The Fugitives | Page 9

whose graceful crowns and feathery leaves
were pictured vividly on the blue sky. Elsewhere, innumerable creeping
plants interlaced the branches, producing a wild and beautiful net-work,
their tendrils crossing in all directions, and producing a green twilight
in places. The whole was enriched by orchids, the abundant pink and
white wax-like flowers of which contrasted well with other
wild-flowers innumerable, and with many large and gorgeous flowering
trees.
Different species of bamboos gave quite a peculiar aspect to the
scenery in some places, and still greater variety was secured by long
pendant masses of feathery grey moss and lichens. Some of the trees
were of enormous height; one palm, with a straight stem, in particular,
being estimated as not less than a hundred feet high to the spot where
the leaves sprouted.
"'Tis a perfect paradise!" exclaimed Mark, stopping suddenly and
looking around with admiration.
"Yes, massa," murmured Ebony, with solemn looks, "if dere was on'y a
few wegibles--cooked! Flowers is all bery well to look at, but we can't
heat him."
"Well, if we can't eat, we can, at all events, sleep," returned Mark. "I

believe it is usually thought wise in tropical countries to cease work
and rest about noon, so, as I feel rather tired, I'll have a snooze. What
say you?"
No objection being made, the party again climbed into the branches of
a low spreading tree, in order to avoid snakes, scorpions, or any other
noxious creatures, though they knew not at the time whether such
existed on the island. In less than five minutes they were sound asleep.
Awaking after about two hours' repose, they descended, wished for
something to eat, sighed, put a bold heart on it, tightened their belts to
suit diminishing waists, and continued their journey.
Perseverance is sure to be rewarded. If that is not a proverb, it ought to
be! At all events the perseverance of our travellers was rewarded at this
time by their coming suddenly out of the woods into a wide grassy
plain, on which was browsing a herd of wild cattle--at least they judged
them to be wild from the fact of their being discovered in such a wild
place, and resolved to treat them as wild because of the "wolves" inside
of them, which clamoured so wildly for food.
"Beef!" exclaimed Hockins in some excitement, as he pointed to the
animal nearest to them, which happened to be a black, sleek, fat young
bull, with slender limbs and fierce eyes.
"Neber mind the wegibles, massa; shot 'un!" exclaimed Ebony in an
excited whisper, as he turned his glaring eyeballs on his leader.
"Hush! don't speak," returned Mark, drawing quietly back into
cover--for the animal had not observed them. "We must consult what is
to be done, because, you know, we have lost our powder-flask, the two
charges in my gun are all I have got, and these are only small shot--I
have no bullets!"
Grave concern overspread the face of the sturdy seaman--blank dismay
that of the sea-cook!
"Might as well blaze at the beast wi' sand," said Hockins.

"Or wid nuffin'," sighed Ebony.
"Nevertheless, I will try," said Mark, quickly. "We shall be starved to
death at this rate. Yonder is a line of bushes that runs close out to the
brute. I'll stalk it. When close I will make a dash at it, get as near as I
can, clap the muzzle against its ribs if possible, and--well, we shall see!
You two had better stop here and look on."
"No, massa," said the negro, firmly, "I go wid you. If you is to die, we
die togidder!"
"What are you thinking of, Hockins?" asked the youth, observing that
the seaman stood staring at the ground with knitted brows, as if in deep
thought.
"I'll go with you too," he replied, drawing his cutlass and feeling its
point with his finger. "You may need help. Heave ahead, sir."
Mark could not avoid smiling at the way in which this was said,
although he was sufficiently impressed with the hopelessness, it might
even be the danger, of the attempt he was about to make.
They found no difficulty in approaching to within about thirty yards of
the animal, being well concealed by the line of bushes before
mentioned, but beyond that point there was no cover. Here therefore
Mark cocked his gun and gathered himself up for a rush, and Hockins
drew his cutlass. So agile was our young doctor that he actually
reduced the thirty yards to ten before the astonished bull turned to fly.
Another moment and the contents of both barrels were lodged in its
flank. The effect was to produce a bellow of rage, a toss-up of the
hindquarters, and a wild flourish of the tail, as the animal scurried away