Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/122

100. "How rich the foliage is and what a gay coloring."

"I see some cocoanuts," said Si. "Wonder if they are good to eat?"

"We might try them, if we can reach them," returned Walter, and then they began to fling stones at the nuts, since the trees appeared to be too tall and straight to be ascended. It was great sport after having been boxed up so long on shipboard, and when Si at last brought one of the nuts down, both shouted in glee. Walter kept on throwing until he, too, brought down a prize, and thus they kept the sport up without paying attention to the others of the party who had come in that direction, and these men gradually passed out of sight and hearing.

"Now I'm going to see what's in this nut," said Si, placing the object on a flat rock. He hammered away vigorously and presently the nut cracked into a dozen or more pieces. But alas! the meat inside was wormy and sour, being far over-ripe.

"Fooled!" said Si, dolefully. "Try yours." And Walter did so, with a result equally disappointing.

"I don't believe they are all that way," said Walter. "Let us see if we can't bring down some good ones." And then they began throwing once more,