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A STRANGE SCENE. 



a few minutes Jack was out of sight, and once more gave attention to the business 

 that had led him to penetrate the jungle thus far. Carefully noting his bearings, 

 he resumed his advance toward the river, which he reached a short time later. 



It was a dismal place, rendered more so because the long, sultry day was draw 

 ing to an end, and the somber gloom of twilight was closing over jungle and river. 



A STRANGE COMBAT. 



The trees on both sides grew near the stream, which at this place narrowed to a 

 width of barely a hundred yards, so that the inky current must have been unusually 

 deep. The desolation and silence, with the exception of the occasional screeches 

 of the birds flying overhead, were such as to impress as unsentimental a pe'rson as 

 the Texan, who stood for a minute or two, rifle in hand, gazing on the lovely scene. 



