrows, and they them- selves were not worth bending a bow upon. Their flesh was not fit to be eaten, and their skins were quite unsalable. In fact, Ossaroo regarded them as no better than filthy vermin, to be destroyed only for the sake of exterminating them. Hence it was that the shikarree was so delighted, when he saw the old serow dealing death among his canine antagonists. But it was written in the book of fate, that Ossaroo should not sleep that night until he had done penance for this exultation. Another adventure was in store for him, which we shall now relate. From the place where the yaks had been killed to the hut was a very long distance — fuU three quarters of a mile ; and, of course, transporting the skins and meat thither required Karl and Ossaroo to make many journeys backward and forward. Caspar was laid up 224 OSSAEOO CHASED BY WILD POGS. with his sprained ankle, and could give them no assist- ance. As we have said, they had to carry him home as well as the meat. The work occupied them all the rest of the day, and, when twilight arrived, there was stUl one joint to be got home. For this joint Ossaroo started alone, leaving the others at the hut to cook the supper. On cutting up the meat, they had taken the precaution to hang the pieces upon high branches, out of the reach of beasts of prey. Experience iiad taught them, that there were many of these in the place, ravenous enough to devour a whole carcass in a few minutes. What kind of wild beast had carried off the flesh of the cow- yak, they knew not. Karl and Caspar believed they were wolves, for the wolf, in some form or other, is found in every quarter of the globe ; and in India there are two or three distinct species — as the " land- gab," or Nepaul wolf, ( Ganis paUipes,) and the " be- riah," another Indian wolf, of a yellow color, slenderly made, and about the size of a greyhound, with long, erect ears, like the jackal. The jackal, too, which is only a smaller wolf, and the common or brindled hyena, inhabit these countries ; so that it was difficult to say which of all these ravenous creatures had committed the depredation. Ossaroo's opinion was, that it was done by dogs, not wolves ; and, perhaps, by the very pack that had that day been seen in pursuit of the ante- lope. It made no great difference, as far as that went ; for these same wild dogs are in reality more wolf than dog, and in habits quite as ferocious and destructive as the wolves themselves. But to return to Ossaroo and his adventure. OSSAROO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. 225 When the shikarree arrived on the ground where the meat had been left, he was not much surprised to Bee a number of wild dogs skulking about. Half a dozen of them were standing under the joint, where it hung from the branch ; some of them in the act of springing upward, and all of them regarding the tempt- ing morsel with fierce, hungry looks. The offal and « giblets " they_ had already disposed of, so that not the smallest fragment could be seen lying about. What Ossaroo regretted most was, that he had brought with him neither bow nor arrow nor spear, nor, in short, any thing in the shape of a weapon. Even his long knife he had left behind, in order that he might carry the large joint with greater ease. On seeing the hated dogs, however, he could not resist the temptation of having a shy at them ; and, gathering up a handful of bulky stones, he rushed into their midst, and pelted at them right and left. The dogs, startled by this sudden onslaught, took to their heels, but Ossaroo could not help observing that they did not appear to be so badly frightened ; and, some of them that left the ground sulky and growling, stopped at no great distance from the spot, and appeared half inclined to come back again ! It was the first time in his life that Ossaroo felt some thing like fear of the wild dogs. He had been in the habit of chasing them on sight, and they had always enampered off at the sound of his voice. These, how- ever, seemed to be larger and fiercer than any he had before encountered, and it was evident there was fight in them. It was nearly dark, and at night such animals are much bolder than during the daylight. Night is, 226 OSSAKOO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. in fact, their true time for rapine and desperate deeds. Ossaroo reflected, moreover, that these dogs had, in all probability, never before encountered man, and were, therefore, less inchned to fear or flee from him. It was not without some mis^ving, therefore, that he found himself in their presence, thus unarmed and alone. When his armful of stones was exhausted, some of the dogs still remained within sight, looking in the gray twilight much larger than they actually were. Ossaroo reflected for a moment whether he wonld gather some more rocks, and give them a fresh pelting. On second thoughts, he concluded it would be more prudent to let them alone. They were already almost at bay, and any farther demonstration on his part might provoke them to turn upon him in earnest. He deter- mined, therefore, to leave them as they stood, and hurry off with his load. Without more ado, he took down the quarter of yak- beef, and, placing it upon his shoulders, turned home- ward toward the hut. He had not gone very far when he began to suspect that the dogs were after him. In fact, he more than suspected it, for the pattering of feet upon the dead leaves, and an occtjsional low growl that reached his ears, convinced him they were after him. The heavy burden upon his shoulders, pressing his head forward and downward, prevented him from seeing either to one side or the other, and to look behind, it would be n«>cessary for him to turn quite round. But the pattering of the feet sounded nearer, and the short half-bark, half-growl, became more frequent, until OSSAROO CHASED BY WILD DOGS. 227 Ossaroo found himself at length constrained to turn, from sheer apprehension of being attacked in the rear. The sight that met his eyes was enough to have ter- rified the stoutest heart. Instead of half a dozen f f the wild dogs which he expected to see following him, there were far above a score of them, and they appeared to be of every age, sex, and size. In fact, all the dogs of the valley were trooping at his heels, as if they had been all summoned to join in the attack. But the stout shikarree was not yet dismayed. H« had been accustomed to hold the wild dogs in too great contempt to be so easily frightened, even by such num- bers of them, and he resolved to make another attempt to drive them off. Leaning the beef, therefore, against a tree, he stooped down and groped the ground, until he had again armed himself with pebbles as big as paving-stones ; and rush- ing some paces backward, he flung them with all his might in the teeth of his tormentors. Several of the pebbles happened to hit in the right place, and more than one of the dogs ran howling away ; but the fiercer and older ones scarce yielded their ground, and only answered the assault by a fierce grinning and jabbering, while their white teeth could be distinguished under the moonlight set in angry menace. Upon the whole, Ossaroo gained but little by this new demonstration; and as he reshouldered his load, be saw the dogs gathering thick as ever behind him. Perhaps he would not have taken up his burden again, but an idea had suddenly entered his mind ; he had conceived a plan of getting rid of his ugly fol* bwers. 228 CSSAKOO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. He knew that he was near the edge of the lake. R9 remembered that between him and the hut there lay ^ long reach of water, where the lake ran up into a sort of branch or bay. He knew that this bay, even at its neck, was quite shallow and fordable. He had, in fact, waded across it that very day in order to shorten the path. He was just then within a hundred yards of the fording-place ; and if the dogs contemplated attacking him, he would be able to reach the water before they were likely to begin their attack. He would take to the water, and that would throw them off. With all their fierceness, fhey surely would not follow him into it? Acting under this impression, he reshouldered his load and hurried forward. He did not waste time to look about. He need not have looked around to con- vince himself that he was still followed, for the thick pattering of the feet, the snarling, and chattering, were behind him as before. Every moment it sounded nearer and nearer, and at length when Ossaroo arrived by the water's edge he fancied he could htear the breathing of the brutes close to his very ankles. He made no halt, but dashed at once into the lake and plunged wildly across. The noise made by him- self in wading knee-deep prevented him from hearing other sounds ; and he did not look to see whether he was followed until he had climbed out on the opposite shore of the bay. Then he paused and turned around. To his chagrin the whole pack were in the water, cross- ing like hounds after a stag ! Already they were half over. They had no doubt hesitated a moment before taking to the water, and this gave Ossaroo some advan- OSSAEOO CHASED BT WILD DOGS. 229 tage, else they would have landed as soon as he. As it was, they would soon take up the distance. Ossaroo hesitated a moment as to whether he should abandon his burden, and retreat towards the hut ; but the thought of yielding to a pack of wild dogs was too much for his hunter pride; and, wheeling suddenly into the path, he hurried onward with his load. It was now but a short distance to the hut. He had still hopes that he might reach it before his pursuers would make up their minds to assail him. On he hastened, making his limbs do their best. Once more came the pattering feet ; once more the growling, and yelping, and jibbering of the wild dogs from behind ; once more their hot breathing seemed to be felt close to his heels ; and then, all at once, the quarter of yak-beef appeared to increase in weight, and grow heavier and heavier, until it came suddenly to the ground, pulling Ossaroo upon his back. Several of the ravenous brutes had seized upon and dragged both burden and bearer to the earth ! But Ossaroo soon recovered his feet ; and, seizing a large pole, that fortunately lay near, commenced laying around him right and left, at the same time making the woods echo with his yells. A terrible melee ensued, the dogs showing fight, seiz- ing the pole in their teeth, and springing forward upon the hunter whenever an opportunity offered. The lat- ter, however, handled 'tis improvised weapon so well, that for a long time he kept the whole pack at bay. He was growing very tired, and no doubt in a few minutes more would have been obliged to succumb, when he, as well as the joint of yak-beef, would soon 230 OSSAEOO CHASED BY WILD DOGS. have disappeared from the world ; but, before this ter rible event coald happen, the large spotted body of Fritz was seen rushing into the midst of the crowd, Fritz was followed by his master, Karl, armed with the double-barrelled gun, which soon opened fire, scatter- ing the wild pack like a flock of sheep, and laying out more than one of their number at the feet of Ossaroo. The scene was soon over after the arrival of Karl and Fritz, and Ossaroo was delivered from his peril ; but if ever a follower of Brahma swore vengeance against any Kving creature, Ossaroo did that very thing agaiust the wild dogs OSSAROO'S RETENGE. 231 CHAPTER XLI. OSSAROO'S REVENGE. So indignant was Ossaroo with these animals that ha vowed he would not lie down till he had taken wholesale revenge, and Karl and Caspar were curious to know how he intended to fake it. They knew the dogs would be like enough to come round the hut during the night. Indeed, they heard them yelping not far off at the mo- ment ; but for all that how were they to be killed, for that was the sort of revenge the shikarree meditated taking ? It would never do to expend powder and shot on such worthless animals ; besides firing at them in the darkness would be a very uncertain mode of killing even a single one of them. Did Ossaroo intend to sit up all night and shoot at them with his arrows ? The chances were he should not hit one ; and from the way Ossaroo talked he had made up his mind to a whole hetacomb ! Certainly he eould not do it with his bow and arrows. How then was he going to take the wholesale vengeance he had rowed ? They knew of no sort of trap that could be arranged, whereby more than a single dog might be captured ; and tt would take some time with such weapons as they had 232 OSSAEOO'S REVENGE. to construct the radest kind of trap. True, there wai the " dead-fall " that might be rigged up in a few minutes from logs that lay near ; but that could only faU once, crushing one victim, unless Ossaroo sat up to rearrange it. Besides, the cunning dogs might not go under it again, after one of their number had been immolated before their eyes. Karl and Caspar could not conceive what plan Ossa- roo intended to pursue ; but from experience they knew he had some one ; and therefore they asked him no ques- tions, but watched his proceedings in silence. The first thing that Ossaroo did was to collect from the antelope aU the tendons or sinews that he could lay his fingers on. Some, also, he obtained from the bark- ing deer, which Caspar had killed in the morning ; and others he took from the limbs of the yaks that had been brought home in their skins. In a short while he had a goodly bunch of these tough strings; which he first dried before the fire, and then twisted after his own fashion into slender cords. In all he made more than a score of them — Karl and Caspar of course acting under his directions, and lending him all necessary help during the operation. These cords, neatly twined and dried by the heat, now resembled strings of coarse catgut; and it only remained for Ossaroo to knot and loop them, and form them into snares. Of course Karl and Caspar now knew what Ossaroo purposed — to snare the dogs of course. Yet how the snares were to be set, or how a wild dog could be cap- tured with a piece of catgut, was more than they could comprehend. Surely, thought they, the dogs will gnaw such a string to pieces in half a minute, and set them OSSAEOO'S 3ETENGE. 233 Behes free again? So it would have appeared, and so they would doubtless have done had the snares been set for them in the ordinary manner. But Ossaroo had a plan of his own for setting snares, and it was by this plan he intended to succeed in capturing the dogs. The next thing Ossaroo did was to provide himself with an equal number of stoutish thongs, which his knife and the numerous raw hides that lay about soon enabled him to do. When these were all prepared, about twenty small skewer-like rods were obtained from the bushes and sharpened at one end. Then a like number of " griskins " were cut from the antelope veni- son — it being esteemed of least value ; and thus pro- vided, Ossaroo started forth to set his snares. Karl and Caspar of course accompanied him, the lat- ter limping on one leg, and carrying a large pine-torch — ^for as the moon had gone down, and it was now quite lark, they required a light to do the work. Karl was loaded with the thongs, skewers, and griskins, while Ossaroo himself was in charge of the snares. Now it so happened that not far from the hut, and all around it, there grew numbers of low trees, with long branches that extended horizontally outward. They were a species of the pyrus, or mountain-ash, sometimes known as « witch hazel." The branches, though long, were thin, tough, and elastic, and not much burdened with either branchlets or leaves. They were the very things for Ossaroo's purpose, and he had observed this before it had become quite dark, and while he was med- itating upon some plan to get square with the wild dogs. \Jpon these branches he was now to operate. Reaching up he caught one of them in his hand. 234 OSSAEOO'S REVENGE. drew it downwards, and then suddenly let it go againj in order to try the " spring " of it It appeared to sat- isfy him ; and, once more laying hold of it, he stripped off its leaves and twigs, and then tied the raw-hide thong to its upper end. To the other end of the string was next adjusted the skewer-like rod, and this last was fastened in the ground in such a way as to hold th« branch bent downward with considerable force, while a very slight jerk upon the gin itself would set the former free. The shikarree now arranged his piece of venison for a bait, fixing it so that it could not possibly be dragged away or even slightly tugged without setting free the rod-trigger, and consequently the bent branch. Last of all, was arranged the snare, and this was placed in such a position with regard to the bait, that any ani- mal attempting to seize the latter must necessarily have the whole or part of its body encircled by the ready running noose. When all these matters were arranged to his satis- faction, Ossaroo proceeded to another tree, and went through a similar process of snare-setting ; and then to another, and so on till the whole of his snares were dis- posed of, when the party returned to the hut. They sat for half-an-hour longer, Usteniug in hopea that before retiring they might enjoy the sport of seeing a wild dog snared. Whether it was that the torchlight had frightened them off for a while, or from some other cause, neither yelp, nor growl, nor noise of any kind, gratified the ears of the listeners ; so they gave it up, and, shutting the rude door of the hut, one and all of C^m went soundly to sleep. The fact is, the day's work had been one of the hard< OSSABOO'S REVENGE. 239 est of theii lives. All were as tired as hod-carriera ; and they were glad to stretch themselves once more on the fragrant leaves of the rhododendrons. Had they not slept so soundly, they might have heard a considerable confusion of noises throughout the night. What with barking and growling, and yelping and howl- ing, and snapping and snarling, and the creaking of branches and the rattling of twigs, there was a constant medley, that ought to have awakened the three sleepers long before daylight. It did awake them, however, at last ; and as the light streamed through the apertures of the hut, all three sprang to their feet and rushed out into the open air. It was still only gray hght ; but as soon as they had rubbed their eyes clear of sleep, a sight was before them that caused Karl and Caspar to break out into loud laughter, whUe Ossaroo jumped about vociferating his delight in wild yells of triumph. Nearly every snare they had set had caught its victim — nearly every tree around the hut carried a dog swing- ing to its branches — some by the neck hanged quite dead — some round the body alive and struggling — while there were others suspended by a single leg, their snouts almost touching the earth, and their tongues hanging from their frothy jaws ! It was the strangest of all scenes ; and Ossaroo had, as he had vowed, a full measure of vengeance — which he now carried to its completion, by seizing his long spear, and putting an end to the struggles of the hideous brutes. 236 THE CREVASSE BRIDOED. CHAPTER XLIL THE CREVASSE BRIDGED. Young reader, I shall not weary you by relating every little circumstance which occurred during the time that the bridge was being constructed. Suffice it to say, that all hands were btoy, — ^both night and day, I might almost say, — until it was finished. Although they were in no want of any thing, and might have lived their lives out in this place, yet the thought that they were imprisoned — cut ofi" from all fellowship with mankind — weighed heavily upon their spirits, and not an hour was wasted in idle amusement. The whole of their time was given up to that which engrossed all their thoughts — the construction of the bridge — that link, which was wanting to unite them once more with the world, and free them from their lonely captivity. They were a whole month in getting their bridge ready ; which, after all, consisted only of a single pole of about six inches in diameter, and better than a hundred feet in length. It was nothing more than two slender pine-trees spliced together by means of raw-hide thongs. But then these trees haJ to be shaved down to a nearly uniform thickness, and this had to be done with the small hatchet and kniv% ; and the wood had l< f .