第7章

"Ah！"exclaimedBearwarden,"herewehaveoneofourJack—o"—lanterns。Letusseewhatitisgoingtodo。"

"Itisincomprehensibletome,"saidCortlandt,"howitmaintainsitself;forithasneitherwingsnorvisiblemeansofsupport,yet,asitwasabletoimmerseitselfinthestream,therebydisplacingavolumeofliquidequivalenttoitsbulk,itmustbeatleastasheavyaswater。"

Thejelly—fishremainedpoisedintheairuntildirectlyabovethem,whenitbegantodescend。

"Standfromunder！"criedBearwarden,steppingback。"I,forone,shouldnotcaretobetouched。"

Thegreatsoftmasscamedirectlyoverthespotonwhichtheyhadbeenstanding,andstoppeditsdescentaboutthreefeetfromtheground,paralleltowhichitwasslowlycarriedbythewind。A

fewyardsoff,inthedirectioninwhichitwasmoving,layalongblacksnakeasleeponthesand。Whendirectlyoveritsvictimthejellyglobuleagainsanktillittouchedthemiddleofthereptile"sback。Theserpentimmediatelycoileditselfinaknot,butwasalreadydead。Thejellyfishdidnotswallow,butcompletelysurroundeditsprey,andagainroseintheair,withthesnake"sblackbodyclearlyvisiblewithinit。

"OurWill—o"—the—wispisprettierbynightthanbyday,"saidBearwarden。"Isuggestthatweinvestigatethisfurther。"

"How？"askedCortlandt。

"Bydestroyingitslife,"repliedBearwarden。"Giveitonebarrelfromyourgun,doctor,andseeifitcanthendefygravitation。"

AccordinglyCortlandttookcarefulaimattheobject,abouttwenty—yardsaway,andfired。Themainportionofthejellyfish,withthesnakestillinitsembrace,sailedaway,butmanypoundsofjellyfelltotheground。Mostofthisremainedwhereithadfallen,butafewofthelargerpiecesshowedafaintluminosityandroseagain。

"Youcannotkillthatwhichissimplyamassofprotoplasm,"saidCortlandt。"Doubtlesseachofthosepieceswillformaneworganism。Thisprovesthatthereareramificationsanddevelopmentsoflifewhichweneverdreamedof。"

CHAPTERVII。

ANUNSEENHUNTER。

Theycalculatedthattheyhadcometenortwelvemilesfromtheplaceatwhichtheybuilttheraft,whilethedampsaltbreezeblowingfromthesouthshowedthemtheywereneartheocean。

Concludingthatlargebodiesofwatermustbeverymuchalikeonallplanets,theydecidedtomakeforarangeofhillsduenorthandafewmilesoff,andtocompletethecircuitofthesquareinreturningtotheCallisto。Thesoftwetsandwascoveredwithhugeandcurioustracks,doubtlessmadebycreaturesthathadcometothestreamduringthenighttodrink,andtheynoticedwithsatisfactionastheysetoutthatthefresheronesledoffinthedirectioninwhichtheyweregoing。Forpractice,theyblewofftheheadsoftheboa—constrictorsastheyhungfromthetrees,andoftheotherhugesnakesthatmovedalongtheground,withexplosivebullets,ineverythicketthroughwhichtheypassed,knowingthatthegame,neverhavingbeenshotat,wouldnottakefrightatthenoise。Sometimestheycameupongreatmassesofsnakes,intertwinedandcoiledlikeworms;inthesecasesCortlandtbroughthisgunintoplay,rakingthemwithduck—shottohisheart"scontent。"Asthefunctionofthesereptiles,"heexplained,"istoformasoilonwhichhigherlifemaygrow,wemayaswellhelpalongtheirmetamorphosisbyartificialmeans。"Theywereimpressedbythetremendouscannon—likereportsoftheirfirearms,whichtheyperceivedatonceresultedfromthegreatdensityoftheJovianatmosphere。

Andthiswasalsoaconsiderableaidtotheminmakingmuscularexertion,forithadjustthereverseeffectofrarefiedmountainair,andtheyseldomhadtoexpandtheirlungsfullyinordertobreathe。

