A GKEAT RUNNEK. 271 



been tested in inducing the wonderful plant to grow, 

 and I was not to be outdone now. Hoops were ar 

 ranged from post to post like a single section of an 

 arbor; cross-pieces were added, and still the plant 

 outran them. .1 was becoming weak, and, having 

 beaten Jonah, was trying a match with Jack of the 

 famous &quot; Beanstalk,&quot; with heavy odds in my own 

 opinion that I should win. It was still early summer, 

 and where my gourds would end ere the season was 

 over seemed doubtful. 



Unfortunately, at this stage of the contest there 

 came up a storm of wind and rain. This was a con 

 tingency that had not entered my mind. My sup 

 ports were frail, my lashings insecure ; in an instant 

 the whole structure was leveled to the ground. With 

 out waiting to tear my garments, as I should have 

 done if I had been Jonah, I rushed bareheaded into 

 the storm, fearing that an hour s delay would give 

 the gourd a start never to be overcome, and again 

 raised my frame-work and secured it more firmly. 

 Still the gourd grew. I led strings in all directions, 

 but, not satisfied with these, it spread over the ground, 

 covered my small plants, crawled up the neighboring 

 bushes and trees, crept out into the paths, and threat 

 ened to occupy the entire garden. I was still brave 

 ly contending against the inevitable, when destruc- 