«>*!$S^*li'?-" """^ ■"it". » THE CEEVAS3B BRIDGED. 237 to be eharred by fire until it was quite dry ar d light ; and the splicing had to be made with the greatest neat- ness and strength, so that there would be no danger of its yielding under a weight; and, moreover, a great many ropes had to be twisted, and many animals had to be captured and killed, to obtain the materials for these ropes ; and other apparatus had to be made — so that the getting that bridge ready was a good month's work for all hands. At the end of a month it was ready ; and now behold it in the gorge of the glacier, and lying along the snowy surface of the ice, one end of it within a few feet of the crevasse ! Thither they have transported it, and are just preparing to put it in its place. The first thought that will strike you, will be how that piece of timber is to be placed across that yawning chasm. It is quite long enough to reach across — for they calculated that before making it — and there are several feet to lap over at each end ; but how on earth is it to be extended across ? If any one of the party was upon the opposite side, and had a rope attached to the end of the pole, then it would be easy enough to manage it. But as there could be nothing of this kind, how did they intend acting ? It is evident they could not push it across before them ; the end of such a long pole would naturally sink below the horizontal line be- fore reaching the opposite side ; and how was it to be raised up ? In fact, as soon as they should push it a little more than half its length outward, its own weight would overbalance their united strength, and it would be likely to escape from their hands and drop to the bottom of the cleft — whence, of course, they could not 238 THE CREVASSE BRIDGED. recover it. This would be a sad result, after the trou« ble they had had in constructing that well-balanced piece of timber. Ah ! they were not such simpletons as to have worked a whole month without first having settled all these matters. Karl was too good an engineer to have gone on thus far, without a proper design of how his bridge was to be thrown, across. If you look at the objects lying around, you will perceive the evidence of that design. You will understand how the difficulty is to be got over. Tou will see there a ladder nearly fifty feet in length — several days were expended in the making of this ; you will see a strong puUey, with block-wheels and shears — this cost no little time in the construction ; and you win see several coils of stout raw-hide rope. No wonder a month was expended in the preparation of the bridge ! And now to throw it across the chasm ! For that purpose they were upon the ground, and all their ap- paratus with them. Without farther delay the work commenced. The ladder was placed against the clifi", with its lowei end resting upon the glacier, and as close to the edge of the crevasse as was reckoned safe. We have said that the ladder was fifty feet in length , and consequently it reached to a point on the face of the cliff nearly fifty feet above the surface of the glacier. At this height there chanced to be a slight flaw in the rock — a sort of seam in the granite — where a hole could sasily be pierced with an iron instrument. Tc make this hole a foot or more in d^th was th» THE CREVASSE BRIDGED. 239 work of an hour. It was done by means of the hatchet, and the iron point of Ossaroo's boar-spear. A strong wooden stake was next inserted into this hole, fitting it as nearly as possible ; but, in order to make it perfectly tight and firm, hard wooden wedgea were hammered in all around it. When driven home, the end of this stake protruded a foot or more from the wall of the chff ; and, by means of notches cut in the wood, and raw-hide thongs, the pulley was securely rigged on to it. The pulley had been made with two wheels ; each of them with axles strong enough to bear the weight of several hundreds. Both had been well tested before this time. Another stake was now inserted into the cliff, within a few feet of the surface of the glacier. This was simply to be used as a belaying-pin, to which the ends of the pulley-ropes could be fastened at a moment's notice. The next operation was the reeving of the ropes over the wheels of the pulley. This was the work of but a few minutes, as the ropes had already been care- fully twisted, and had been made of just the thickness to fit the grooves of the wheels. The ropes— or cables, as the boys called them — were now attached at one end to the great pole which was to form the bridge. One to its end, and the other to ita middle, exactly around the place where it was joined. The greatest pains was taken in adjusting these knots, particularly the one in the middle ; for the duty which this cable was called upon to perform was, indeed, of a most important character. It was to act as the main pier or support of the 24tt THE CKEVASSB BRIDGED. bridge — ^not only to prevent the long pole from " swag- ging " downward, but in fact to keep it from breaking altogether. But for Karl's ingenuity in devising this support, a slender pole, such as that they had prepared, would never have sustained the weight of one of them ; and had they made it of heavier scantling, they could not have thrown it across the chasm. The centre sup- port, therefore, was the chief object of their solicitude; and this cable, as well as the puUey-wheel over which it passed, were made much stronger than the other. The second rope was intended to hold up the end of the pole, so that, on approaching the opposite side of the chasm, it could be kept high enough to be raised above the ice. The ropes being now completely rigged, each matr. took his place. Ossaroo, who was the strongest of the party, was to push the bridge forward ; while Karl and Caspar attended to the pulley and the ropes. RoUera had abeady been laid under the poles ;" for, although but six inches in diameter, its great length rendered it no easy matter to slide it forward, even with the advan- tage of the slippery surface of frozen snow. The word was given by Karl, and the pole com- menced moving. Soon its end passed over the brink of the chasm, close by the edge of the black rock. Slowly and gradually it moved forward, and not one sf them uttered a word. They were all too much ab- sorbed in attending to their various duties to speak a and in silence. I ' . I ^v ■■■': '-;". -k: 1— **-. '/* / '/'M KARL CLIMBS THE LEDGE, 261 CHAPTER XLVL EABL CLIMBS THE LEDGE. He continued on until he had reached that end of the valley most remote from the hut, and along tie whole of the cliffs that he passed his reconnoissance had been fruitless. He saw many ledges, and some of considerable width — quite wide enough to rest a ladder upon, and also allow it a proper lean to the waU. Some were higher and some lower; but unfortunately they were not above one another, as Karl desired to find them. On the contrary, they were far apart — so that if one of them could have been reached by means of a ladder, as many of them might, this would in no way facilitate communication with the one that was higher up. Of course then, for Karl's purpose, these ledges were of no avail ; and, after observing their relative situations, he passed on with looks of disappoint- ment. At the farthest end of the valley — that is, the place farthest from the hut — there was a little bay, or inden- tation, in the cliffs. As already stated, there were several of these at intervals around the vaUey, but the one in question was the largest of any. It was very 262 KAEL CLIMBS THE LED«E. narrow, only a few yards in width, and about a hundred in depth — that is, a hundred yards from the line, which indicated the general outline of the valley, to the apex of the angle where the indentation ended. Its bottom was nearly upon the same level with that of the valley itseF, though it was raised a little higher in some places by loose rocks, and other debris that had fallen from the impending clifis. Karl had entered this bay, and was regarding its cliffs all around with intense eagerness of glance. Any one who could have seen him at that moment would have observed that his countenance was brightening as he gazed ; and that pleasant thoughts were springing up within his bosom. Any one who had seen that face but the moment before, and had looked upon it now, could not fail to have noticed the change that had so suddenly come over it — a perfect contrast in its expres- sion. What had produced this metamorphosis ? Some- thing of importance, I warrant ; for the young botanist, naturally of a sober turn, but now more than ever so, was not given to sudden transitions of feeling. What, then, was the cause of his joy ? A glance at the cliff will answer these interrogatories. At the first glance it might be noted that that part of the precipice surrounding the bay — or ravine, aa it might more properly be called — was lower than else- where, — perhaps not quite three hundred feet in heighU It was not this peculiarity, however, at which Karl was rejoicing. A ladder of three hundred feet was not to be thought of any more than one of three thousand. It was that he had just observed upon the face of the cliff a series of ledges that rose, shelf-like, one above tha &ARL CLIMBS THE LED&E. 263 Other. The rock had a seamed or stratified appearancCj although it was a species of granite ; but the strata were not by any means regular, and the ledges were at unequal distances from each other. Some, too, were broader than the rest, and some appeared very nan-ow indeed ; but many of them were evidently of sufficient width to form the stepping-place for a ladder. The lower ones especially appeared as though they might easily be scaled by a series of ladders, each from twenty to thirty feet long, — but with regard to those near the top, K^rl had great doubts. The shelves did not seem more distant from each other than those below, but their horizontal breadth appeared less. This might possibly be an optical delusion, caused by the greater distance from». which they were viewed ; but if so, it would not much mend the matter for the design which Karl had in. view — since the deception that would have given him an advantage in the breadth would have beea against him in the height, making the latter too great, perhaps, for any ladder that could be got up. If you have ever stood by the bottom of a great precipice, you may have noticed how difficult it is to judge of the dimensions of an object far up its face. A ledge several feet in width will appear as a mere seam in the rock, and a bird or other creature that may be seen upon it, will, to the eyes of the beholder, be reduced far below its real bulk. Karl was philosophei enough to understand these things. He had studied in an elementary way, the laws of optics, and therefore was not going to come to conclusions too hastUy. In order the better to form judgment about the breadth of the ledges, and the height of the respective 264 E4BL CLIMBS THE LEDGE. intervals between them, he stepped back as far a« the ground would permit him. Unfortunately this was not far, for the cliff on the other side, as already stated, was but a few paces dis- tant. Consequently he was soon stopped by the rocks, and his situation for viewing the upper portion of the cliff was anything but an advantageous one. He scrambled up one of the highest boulders, and took his survey from its top, but he was stiU not satis- fied with his " point of view." He saw, however, that it was the best he could obtain ; and he remained for a good while upon his perch — with eyes bent upon the opposing precipice, now fixed upon a particular spot, and now wandering in one long sweep from bottom to top, and back again from top to bottom. During this operation the expression upon his face once more changed to one of deep gloom, for he had discovered an obstacle to his designs that appeared in- surmountable. One of the spaces between two of the ledges was too great to be spanned by a ladder, and this, too, was high up the cliff. It could never be scaled ! He noticed that the first ledge from the bottom was about half as high from the ground as this one was from that immediately below it. Hitherto he had been but guessing at the height; but it now occurred to him that he should throw con- jecture aside, and ascertain by actual measurement the distance from the ground to the first ledge. This might be easily accomplished — Karl saw that, — and once done, it would give him a better idea of the diB* tance between the ledges high up. ItAEL CLIMBS THE LEDGE. 265 It has been stated that the measurement could be easily made, and that Karl knew this ; but how ? The ledge appeared to be full forty feet from the ground, and how was it to be reached by a measuring rule ? But Karl had no measuring rule ; and it was not in that way he intended to go about it. You will be conjecturing that he looked out for a tall sapling, of sufficient length to reach the ledge, and then afterwards ascertained the number of feet and inchea of the sapling. Certainly this mode would have done weU enough, and Karl would very likely have made use of it, had not an easier offered itself— or one that at the moment appeared readier to him. He could have told the height by triangulation, but that would also have involved the procuring of a sapling — and some tedious calculation besides, which would have required time, with not the most certain results either. Both these plans had occupied his thoughts for a while. The first was rejected on account of the diffi- culty of obtaining a rod of sufficient length, — the second was set aside by Karl just then perceiving that without much difficulty, he might climb up to the ledge itself. There was a portion of the rock below with a slanting face, and here and there some broken hollows and "jut- ting points that would serve him as foot-holds. Once upon the ledge, the measurement would be simple enough. It would be only to let down a string with a small stone at the end, hke a plumber's line; and then mark how much string it required to reach the ground. He chanced to have about him a longish piece of raw-hide thong, that would serve admirably, and to 266 KAEL CLIMBS THE LEDGE. carry out his purpose, he at once determined upon a* cending to the ledge. Drawing the thong from his pocket, and attaching to one end of it the piece of stone, he approached the clifij and commenced scrambling upward. He found it a more difficult task than it had appeared, and it was just as much as he could do to reach the leJge in safety. Had it been Caspar, the climbing would have been a mere bagatelle ; used, as the young hunter had been, to the precipices of the Alps while following the rock-loving chamois. But Karl was no great hand at such gymnastic exer- cises ; and he was all out of breath, and a little bit frightened at his rashness, before he had placed himself safely on the shelf. Stepping along it, therefore, till he reached a point where the cliff below was vertical, he dropped his stone and line, and soon completed his measurement Alas ! it proved to be far higher than he had conjectured in Viewing it from below. His spirits fell as he contem- plated the result. He was now certain that the space higher up could not be spanned by any ladder they might be able to construct. With sad heart, he returned to the place where he had made the ascent, intending to go down again. But it is sometimes easier to say go down than to do it ; and to Karl's great consternation he saw at the first glance that he could no more go down than fly upward into the air. Beyond a doubt he was in a fix; regularly "nailed" upon the cliff. KARL IN A FIX. 267 CHAPTER XLVII. EARL IN A FIX. It is not difficult to comprehend the reason. Any one who has ever climbed up a steep ascent, — such as a piece of wall, the mast of a ship, or even an ordinary ladder, — ^will have noticed that the going up, is much easier than the getting down again ; and where the ascent is very steep and difficult, it is quite possible that a person may make their way to the top, without being able to get back to the bottom. The difficulty of de- scending is much greater than that of ascending. In the latter, you can see where you are to set your feet, and also what you are to take hold of with your hands ; whereas, in the former you have not this advantage; but must grope your way downward, and are therefore continually exposed to the danger of missing your foot- iag, and being precipitated to the bottom. This was just the situation in which the plant-hunter found himself. It was as much as he had been able to puU himself up ; it was more than he could do to let himself down again ; this he perceived at a single glance. It is true that the rock slanted a little, and he had dearly stjeu this from below. Now that he looked at it 12* 268 KABL m A FIX. from abc7e, he could scarcely perceiTe any slant. !