Thegroundcontinuedtobemarkedwithverylargefootprints。

Oftentheimpressionswerethoseofabipedlikesomehugebird,exceptthatoccasionallythecreaturehadputdownoneorbothforefeet,andathicktailhadevidentlydraggednearlyallthetimeitwalkederect。Presently,comingtosomethingtheyhadtakenforalargeflatrock,theyweresurprisedtoseeitmove。

Itwasabouttwelvefeetwidebyeighteenfeetlong,whileitsshellseemedatleastafootthick,anditwasofcoursethelargestturtletheyhadeverseen。

"Twenty—fourpeoplecoulddineatatableofthissizewithease,"saidBearwarden,"whileitwouldmakesoupforaregiment。

Iwonderifitbelongstothesnappingordiamond—backedspecies。"

Atthisjuncturethemonsteragainmoved。

"Asitisheadinginourdirection,"resumedBearwarden,"Ivotewestrikeforafreepass,"and,takingarun,hesprangwithhisspikedbootsupontheturtle"sshellandclamberedupontheflattop,whichwasaboutsixfeetfromtheground。HewasquicklyfollowedbyAyrault,whowasnotmuchaheadofCortlandt,for,notwithstandinghisfiftyyears,theprofessorwasveryspry。

ThetortoisewasalmosttheexactcounterpartoftheGlyptodonasperthatformerlyexistedonearth,andshambledalongatajerkygait,abouthalfasfastagainastheycouldwalk,andwhileitcontinuedtogointheirdirectiontheyweregreatlypleased。Theysoonfoundthatbydroppingthebuttsoftheirriflessharplyandsimultaneouslyoneitherside,justbackofthehead,theycoulddirecttheircourse,bymakingtheirsteedswerveawayfromthestamping。

"Itisstrange,"saidAyrault,"that,withtheexceptionofthemastodonandthistortoise,wehaveseennoneofthemonstersthatseemtoappearatthecloseofCarboniferousperiods,althoughthegroundiscoveredwiththeirtracks。"

"Probablywedidnotreachthegroundsattherighttimeofday,"

repliedBearwarden。"Thelargegamedoubtlessstaysinthewoodsandjunglestillnight。"

"Ifancy,"saidCortlandt,"weshallfindrepresentativesofallthespeciesthatoncelivedupontheearth。InthecaseofthesingingflowersandtheJack—o"—lanternjelly—fish,wehave,inaddition,seendevelopmentstheexistenceofwhichnoscientisthaseverbeforeevensuspected。"

Occasionallythetortoisestopped,whereupontheypokeditfrombehindwiththeirknives。Itwasavicious—lookingbrute,andhadahugehornybeak,withwhichitbitoffyoungtreesthatstoodinitswayasthoughtheyhadbeenbladesofgrass。Theywerepassingthroughavalleyabouthalfamilewide,borderedoneachsidebywoods,whenBearwardensuddenlyexclaimed,"Herewehaveit！"and,lookingforward,theyunexpectedlysawaheadriseandremainpoisedaboutfifteenfeetfromtheground。Itwasadinosaur,andbelongedtothescaledorarmouredspecies。Inafewmomentsanotherheadappeared,andtoweredseveralfeetabovethefirst。Theheadwasobviouslyreptilian,buthadabeaksimilartothatoftheirtortoise。Thehindlegsweredevelopedlikethoseofakangaroo,whilethesmallrudimentaryforepaws,whichcouldbeusedashandsorforgoingquadruped—fashion,nowhungdown。Thestrongthicktailwasevidentlyofgreatusetothemwhenstandingerect,byformingasortoftripod。

"HowIwishwecouldtakeapairofthosecreatureswithuswhenwereturntotheearth！"saidCortlandt。

"Theywouldbetrumpcards,"repliedBearwarden,"inazoologicalgardenoradimemuseum,andwouldtakethewindoutofthesailsofalltheotherfreaks。"

Astheylayflatontheturtle"sback,themonstersgazedatthemunconcernedly,munchingthepalm—treefruitsoloudlythattheycouldbeheardalongdistance。

