AN EXCITING HUNT
"What is that rocking?" cried Harry, jumping out of his couch, one
night.
The Professor was awake and had noticed it.
"Probably an earthquake."
The rocking continued for several minutes, and then gradually subsided.
They boys were so excited that sleep was out of the question, for the
time, besides the shaking might again recur at any moment.
"Do you think there is any danger, Professor?"
"It is impossible to say what will happen when these symptoms in the
earth's crust take place."
"Are there not some instruments which indicate the extent and possible
dangers of the quakes?"
"There is an instrument called the seismograph, which records the
vibratory movements of the earth, and also locates the distances at
which the shocks are from the observer, but there is nothing to indicate
what the extent and probable dangers are."
"Is it true that the interior of the earth is in a liquid state?"
"Such has been the theory for many years; but it is now believed to be a
solid--a body with a density five and a half times greater than water."
"If that is the case, why is it that the molten metal flows out of the
volcanoes?"
"There may be fissures in the earth, or portions less dense than others
which, by the general disarrangements of the adjacent parts, and by the
enormous pressure exerted by the force of gravity, are contracted, and
the movement causes such friction and intense heat as to liquefy the
rock. In doing so a large amount of gas is evolved, the movement of
which causes the disturbance of the earth's crust, which manifests
itself to us in the form of earthquakes. At the same time the confined
gases seek an outlet, which they find at the weakest part, and the
volcanoes spout forth the lava, flame, and gases. There is an undoubted
connection between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes
usually precede volcanic action. This internal combustion is going on at
all times, and is only more violent at some period than at others. The
lava in the Crater of Stromboli has been in a liquid state for more than
two thousand years."
"Before we left home I saw in a paper that some scientist described the
kind of rock and other matter which was seven miles down in the earth."
"Was anyone ever down as far as that?"
"No; a little over a mile is as far as man has actually penetrated the
earth."
"Then, I should like to know how geologists can tell with any certainty
what the rock is like several miles down?"
"That is known just as positively as though a hole had been dug down
that distance."
"I don't see how that is possible."
"I am going to make you a sketch which you can examine at leisure, that
will show how he knows. Assuming that the earth has a crust--that is,
the outside or cooled part, let the first sketch (Figure 10) represent
this crust, before the mountains and valleys were formed. The slightly
curved horizontal lines merely represent the different layers of the
crust, such as rock, clay, coal, slate, and the like. When the cooling
process took place the earth grew smaller within, so that the crust was
forced together.
[Illustration: _Fig. 10. NORMAL CRUST OF THE EARTH_]
"The second sketch (Figure 11) shows this crust forced together, so that
when the upheaval took place, two mountain ranges, A and B, were formed,
with a valley (C) between them, and the broken lines (D), where the
crust separated, were exposed, and by that means examinations can be
readily made way down into the crust, without ever leaving the surface
of the earth."
As it was understood that the boys should take at least a day each week
for hunting, particularly since such sport would develop expertness in
the use of their weapons, an early start was made on the day selected,
which was within a week of the time they returned home.
Ever since the disappearance of the boat left at the falls in South
River, there was some anxiety on that score. It was a frequent topic of
conversation, and after they left home it was by a mutual impulse that
they wended their way south, taking a trail which was now familiar to
them.
"See here, Harry, I should like to go to the place where I discovered
South River, and where I had the experience with the snake and the
strange animal, which frightened me so."
[Illustration: _Fig. 11. MOUNTAIN UPHEAVAL_]
"Then we must go to the left, because, you remember, you came up between
these hills, and crossed the stream where I found you."
It was about three miles across from the Cataract house, but less from
their original home. When they reached the river the surroundings were
very much unlike anything George had seen before, and he could not
identify the place where the ramie plant had been found.
The ocean could be seen plainly from their position, and George thought
they were too far east, which proved to be the case.
"Here it is, Harry; here is a low place, and you can see the ramie plant
all about here. I am sure of it."
"Is this the place you lost the hatchet?"