■ appeared almost vertical, and it was full forty feet to the bottom ; a fearful height when viewed from above ; He wondered how he had been able to climb up at all, and he was now vexed with himself for having been so rash and foolish. But he could not stay there all night. Something mast be done, to free him from his unpleasant situa- tion ; and, gathering resolution, he made an attempt to descend. He knelt down upon the ledge, with his face turned toward the cliff and his back outwards. Then, grasp- ing the rock, in his hands, he allowed his feet to slip over. He succeeded in finding the uppermost steps, but then came the difficulty. He dared not let go with his hands, so as to get another step downward ; and, on lowering his feet to feel for a fresh foothold, he could not discover any. Repeatedly he ran his toes over the face of the rock, groping for a notch or jutting point, but he could find nothing upon which to rest either foot, and he was at length obliged to draw them up, and place himself back upon the ledge. He now bethought him that there might be a better place for making the descent ; and, rising to his feet, he proceeded to search for it. He had no difficulty in passing along the ledge ; it was several feet in width, and he could walk erect upon it without danger. It extended for nearly fifty yards along the face of the cliff, and was of nearly equal breadth all the way. Karl proceeded along it from one end to the other, at every step or two stopping and looking downward. But his examination ended in disappointment. There KARL IN A FIX. 269 was no path leading from it, at all practicable for any other creature than a cat, or some other animal with crooked claws, — at all events, there was no place where Karl himself could get down, — and he turned to go back to the point where he had ascended, with a feeling of apprehension that he was not going to get down It alll Oe proceeding along the ledge, he had not yet bent his eyes upon the cliif that rose behind, — his attention being altogether occupied with the part that lay below ; on goiiig back, however, his eye ranged more freely, and he now noticed a dark hole in the rock, a few feet above the level of the ledge. This hole was about as big as an ordinary doorway, and upon closer examina- tion, Karl perceived that it was the mouth of a cave. He noticed, moreover, that it appeared to grow wider beyond the entrance, and was no doubt a cavern of large dimensions. He had no further curiosity in rela- tion to it ; only that the reflection crossed his mind that he might be compelled to pass the night there. This was probable enough ; unless, indeed, Ossaroo or Cas- par should come in search of him before nightfall, and relieve him from his elevated prison. But it was just as likely they might not ; for frequently one of the party was out for hours together, without causing any uneasi- ness to the rest, and it would be after night before they would feel any apprehension about his absence. In the darkness, too, they might go in the wrong direction to search for him, and might wander about through the woods a long time before coming near the place where he was. He was in the very farthest corner of the val- ley, and shut up in the ravine, with rocks and high 270 KAEL IN A FIX. woods between him and them ; and thus his shouts could not be heard at any great distance. These were the reflections that passed through his mind, as he returned along the ledge to the point where he had climbed up. He did not enter the cave to ex- amine it — as he would certainly have done under other circumstances — ^but his curiosity was now controlled by the apprehension he very naturally felt in the dilemma in which he was placed. That he could do nothing to free himself from it was clear enough to his mind. He must wait, therefore, until either Caspar came, or Ossaroo, or both; and, summoning all his patience, he sat down upon the ledge and waited. Of course, he did not wait in silence. He had the sense to know, that if he kept sUent they might not find him at all; and therefore, at short intervals, he rose to his feet, and shouted at the top of his voicc> causing the cliffs to reverberate in numberless echoes. The echoes, however, were the only replies he r^ ceived. Loud as were his cries, they were not heard either by Caspar or Ossaroa THE TIBET BEAR. 271 CHAPTER XLVIII. THE TIBET BEAR. Fob full two hours sat Karl, chewing the cud of lunpatience. As yet the feeling he experienced waa only one of impatience, mingled with a considerable amount of chagrin at being in such a scrape, and hav- ing got himself into it in so simple a manner. He had no very painful apprehensions about the result — since he made quite sure that his companions would come to his relief in the end. They might not find him that day, or that night, and he might have to remain all night upon the ledge. This, however, would be no great hardship. He might suffer a little from want of his sup{)er, and he might have to sleep in the cave, but what of that to one so inured to hunger, and to sleeping in the open air, as he was ? Even had there been no shelter, he could have stretched himself along the ledge, and slept that way without much minding it. Certainly in tha morning the others would be after him, his Bhouts would guide them to the spot, and then it would be aU right again. Such was the reasoning of Karl, and therefore, know* ing that he had but little to fear, he was not acutely anxious. 272 THE TIBET BEAR. "While he was thus comfortably communing with himself, however, his eyes rested upon an object that rendered him anxious enough — ^nay, more than anxious —badly frightened, would be nearer the words. His ears first guided him to this new cause of alarm.' While sitting on the ledge, and not saying a word, he heard a sound that resembled the snort of a jackasa, just as one commences to bray. There were some bushes growing at no great dis- tance from the bottom of the cliflEj and it was from the midst of these bushes the sound appeared to pro- ceed. After hearing the snort, Karl kept both eyes and ears acutely bent — ^the former fixed upon the bushes ; and in a minute after, the sound was repeated, though he did not see the creature that uttered it. He saw, however, by the motion of the twigs, that something was passing through the thicket ; and the loud snap- ping of dead sticks, and crackling of branches, proved that it was an animal of great weight and dimen- sions. Karl was not long in doubt as to the dimensions ; for the instant after he beheld the body of a large beast emerging from the thicket, and moving out into the open ground. It required no skill to tell what sort of animal it was — a bear beyond the probability of a doubt — and yet it was of a species that Karl had never before seen. But there is such a similitude between the members of the Bruin tribe, that he who has ever seen one — and who has not ? — will easily r jcognize all the rest of the family. THE TIBET BEAR. 273 The one -which now presented itself to the observa- tion of our plant-hunter, was of medium size — that is, less than the great polar bear, or the " grizzly " of the Rocky Mountains, but larger than the Bornean species, or the sun-bear of the Malays. It was scarce so large as the' singular sloth-bear, which they had encountered near the foot of the mountains, and with which they had had such a ludicrous adventure. It was but little less, however, than the " sloth," and, like it, was of a deep black color, though its hair was neither so long nor shaggy. Like the latter, too, its under lip was whitish, with a white mark on its throat resembling a Y — ^the stem of the letter being placed upon the mid- dle of its breast, and the fork passing up in front of the shoulders — for this is a mark which belongs to several species of Southern Asiatic bears. In other respects the bear in question was peculiar. It had a neck re- markably thick ; a flattened head, with the forehead and muzzle forming almost a straight line — and on this account distinguishing it from the sloth-bear, in which the forehead rises almost abruptly from the line of the muzzle. Its ears were of large size — ^its body com- pact, supported on stout but clumsy limbs — and its feet armed with claws of moderate dimensions, and blunted at their points. Such were the markings of the bear now before the eyes of Karl ; and although he had never seen one of the kind before, he had read of one ; and by these peculiarities he was able to recognize the species. It was the Tibet bear ( Ursus Tihetanus) — more commonly styled by closet-naturalists Helarcwt Tihetanus — one of the bears that inhabit the high table-lands of Tibet, and is supposed to range through 274 THE TIBET BEAB. the whole of the Upper Himalayas, since it has been found in Nepaul and elsewhere. I have said that Karl was badly frightened with this black apparition. This was at the first sight of it, as it came out of the bushes ; and, indeed, it is not at all surprising that he was so. There is no one, — not even a bear-hunter himself, — who can encounter a bear upon the bear's own ground without feeling a little trembling of the nerves ; but when it is remembered that Karl was quite unarmed — ^for he had left his gun at the bot- tom of the cliff — it will not be wondered at, that the appearance of the bear caused him alarm. His fright, however, was of short duration ; and for two reasons. First, he remembered having read that this species of bear is of a harmless disposition ; that it is not carnivorous, but feeds only on fruits, and in no in- stance has it been known to attack man unless when wounded or assailed. Then, of course, it wiU defend itself, as many animals will do that are otherwise gentle and harmless. Another reason why he soon got over his fright was, that he chanced to be in such a position that it was tiot likely the bear would attempt to come near him. He was quite out of its way ; and if he only kept silent>— which he would be careful to do — ^the animal might not even look in that direction, but go off again without perceiving him. In hope that such would be the result, Karl sat without stirring, and kept as quiet as a mouse. But Karl chanced to be building his hopes on a false foundation. The bear had no notion of going off as it had come — it had other designs altogether ; and, after shiiflfling about over the stones — now and then uttering TUi!. TIBJlT BISAB. 2'16 the same asinine snort that had first called attention to it — ^it marched straight forward to the cUff, just under the spot where Karl was seated. Then, rearing its body erect, and placing its fore-paws against the rock, it looked up into the face of the astonished plant-hunter I 276 AN AWKWARTt DSSORNT. CHAPTER XLIX. AN AWKWAKD DESCENT. It is probable that the bear at this moment was quite Its much astonished as Karl, though perhaps not so ^adly scared. It must have felt alarm though, for on 3ei,ing him it permitted its paws to drop suddenly to the ground, and appeared for a moment undecided as to wiiether it should turn tail and run back into the thicket. It did actually make a turn or two, growling and lookmg up ; and then, as if it had got over its sup> prise, and was no longer afraid, it once more approached the cliff, and planted itself to spring upward. On first perceiving the bear, Karl had been seated upon the ledge, just above the path by which he had climbed up, and it was by this path that the animal was threatening to ascend. On perceiving its intention, Karl sprang to his feet, and set to dancing about on the ledge, uncertain what to do, or whither to flee. As to opposing the ascent of the bear, he did not think of such a thing. He had no weapons, — not even a knilfe ; and had he attempted to wrestle with it, trust- ing to his strength alone, he very well knew that the struggle would end either by his being hugged to death AN AWKWARD DESCENT. 277 in ihe arms of the great brute, or pushed oflf the ledge and crushed to atoms in the fall. He had no idea, therefore, of standing on the defence — he thought only of retreating. But how was he to retreat ? whither was he to run ? It would be of little use going along the ledge, since the bear could easily follow him ; and if the animal meant to attack him, he might as well keep his ground and receive the assault where he stood. Karl was still hesitating what to do, and the bear had commenced crawling up, when he chanced to remember the cave. This suggested an idea. Perhaps he might conceal himself in the cave ? He had no time to consider whether or not this would be a prudent step. If he hesitated any longer, the great black brute would lay hold of him to a certainty ; and therefore, without reflecting another moment, he ran off along the ledge. On arriving opposite the cave, he turned into it ; and, groping his way for a pace or two, squatted down near the entrance. Fortunately for him he had, upon entering, kept well to one side before he squatted. He had done so, in or- der to place himself under the darkness. Had he re- mained in the central part of the " entrance-haU," he would either have been run over by the bear, or gripped between its huge paws, before he could have pronounced those two famous words, " Jack Robinson." As it was, he had scarcely crouched down, when the bear entered, BtUl snorting and growling, and rushed past him up the cave. It made no stop near the entrance, but kept right on, until, from the noises it continued to make. 27S AN AWKWARD DESCENT. Karl could tell that it had gone a good way into the interior of the cavern. It wad now a question with the plant-hunter what course he should follow — whether remain where he was, or pop out again upon the ledge ? Certainly his present situation afforded him no secu- rity. Should the bear return to the attack, he could not expect it to pass without perceiving him. He knew thai these animals can see in a very obscure light — al» most in the midst of darkness ; and therefore he would be seen, or if not seen, he would be scented, which was equally as bad. It was no use, then, remaining iilside ; and although he might be no safer outside, he determined to go thither. At all events, he would have light around him, and could see his antagonist before being attacked ; while the thought of being assailed in the cave, and hugged to death by an unseen enemy in the darkness, had something awful and horrible in it. If he were to be destroyed in this way, neither Caspar nor Ossaroo might ever know what had become of him — ^his bones might lie in that dark cavern never to be discovered by human eyes : it was a fearful apprehension 1 Karl could not bear it ; and, rising half erect, he riished out into the light. He did not pause by the entrance of the cave, bui ran back along the shelf to the point where the path led up. Here he stopped, and for several minutea Stood — now looking anxiously back towards the cavern's mouth, and now as anxiously casting his glances down the giddy path that conducted to the bottom of the cliff. AN AWKWARD DESCENT. 2/9 Had Karl known the true disposition of thu Tibet bear, or the design of the particular one he had thus encountered, he would not have been so badly fright- ened. In truth, the bear was as much disinclined to an encounter as he ; at a loss, no doubt, to make out the character of its adversary. It was probable that Karl himself was the first human biped the animal had ever set eyes on ; and, not knowing the strength of such a strange creature, it was willing enough to give him a wide berth, provided he would reciprocate the civility ! The bear, in fact, was only rushing to its cave ; per- haps to join its mate there, or defend its cubs, which it believed to be in danger, and had no idea whatever of molesting the plant-hunter, as it afterwards proved. But Karl could not know this, and did not know it. He fancied all the while that the bear was in pursuit of him ; that, to attack him, it had sprung up to the ledge; and that it had rushed past him into the cave, thinking he had gone far in ; that, as soon as it should reach the interior, and find he was no longet there, it would come rushing out again, and then It in well known that one danger makes another seem 1 !ss, and that despair will often lend courage to cowards. Karl was no coward, although in calm blood the descent of the cliflf had cowed him. But now that his blood was up, the danger of the descent appeared less ; and, partly inspired by this beUef, and partly urged on by the fear of Bruin reissuing from the cave, he deter- mined once more to attempt it. In an instant he was on his knees, and letting himself over the edge of the rock. 280 AN ATTK-WAED DESCENT. For the first length of himself, he succeeded beyond his expectations, having found the steps below readily enough. He was gaining confidence, and the belief that it would be all right yet, and that, in a few seconds more, he would be at the bottom, where he could soon escape from the bear by taking to a tree, or defend him- self with his gun, which was lying, ready loaded, on the ground. All the while, he kept his face upward, except during the moments when it was necessary to glance below, to discover the position of the steps. No wonder he looked upward, with eyes full of anx- iety. Should the bear attack him now, a terrible fate would be his I Still there were no signs of the animal, and Karl was gradually getting lower and lower in his descent. He was yet scarce half-way down, and fiill twenty feet were between his heels and the ground, when he arrived at a point where he could find no resting-place for his feet. He had found one upon a knob of rock ; but unfortunately it proved brittle and gave way, leav- ing him without any thing broad enough to rest even his toe upon. He had already shifted his hold with the hands ; and was, therefore, compelled to support the whole weight of his body by the strength of hia arms ! This was a terrible situation ; and unless he could immediately get a rest for his feet, he must fall to the bottom of the cUflf ! He struggled manfully ; he spread out his toes as far as he could reach, feehng the rock on both sides. Its face appeared smooth as glass ; there was noth- ing that offered foothold ; he believed that he was lost AN AWKTVARD DESCENT. 281 He tried to reach the notches above him ; first with one hand, then with the other. He could just touch, but not grasp them ; he could not go up again ; he believed that he was lost ! His arms were dragged nearly out of joint; hia strength was fast going ; he believed that he was lost ! Still he struggled on, with the tenacity by which youth clings to life ; he hung on, though certain that every moment would be his last. He heard voices from below — shouts of encourage- ment — cries of " Hold on, Karl ! Hold on ! " He knew the voices, and who uttered them. They had come too late ; a weak scream was aU the answer he could make. It was the last effort of his strength. Simultaneous with its utterance, his hands relaxed their hold, and h« fell backward from the cliff 1 282 A MTSTGBIOUS MONSTEB. CHAPTER L. A MTSTBKIOUS MONSTER. Karl, poor fellow ! was killed, of course ; crushed ts death upon the rocks ; mangled »■ Stay — ^not so fast, reader ! Karl was aot killed ; not even hurt 1 He was no more damaged by his tall, than if he had only tumbled from a chair, or rolled from a fashionable couch upon the carpet of a drawing- room ! How could this be ? you will exclaim. A fall of sheer twenty feet, and upon loose rocks, too ! How could he escape being killed, or, at the very least, badly bruised and cut ? But there was neither bruise nor scratch upon his body ; and, the moment after he had relinquished his hold, he might have been seen standing by the bottom of the cliff, sound in limb, though sadly out of wind, and with his strength altogether exhausted. Let us have no mystery about the matter. I shall at once teU you how he escaped. Caspar and Ossaroo, having expected him to return lit an early hour, took it into their heads, from his long absence, that something might be wrong; and, there- fore, sallied forth in search of him. They might not A MYSTERIOUS MONSTER. 283 have found him so readily but for Fritz. The dog had. guided them on his trail, so that no time had been lost in scouring the valley. On the contrary, they had come almost direct from the hut to the ravine where he was found. They had arrived just at the crisis when Karl was making his last attempt to descend from the ledge. They had shouted to him, when first coming within hail ; but Karl, intently occupied with the difficulty of the descent, and his anxiety about the bear, had not heard them. It was just at that moment that he lost his foothold, and Caspar and Ossaroo saw him sprawling helplessly against the cliff. , Caspar's quick wit suggested what was best to be done. Both he and Ossaroo ran underneath, and held up their arms to catch Karl as he fell; but Ossaroo chanced to have a large skin-robe around his shoulders, and, at Caspar's prompt suggestion, this was hurriedly spread out, and held between the two, high above their heads.^ It was while adjusting this, that Karl had heard them crying out to him to " hold on." Just as the robe was hoisted into its place, Karl had fallen plump down into the middle of it j and although his weight brought all three of them together to the ground, yet they scrambled to their feet again without receiving the slightest injury. "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Caspai;, "just in the nick of time ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! " Of course there followed a good deal of rejoicing and congratulation upon this narrow escape. Narrow it certainly was, for had not Caspar and Ossaroo arrived in the " nick of time," as Caspar expressed it, and acted 13 284 A MYSTERIOUS MONSTER. as promptly as they had, poor Karl would never have lived to thank them. "Well," said Caspar, "I think I may call this one of my lucky days ; and yet I don't know about that, since it has come so near being fatal to both my com> panions." " Both ? " inquired Karl, with some surprise. " Indeed, yes, brother," answered Caspar. " Tours is the second life I've had a hand in saving to-day." " What ! has Ossaroo been in danger, too ? Ha ! he is quite wet — every rag upon his body!" said Karl, approaching the shikarree, and laying hand upon his garments. " Why, so are you, Caspar, — dripping wet, I declare ! How is this ? You've been in the lake ? Have you been in danger of drowning ? " " Why, yes,'' replied Caspar. " Ossy has." (Caspar frequently used this diminutive for Ossaroo.) " I might say worse than drowning. Our comrade has been near a worse fate — that of being swaUowed up ! " " Swallowed up ! " exclaimed Karl, in astonishment " Swallowed up ! What mean you, brother ? " t " I mean just what I have said — ^that Ossaroo has been in great danger of being swallowed up, — ^body, bones, and all, — so that we would never have found a trace of him ! " " Oh ! Caspar, you must be jesting with me ; — ^there are no whales in the lake to make a Jonah of our poor shikarree ; nor sharks neither, nor any sort of fish big enough to bolt a fuU-grown man. What, then, can you mean ? " " In truth, brother, I am quite serious. We have been very near losing our comrade, — almost as near as A MYSTERIOUS MONSTER. 