"Havingnothingtofearfromatortoise,"resumedCortlandt,"theymayallowustostalkthem。Weareintheireyeslikehippocentaurs,exceptthatwearepartofatortoiseinsteadofpartofahorse,orelsetheytakeusforaparasiteorfibrousgrowthontheshell。"

"Theywouldnothavemuchtofearfromusaswereallyare,"

repliedBearwarden,"wereitnotforourexplosivebullets。"

"Iamsurprised,"saidAyrault,"thatgraminivorousanimalsshouldbesoheavilyarmedasthese,sincetherecanbenogreatstruggleinobtainingtheirfood。"

"Fromthelooksoftheirjaws,"repliedCortlandt,"Ishouldsaytheyareomnivorous,andwoulddoubtlessprefermeattowhattheyareeatingnow。Somethingseemstohavegonewrongwiththeanimalcreationhereaboutsto—day。"

Theirwar—horseclankedalonglikeabadlyrustedmachine,approachingthedinosaursobliquely。Whenonlyaboutfiftyyardsintervened,asthehunterswerepreparingtoaim,theirattentionwasdivertedbyatremendouscommotioninthewoodsontheirleftandsomewhatahead。Withthecrunchingofdeadbranchesandswayingofthetrees,adroveofmonstersmadeahastyexitandspedacrosstheopenvalley。Someshowedonlythetopsoftheirbacksabovethelonggrass,whileothersshambledandleapedwiththeirheadsnearlythirtyfeetabovetheground。Thedinosaursinstantlydroppedonall—foursandjoinedintheflight,thoughatabouthalf—minuteintervalstheyroseontheirhindlegsandforafewsecondsranerect。Thedrovepassedabouthalfamilebeforethetravellers,andmadestraightforthewoodsopposite;

buthardlyhadthemonstersbeenoutofsighttwominuteswhentheyreappeared,evenmoreprecipitatelythanbefore,andfledupthevalleyinthesamedirectionasthetortoise。

"Theanimalshere,"saidBearwarden,"behaveasthoughtheyweregoingtocatchatrain;onlyourfriendbeneathusseemssuperiortohaste。"

"Iwouldgiveagooddealtoknow,"saidCortlandt,"whatispursuingthosegiants,andwhetheritisidenticalorsimilartothemutilatorofthemastodon。Nothingbutabjectterrorcouldmakethemrunlikethat。"

"Ihaveawell—formedidea,"saidBearwarden,"thatahuntisgoingon,withnodoubttwoparties,oneinthewoodsoneitherside,andthatthehuntersmaybeonascalecommensuratewiththatoftheirvictims。"

"Iftheexcitementiscausedbymen,"repliedCortlandt,"ourexplorationmayturnouttobeafarmoredifficultundertakingthanweanticipated。Butwhy,iftherearemeninthosewoods,dotheynotshowthemselves？——fortheycouldcertainlykeeppacewiththegamemoreeasilyintheopenthanamongthetrees。"

"Because,"repliedBearwarden,"themeninthewoodsaredoubtlessthebeaters,whosedutyitistodrivethegameintoandupthevalley,attheendofwhichthekillingwillbedone。"

"Wemayhaveachancetoseeit,"saidAyrault,"ortotakeahand,forwearetravellingstraightinthatdirection,andshallbeabletogiveagoodaccountourselvesifourrightsarechallenged。"

"Why,"askedCortlandt,"ifthehuntingpartiesthathavebeeninourvicinitywereonlybeaters,shouldtheyhavemutilatedthemastodoninsuchitwaythathecouldnotwalk？Andhowweretheyabletotakethemselvesoffsoquickly——formaninhisnaturalstatehasneverbeenafastmover？Irepeat,itwillupsetmytheoriesifwefindmen。"

Itwasobvioustothemthattortoiseswerenotmuchtroubledbytheapparentlygeneralfoe,forthespecimeninwhichtheywerejusttheninterestedcontinuedhiscourseentirelyunconcerned。

