228 THE ARCTURUS ADVENTURE 



to eight feet in height, with a saw-toothed edge 

 which would cut to the bone if rubbed the wrong 

 way. This we proceeded frequently to do, and 

 when half-way up and making our way on knees 

 and elbows, we discovered a species of nettle hidden 

 here and there, and this was varied by an occasional 

 nest of stinging ants. When we reached the sum- 

 mit I decided to return by a circuitous route 

 through a deep, jungle-filled gorge. 



Here we had only to slop and slither through the 

 ferns and mud, now and then disentangling a rope- 

 like liana which threatened to handcuff or garrot 

 us as we descended. Being thoroughly drenched 

 already and very warlm we purposely fell into 

 the first big pool of the stream, lay on our backs 

 and commented with vigor on the delights of any 

 extensive search after treasure in this difficult isle. 

 Overhead we watched most curious sights. Here 

 ♦vere hundred-foot trees growing so densely that the 

 sunlight was dimmed to twilight, and high up on 

 the topmost branches were perched scores of sea- 

 birds — frigatebirds, boobies and pure white fairy 

 terns — as out of place to our eyes as would be a 

 cloud of dust in this saturated world. 



On our way down we spread a small net across 

 narrow reaches of the torrent and caught great 

 crayfish and curious little vacuum-cupped gobies. 

 Once we saw a giant a foot long, and on another 

 day captured it. 



I was astonished at the abundance of insect life, 

 for other explorers of Cocos unite in dwelling on 

 its scarcity. We took moths, large and simall, in- 