285 he and 1 have been of losing you ; so that, you see, there has been a double chance against your life ; for if Ossaroo had not been saved, neither he nor I would have been here in time to lend you a hand, and both of you in that case would have perished. What danger have I been in of losing both ? and then what would have been mj forlorn fate ? Ah ! I cannot call it a lucky day, after aU. A day of perils — even when one Las the good fortune to escape them — is never a pleas- ant one to be remembered. No — I shudder when I think of the chances of this day ! " " But come, Caspar ! " interposed the botanist, " ex- plain yourself! Tell me what has happened to get both of you so saturated with water. Who or what came so near swallowing Ossaroo ? Was it fish, flesh, or fowl ? " A fish, I should think," added Karl, in a jocular way, "judging from the element in which the adventure occurred. Certainly from the appearance of both of you it must have been in the water, and under the water too ? Most undoubtedly a fish ! Come, then, brother ! let us hear this Jish story." " Certainly a fish had something to do with it," re- plied Caspar ; " but although Ossaroo has proved that there are large fish in the lake, by capturing one nearly as big as himself — I don't believe there are any quite large enough to swallow him — body, limbs, and ail- without leaving some trace of him behind ; whereas the monster that did tlu-eaten to accomplish this feat, would not have left the slightest record by which we could have known ^^\at had become of our unfortunate corn* panion." 286 A MTSTERIOUS MONSTEE. " A monster ! " exclaimed Karl, with increased aston-> ishment and some little terror. " "Well, not exactly that," replied Caspar, smiling at the puzzled expression on his brother's countenance i " not exactly a monster, for it is altogether a natural phenomenon ; but it is something quite as dangerous as any monster ; and we will do well to avoid it in our future wanderings about the lake." " Why, Caspar, you have excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. Pray, lose no more time, but tell me at once what kind of terrible adventure is this that has befallen you." " That I shall leave Ossy to do, for it was his adven- ture, not mine. I was not even a witness to it, though, by good fortune, I was present at the ' wind up,' and aided in conducting it to a different result than it would otherwise have had. Poor Ossy ! had I not arrived just in the right time, I wonder where you'd have been now ? Several feet under ground, I dare say. Ha ! ha ! ha ! It certainly is a very serious matter to laugh at, brother ; but when I first set my eyes upon Ossaroo — on arriving to relieve him from his dilemma— he ap- peared in such a forlorn ciondition, and looked the thing so perfectly, that for the life of me I could not help breaking out into a fit of laughter — no more can I now, when I recall the picture he presented." " Bother, Caspar ! " cried Karl, a little vexed at his brother's circumlocution, " you quite try one's patience. Pray, Ossaroo, do you proceed, and relieve me by giv- ing me an account of your late troubles. Never mind Caspar ; let him laugh away. Go on, Ossaroo ! " Ossaroo, thus appealed to, commenced his narration A MTSTE11IOP9 MONSTER. 287 of the adventure that had occurred to him, and which, as Caspar had justly stated, had very nearly proved fatal ; but as the shikarree talked in a very broken and mixed language, that would hardly be intelligible to the reader, I must translate his story for him ; and its nuun incidents will be found in the chapters that follow. ' BAiro. CHAPTER LI. " BANG." It so happened that Ossaroo had made for himself a regular fish-net. Not being permitted to poison the lake with wolf's-bane, and having no bamboo to make wicker-work of, he looked around for some other sub- stance wherewith to construct a net ; and soon found the very thing itself, in the shape of a plant that grew in abundance throughout the valley, and particularly near the shores of the lake. This plant was a tall single-stemmed annual, with a few digitate and toothed leaves, and a loose panicle of greenish flowers at its top. There was nothing very remarkable about its appearance, except that its stem was covered with short rigid hairs, and rose undivided to a height of nearly twenty feet. Many plants were growing together, and when first discovered — all three of our adventurers were present at the discovery— Cas- par had said that they reminded him of hemp. It was not a bad comparison Caspar had hit upon, for the plant was hemp, as Karl immediately made known — the true Cannabis sativa, though the variety which grows in India, or rather a drug extracted from it, is called Gan- haMs Indica, or " Indian hemp." It was the tallest « BANG." 289 nemp either Karl or Caspar had eve.' seen — some of the stalks actually measuring eighteen feet in length, whereas that of the northern or middle parts of Europe rarely reaches the height of an ordinary man. In Italy, however, and other southern portions of the European Continent, hemp attains a much greater height, rival- ling that of India in the length of its stalk and fibre. It was noticed that nearly one half of the plants, although growing side by side, and mingled with the others, were much riper, and, in fact, fast withering to decay. The botanist explained this to his companions, by saying that these were the male plants, and the grow- ing ones the females ; for hemp is what is termed by botanists " dicecious " — that is, having male flowers on one plant, and female ones upon another. Karl far- ther observed that the male plants, after having per- formed their office — that is, having shed their poUen upon the females — not only cease to grow taller, but soon wither and die ; whereas the females still flourish, and do not arrive at maturity until several weeks after- wards. In consequence of this peculiarity, people who make a business of cultivating hemp puU the male plants at the time they have shed their pollen, and leave the females standing for four or five weeks after. It is well known that hemp is one of the flnest arti- cles in the world for the manufacture of coarse cloth, and every sort of cordage and ropes. The material used for the purpose is the fibrous covering of the stalk, which is separated almost by the same means that aie employed in obtaining flax. The hemp, when pulled np, is tied in bundles, and for a time submitted to the action of water. It is then dried and broken, and after* 290 «BAWG." wards "scutched," and rendered still cleaner and finef by a process called " hackling." It makes no difference in the fineness of the fibre whether the stalks be small or large, since the great coarse stems of the Italian and Indian hemp produce a staple equally as fine as the email kinds grown farther north. The Eussians extract an oil from the seeds of hemp, which is used by them in cooking, and by painters in mixing their colors. Hempseed is also given to poultry — as it is popularly believed that it occasions hens to lay a greater number of eggs. Small birds are exceedingly fond of it ; but a singular fact has been recorded in relation to this — i that the effect of feeding bullfinches and goldfinches on hempseed alone, has been to change the red and yellow feathers of these birds to a total blackness ! Notwithstanding the many valuable properties of this plant, it has some that are not only deleterious, but dangerous. It contains a narcotic principle of great power ; and, strange to say, this principle is far more fully developed in the Indian or Southern hemp than in that grown in middle Europe. Of course this is ac- counted for by the difference of temperature. Any one remaining for a length of time in the midst of a field of young growing hemp, will feel certain iU effects from it — it will occasion headache and vertigo. In a hot country the effect is stiU more violent, and a kind of intoxication is produced by it. From observing this, the Oriental nations have been led to prepare a drug from hemp, which they make use of in the same way as opium, and with almost simi« lar results — ^for it produces a drowsy ecstatic feeling •' BANG." 291 always folltiwed by a reaction of wretchedness. This drug is known by the Turks, Persians, and Hindoos, under a variety of names, such as " bang," " haschish," " chinab," " ganga," and others ; but under any name it is a bad article to deal in, either for the health of the body or the mind. But Ossaroo was not deterred by any considerations about its baneful efiFects ; and as soon as he saw the hemp growing in the valley, he rpcognized the plant with a shout of joy, and proceeded to prepare himself a dose of "bang." This he did by simply powdering some of the dry leaves, which he obtained from the withered male stalks, and then mixing the powder with a little water. An aromatic substance is usually added to give flavor to the mixture, but Ossaroo did not care so much for flavor as strength ; and he drank off his " bang " without any adulteration, and was soon in the land of pleasant dreams. The discovery of the hemp had made Ossaroo unu- sually happy. He had been suffering for the want of his " betel " for a long while, and the rhubarb tobacco had proved but a poor substitute. But the hemp was the very thing, as it not only afforded him an intoxicat- ing drink, but its dry leaves were also good for smok- ing; and they are often used for this purpose when mixed with real tobacco. Of course Ossaroo had none of the genuine " weed " wherewith to mix them, else he would not have troubled his head about the rhubarb. Ossaroo, however, was glad at discovering the hemp •br another reason. From its fibres he could make cor- dage, and with that cordage a net, and with that net he would soon provide their table with a supply of fish. 13* 292 "BANG." He was not long about it. The hemp was soon pulled, tied iu bundles, and carried to the hot spring. There it was immersed under the water, and soon sufficiently " steeped ; " for it is well known that hot water will bring either flax or hemp to the same state in a few hours that can be obtained by weeks of immersion in water that is cold. Ossaroo soon prepared a sufficient quantity for his purpose, having separated the fibre by " hand-scutch- ing ;" and working continually at the thing, in a few days he succeeded in making a complete mesh-net of several yards in length. It only remained for him to set it, and see what sort cf fish were to be caught out of that solitary mountain 'ake. And now for Ossaroo's adventore 1 8GTTm& THE NET. US CHAPTER LIL SETTING- THE NET. Kakl had not been very long gone when Caspar and Ossaroo both left the hut, but not together. They parted irom each other, taking different directions. Caspar had bis gun, and went forth to search for game ; while Ossaroo proceeded towards the lake, with the intention of capturing fish. As nothing particular happened to Caspar — ^not even so much as the starting of a head of game, or the get- ting a shot at any thing — there is nothing to tell about him ; and I shall therefore proceed at once to Ossaroo and his adventure. The shikarree, on arriving at the lake, soon found a proper place to set his net in. There was a little bay on one side that ran for some twenty or more yards into the land, and ended just at the embouchure of the little rivulet that came from the hot springs. This bay was narrower at its mouth than elsewhere, where it formed a kind of miniature " straits." The water in the bay was of considerable depth ; but just at its entrance, where the straits were, it was not over three feet, with a white sandy bottom that could be seen shining like silver. Any one staading near this S{94 SETTING THE NET. point, in clear weather, could easily observe fishes of several sorts and difierent sizes passing into the bay and out jf it, and disporting themselves over the white sand bed that shone sparkling beneath them. It was an interesting sight to watch them at their innocent gambols, and the boys had more than once gone down to the edge of the straits to observe them. But Ossaroo had always regarded the sight rather with feelings of chagrin than pleasure ; for plainly as these beautiful fish could be seen, not one of them could he capture. Even the shoal-water of the straits, where there was a sort of bar, was too deep to be dammed up in any way, and Ossaroo had tried one or two plans for taking the fish, without effect. He had used his bow, and endeavored to kiU them with arrows ; but they swam too deep, and, somehow or another, he always missed them. The fact was that Ossaroo was not practised in shooting fish with the arrow; and not understanding any thing ahout optics or the laws of refraction, he missed his mark by aiming too high. Had he been an Indian of North or South America, instead of an Indian of the " East Indies," he would have pierced those fishes with an arrow at every twang of his bow. Instead of that, he only missed them, and was con- stantly wading in to recover his arrows, but never to bring out any fish. He was, therefore, rather cha- grined than pleased to see them so fearlessly and freely playing about over the silvery sand ; and this very ehagriu had caused him to work with greater diligence while preparing his mesh-net. The net was now ready, and Ossaroo walked along SETTING THE NET. 295 chuckling and congratulating himself on the prospect of speedy revenge — ^for he had actually become in- spired with a revengeful feeling against the poor fish, because he had not been able to capture and kill them ! The place where Ossaroo intended to set his net was across the strait that formed the mouth of the aforesaid bay. He had designed the net for this very place ; and had made it of such length, that when at full stretch, i' would just reach from one side to the other. The upper edge of the net was attached to a strong piece of raw hide, for this was more easily attainable than a rope of hemp ; and on the lower edge there was another strip of hide, to which were fastened the sinkers. These, with the floats at the top — ^made out of a sort of light wood that he had found in the valley — would keep the meshes fully spread, and hold the net in a vertical position. It would thus form a complete gate, shutting up the little bay, and leaving neither egress nor ingress for any fish that could not squeeze itself through the meshes. These last had been made very large ; for Ossaroo did not care for the " small fry." It was the big fishes he was desirous of capturing — some of those large fellows who had so often glided from under his arrows, and put him out of temper by their saucy sporting. He would see now if they would so easily escape the meshes he had so cunningly contrived for them. Proceeding, therefore, to the straits, he set his net across the narrowest pai't, and just by the entrance to the bay. The thing was easily accomplished. He tied the raw-hide rope to a sapling on one side, that grew 296 SETTING THE NET. down by the edge of the water. Then holding the np« per edge — so that the net would settle regularly in the water — he waded across, carrying the line along with him, and made it secure on the other side. Of course the sinkers did their work by dragging the lower sel- vage downward, whUe the floats kept the upper edge from dipping below the surface of the water. There was a large tree upon the opposite side — so large that its great branches spread half-way across the little strait — and when the sun was on that side, which it always was after the hour of noon, this tree, covered with thick foliage, quite shadowed the water, render- ing it of darkish color, and somewhat obscure. At this hour the fish could not be so easily seen, even against the background of the silvery sand at the bottom. Now Ossaroo had chosen the hour when the sun was gone behind the tree, for he knew that in a very clear sunshine the fish would perceive the net, and of course put about, and shy off from it. He had, therefore, waited for the afternoon to make his first essay. Having fastened both ends, and adjusted the whole matter to his liking, he sat down upon the bank ; nnd, gummomng all his patience, awaited the result. OSSABOO STUCK FAST. 297 CHAPTER LIIL OSSABOO STUCK FAST. Fos more than an hour sat the shikarree watching every ruffle upon the water, and every motion of the floats, but no movement, either of wood or water, seemed to indicate that there were fish in the lake. Once or twice there appeared a little " purl " on the surface, near the Une of the floats, and Ossaroo fancied he had made a " take " of it ; but, on wading in and ex- amining the net, not a fin could be found, and he had to wade out again with empty hands. These " purls " were occasioned either by very small fish passing through the meshes, or else by large ones who came up, and touching the net with their snout, had taken the alarm and beat a retreat back to the pools whence they had come. Ossaroo was beginning to grow very impatient with his ill-fortune, and was thinking, too, what a sorry figure he would cut in the eyes of his companions, after returning to the hut. He had calculated on a great triumph to be obtained by means of this net; and now he began to doubt whether it might not turn out a humiliation rather than a triumph. At this crisis, however, an idea occurred to him 298 OSSAROO STUCK FAST. which promised success. It was simp'y to drive the fish into the net, by wading into the waler, and making as much noise and commotion as he could. This was certainly a very good plan, and Ossaroo lost no time in putting it into execution. Having procured a long Btick, with an armful of large stones, he entered the bay above the point where the net was placed, and (hen plunging through the water, at the same time beating it with his stick, and flinging bis stones into the deepest part, he succeeded in making noise enough to have frightened all the fishes in the lake. His plan succeeded admirably. In less than five minutes — nay, in less than half that time — the violent shaking of the floats told to the attentive eyes of the shikarree that one or more large fishes were in the net and struggling within its meshes. ' He now gave up beating the water and ran to make sure of the prey. On approaching the strait, he perceived that a very large fish had been caught. It was near the middle of the net, and Ossaroo, wading out, soon " grabbed " and secured it. The strong creature struggled hard, and endeavored to escape from the grasp of its captor ; but the latter put an end to its efibrts, by giving it a sharp knock on the head with one of the stones which he stiU carried. He next proceeded to release it from the meshes ; but