Soon,however,heseemedtofeelfatigue,forhedrewhisfeetandheadwithinhisshell,whichhetightlyclosed,andafterthatnopokingorproddinghadthedesiredeffect。

"Isuspectwemustdependonshank"smaresforatime,"saidBearwarden,cheerfully,astheyscrambleddown。

"Wecannowsee,"saidCortlandt,"whyourfriendwassounconcerned,sincehehasbuttodrawhimselfwithinhimselftobecomeinvulnerabletoanythingshortofastrokeoflightning;

fornobirdcouldhavepowerenoughtoraiseanddrophimfromagreatheightuponrocks,astheeaglesdoonearth。"

"Isuspect,ifanxiousforturtlesoup,"saidBearwarden,"wemustattachalightning——rod,andwaitforathunderstormtoelectrocutehim。"

CHAPTERVIII。

SPORTSMEN"SREVERIES。

Feelinggratefultothehugetortoiseforthegoodservicehehadrendered,theyshotanumberofthegreatsnakesthatwereglidingaboutontheground,andplacedthemwherehewouldfindthemonawaiting。Theythenpickedtheirwaycarefullytowardsstretchesonwhichthegrasswasshortest。Whentheyhadgoneabouttwomiles,andhadalreadyreachedhigherground,theycametoaridgeofrockrunningatrightanglestotheircourse。Thistheyclimbed,andonlookingovertheedgeofthecrestbeheldasightthatmadetheirheartsstandstill。Amonster,somewhatresemblinganalligator,exceptthatthebackwasarched,waswaddlingaboutperhapsseventy—fiveyardsfromthem。Itwassixtyfeetlong,andtothetopofitsscaleswasatleasttwenty—fivefeethigh。Itwasconstantlymoving,andthetravellersnoticedwithsomedismaythatitsmotionwasfarmorerapidthantheywouldhavesupposeditcouldbe。

"Itisalsoadinosaur,"saidtheprofessor,watchingitsharply,"andverycloselyresemblestheStegosaurusungulatusrestoredinthemuseums。Thequestionis,Whatshallwedowiththelivingspecimen,nowthatwehaveit？"

"Ourchairman,"saidAyrault,"mustfindawaytokillit,sothatwemayexamineitclosely。"

"Thetroubleis,"saidBearwarden,"ourbulletswillexplodebeforetheypenetratethescales。Intheabsenceofanywayofmakingapassageforanexplosiveballbymeansofasolidone,wemuststrikeavitalspot。Hisscalesbeingnoharderthanthetrunkofatree,wecanwoundhimterriblybytouchinghimanywhere;butthereisnoobjectindoingthisunlesswecankillhim,especiallyasthereisnodeepstream,suchaswouldhavedelayedthemastodoninreachingus,toprotectushere。Wemustspreadoutsoastodiverthisattentionfromonetoanother。"

AftersomeconsultationitwasdecidedthatCortlandt,whohadonlyashot—gun,shouldremainwheretheywere,whileBearwardenandAyraultmovedsomedistancetotherightandleft。AtasignalfromCortlandt,whowastoattractthemonster"sattention,thewingsweretoadvancesimultaneously。Thesearrangementstheycarriedouttotheletter。WhenBearwardenandAyraulthadgoneabouttwenty—fiveyardsoneitherside,thedoctorimitatedthepeculiargruntingsoundofanalligator,atwhichthecolossalmonsterturnedandfacedhim,whileBearwardenandAyraultmovedtotheattack。Theplanofthiswasgood,for,withhisattentionfixedonthreeobjects,thedinosaurseemedconfused,andthoughBearwardenandAyraulthadgoodanglesfromwhichtoshoot,therewasnopossibilityoftheirhittingeachother。Theythereforeadvancedsteadilywiththeirrifleshalfup。Thoughtheirowndangerincreasedwitheachstep,intheeventoftheirmissing,thechanceoftheirshootingwilddecreased,theideabeingtoreachthebrainthroughtheeye。

