HIKING IN SAMOA

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 20

HIKING IN SAMOA

(Original, by "Aute," 12, Island Bay.)

NOW they reached the top' of the ridge;forming the edge Of the Lanato's crater; Barbara Barton, her chum, Beryl Bell, and a Samoan boy- guide. Through the sweltering, tropical heat -they had run, rushed, and also tripped over fern-covered, rotten logs. . . ■ ... Now they commanded a wide panorama- of ...Apia township, the Mulinu'u Observatory and banana, copra, and cocoa...plantations.■ *g' far distant the emerald waves boomed, curled, then, crashed on the reer. A ring of white foam encircled the visible .coast. :, ■ :S:~-^ T . , ta » Then suddenly, Mala, the. guide e*clabn^;^ap«^l*n^o*tea^ -and pointed through the sasalapa trees. He indicated the sl^immetm^ lake which (so they were informed) was bottomless.. , Down-down-down through a muggy forest until they slid to rOHfTnargln;** *c. l^e. Because pangs of hunger:overruled the desire tojUnger there the ex plorers climbed to a flat-topped hill ock. Spreading,.. the= ..doth, lunch was soon ready, but as .for^Mala,/he, dined, on aP as, h^^ftf a^ When they were finished--an*,had founds dry^patch they .^etUed^dcwn to rest during the two hours;frc>m^oon-tUl2;p.ni. bemg the bestinformed of the German periodviiT Samoa, remarked:— Mr.;' . .. "That piece of broken> concrete was once.-the. basement o£ tne oia German rest-house!" '••;■•■'■•'■■..,, '<■■'■ ,' "My goodness! Just look at it now! All rums! "Yes. It's a pity it hasn't been re-erected. ~lt would attract more tourists who would value, it, I'm sure." ■■ ; ■ .. Beryl, who had only, recently arrived .in Apia township, sighed, snut her eyes, and mumbled dreamily, for the blazing. sun made her drowsy. '■This baking sun has made my skin crackle. Lets go for a swim in the lake —it looks so inviting." . . ■ ~ ■ '■ _ It did not take Beryl'long to persuade Barbara to go. Cutting >■ a banana leaf each, they slid :doym the steep slope to the brink of the crystalgreen waters. To their-disappointment the first few yards were slimy mud in which many.^eeds^wets growing. Suddenly Beryl beckoned Barbara to her saying •'Barbara; I'do ; believe there was. once a wharf here. Look at those posts; •'.You:didvnot say anything' about it." _ „.-:,. -f'Oh, yes," agreed.'.'Barbara..i "Long ago,one: ; could.,hire. rowing boats for an afternoon ';.ahd row/right,across the/lake, to .a. little hut on the °PP"There's^ path found ttie lake. Let's ruri. untiVJwe find' a, nic<s sandy stretch," suggested Barbara later.; Her playmate- consented readily, for, as she expressed.it;: "I've,: certainty ;.no wish to step in that horrid, Slimy mess. Ugh!" -.■;^:%:>: ;: ."■:.- ..';" . \ '"' .'. ■ ■■ As they expected, "a"short distance round a- miniature bay they found a sandy beach. Very cautiously they dabbled their big toes in the water "Ow! My only Uncle-Timothy'/ It's cold," shouted Barbara, but Beryl, who was used'to the Wellington waters, sneered. "Don't be such a baby. I'm/going m." However, when she had stepped in a yard or two it was her turn, to scream. ■'■.-.. ■ ;.' ; . •■ :"Babs, Babs! I'm sinking, sinking, sinking!" Unfortunately Beryl clutched at an overhanging mile-a-minute creeper, not. realising its properties, especially the tender young tendrils, for these.are extremely breakable, and served, only to'lncrease; the. .danger.-'. ..-■ .;"•:;;■/-' With unusual :p,reserice v of- mind, .Barbara ordered quietly, "Keep still. Now can you reach; that-tall, strong-lopkihg;>reed?-.- ? Right. Now, hold it tightly for. a minute. ~ I, won't be long." ~She racsd.: :ihto the bufih to return in a flash.vsvithVa lcrig,-.'strOng.vrope.of theivUd-passion-fruitvine; With some difficulty she managed to haul her friend out of the horrible, sucking quicksands, with the aid of Mala. The Samoan boy, while gathering mangoes (a tropical fruit), had heard the screams and soon was: at the dangerous place. He decided then and there never to let them out of his sight again. .' They continued along the path. It was nearly 3.30 by then, so Mala voted that'they should take a hasty look around the old hut .(oppo-site-their-camp) and return. .While,the adventurers explored,the.crurnbling structure and jotted down a few notes, Mala discovered "a /rowing boat still safe, so they decided to row back, mooring the boat- at the ruined wharf posts. After supper they watched 'the silver/ moon rise over- the placid lake; then they rolled in their blankets and slept through the night, .despite ;the>'continual buzzing of.mosquitoes and' the- screeching iOf:.flying(To be Continued.)