these, on account of the desperate struggles which the fish had made, were warped and twisted around its gills and fins, and worked into such a labyrinthine puz- zle, that Ossaroo found it no joke to get them clear. He was full ten minutes in accomplishing this feat, but be at length succeeded, and, holding the hugh fish tri- OSSAEOO STUCK I4.ST. 299 nmphantly in his hands above the Surface of the water, he uttered i\ shout of victory. He was about to wade out to the bank with his prize, when, to his astonishment, he found that he could not move a step ! He tried to lift first one leg and then the other, but without success. Both were held as fast as if screwed ia a vice ! At first he wm only puzzled and astonished, but his astonishment soon changed to dismay, when he found that, exert himself as he might, he could not move a limb ! He at once perceived the cause, for there was no mystery about that. He perceived that both his legs were fast in a quicksand, into which, while engaged with the meshes of the net, he had been gradually sinking. The sur- face of the sand was already above his knees, so that he could not even bend the joints, and there he stood as firmly as if he had been planted ! For some time he struggled to relieve himself, but his struggles were of no avails — he could not drag out one foot or the other. The sand was wedged around his Umbs, and held him as firmly as if it had been Ko- man cement. He could not stir from the spot ! At first, I have said, Ossaroo felt only astonishment, but this feeling soon changed to dismay. It became absolute terror when he perceived that he was still graduaMy sinking ! — yes, beyond a doubt, he was g^ing down deeper and deeper. The sand was al- ready up to his thighs, and, as the water was nearly a yard in depth, his chin almost touched the surface. Six inches more, and he wotiM drown ! Drown, thus standing ere^t, with part of his head above the surface, and his eyes wide open and gazing upon the light of 500 OSSAROO STUCK FAST. heaven ! It was an awful situation — a fearful fate that threatened him ! It would not be true to say that Ossaroo remained silent during all this terrible trial. He did nothing of the kind ; on the contrary, as soon as he became aware of his danger, he set up a continuous screaming, and yelling, and shrill piping, that caused both the woods and rocks to ring around him, to the distance of a mile at least. Fortunately for the shikarree, Caspar chanced to be within the circumference of that mUe, wandering about with his gun. The quick ear of the hunter caught the sounds, and knew that they were signals of distress. Without a moment's delay, therefore, he set off; and, guided by the cries, soon arrived upon the ground. It was some time, however, before Ossaroo was re- lieved from his perilous position, for although Caspar could wade in to his side, he was quite unable to drag him out of the sand. In fact, Caspar himself sank so rapidly, whenever he stood still, that he was compelled to keep constantly moving, and changing from one foot to the other. His strength, then, was quite unequal to the task, and both began to be uneasy about the re- sult. Up to this time Caspar had been laughing heartily at the ludicrous spectacle which Ossaroo presented, with only his head above the water, and his face wearing the most lugubrious of looks ; but Caspar's mirth was soon dissipated, when he perceived the real danger in which the shikarree was placed ; his laughter was brought ab- ruptly to an end, and an expression of anxiety now clouded his countenance. 08SAE00 STUCK FAST. 301 But Caspar was just the one for quick thought and action in a case of danger like this, and, almost in an instant, he conceived a plan by which Ossaroo might be saved. Crying to the latter to keep stUl, he dashed out of the water and loosed the net at both ends. He then drew out the long rope that formed its upper border, cutting away the meshes and floats. This done, he rapidly cUmbed the great tree, and sprawled out along one of its horizontal limbs that stretched right over the place where the shikarree was fixed. He had taken the rope along with him ; and, now throwing one end to Ossaroo, and directing him to fasten it around his body, he passed the other over the branch, and slipped down it into the water. In a few seconds the rope was made fast upon the body of Ossaroo — just under his armpits — and then both laid hold of the other end, and commenced pulling with all their might. To their great joy their united strength proved su£S cient for the purpose. It outbalanced the weight and tenacity of the sand ; and after a good spell of pulling and tugging, Ossaroo's limbs were drawn upward and once more set free. Then both rushed out to the bank, and the same trees and rocks that sc lately echoed the mournful cries of the shikarree, now rang with shouti of joy. 802 A DEMAND FOR BEAK'J GREASE. CHAPTER LIV. A DEUAND FOR BEAR'S OREASB. The peril from which he had just escaped, drove aL thoughts of fishing out of Ossaroo's head, for that day at least. Moreover, the net was damaged by the rope having been so rudely taken out, and would require re- pairs before it could be set again ; so, taking up the fish that had been caught and the net also, Caspar and the fisherman walked off toward the hut. On arriving there, they were surprised to find that Karl had not returned, for it was getting late; and fearing that some accident might have happened to him, they lost no time in setting forth in search of him. As already known they were guided upon his trail by Fritz, and arrived just in time to save Karl's life. " But tell us, brother," inquired Caspar after a while, " what took you up there anyhow ? " Karl now entered into a detail of his afternoon's ad- ventures — telling them at the same time of the hope ho had conceived of their being able to scale the precipice with ladders. "When he came to the bear, Caspar was all ears. " What ! a bear ? " he exclaimed ; " a bear you say, brother r — Which way did it go ? " A DEMAND FOE BEAe's GEEASE. 303 " Into the cave — it is still there." " Still in the cave ! Good ! we'U have him out— let J3 go after him at once." " No, brother, it is better not, — it might be dangerous to attack him in the cave." " Not a bit of it," replied the daring hunter ; « Ossa- roo says that these bears are great cowards, and that he would not be afraid to attack one single-handed with hia spear. You think so, shikarree ? " " Yes, Sahib, he bear — big coward, me no fear him anywhere." " You remember, Karl, how the other one ran from us — just Uke a deer would have done.'' " But this one is a different kind," suggested Karl ; and Karl proceeded to describe the bear which he had encountered. Ossaroo, however, knew the animal by the descriptiMi Riven, and declared that it was quite as timid a creature as the sloth-bear. He had hunted this kind in the Syl- het Hills — where he had been upon an expedition — and where, he asserted, the Tibet bear was to be found in considerable numbers. It would not be dangerous, therefore, to attack it in the cave, or anywhere else. Such was the opinion of the shikarree. Karl at length ceased to urge his objections. He began to think that the bear had not been in pursuit of him, after all, — else it would have returned out of the cave on not finding him — most likely the cave was its den, and it was to hide itself there that it had rushed so determinedly past him. This appeared probable enough, since they had been waiting a goad while, and Bruin iiad not yet condescended to show himself upon tho ledge. 304 A DEMAND FOR BEAR's GREASE. It was resolved, therefore, that they should all enter the cavern, and kiU the bear if possible. This resolve, however, was not made without con- siderable dehberation ; but two reasons were at length brought forward that not only decided the point in favor of killing the bear, but rendered it a matter of Bomo consequence that they should succeed in this design. The first reason was that they really wanted the animal, and it was of importance to them that it should be killed. It was not for its fine skin they wanted it — though that might be of use to them in the cold winter, now near at hand — ^nor did they want to kill the bear merely for the pleasure and excitement of the thing. No. They had a very different object in view. They wanted the carcass, or rather that portion of it that is termed the " fat." They wanted the " bear's grease." For what purpose ? you will ask. To make their hair grow ? Nothing of the sort. The hair of all three, from late neglect, was long enough — quite as long as they could have wished it. Caspar's curls hung over his shoulders, and Ossaroo's snaky black tresses dangled down his back like the tail of a horse. Even Karl's silken locks were long enough to have satisfied the most romantic of refugees. No. They wanted the bear's fat, not for their hair, but for their kitchen. They wanted it to cook with, for one thing, but a still more important use they intended to apply it to, — and that was for making candles ! For both of the above purposes they had need of the bear's fat, since the other animals which they were accustomed to hunt and kill A DEMAND FOR BEAR's GREASE. 805 were chiefly ruminant animals, with very little fat upon them, and never enough of it to cook their own flesh. You who live in a land where there is plenty of lard and butter, can hardly understand what it is to be with- out these essential articles of the cuisine. In most civ- ilized countries that valuable pachyderm, — the pig,— supplies the desideratum of lard ; and you will scarca appreciate the importance of this article until you have travelled in a country where the hog is not found among the domesticated animals. In such places the smallest morsel of fat is highly prized, for without it, good cooking is a dry and difficult business. Such considerations as these determined the fate of the bear. The hunters well knew that animals of this kind yield large quantities of the very best fat, which they then stood in want of, and would need still more during the long nights of winter. Perhaps there might be more than one bear in the cave ; so much the better j one or more, they must be attacked and killed. But there was another reason why they had deter- mined to enter the cave ; one of far greater considerar tion than the killing of the bear. It was Caspar who had suggested it. "Why," asked he, "why might we not get out by this very cave ? What if it should prove to run upward, and have an entrance above, or on the other side of the mountain ? " Both Karl and Ossaroo were startled at the sugge* tion. The idea put all of them into a flurry of excite- ment. "I have read of such things," continued Caspar; "ot great caverns that extended from one side of a moun 306 A DEMAND FOR bear's GREASE. tain to the other. There is one in America that has ■ been traced for twelve miles ; the Mammoth, I mean ! This might be one of the same kind. You say you saw fa,r into it, Karl ? Let us explore it then, and see where it leads to ! " It was but a slight hope, still it was a hope ; and it could not cost much trouble to give the cave a thorough exploration. II would be but a small matter compared with the construction of ladders to scale the cliff; be- sides, they were now convinced by a farther examinap tion of the precipice that this was not practicable, and had quite abandoned all thought of it. Should the cavern prove to be of vast extent, and have another opening elsewhere than in the vaUey, they might escape from their terrible prison, and their troubles would be at an end. With such hopes, — ^that were indeed little better than fancies, — they consoled themselves for the moment. It was resolved, then, that on the morrow the cave was to be entered. For all the assistance they would have from the light of the sun, they might as well have begun their exploration at night. But they were not ready to begin. Torches had to be procured ; and a notched tree by which Jo ascend the cliff ; and to obtain these required time. They would have them ready by the morrow. With this determination, they returned to their hut ; and at once set about making the torches, and prepar- ing the notched tree for their ladder. There were other little preparations to be made, but most of them were completed before they thought of retiring to rest. BBAB-HDNT BY TORCH-LIGHT. 307 CHAPTER LV. BEAE-HUNT BY XOECH-LIGHT. As soon as it was daylight again, they went to work once more, and finished their preparations for entering the cave, and at a tolerably early hour they took the route for the ravine. Two of them carried the improvised ladder ; which was only a slender pine-tree, of about forty feet long, notched by the axe, the notches being at intervals of a foot to eighteen inches apart. At its more slender part, there were no notches required, as the natural branches of the tree, lopped into short stumps, were to be used as footholds, and would serve the purpose better than any notches. Forty feet of even the slenderest tree when green would be load suffloient for a couple of stout men. This one was not green ; for they had been fortunate enough to find one that had fallen long ago, and that was now quite dead and diy. For all that, it "tied" the united strength of Caspar and Ossaroo to carry it along, for it was they who performed this duty. Karl was loaded with the guns, torches, and the great spear of the shik- arree. Fritz carried nothing except his tail ; and this he bore aloft in a swaggerish manner, as though he 14 308 BjBae-hunt by tokch-light. knew that something more than common was designed and that grand game was to be killed that day. They moved but slowly ; but after about two hours' walking, including many stoppages and rests, they ar- rived within the ravine and under the ledge. It occupied about another hour to erect the ladder. It was placed nearly opposite the mouth of the cave, instead of by the path ; for there appeared a favorable crevice in the rocks, which promised to hold it steady, and keep it from turning round ; an important consid- eration with so rude a ladder. The upper end of the tree was laid into the crevice, and fitted exactly. The lower end was rendered firm by something like a cart- load of heavy boulders being built around it. It could neither shift nor turn. It was fast as a shut trap. Noth- ing now remained but to ascend, light the torches, and enter the cave. A question, however, arose, whether Bruin might Btm be inside ? It was doubtful enough, and there was no means of knowing. He had ample time to have gone out, since they left the place on the preceding evening, and, very likely, had wandered forth for a noc- turnal ramble ; but, had he returned ? was he now " at hcane " to receive them ? or, was he still abroad, robbing the bushes of their fruit, and the bees of their honey ? No one could tell ; there was no sign visible ; no hint for visitors. The door was open, and all who cam« laight enter or not, as they pleased. For a while, our hunters had some hesitation about this matter, and debated the point as to whether it might not b<3 better to lie in ambush, and watch for Bruin BEAK-H-JNT BT TOBCH-LIGHT. 809 going out or returning home. Most certainly the cave was his home. The path leading up had all the ap- pearance of being much used. The rocks were scratched by his claws, and discolored by his feet — his, or those of other animals. Karl had noticed all this, when mak- ing his first ascent ; therefore, there need be no fear but that the bear would come back in one direction or another. He might be trapped, and that would save a strug- gle ; but this mode was not to the liking either of Caspar or Ossaroo, and Fritz apparently voted for a bear-fight. Ossaroo, especially, declared that there was not the slightest danger in attacking him, armed as they were ; not so much as there would be in an encounter with a sambur stag. He suggested, moreover, that it might be days before they would set eyes upon him ; that he might go to sleep in his den, and lie there for a week without showing himself ; and, therefore, it would never do to wait for him. He must be looked for within the cave, and assailed in his gloomy stronghold. So coun- selled the Hindoo hunter. But it needed no argument. Karl alone was for the prudent way of setting a trap, and capturing the animal without risk ; but Karl was as anxious as either of the others to explore the cave. The words of Caspar had made a deep impression upon him ; and, slight as was the hope that Caspar's conjecture might be true, still there was something in it. It might be so. Once more, it was like the drowning man catching at the straw. Withc'it farther hesitation the ladder was set up, as 810 BEAE-HUNT BY TOKCH-LIGHT. already described ; and, shortly after, all four — for Frita is to be counted in this adventure — stood upon the ledge in fl'ont of the cavern's mouth. Each had now possession of his own weapons : Karl, his rifle ; Caspar, the double-barrel ; and Ossaroc, his Bpear, bow and arrows, hatchet and knife. There were two torches, each one nearly a yard in length, with handles that measured nearly another yard. They were made of splints from the pine-trees, that had been shaved off while dressing the latter for the bridge. They were now quite dry, and, tied together in a bun die, would burn splendidly. They were no novelty, these torches. They had made similar ones before, and tried them ; and, therefore, they could depend upon them to give them light within the cave. They entered without lighting the torches, intending only to use them when it became necessary. Perhaps, after all, the cave might be of small extent, though Karl believed that such was not the case. He had noted that the bear had gone a good way back, as he was able to judge by his snorts and growling. This point was soon settled. When they had pro- ceeded many paces from the entrance, and the light of the sun began to fail them, they could perceive that the cavern grew wider and higher, and, like a great, black gateway, yawned far back into the rocks. Apparently, there was no termination to it ! The tinder which they had prepared was now set on fire ; and the ends of the torches, touched with pine-tree resin, were soon ignited, and began to blaze. All at ouce the cavern shone with a thousand lights, which had not been hitherto observed. The sparkling BEAEHDNT BT TORCH-LIGHT. 