Cortlandt"sparthadalsoitsrisks,for,beingentirelydefencelesswithhisshot—gunagainstthelargecreature,whoseattentionitwashisdutytoattract,hestakedallonthemarksmanshipofhisfriends。Notconsideringthis,however,hestoodhisground,havingthethumb—pieceonhisWinchestermagazineshovedupandreadytomakeanoisydiversionifnecessaryinbehalfofeitherwing。Havingarousedthemonster"scuriosity,Cortlandtsprangup,wavinghisarmsandhisgun。Thedinosaurloweredhisheadasiftocharge,therebybringingittoalevelwiththerifles,eitherofwhichcouldhavegivenitthefatalshot。Butastheirfingerspressedthetriggersthereptilesoaredupthirtyfeetintheair。Ayraultpulledforhisfirstsight,shootingthroughthelowerjaw,andshiveringthatmember,whileBearwardenchangedhisaimandsightedstraightfortheheart。Inaninstantthemonsterwasdownagain,justmissingAyrault"sheadashesteppedback,andBearwarden"sriflepouredastreamofexplosiveballsagainstitsside,rendingandblowingawaytheheavyscales。Havingdrawnthedinosaur"sattentiontohimself,heretreated,whileAyraultrenewedtheattack。Cortlandt,seeingthattheoriginalplanhadmiscarried,pouredshowersofsmallshotagainstthehugebeast"sface。

Finally,oneofAyrault"sballsexplodedinthebrain,andallwasover。

"Wehavekilleditatlast,"saidBearwarden"butthefirstattack,thoughartistic,hadnotthebrilliantresultsweexpected。Thesecreatures"modeoffightingisdoubtlesssomewhatsimilartothatofthekangaroo,whichitissaidputsitsforepawsgently,almostlovingly,onaman"sshoulders,andthendisembowelshimbytherapidmovementofahindleg。Butweshallgetusedtotheirmethod,andcandobetternexttime。"

Theythenreloadedtheirweaponsand,whileCortlandtexaminedtheirvictimfromanaturalist"spointofview,BearwardenandAyraultsecuredtheheart,whichtheythoughtwouldbethemostediblepart,theoperationbeingrenderedpossiblebytheamountofarmourtheexplosiveballshadstrippedoff。

"To—morrow,"saidBearwarden,"wemustmakeitapointtogetsomewell—fedbirds;forIcanroast,broil,orfricasseethemtoaturn。Lifeistooshorttoliveonthismeatinsuchasportsman"sparadise。Inanycasetherecanbenoendofmastodons,mammoths,woollyrhinoceroses,moabirds,andallsuchshooting。"

Asthesunwasalreadynearthehorizon,theychoseadry,sandyplace,tosecureasmuchimmunityaspossiblefromnocturnalvisits,and,afterprocuringasupplyofwaterfromapool,proceededtoarrangetheircampforthenight。Theyfirstlaidouttheprotection—wires,settingthemwhilethesunstillshone。Nexttheybuiltafireandpreparedtheireveningmeal。

Whiletheyateit,twilightbecamenight,andthefire—flies,twinklinginlegionsintheneighbouringvalley,seemedlikethelampsofagreatcity。

"Theirlights,"saidBearwarden,pointingtothem,"arenotasfineasthejelly—fishWill—o"—thewispswerelastnight,buttheyarenotsodangerous。NogymnotusorelectriceelthatI

haveeverseencomparedwiththem,andIamconvincedthatanyoneofustheymighthavetouchedwouldhavebeeninkingdomcome。"

Thebalmyairsoothedthetravellers"browsastheyreclinedagainstmoundsofsand,whiletheflowersinthevalleysentuptheirdyingnotes。Onebyonethemoonsarose,tillfour——amongthemtheLilliputian,discoveredbyProf。Barnardin1893——wereinthesky,floodingthelandscapewiththeirsilverylight,andsomethinginthesurroundingstouchedasympatheticcordinthemen。

"OhthatIwereyoungagain,"saidCortlandt,"andhadlifebeforeme！Ishouldliketoremainhereandgrowupwiththisplanet,inwhichwealreadyperceivethenextNewWorld。Thebeautiesofeartharebarrencomparedwiththesceneswehavehere。"

