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A Startling Discovery

           Glenarvan,histwosailors,JohnMangles,andAyrtonwentoffatonceintothewood,wheretheanimalshadpassedthenight.Itwasagloomy-lookingforestoftallgum-trees;nothingbutdeadtrees,withwidespacesbetween,whichhadbeenbarkedforages,orratherskinnedlikethecork-oakatharvesttime.Amiserablenetworkofbarebrancheswasseenabovetwohundredfeethighintheair.Notabirdbuiltitsnestintheseaerialskeletons;notaleaftrembledonthedrybranches,whichrattledtogetherlikebones.Towhatcataclysmisthisphenomenontobeattributed,sofrequentinAustralia,entireforestsstruckdeadbysomeepidemic;nooneknows;neithertheoldestnatives,northeirancestorswhohavelainlongburiedinthegrovesofthedead,haveeverseenthemgreen.

           Glenarvanashewentalongkepthiseyefixedonthegraysky,onwhichthesmallestbranchofthegum-treeswassharplydefined.Ayrtonwasastonishednottodiscoverthehorsesandbullockswherehehadleftthemtheprecedingnight.Theycouldnothavewanderedfarwiththehobblesontheirlegs.

           Theylookedoverthewood,butsawnosignsofthem,andAyrtonreturnedtothebanksoftheriver,wheremagnificentmimosasweregrowing.Hegaveacrywellknowntohisteam,buttherewasnoreply.Thequartermasterseemeduneasy,andhiscompanionslookedathimwithdisappointedfaces.Anhourhadpassedinvainendeavors,andGlenarvanwasabouttogobacktothewagon,whenaneighstruckonhisear,andimmediatelyafterabellow.

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