311 Btalact'ites projecting downward from the roof, with here and there the drops of clear filtered water, gave back the glare from the torches in a thousand coruscations. It seemed to our young hunters as though they were treading the famed halls of Aladdin's palace. On they marched along the wide passage, holding their torches on high, and, at intervals, pausing to ex- amine some nook or chamber that opened right or left- still searching for the bear. As yet, they had seen no traces of the animal ; though, from the excited baying of Fritz, it was plain to them that either Bruin himself, or some other quadruped, had passed up the cave before them. The dog was evidently upon a hot scent, and lifting it as fast as they could follow him. A little after, Fritz doubled to one side, and appeared busy with some object by the side of the cave. The hunters were under the impression that the game had been found, and halted, each bringing his piece to the ready. After a moment, however, Fritz glided out, and again sprang forward on the trail. The torches were carried up to where Fritz had made his temporary pause, and, under their light, a large pile of withered leaves and grass was made visible. It was the snug den of Bruin — stiU warm where his huge carcass had lain ; but the cunning brute was no longer "abed." He had been roused by the noises of his enemies, and had retreated farther into the cavern. Fritz was again moving forward along the trail, ut- tering an occasional " growl " as he went. He was by no means a fast dog at takmg up a scent, nor yet on the run. These were not his qualities But he was stanch 312 BEAE-HUNT BT TOECH-LIGHT. and sure, and desperate when once he grappled with tha game. So sure was he, that, whenever he started off upon a trails you might rely upon it, with perfect confi- dence, that the game was before you. The three hunters thought no longer of looking for the bear anywhere else than before the snout of Fritz ; and, therefore, the chase became simplified to keeping the hound in view. The nature of the ground — here covered with blocks of loose stone, there with huge sta- lagmites — ^prevented the dog from making rapid progress. The bear had often doubled and halted, no doubt hav- ing some difficulty himself in making way in the dark- ness ; and this doubling caused much delay to Fritz ; so much, that the torch-bearers could generally keep him in sight. Now and again, he became lost to view ; and then there was a halt, and some moments of indecision, which were ended only by the long howl of the hound echo- ing through the cavern, and guiding them to his where- abouts. You will be surprised that they should at any time have lost the chase. Tou will fancy that, by keeping on, they must overtake Fritz in time, or meet him re- turning. Such might have been true, had there been only one passage through this stupendous cavern ; but, instead of one, they saw scores of vaulted aisles forking at intervals, and traversing in very different directions. They had long since turned both to the right and the left — more than once turned — without any other guide than the baying of the hound, or the view of his yellow body, as he scrambled along the trail. An immense BEAE-HTJNT BT TOECH-LIGHT. 318 caTem it was, full of ways, and passages, and halls, and chambers ; many of them so like each other, that the hunters could not help thinking they were running in a maze, and going repeatedly over the same ground ! By this time Karl had begun to reflect, and his re- flection was, that they were proceeding rashly. Certain ideas were rising in his mind — ideas somewhat unde- fined — ^but one among the rest was, that, going as they »ere, without taking either "bearings or distances," they might get lost ! Before he had time to call his companions to a halt and take some deliberation about the matter, a peculiar noise struck upon their- ears — a noise that was easily recognized as being made by the united voices of two angry animals — a dog and a bear. Beyond a doubt it was Bruin and Fritz — ^boyond ■ doubt they w jre " in grips ! " 814 LOST IN THE CAVE. CHAPTER LVI. LOST IN THE CAVE. The scene of their encounter was at no great dis" tance — about twenty yards oflf ; and, guided by the loud growling and " worrying," the hunters easily directed themselves towards the spot. After stumbling over stalagmites, and now and then hitting their heads against the projecting points of the stalactites, they ar- rived upon the ground ; and the glare of the torches was thrown upon two animals — a dog and a bear. They were near the middle of an immense open hall, or chamber of the cavern. Both were in fighting atti- tudes ; the bear standing upon the flat top of a rock-^ about three feet above the surrounding level — and the dog assailing his legs, now on one side of the rock, and now upon the other. The bear was defending himself with his huge paws ; and at intervals flung the forepart of his body downward, with the design of seizing the hound in his hug. Fritz well knew the danger of being embraced in the fore-arms of a bear, an^ therefore made his attacks from behind; springing up at the hind-quarters of Bruin, and biting him in the hams. To avoid these assaults upon his rear, the bear kept turning round and round, as though he was spinning about upon a pivot I 1,WST irr THE 0*VB. 515 It was altogether a laughable sight to witness the curious contest between the two quadrupeds, and had the hunters been pursuing the bear for mere amuse- ment, they would have permitted the fight to go on for some time without interfering in it. But amusement was JTist then out of the question. The fat of Bruin was a thing of far more importance ; and now that the hunters had become aware of the vast size and endless labyrinths of the cavern, they perceived that it was quite possible in such a place to lose both the bear and his fat. He might have escaped them as easily as if he were in the open woods. With these ideas, therefore, they were only too anxious to put an end to the struggle, and secure the game. The bear could not have offered them a better op- portunity. His position upon the rock rendered him a conspicuous mark, both for the buUets of the guns and the arrows of Ossaroo. Besides, there was no danger of wounding Fritz, if good aim was taken by the marks- men. Grood aim was taken — a couple of loud reports echoed through the cave — one of Ossaroo's arrows whistled, and penetrated the thick shaggy skin — and the next moment the huge black mass rolled down from the rock, and lay back uppermost, kicking his paws about in the last throes of death. Then Fritz leaped upon his upturned breast, seized the white throat between his jaws, and choked and worried at it till the last breath was squeezed out of poor Bruin's body, that tho next moment lay quite limp and motionless. Fritz was now scolded off, and the torches were held 14* 816 LOST IN THli OAVB. near, in oi-der usat the hunters might examine the game they had killea. A splendid specimen the bear was — one of the biggest and fattest of his kind ; and no doubt would yield them a large amount of the precious " grease." They had scarcely made this reflection when another of far diflferent character tbrced itself upon their minds, and compelled them to stand gazing at each other with looks of mute inquiry. Each waited for one of the others to speak ; and although no one had yet said a word, all equally felt that they were in a dilemma. What dilemma ? you will ask. The game had been secured — what difficulty would there be in dragging it out of the cave, and afterwards taking it homo to their hut? AU this may appear easy enough to you, becanse you do not yet understand the situation in which the hunters were placed — ^you do not comprehend why they stood gazing upon each other with troubled looks. Why they did so was simply this : — while examining the carcass of the bear, they observed that their torches were burnt out ! Not quite to the ends, it is true ; but BO near that they could not be depended on to light them a score of yards. They were already flickering and burning dimly — ^in a few seconds more they would be quite exthiguished ; and what then ? Ay, what then ? that was the thought that waa troubling them — that it was that caused them to stand looking anxiously towards one another. Even they themselves did not fully comprehend the peril of their situation. They saw that they were going to be left in darkness — the perfect darkness of a dun- LOST IN THE CAVE. 817 geon — ^but it had not yet occurred to them that they might never again see the light ! That appalling thought had not yet shaped itself in their minds — ■ they only believed that the want of torches would put them to much inconvenience — they would have greai trouble, and perhaps difficulty, in finding their way out of the cave, and getting the bear alou^ with them— they might first have to grope their way out, and then get fresh torches, and return for the game ; and all this would take a good deal of time, and give them a large amount of trouble ; but never mind ik^i — the prize they had obtained in the fat of the bea*^ and his fine hide — which would make a grand wintei robe — would repay tiiem for aU. Ha ! it was only after their torches Jiad gone quite out, and they were left in total darkness — only after they had groped and groped, and wandered about for hours — ^now sprawling over loose rocks, now tumbling down into deep clefts — only after they had gone through aU this, and still saw no light — ^no sign by which they could even guess at their whereabouts, that tiey be- came fuUy alive to the peril of their situatif/n, and began to experience the awful apprehension already expressed — ^that they might never again see the light ! And such in reality was their fear, when, after hours spent in fruitless wandering, they stood holding each other's hands, crouching and cowering together in the midst of that amorphous darkness ! V18 A BAMBLE IN THE DABK. CHAPTER LVIL A. BAMBLE IN THE DABK. Theie dread was not at all unreasonable, considei> ing the vast extent of the cavern — considering the dis- tance which they knew they had penetrated — consider- ing the various devious and like ways through which they had passed while in pursuit of the bear — and, above all, considering the absolute darkness that now reigned around them. Of course they could see noth- ing, not even each other ; not one of them could have seen the nose upon his own face, had he been looking for it. Place yourself in the midst of complete darkness, and you will wonder how little progress you can make in any direction. Indeed, you cannot foUow a right line even were there no impediment in your way. After you have advanced a few steps, your face will begin to turn in a new direction, and perhaps keep turning, until you have gone round the four cardinal points ! You need not be told this ; "blind man's buff" will have imparted to you the idea long ere now. Tou will remember that, after having made a turn cr two, you could not tell to which side of the room you were tkcing, unless you laid your hand upon the piano, or A EAMBLE IN THE DARK. 319 lome piece of furniture, and recognized it by the touch. Now just Uke the blind man in the game, so the tbfee were situated; with the exception that they had no piano — no furniture — no object of any kind — to guide them. They knew not where to turn — they knew not which way to advance — which way to go back. For many minutes, they stood paralyzed by the con- fusion. As already stated, they held each other by the hand, and in this way they stood. Each feared to let the others go, lest he might lose them ! Of course thia was but an idle fear, as their voices would enable them to keep together ; but there was something so awe-in- epiring in their situation, that they all felt childish and helpless, and they needed the support of one another. After remaining at rest a while, they started off a&esh ; holding each other by the hands, as they moved. This precaution was more necessary while they were in motion than at rest. They dreaded that one of their number might fall over some high steep or into a deep hole ; and while thus clinging together, the danger would be less — that is, if all three did not go over together. For several hours they wandered about, and, accord- ing to their own belief, must have walked many miles ; but of course their progress was slow, as they had to feel their way at every step. They grew tired with the effort they had to make, and at intervals sat down to rest themselves ; but their feelings would not permit them to pause long ; and they would up to their feet again, and scramble on as before. For many hours — and many miles, say they — thej 520 A BAMBLB IN THE DABS. walked, but siaw no ray of light to cheer them — saw nothing, felt nothing that they could recognize. At times they thought they must be far into the mountain ^perhaps miles from the entrance of the cavern ; at other times they fancied they had gone several times through the same passage ; and once or twice they knew they had done so, by recognizing the rocks over which they had passed. This gave them a hope that in time they might get acquainted with the different turnings and passages,-^ and that would have been possible enough; but it would have taken a long time, and what were they to subsist upon while acquiring this knowledge? They thought of this, and saw at once the foolishness of the hope they had conceived. The dog Fritz moved along, sometimes before, some- times by their side, and sometimes in the rear. He kept silent, seemingly as much frightened as they. They could tell he was there, by hearing at intervals the scratching of his claws upon the rocks, when some boulder lay in the way, and compelled him to scramble over it. What could Fritz do more than they ? In such darkness he could not see his nose any more than they? No — ^but he could make use of that nose to direct himself, which was more than any of his masters could do. " Ha ! " shouted Caspar, as this idea passed through his mind. " Ha, brother ! Ossaroo ! why might not Fritz guide us ? Why might he not scent his way out of this horrid dungeon ? Surely he must be as tired of it as we are ! " " Lei us try what may be done," rejoined Karl, by A KA.MBLE IN THE DAEK. 321 his tone showing that he had no great hi/pe in the ex- periment. " Call him up, Caspar ! He Jtnows vou best." Caspar addressed the dog by name, adding a few coaxing words, and in an instant Fritz was by his side. " How shall we manage ? Leave him to himself?" inquired Caspar. " I fear he will stand still, and not attempt to go ahead of us," replied Karl. " We can try hun." And as Caspar made this suggestion, all stood silent and listening. They stood a long while to give the dog a fair trial, but he knew not what they wanted, and he remained patiently beside them without manifesting any disposi- tion to leave. The experiment was a failure. " Now," suggested Karl, " let us urge him forward and follow after — perhaps he wiU lead us in that way." Fritz was now commanded to advance, and obeyed the command — ^for they could hear him start off with a slight whimper ; but to their chagrin they found that they could not teU in what direction he had gone. Had he been running on the scent of some animal, his occasional baying would have served to guide them, as it had done while they were chasing the bear. Now, however, the dog ran without noise ; and although they could hear an occasional scrape of his claws, yet it was not sufficiently frequent or continuous to guide them. The expeiiment again failed, and Fritz was whistled back. But it was not without result. Like many other fail" ores, it led to reflection and a rearrangement of the maii 322 A RAMBLE IN TH£ DAKK. chinery. A better plan soon offered itself to the quick wit of Caspar ; and Ossaroo had been thinking of some- thing similar when he cried out, — " Tie string to ee tail ! " " No," replied Caspar, " not to his tail, for then ha would not go forward ; but let us hold him in a leash with the string round his neck, in a regular way. That will be better, I warrant." No sooner said than done. Thongs and belts were loosed from powder-horns and pouches ; a leash was constructed and fastened round the neck of the dog, and he was then hunted forward as before. Caspar handled the straps, and the others followed, guided by Caspar's voice. In this order they had scrambled along for a hundred yards or more, when the dog began to whimper, and then to bay, as if going upon a trail ; and in a moment or two after, he came, all of a sudden, to a stop. Caspar felt by his strong pulling on the leash, that the dog had sprung forward and seized something. He stooped down and felt before him. Instead of the hard cold rocks, his fingers came in contact with a mass of long shaggy hair. Alas ! their hopes were dispelled. Instead of con« ducting to the mouth of the cave, Fritz had only brought them back to the carcass of the bear 1 CAVEEN-LIFIC. 323 CHAPTER LVHL CAVEBN-LIFE. Thet were all filled with disappointment, and par- ticularly that the dog, having arrived at the spot where the bear had been killed, would go no farther. Drive him as they would by commands, or coax him by words of encouragement, he would not part from the carcass. Even when carried off to some distance, and let go, he always drew Caspar back to the same spot. It was very vexatious. So thought they at first ; but after a little reflection, they began to think better of it ; and to recognize in this incident something more than chance. Karl espe- cially thought so, and pointed out to his companions that the hand of Providence had to do with it ; and that that same hand would yet conduct them safely out of the dismal dungeon into which they had so imprudently ventured. Karl's words had a cheering effect; for he pointed out how fortunate it was for them that they had once more found the carcass. But for that they should have had nothing to eat, and, as a matter of course, would have soon perished of hunger. Now, however, that the bear was found, they oould 824 CAVERN-LIFE. Bubsidt upon his flesh for days ; and during one of these days they might succeed in reaching the entrance. They would take care not to lose the knowledge of the place where the carcass lay ; and whatever excursion they might make from that spot, they should always a)> range some clue by which they might return to it. Fortunately for them there was water in the cavern. In many places it dripped from the rocks in sufficient quantity to give them as much as they wanted for drink ; and not far oflF they had crossed a little rivulet that ran down fhe bottom of one of the great galleries. This they knew they could find again ; and, consequently they felt no apprehensions on the score of water. It was a question, then, how long they would be in finding the entrance, and how long they could live upon the flesh of the bear. The finding of Bruin's carcass had considerably bet- tered their prospects ; and as they gathered around it to dinner, they felt more cheerful than they had done since the moment when they had laid it low. As they ate, it was dark enough around them to have called the meal a supper ; and it was long enough since they had eaten their breakfast — though they could not guess how long — but as they had eaten nothing since breakfast, they styled this first meal upon the bear-meat their dinner. No dinner or supper was ever cooked like that — tf was not cooked at all ! for they had no fire wherewith to cook it. They were not squeamish. A very long interval had transpired since they had eaten their slight breakfast. Karl and Caspar had refrained from the uncooked viand OATEBN-LITB. 325 nntil their appetite could resist no longer ; and then the raw flesh of the bear became palatable enough. It was Bupper time with Ossaroo. His stomach had more easily got over its scruples, and he had bolted his dinner long, long ago ; so that when the others sat down to their first meal, Ossaroo was able to join them at his second. Both Karl and Caspar ate heartily enough, — quite as heartily as if a chandelier with its wax-lights had been sparkling over their heads. Perhaps the absence of light was a circumstance in their favor. The huge paws — those " titbits" of- the bear's flesh — constituted their dinner ; and hunters will teU you that, boiled, roasted, or raw, a bear's paw is not bad eating. When they had finished their meal, all three groped their way to where they heard the trickling of water. They found a place where it oozed in a rapid and continuous dripping through the rocks ; and, applying their mouths to this subterranean fountain, they were enabled in a few moments to slake their thirst. They then returned to where they had dined ; and, being now much wearied with their long-continued ex- ertions, they stretched themselves upon the rocks with the intention of having some sleep. Though their bed was a hard one, it was not cold ; for in the interior of great caverns it is never cold. There the temperature is more equable than that of the atmosphere without — being cooler in summer and warmer in winter, so that variety is scarcely known — at all events, the extremes of heat and cold are never