"So I did: I'll show you the place." But he failed to find the hatchet.
Subsequently Harry stumbled across it, but it was found some distance
from the place where George declared he lost it.
"Let us try to cross the river. We can do it if we find a couple of
logs."
At a bend of the river they found a lot of driftwood caught in the roots
of a tree, and after some work a number of pieces were cut and laid
crosswise on each other.
After the experiences of several expeditions of this kind, to say
nothing of the exploring trips, the need of the bolo and ropes impressed
itself on their minds. They were never without them.
The river at this point was fully one hundred feet wide, but by the aid
of long poles the raft was not long in making the trip. After properly
securing it they took up their weapons and at once made a dive for the
interior.
The trees were fairly thick, and before going very far Harry checked
George with the statement that there was game ahead, as he had heard
rustling sounds in the leaves.
Both were now looking forward intently, expecting and hoping that some
game worthy of attention would appear. Whenever they stopped, the
animal, or what it was, would stop, to resume its motion whenever they
moved. This was getting to be decidedly interesting, and at the same
time trying to the hunters. The distance was fully a mile from the
river. The noise which came from the slight rustling of the leaves and
the occasional breaking of a twig was growing acute.
"Are we hunting or being hunted?" said George, under breath.
Not forgetting the Professor's story of the hunter's careful scrutiny of
leaves, they adopted that plan, but it gave them no clue. Whatever it
was, it was in front of them, but they were unable to get a glimpse of
it.
Once, by agreement, they stopped and were silent for several minutes.
The silence was just as profound and continued as their own. It was
getting tense, when George hit upon a plan.
"Let us be quiet for a minute or so, and then suddenly bound forward and
give a whoop. I think that will frighten him, and enable us to sight
him."
"Before doing that get the guns ready for a shot, and don't fire too
soon. Don't get excited. Remember the Professor's warning; a shot close
at hand, deliberately aimed, is more positive than a dozen shots
excitedly fired at a distance."
When all was ready Harry whispered, "Now!"
With a whoop both started forwardly on a run as fast as the dense
underbrush would permit. Before they had gone twenty feet a large
leopard-like animal sprang transversely across their path, then, seeing
the boys, crouched for a spring. The guns were cocked and ready, and it
is a wonder that in the excitement there was not a premature shot.
"Now, steady," said Harry. "Aim, fire!" and the moment both shots rang
out. Harry cried excitedly, "Now for the other guns!"
The other guns were not necessary then. The animal gave a savage growl
and bounded to the left, and after they had time to recover, both moved
toward the spot.
"We have hit him, sure," was George's exultant shout. "See the blood on
the leaves. My! he was as big as a lion!"
"Let's follow him," was Harry's determination. And off they started, the
blood tracks plainly showing the way. Not a further view was obtainable
of the animal, and in less than a quarter of a mile all blood traces
disappeared, to the chagrin of both.
They directed their steps toward the river, but within two hundred feet
of the spot where they had last stopped, George stepped back and cried:
"There he is now, right ahead of us."
"Let us be careful now; he may be angry." There was no alternative but
to fire. The shots were almost at the same instant, and to their great
relief the animal, after a single leap, fell down without a groan.
The approach was cautious, because experience had not taught them
whether it was safe immediately to make an examination of the body.
After some hesitation they went up closer, and when all doubts as to his
death had been dispelled a careful examination was made.
They found only a single shot wound between the shoulders.
Here was a dilemma, surely enough. The river fully a half mile away, if
not more, and the brute too large to carry, made them hesitate about
attempting to skin it in the absence of the Professor.
"I wish we knew what kind of an animal it is. We had better go home and
bring the Professor back with us in the morning."
So taking note of the surroundings, to familiarize themselves with the
location, they hurried back to the river, and rafted themselves over.
The Cataract home was reached about four o'clock, after one of the most
adventurous days spent on the island, although, in some respects, not as
exciting as their earlier experiences. They had begun to be veterans.
They were not merely boys.
