The Argosy — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

34 Alone in the Forest. THE ARGoSY. hammock, suspended in a small hut, completely embowered by large trees; in front of which, but at some distance, sat two or three dark- haired women. They were all well-proportioned, their skin was fair, and they were clothed in a singular but very picturesque costume. Their chief article of attire was a loose blue cotton petticoat, fastened at the waist ; while a drapery of the same matenal was thrown gracefully over one of their shoulders. ‘Their necks, arms, wrists, and ankles, were ornamented with bright-coloured beads, and their hair, which was straight and black, fell in luxunant masses on their shoulders. When I had closed my eyes, as I had imagined for ever in this world, I little expected that I should open them again on such a scene as this. Was it a vision or a dream ?—were these mortals ?—or were they the dryads of these woods? An exclamation which broke from my lips put an end to all doubts, for they started to their feet, and approached me with glad cries. Smiles hghted up their faces, and they poured out a torrent of words, not one of which could I understand. The next instant, to my inexpressible delight, I saw my friends, Bing and Saunders, enter the hut. I felt a strong inclination to spring out and embrace them, but found I had not even strength to raise my head. ‘What has been the matter with me ?” I asked. ‘Not another word,” exclaimed Saunders; ‘I prohibit talking. Take this, and go to sleep again,” and then he murmured to himself, ‘¢ Thank God, the crisis 1s past ‘” When I had swallowed the draught, I fell asleep, and did not wake for some hours. I was rather curious to know how I had been rescued, and what had been the matter with me; but it was some days before I was considered strong enough to talk. One morning, however, Bing and Saunders entered my hut, the former with a cheery smile, exclaiming, “ How are you? how are you? Ah! better, I see! Well, now to give you a good wigging! Don’t you think you deserve it ?” ‘‘T dare say I do; but you must explain,” I replied. “Well, now, arn’t you a nice fellow to go searching after lost cities, eh P—a pretty dance you led us!” “ T certainly had a most difficult search; but it was not after a lost city, it was after my lost companions.” “And when you found them—or rather when they found you—in your delirium you insisted that they were monkeys, and that your humble servant was a cod-fish !” “Then it was you that found me. Indeed, I never doubted that you - would make every effort; my only doubt was, whether you would succeed.” “Well, we did search, and that for many days, long after we had comicaocks (GO)