felt. This is the case with the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and other large caverns ; and on this account it has been thought that persons suffering from pulmonary complaints might 326 CATEKN-LIFB. derive benefit by dwelling in caves. There are many such patients who make their home in the Mammoth ; and where a commodious hotel enables them to live in comfort, and even luxury 1 It is possible enough that the mild and equable temperature that exists under ground may enable the victim of consumption to pro- long life for a considerable time : but it is doubtful Whether any radical cure can be effected in this way ; and the unfortunate sufferer, once he emerges from hia subterranean dwelling, will be in as much danger from the insidious disease as before. Little did Karl, Caspar, and Ossaroo, care for the mild atmosphere that surrounded them in the cavern. They would gladly have exchanged it for the hottest country in the torrid zone, or the coldest spot in all the Arctic regions. Biting mosquitos in the former, or biting frost in the latter, would have been more wel- come than that mUd and gentle climate that surrounded them — that gloomy atmosphere, where sun had never shone, and where snow had never fallen. Notwithstanding their anxiety of mind, their weari- ness at length overcame them, and all three fell fast asleep^ EXPLORATION OP THE CAVE. 827 CHAPTER LIX. EXPLORATION OF THE CAVE. Thet slept a good long while, though, whether it was by night or by day, they had no means of judging. They could only guess at it, by remembering how much time had transpired since they first entered the cave ; but to show how little trust can be placed in any con- jectures of this sort, they differed from one another in their estimates fuU twelve hours ! Karl thought they had been wandering about nearly two days and a night ; while the others believed the time not so long by twelve hours at least. Karl adduced a reason for his belief — the ravenous appetite which they had acquired, and which must have taken a long time to grow upon them ; moreover, they had slept so long that he thought it must be in the night-time — the natural time of rest, which the nerves would understand without any clock to guide them. Karl admitted that his second reason was somewhat lame, since, having missed one night of sleep, their nerves on the day following would not be very nice about what hour they should feel inclined towards Blumber. It is probable, however, that Karl was right in hii 428 EXPLORATION OP THE CAVE. conjecture. They had been long hours wandering to and fro, and had rested many times. The feeling of horrid anxiety under which they had been suffering always impelled them to press on ; and no wonder they had lost all definite recollection of the distance they had gone, or the time thus fruitlessly spent. It had taken them a good while to get the ladder in place ; and the first day had been far spent before they were ready to penetrate the cave. It was, therefore, quite probable that their first sleep had been during the second night, after entering their gloomy chamber. Whether or not they had ulept long and soundly enough — though not without troubled dreams — in which they had encountered bears, fierce shaggy yak-bulls, deep dangerous pits into which they were about to fall, and high cliffs they were trying in vain to climb — it was quite natural they should dream of such things. It was the awaking that was most unnatural. In- stead of a bright sunshine to greet their eyes, or the soft blue light of morning, they saw nought — all around was gloom. Instead of the music of birds, or even the cheering sounds of active life, they heard nought. All around was the silence of the tomb ! A tomb it might yet be to them — for a short while, perhaps, a living tomb ; but, sooner or later, a tomb for their dead bodies — a sepulchre for their bones ! Such were their reflection's on awaking. Their dreams while asleep were even less horrid than the reality to which they awoke ! If the sense of sleep regards not the absence of light, still less is the appetite of hunger affected by it. Once more the bear's paws were drawn upon for EXPLOBATION OF THE CAVE. 329 a meal, and afforded it without boU or broil, bread or ealt. As soon as they had eaten to their satisfaction, thej rose to their feet, and set about the work which KarJ had already traced out in his thoughts. Of course, before going about it he had fully communicated his plans to his companions. They were to make excursions in every direction from the spot where the bear had been killed. There were many galleries leadiug from the place — they had noticed that while their torches were yet burning. All these they designed to explore, one after another. The explorations were at first to be for short distances, until they had made themselves familiar with the passage extending in some one particular direction. This they would accomplish by feeling the rocks on either side, until they became thoroughly acquainted with the pro- tuberances, or other marks that could be used as guides. If none existed, they would make them, by piling up stones at such places, or chipping a piece from the stalactites with the hatchet. Their design, in effect, was to " blaze " the passages, so that they would know them again, just as a woodman marks his way through the pathless forest. It was altogether an ingenious idea, and one that with time and patience promised success. Indeed, it seemed the only plan that held out a hope beyond mere chance —for amidst so many devious ways, to have proceeded without some plan would have been to trust to chance, and that they had tried already. They well knew that to carry out their design would require both time and patience ; but by this, all three 330 EXPLORATION OF THE OATE. were well drilled in the lessons of patience. The bridge-building had been a school for them. It might not take much time, but it might ; and for either result had they made their minds ready. In all probability, however, they might be long be- fore they should set their eyes upon a ray of the sun's light — before they should see that bright disk of the cavern's mouth, that they had scarce looked at while leaving it behind them. It was their intention then, first, to take one particular direction, and thoroughly explore that before penetrating into any other. "When the first should be traversed, either to its termination, or to such a length as might influence them in believing they were in the wrong way, they would then leave it, and set to exploring some other. Sooner or later, they believed that this would bring them into the passage that would conduct them out of their gigantic prison. Before setting about the execution of their plan, they once more made trial of Fritz, as upon the day before ; but the dog would not part from the spot ; and though, encouraged by the voice of Caspar, he would beat about for a certain space — it always ended by his re- turning to the carcass of the bear. As soon as they became convinced that Fritz would not guide them, they released him from the string ; and then, in real earnest, set about carrying out the design of Karl. Their mode of proceeding was quite ingenious. They groped about until they found a large passage that led from the chamber or opening in which they were. This gallery they resolved to explore first. EXPLORATION OF THE CAVE. S31 lest by any mistake they might not find theii- way back, one always remained at a certain point ; while the other two went ahead — stopping at intervals to blaze their way. Of course should the two who acted as pioneers make a wrong turn, so as not to know the route back, the voice of the third would at once guide them. In this manner they proceeded without much diflS- culty, though with great slowness. Ton will fancy they might have gone fast enough, their retreat being thus secured for them. But there were many obstacles to prevent a rapid advance. Each lateral passage they came to— and there were numbers of these — had to be marked for future examination, and the mark had to be made distinct and recognizable — this operation some- times requiring a considerable time to effect. They had also to make their blazes at short intervals, so that these might be the more easily found upon their return. Another impediment was found in the clambering over sharp boulders, and getting across clefts that everywhere intercepted their path. Ay, slowly and with great caution were they com- pelled to make their advance, and when night came— that is, when they had grown wearied and hungry, and wanted food and rest — they calculated they had not proceeded above half-a-mile from their place of de- parture. Of course no light had cheered them through- out those long working hours ; but for aU Jhat they re- turned to the resting-place with their hearts stUl buoyed wp with hope. To-morrow, — or the morrow after, or stiU another morrow, what mattered it ? — they felt high confidence that on some morrow they would look onca more upon the sun. 15 S32 PSESERTING THE BEAB'B MBA.T. CHAPTER LX. FBESERYING THE BEAK's MEAT. Theke was one thing, however, about which thej were apprehensive, and that was about their larder- how long would it last ? The bear was large and fat, they could tell by the " feel " of him ; and if they drew upon the carcass for moderate rations, it would hold out for many days ; but then how was the meat to be pre- served? Lying as it was — still unskinned — it must soon become unfit for food, though not so soon as in the open air ; for meat will keep much longer in a cave, — that is, if it be a very deep one, than it will when ex- posed to the full light of the sun. This is easily explained. The principle of decom- position exists in the atmosphere itself, as is weU known to every one who deals in the hermetically-sealed air- tight canisters of preserved meats ; and if you cau but remove the atmosphere entirely from a piece of fish, flesh, or vegetable, it is supposed that it will keep for ever ! ^ In the interior of a cavern, of course there is still an atmosphere, but it is rarer and of a less changeable sort, and, most probably, less active in its powers to cause decay. Hence it is that within the cave decom- PRESERVING THE BBAR'S MEAT. 338 position is slower than without ; and, indeed, there are some caverns where, instead of being decomposed, the bodies of men and animsds have been found still re- taining their proper forms, only shrivelled into smaller size, and dried up like mummies. Though there was water here and there in the cav- ern, in all other places it was exceedingly dry. They oould tell that the air was so, because the rocks felt diy, and in some places there was dust that was per- fectly ready to puff up at the touch. They Lad noticed this while in pursuit of the bear. Both bear and dog had more than once been fouiid enveloped in a cloud of dust as the hunters came near them with the torches. Indeed, they could tell that the atmosphere of the cav- ern was dry by simply breathing it in, — it felt dry to the throat. Under the keen appreherision which they had lest the meat should spoil before they could find the en- trance of the cave, their wits were set to work to find some means of preserving it. Salt they had none, and therefore pickling was out of the question. Had they been able to procure the material to make a fire, they oould have managed without salt by smoking the meat ; but firewood was just then as difficult to be got at as Bait. Even without either, had they only been in the open air, with the warm sun shining down upon them, they could have cured that bear-meat so that it would have kept good for months. Alas ! the sun's rays were as inaccessible as either the salt or the fuel. Preserving the meat by any one of the three differ- ent modes of salting, smoking, or jerking, was alike out of their power. 33'1 PKESERTING THE BEAR'S MEAT. Having abeady noticed the extreme dryness of the atmosphere, it occurred to them that if the meat were cut into very thin slices or strips, and then hung up, or spread out upon the rocks, it might not spoil at onc^— at all events, it might keep for a longer period than if .suffered to lie as it was in one great mass. This was Ossaroo's suggestion, and a good one it was. At all events, nothing better could be thought of, and after some consideration, they determined to act upon it. Where were they to procure lights ? How was the bear to be skinned without light ? How was the flesh to be cut up and spread out ? These were questions that did not present the slight- est obstacle — our adventurers scarce gave thought to them. They had by this time almost learnt to work in the darkness ; and as for the skinning of the bear, Ossa- roo could have performed that operation if it had even been darker, — supposing this to be possible. There was no diflSculty about lights ; and the shikarree, hav- ing been assisted by the others to place the carcass in a proper attitude, set to work with the keen blade of his knife, and, almost as readily as if a dozen candles had been held by him, he stripped off the shaggy hide, and laid it back upon the rocks. The cutting the flesh into slices and strips would be easily effected, though it would require more time, and should be done with great nicety. If not sliced very ihin, the meat would be liable to spoil the sooner. But the Hindoo hunter was a very adept ai this sort of thing, and his skill enabled him to complete the business in such a manner that had his " griskins " been submitted to the light, no one could have told they had been " carved " in the darkness. PRESERVING THE BEAR's MEAT. 835 The strips, as tbey were cut by Ossaroo, were passed into the hands of the others, who having already spread out the hide with the hairy side undermost, laid the pieces upon it. As soon as Ossaroo had stripped the bones pretty dean, it was then time to dispose of the flesh. A question now arose as to whether it would be better to spread the pieces out upon the rock or hang them np upon lines. Decidedly better to hang them up, thought Ossaroo ; and the others agreed with him. They would dry sooner in that way, it was thought ; besides, as Caspar suggested, they would be out of the way of Fritz, who, if not looked after, might steal a march upon them, and devour half the meat at a single meal. By all means they should be hung out of his reach. But how was this to be accomplished ? Where were the ropes and lines to be obtained ? They had neither poles to serve as uprights, nor ropes to be stretched between them. True, there was a long piece of cord in the possession of Ossaroo, which he had manufao tured from the Indian hemp, while making his fish-net; but this would not be enough. It would take many yards of cord to carry such a quantity of meat. What was to be done ? " Cut the hide into strips ! " cried Caspar, in answer to the question. The very thing ; and no sooner suggested than car- ried into eifect. The sliced meat was removed — the raw hide was stretched out, and cut into thongs of about an inch in thickness, and these being knotted together, a rope was S36 PEESERVING THE BEAE'S MEAt Soon made that reached from side to side of the great chamber. The ends of this were fastened to the rocks • one was looped around a jutting point, and the opposite was held by being placed upon a little shelf with a heavy stone on top of it ; and thus a line, something after the fashion of a clothes-line. Was carried across the chamber. When they had tried its strength, and were con- vinced that it would serve the purpose intended, they carried the meat slice by slice, and laid it carefully across, until the string was fuU. Another line had to be made before aU was hung up ; and this Was made and fastened to the rock, in a sitnilar manner as the first. The remainder of the slices were suspended upon it, and all hands now desisted from their labor. Their day's work was done ; for whether it was night or day, they had been busy for a long time, and on the coto- pletion of the job were fain to betake thenise?ved Once more to rest. They ate their meal, and lay down intending to sleep only for a few hours, and then to rouse them- selves and with renewed energies continue their search after the light of the sun. BREAKS. 337 CHAPTER LXI. DREAMS. Karl in his sleep had a dream, " Let there be %ht^ and there was light ! " This highly poetic passage of Scripture had been running in his mind during the past hours. He was thinking of chaos before the creation ; and their own situation might well suggest the chaotic age. He was thinking — ^and reverentially — of the wonderful power of the Creator, who out of such darkness could cause light to shine forth by the simple expression of his will, " Let there be light, and there was light ! " Karl dreamt that a form had appeared to them,— the form of a beautiful man, — and that from his body a bright light, similar to that of the sun, radiated on all sides. Around his head and face the rays were dis- tributed in the form of a glory, such as Karl had seen upon many old pictures of the Saviour. Looking more attentively at the face, Karl also recognized its resem- blance to the same pictures ; — the gentle and benign expression, the noble forehead, and fair curling hair, — all were the same. Karl, who was of a religious turn, believed it was the Saviour he saw in his dream. The cave was no longer in darkness ; it was lit up by the coruscations of light that emanated from tlie beautiful rision, and Karl could see all around lim. 338 DBEAMS. After regarding him for a while, the bright form tnmed and moved off, beckoning Karl and the others to follow. They obeyed ; and, after traversing numerous pas- sages and chambers, — some of which they recognized as having passed through while in chase of the bear,— they were guided to the mouth of the cavern, where the strange apparition, meeting the light of the sun, melted into the air and disappeared from their sight I The delight which Karl felt, at this dencniement of his dream, caused him to awake with a start, and with a joyful ejaculation upon his Hps. It was suddenly suppressed, and followed by an expression of pain and disappointment. The happy passage had been only a dream,' — a false delusion. The reality was as dark and gloomy as ever. The interjections of Karl awoke his companions ; and Karl perceived that Caspar was greatly excited. He could not see him, but he knew by his talk, that such was the case. "I have been dreaming," said Caspar, "a strange dream.'' " Dreaming ! of what ? " " Oh I of lights, brother, — of lights," replied Caspar. Karl was deeply attentive, — almost superstitious. He fancied that Caspar had seen the same vision with him- self, — it must have been something more than a dream ! « What hghts, Caspar ?" " Oh ! jolly lights, — flights enough to show us out. Hang me ! if 1 think I dreamt it after alL By thun- der ! good brother, I believe I was half awake when the idea came into my mind. Capital idea, isn't it r " DKEAMS. 339 " Wha„ idea ? " inquired Karl in surprise, and rather apprehensive that Caspar's dream had deprived him of his senses. " What idea, Caspar ? " " Why, the" idea of the candles, to be sure." " The candles ! What candles ? — Surely, thought Karl, as he asked the question, — " surely my poor brother's intellect is getting deranged, — this horrid darkness is turning his brain.'' " Oh ! I have not told you my dream, — ^if it was a dream. I am confused. I am so delighted with the idea. We shall group no more in this hideous dark- ness, — we shaU have light, — plenty of light, I promise you. Odd we did not think of the thing before ! " " But what is it, brother ? What was your dream about ?