156 



THE (U'ii)K TO NATURE 



MORMODES SPECIES. 

 A curiously shaped orchid from Brazil. The flowers are greenish with dark spots, and its shape 



reminds one of an insect. 



occasion I had a magnificent lot of plants — 

 enough for some four hundred cases, but be- 

 ing far up the river where large champanes 

 (canoes) rarely ventured, 1 fully realized my 

 predicament. I packed my plants in bags as 

 previously described, packing during the 

 nights fifty packages or twenty-five cargoes, 

 and in the mornings going with the cargoes 

 to the nearest accessible place on the river, a 

 journey of only six hours. In a week's time 

 I had the entire lot on the river bank. Here 

 I pitched tents and canvas, unpacked the 

 plants, placed them in an erect position, and 

 thus prepared for any long delay that might 

 occur. I made journeys down the river, trying 

 to induce parties to ascend with two large 

 champanes, but to no purpose, as I was told 

 that the river was two swift and the journey 

 too dangerous. My real work and trouble 

 were only beginning, but as I realized that I 

 had much to lose, I was spurred on to all 

 kinds 01 propositions, and Anally I reluctantly 

 agreed to pay the full value of the champanes 

 should we meet with mishap, and besides this 

 I offered to pay double the customary freight. 

 Having this matter arranged I returned to my 

 tents and anxiously awaited the craft. One 

 entire week passed without any sign of the 



champanes. I then jumped into the saddle and 

 rode along the river, approaching it whenever 

 possible in places from which 1 had a good 

 view, and to my intense delight I sighted them 

 in a sharp turn of the river, tying up for the 

 night. I was so overjoyed by the near prospect 

 of being able to move my cargo and of being 

 released from my temporary imprisonment 

 that I did not lie down to sleep before nearly 

 midnight. Before retiring I mechanically went 

 down to the river bank, only a few yards away, 

 and noticed the water was unusuallly high, 

 scarcely a foot from the top of the bank. Xot 

 taking the matter very seriously, I lay down 

 and fell asleep. In the tent with me I had 

 three men and a young, bright boy. Suddenly 

 I was awakened by a shriek from the boy, 

 'Patron, el agua esta en el Toldo!' (Master, 

 the water is in the tent). In an instant we 

 were on our feet. Our position was horrible — 

 the water had overflowed the banks, and was 

 now sweeping among the trees, bamboos and 

 bushes at a terrific pace, making a deafening 

 noise impossible for me even to try to describe. 

 In an instant our camp fire was gone, leaving 

 us in complete darkness. Next the tent and 

 our belongings went. In that horrible moment 

 it was necessary to think and act quickly. As 



