"Martain Rattler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ballantyne R.M)

elements. The trees bent before it; the rain was whirled and dashed about in
water- spouts; and huge limbs were rent from some of the larger trees with a
crash like thunder, and swept far away into the forest. The very earth trembled
and seemed terrified at the dreadful conflict going on above. It seemed to the
two friends as if the end of the world were come; and they could do nothing but
cower among the branches of the tree and watch the storm in silence while they
felt in a way they had never before experienced, how utterly helpless they were,
and unable to foresee or avert the many dangers by which they were surrounded,
and how absolutely dependent they were on God for protection.
For several hours the storm continued. Then it ceased as suddenly as it had
begun, and the bright stars again shone down upon the peaceful scene.
When it was over, Martin and his comrade descended the tree and endeavoured to
find their way back to the beach. But this was no easy matter. The haste with
which they had run into the woods, and the confusion of the storm, had made them
uncertain in which direction it lay; and the more they tried to get out, the
deeper they penetrated into the forest. At length, wearied with fruitless
wandering and stumbling about in the dark, they resolved to spend the night
where they were. Coming to a place which was more open than usual, and where
they could see a portion of the starry sky overhead, they sat down on a dry spot
under the shelter of a spreading tree, and, leaning their backs against the
trunk, very soon fell sound asleep.
[CONTENTS]



CHAPTER VIII
An enchanting land -An uncomfortable bed and a queer breakfast - Many surprises
and a few frights, together with a notable discovery
"I'VE WOKED in paradise!"
Such was the exclamation that aroused Martin Rattler on the morning after his
landing on the coast of South America. It was uttered by Barney O'Flannagan.,
who lay at full length on his back, his head propped up by a root of the tree
under which they had slept, and his eyes staring right before him with an
expression of concentrated amazement. When Martin opened his eyes, he too was
struck dumb with surprise. And well might they gaze with astonishment; for the
last ray of departing daylight on the night before had flickered over the open
sea, and now the first gleam of returning sunshine revealed to them the
magnificent forests of Brazil.
Yes, well might they gaze and gaze again in boundless admiration; for the
tropical sun shone down on a scene of dazzling and luxuriant vegetation so
resplendent that it seemed to them the realisation of a fairy tale. Plants and
shrubs and flowers were there of the most curious and brilliant description, and
of which they neither knew the uses nor the names. Majestic trees were there
with foliage of every shape and size and hue - some with stems twenty feet in
circumference, others more slender in form, straight and tall, and some twisted
in a bunch together and rising upwards like fluted pillars; a few had
buttresses, or natural planks, several feet broad, ranged all round their
trunks, as if to support them; while many bent gracefully beneath the load of
their clustering fruit and heavy foliage. Orange-trees with their ripe fruit
shone in the sunbeams like gold. Stately palms rose above the surrounding trees