— Tell us that." " Well, now that I am awake, I don't think it was a dream, — at least, not a regular one. I was thinking of the thing before I fell asleep, and I kept on thinking about it when I got to be half asleep ; and then I saw my way clearer. You know, brother, I have before told you that when I have any thing upon my mind that puzzles me, I often hit upon the solution of it when I am about half dreaming ; and so it has been in this case, I am sure I have got the right way at last." "Well, Caspar, — the right way to do what ? The right way to get out of the cave ? " "I hope so, brother." " But what do you propose ? " "I propose that we turn tallow-chandlers." " TaUow-chandlers ! Poor boy ! " soliloquized Karl "I thought as much. O merciful Heaven, my dear brother ! his reason is gone ! " 15* 640 DBEAMa. Such were Karl's painful surmises, though he kept them to himself. "Tes, tallow-chandlers," continued Caspar, in the same hnlf-earnest, half-jocular way, " and make us a full set of candles." "And of what would you make your candles, dev Caspar ? " inquired Ke^rl, in a sympathizing tone, and with the design of humoring his brother, rather than excite him by contradiction. " Of what," echoed Caspar, " what but the fat of this great bear ? " " Ha ! " ejaculated Karl, suddenly changing Us tone, as he perceived that Caspar's madness had something of method in it, "the fat of the bear, you say ? " " Certainly, Karl. Isn't his stomach as full of tallow as it can stick ? and what's to hinder us to make can- dles out of it that wUl carry us aU over the cave, — and out of it, I f^ncy, unless it be the greatest maze that Nature has ever ma^e out of rock-work ? " Karl was no longer under the belief that his brother had gone mad. On the contrary, he saw that the latter had conceived a very fine idea ; and though it did not yet appear how the thing was to be carried out, Karl fancied that there was something in it. His sweet dream recurred to him, and this he now regarded as ominous of the success of some plan of escape,— per- haps by the very means which Caspar had suggested,— by making candles out of " bear's grease ! " These were pleasant thoughts, but to Karl the pleas- antest thought of all was the returning convictirm thai Caspar wot st.iU in his senses / HOPES. 841 CHAPTEB LXIL HOPES. OssAKOO now joined in the general joy ; and the three placed their heads together, to deliberate upon Caspar's suggestion, and to discuss its feasibilitj in de* tail. But neither Karl nor Ossaroo had much need to spend their opinion on the detaUs ; for the original " promoter " of the plan had already conceived nearly the whole of them. It was, in fact, these that he had got hold of while half asleep ; and which, on first awak- ing, he believed to have occurred &> him in a dream. But there was no dream in the matter. The idea of making candles from the bear's fat had been in his mind before he lay down — ^he had even thought of it while they were at work in curing the meat. " Yes," said he, commencing to tell them in detail all that had passed through his mind upon the subject ; " I had thought of the candles, while assisting Ossaroo to cut up the bear. I could teU, by the touch, that many pieces of the meat were almost pure fat ; and I won- dered to myself whether it would not bum and make a light. I knew, of course, that there was plenty more in the great stomach of the animal, and that of the rehl 342 HOPES. sort of which candles could be made. "Would it burn ' that was the question that puzzled me. I feared that it would not burn without first being rendered to grease or lard, and a wick put into it, — ^in fact, I knew it could not ; and there arose the difficulty, since we had no fire wherewith to render the fat, and no vessel to render it in, even if we had been provided with fire in plenfy." " Ah 1 that is too true," assented Karl, rather despair- ingly. " Well, so thought I, Karl, and I had wellnigh given up thinking about the matter — of course, I said nothing about it to either of you — as I knew you could not create fiiel out of stones any more than I, and there was an end of it." " Yes — an end of it," unconsciously echoed Karl, in a desponding tone. " Not yet, brother I not yet ! " rejoined Caspar, as he proceeded in his relation. " You see the thing had go; into my thoughts, and, after a while, I found myself once more speculating upon it. How were we to make a fire that would melt that fat ? That we could strike a light; I knew — we could do that with our tinder or gunpowder ; but where were we to get sufficient fuel to make a fire with, and where was the vessel to be ob- tained, in which to render the lard ? At first, I thought only of the fire. If we could once raise fuel for that, the vessel would not be of so much importance — we might contrive to heat a flat, thin stone, and melt some of the fat in that way. If we could not make fine can- dles, we might dip some wick in the grease, and thus have a kind of taper that would serve almost as well. I knew we had wick — I remembered the long hempen HOPES. 343 stnng whieli C^saroo has got, and I knew that that would serve admirably for the purpose. All that would be easy enough — at least it appeared so — all except the Btuflf" for the fire.'' " Very ingenious of you, Caspar ; these things had never entered my mind. Go on, brother ! " " "Well — to make a long story short, I have got tha fueL" " Bravo ! good ! good ! " exclaimed Karl and Ossaroo in a breath, and in accents of joy. " You have got the fuel?" " Yes — I found it, at length ; just as I was bobbing over asleep, the idea crossed my mind ; though I fan- cied I was only dreaming, and must have afterwards fallen asleep. But I partially awoke shortly after, and took to thinking again ; and then I found the vessel in which we can render our tallow — I think we can." " Hurrah ! better than all ! " " And now, listen to my plan ; for I have been think- ' ing while I have been talking, and I have it more com- plete than ever. Maybe you can both add something, but here is what I propose." " Tell us, Caspar — all right, go on.'' " We have with us two guns — Ossaroo has his spear, his hatchet, his bow, and a good quiver of arrows — for- tunately his quiver, too, is of thick bamboo, and dry as B chip. First, then, I propose that, with Ossaroo's axe, we break up the stocks of our guns, ramrods, and all — we can soon make others, once we get out — also the shaft of Ossaroo's spear, his bow, arrows, and quiver- never mind, Ossaroo, you can replace them from the forest. This being done, we can make a fire large 344 HOPES. enough to melt as mach fat as will make us no end a/ dips." " Tou are right, Ijrdthef ," iilterposed Karl ; " but how about the vessel to melt it in ? " " That puzzled me for a whUe," replied the ingenious Caspar ; " but I got over the difficulty, at length, by thinking 6i toy powder-flask ; you know it is a patent one, and the top screws offi WeU — we can take off the top, empty the powder into one of out pockets, and make use of the bottom part for the lard. I am sure it will stand the Are, for it is stout copper without a flaw. The Only difficulty is, that it is small ; but we can fill it over and over again." " And you propose to make the string which Ossaroo has got into Widks, and dip them in the hot grease ? " " Nothing of the sort," replied Caspar, in a triumph- ant tone ; we shall have no dips. I was contented with them at first, but not any longer. We shall have can- dles^ — real mould-candles I " "How? Mould-candles? How?" Oh r that you shall see by-and-by. Ossaroo would only disclose part of his plans when he went to trap the tiger, and I mean to keep a little of mine to myself, in order to have a revanche upon him. Ha ! ha ! ha I " Caspar finished his Speech with a laugh. It was the first time any of them had laughed since they entered that cave — ^no doubt, the first laugh that ever echoed (bi«ugh its gloomy aisles. LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 845 CHAPTER LXm. LIGHT IN DARKNESS. Without losing farther time, the three set to wors to make the fire, Caspar of course taking the direction. The barrels were first taken out of their guns, the locks unscrewed, and then the other iron-work was removed from the stocks. By dint of a little hammering with stones, and cleaving with the hatchet, the butt of each was separated from the heel-piece, and then broken up into smaU fragments. Even the two ramrods were sacrificed-^the heads and screws being carefuUy pre- served. In no reckless humor did they act, for they had now very definite expectations of being able to es- cape from the cave ; and prudence whispered them that the valuable weapons they were thus dismantling might be needed hereafter, as much as ever they had been. Nothing, therefore, was damaged that could not be afterwards replaced — ^nothing thrown away. Only the wood-work was sacrificed to present necessity. Every article of iron, to the smallest nail or screw, was care- fully preserved ; and when all were separated from the wood-work, they were placed together and tied into a bundle, so that they might be easily carried along. Ossaroo's weapon went " to the hammer " next. Tl»s S46 LIGHT IN DARKNESS. epeax-head was knocked off, and the long shaft broken into a dozen pieces. The bow was unstringed and cut •nto chips, and then the arrows were snapped across, and the quiver split up. All these would be excellent materials, and from their age and dryness would ignite and burn like touch-wood. An important addition to their stock of fuel was ob- tained from a source up to this time quite unthought of. They now remembered the two large handles by which they had carried the torches ; for they had made them with handles something after the fashion of a stable- broom. These had been dropped at the time the torches went out, and were lying somewhere near the spot. AH three set to " grambUng,'' and soon found both of them ; and better stiU, found them with a considerable quantity of the resinous splits of the pine still attached to their ends. This was a bit of good luck, for the pine-chips thus obtained would be the very thing wherewith to kindle the fire. Already weU seasoned, and covered with the resin, that had run over them from the burning torches, they would catch like gunpowder itself. The whole of the fire-wood was now collected to- gether, and formed a goodly pile. There would be enough for their purpose, even without the handle of Ossaroo's hatchet, which was still left in its socket. It could be drawn out at any time, but very likely would not be required. Now it was clear to all of them, that their little stock of fuel, if set fire to in the ordinary way, would bum too rapidly, and become exhausted long before their candle-making operations could be completed. This LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 347 would be a sad dilemma, and would leare them in a worse situation than ever. Means, therefore, must be taken to avoid such a catastrophe, and means were adopted, as follows : — They first set to work, and constructed a little furnace of only six or eight inches in diameter. This they easily built out of the loose blocks of stone that were lying about. In this fiimace they placed a portion of their fire-wood — for it is well known that the furnace is the best plan for economizing fuel. The whole of the heat is thrown upwards, and a vessel placed on top will receive double the heat that it would, if hung over a scattered fire that is open on all sides. But another important consideration led them to the building of the furnace. They saw that when the light-wood should be fairly kindled, they could prevent it from blazing too rapidly, by casting upon it pieces of the bear's fat ; and in this way not only prolong the burning of the wood, but make a much stronger' fire. This idea was a very happy one, and at once secured them against a scarcity of fuel for their purpose. The furnace was made very narrow at the top, and two stones were placed so that the powder- flask, — emptied of its contents of course — should rest between them, and catch the fiiU strength of the upward blaze. All these things were arranged without light, but when they had proceeded thus far, they worked no longer in the darkness. The chips were placed in the bottom of the furnace — the tinder was ignited by means of flint and steel — its burning edge was placed in con« tact with the fine resin-covered shavings of pine- wood ,■ S48 LIGHT IN DARKNESS. and in anotter instant the great vault, that had so late been buried in amorphous gloom, was sparkling like a chamber set with diamonds ! The light enabled aU three to do their work with rapidity and sureness. Ossaroo was seen over the skeleton carcass cutting out the huge masses of tallow, and placing it upon the rocks. Earl was busy in attending to the fire^ which, now that it had received several pieces of the fa<^ burned brightly and steadily — ^while Caspar stood near occupied with the barrels of his gun. What was Caspar doing with the gun? SurelJ* it could be of no service now, without either stock or lock ? Ah ! you mistake. It was just now that it became of service, and of great service. Only watch Caspar a little, and you wiU see that he has an object in handling that brace of barrels. Observe! — he has unscrewed both the nipples, and is drawing the end of a string through each of them. The other end of these strings may be seen protruding from the barrels at the muzzle. Those strings are wicks already prepared from the hempen cord of Ossaroo, and you need not now be told what use Caspar intends to make of his beautiful smooth bores, for by this time you will have guessed it. " Candle-moulds of course ! " I hear you exclaim. " Candle-moulds of course," I reply ; and most ex- cellent moulds they will make, almost as good as if that had been the original design in their construction. Well, the work went on — the wicks were got into their places — and as soon as the first flask of tallow was rendered into grease, it was poured into one of the barrels. This process was repeated again and again, LIGHT H? DABENESS. 349 iuid several times more, until, to the great delight of all, both barrels were observed to be full to the muzzle. Of course the barrels were hot, and the grease inside them stiU in a liquid state. It would be necessary, therefore, to wait patiently until they should cool, and the candles become " frozen " and firm. In order to hasten this result, they carried them to the place where the water dripped from the roof of the cavern ; and, resting them in an upright position — ^so that the drops might fall upon, and trickle along the barrels — they there left them, and returned to the fire. This was instantly put out — all e:^cepting a slight spark or two to assist in rekindling it. It was a wise precaution, for they knew they would have a long while to wait for the cooling of the candles, and they designed making at least another cast, before attemptiqg to gtir from the iipot On examining their stock of fuel, they saw that it would be sufficient to melt the tallqw for another pairT— they had string' enough for w;cks — and of the grease the great carcass afibrded them an abun- dance. You will wonder why the barrel of Karl's gun was not also brought into . requisition. That is easUy ey plained. Karl's piece was a rifle, and on account of the grooves inside would not have served at aU for such a purpose. Had they attemped to mould a candle in it, the candle could not have been drawn out, and they would only have wasted their labor. This they knew, and therefore did not make the attempt. During the interval they employed themselves in " flaxing out " the remainder of the hempon cord, and preparing it for wicks. They also enjoyed a meal of 850 LIGHT IN DAEKNESS. the bear's-meat — this time properly cooked — ^for during the continuance of the little fire, they had taken the opportunity to broil themselves a steak or two ; and after eating this, they felt in much better case to con- tinue their labors. They waited patiently untU the time came round for drawing the candles. It was a good long while, but the time arrived at length, when the barrels became cold as ice, and the tallow inside appeared to be frozen as hard. TJie fire was now rekindled — the iron moulds were slightly heated in the blaze ; and then the pull was given, slow and steady. A shout of joy hiailed the ap- pearance of the long white cylinder as it came softly gliding from the muzzle, untU full three feet of a beau- tiful candle were revealed to the eyes of the delighted trio. The second " draw " succeeded equally well ; and a brace of huge candles, each as big as three " sixes," were now completely moulded and ready to be lit. A trial was immediately made, when it was found that both burned beautifully. After a short while, another brace was added ; and (hey had now at ^their command light enough to last them for a period of nearly a hundred hours ! They could stiU. have moulded more candles — for neither their £a.t nor their fuel was exhausted — ^but surely they had enough ? Surely in a hundred hours they would look upon a far lovelier light — the light of the glorious sun ? And they did so in far less time — in less than the twentieth part of a hundred hours, they gazed upon the orb of day. I shall not detail their wanderings backward and LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 351 forward, apward and downward, through the vaulted galleries of that stupendous cavern ! Suffice it to say, that the bright spot indicating the entrance at length flashed before their eyes like a meteor ; and dropping the candles from their fingers they rushed forth, and once more gazed with deli( hted eyes upon the shining fiue of heaven} U2 CONCLUaiOH. CHAPTER LXrV. CONCLUSION. Tou win imagine that after such a perilous adventure in the great cave, they would never again set foot with- in its gloomy precincts. Neither would they, had any mode of escaping from their other prison — the valley itself — been offered. But they could think of none, and there still lingered in their mind some slight hopes that one or other of the many passages of the cave might lead through the mountains, or have an opening at the top of the cliffs. Slight as were the grounds for hope, they could not give them up until they should satisfy themselves by a complete and thorough exploration ; and for more than a week after their adventure, they employed themselves in making huge torches and moulding candles for this purpose. A large quantity of both were at length prepared, and the exploration commenced. Day after day they entered the cavern — each day making an excursion that lasted for several hours. Day by day they continued their fruitless search — ^fruitless, since no outlet could be found. But it was not till after weeks thus spent — ^till after CONCLUSION. 853 they had traversed every vault of that stupendous cavem, and traced every passage to its termination Id the rocks, that they resigned all hope, and gave up in despair. When the last day's search was ended, and they had emerged from the cave, never to enter it again, all three might have been seen seated upon the rocks near its mouth, in attitudes and with looks that betokened a deep and hopeless despair. For a long time they sat in silence. The same thought was in the minds of all — ^the one painful thought, that they were hopelessly cut ofiF from aU communica- tion with the world, and would never again look on human faces save their own ! Caspar was the first to break silence. " Oh ! " groaned he, " it is an awful fate — an awful fate — here must we live — here must we die — ^far away from home — ^from the world — alone, alone, oh I " " Not alone, Caspar," replied Karl, making an effort to look cheerful, — « not alone, for God is with us. From this time forth let us strive to forget the world, and make Him our companion. Let God he our world J^ THE Bin>. :-^^^