Naturally, the Professor heard a stirring tale, and when it was all told
over and over again, he told them he thought that undoubtedly the region
beyond the river would turn out to be their hunting preserves, a
statement which the boys did not forget to profit by, as we shall see
later on.
"I wonder why we haven't seen more animals north of the South River?
There have been very few in this section," was George's observation.
"Undoubtedly the mountain region affords them safer retreats, and it is
one of the things which indicate to me that we shall find that section
very wild, and when we are in shape to do so may be able to have some
interesting and exciting times in that part of our domain," was the
Professor's response.
"But in South Africa wild animals are found in abundance on the plains."
"True; but they have very thick brush, or cover, owing to the luxurious
growth of vegetation. That affords them means for covering their retreat
when attacked."
Following out the usual custom while on expeditions of this kind, they
constantly, while on the way, stopped to examine specimens of plants and
trees.
[Illustration: _Fig. 12. Branch of the Camphor Tree._]
"Here is a branch, with the flower, of a tree, and the smell is very
familiar."
"That is from a camphor tree; do you not recognize it?"
"So it is; I know camphor is good for a great many things."
"It would take some time to enumerate the things camphor is used for.
Indeed, there are so many that Raspail, a French chemist, years ago
found a system of medicine largely on the camphor plant, claiming that
it was nature's universal remedy."
"Here is a sample of plant which we found growing in bushes; there were
also a few trees with the flowers. It is bitter to the taste."
"This is the Calisaya, one of the varieties of the plant from which the
well-known quinine is made. There are at least forty varieties of the
plant. This is indeed a valuable find. But I see you have some beans
there?"
"Yes; are they good to eat?"
"In South America, particularly in the Argentine Republic, it is eaten
as a fruit, and the seeds are fed to cattle. Our yaks would relish
them."
"We saw them everywhere on the other side of the river."
"The dry pulp of the seed is very nutritious, and is supposed to have
been the food of St. John while in the wilderness, as it is the same
kind of locust bean that grows in Palestine, and in various parts of
Asia Minor. The Spanish name is Algoraba, or Carob-tree."
"We have brought only one more sample, and it looks very familiar, but I
never saw any beans or pods on it like this."
"Don't you recognize Smilax? Of course, it is somewhat different from
the kind you know. The root of this kind of Smilax is called
Sarsaparilla, and the bean is good to eat."
"Well, I am going to lay in a supply."
The boys could not forget the animal they had shot when morning came, so
at the Professor's suggestion, they improvised a raft, which was loaded
on the wagon, and a start made for the river.
Tethering the team the raft was launched, and the Professor accompanied
them across. A light skid had been made for use in transporting the
hide, so they would not be compelled to carry it the entire distance.
Before they had reached the spot pointed out by the boys, they stumbled
on the animal.
"Why," said the Professor, "this is an Ocelot, very dangerous when
attacked, and just the kind of beast to elude you. I commend you for the
good judgment in adopting the course you did."
"See here, Harry; I don't understand this. You will remember when we
examined him, just before leaving him here, that we found only one
bullet hole between the shoulders; this has two bullet wounds, one in
the head and the other in the neck."
"Why this is not the place we shot him. This must have been shot by some
one else."
"Do you remember what you selected as your marking for the spot?"
Harry looked about, and finally said: "I remember two trees, standing
about ten feet apart, east and west of each other."
"That is the place, I am sure," was George's conclusion, after they had
made a circuit around the spot; "yes, I am sure those are the trees."
"There it is; I see it."
Surely enough, close to the two trees an animal was found, larger than
the one they had just left.
"So it seems you killed two of them," and the Professor was so much
amused he could not help laughing as he saw the amazement on the boys'
countenances. "You are certainly fine hunters."
"I think--yes; here is the shot in the shoulder--this is the last one we
shot. The other one, over there, was the one we followed so long and
took our first shot at."
Within two hours the skins were ready, packed on the skid, and delivered
at the raft, and after a hard forenoon's work the Cataract was reached
shortly after noon.