"Youremember,"repliedBearwarden,"howCicerodefendsoldageinhisDeSenectute,andshowsthatwhileithasalmosteverythingthatyouthhas,ithasalsoasenseofcalmandmanythingsbesides。"

"Yes,"answeredCortlandt,"but,whileplausible,itdoesnotconvince。Thepleasuresofagearelargelynegative,theoldbeinghappywhenfreefrompain。"

"Sincethehighestjoyoflife,"saidAyrault,"iscomingtoknowourCreator,Ishouldsaytheold,beingfurtheradvanced,wouldbethehappierofthetwo。Ishouldneverregardthismateriallifeasgreatlytobeprizedforitself。Youremembertheoldsong:

""OYouth！WhenwecometoconsiderThepain,thetoil,andthestrife,ThehappiestmanofallisTheonewhohasfinishedhislife。"

"Isuspect,"continuedAyrault,"thatthemanwhoreacheseventhelowestplaneinparadisewillfindfarmorebeautifulvisionsthananywehavehere。"

Astheyhadbutlittlerestthenightbefore,theywerealltired。Thewarmbreezeswayedthelongdrygrass,causingittogiveoutasoftrustle;allbirdsexcepttheflittingbatswereasleepamongthetallfernsoronthegreattreesthatspreadtheirbranchestowardsheaven。Therewasnothingtorecallapictureofthehugemonsterstheyhadseenthatday,orofthestillmoretobedreadedterrorthesehadbornewitnessto。Thusnightclosestheactivitiesoftheday,andinitsserenegrandeurthesoulhastimetothink。Whiletheythought,however,drowsinessovercamethem,andinalittlewhileallwereasleep。

Thedoublelineofprotection—wiresencircledthemlikeasilentguard,whilethemethodicaltickingofthealarm—clockthatwastowakethemattheapproachofdanger,andregisterthehourofinterruption,formedacuriouscontrasttotheirregularcriesofthenight—hawksinthedistance。Timeandagainsomehugeiguanodonorahipsohopuswouldpass,shakingthegroundwithitstread;butsoimplicitwasthetravellers"trustinthevigilanceoftheirmechanicalandtirelesswatch,thattheysleptonascalmlyandunconcernedlyasthoughtheyhadbeenintheirbedsathome,whilethetickwasasconstantandregularasasentry"smarch。Thewiresofcoursedidnotprotectthemfromcreatureshavingwings,andtheyransomeriskofavisitationfromtheblood—suckingbats。Thefar—awayvolcanoesoccasionallysentupsheetsofflame,whichinthedistancewerelikesummerlightning;thetorrentsoflavaandcrashesthathadsoundedsothunderouswhennear,werenowlikethemurmuroftheocean"sebbtide,lullingtheterrestrialstodeepersleep。Thepalemoonswereatintervalsmomentarilyobscuredbytherushingcloudsintheupperair,onlytoreappearsoonafterwardsassereneasbefore。AllNatureseemedatrest。

Shortlybeforedawntherewasanunusuallyheavystep。Amomentlatertheever—vigilantbatteriespouredforththeircurrent,andtheclangofthealarm—bellmadethestillnightring。Inaninstantthethreemenwereawake,eachrestingononeknee,withtheirbackstowardsthecentreandtheirpolishedbarrelsraised。

Itwasnotlongbeforetheyperceivedtheintruderbythemoonlight。AhugemonsteroftheTriceratopsprorsusspecieshadenteredthecamp。Itwasshapedsomethinglikeanelephant,buthadtenortwelvetimesthebulk,beingoverfortyfeetinlength,notincludingthelong,thicktail。Theheadcarriedtwohugehornsontheforeheadandoneonthenose。

"Aplagueonmyshot—gun！"saidCortlandt。"HadIknownhowmuchofthiskindofgameweshouldsee,Itooshouldhavebroughtarifle。"

Themonsterwasentangledinthewires,andinanothersecondwouldhavesteppedonthebatteriesthatwerestillcausingthebelltoring。

"Aimfortheheart,"saidBearwardentoAyrault。"Whenyoushowmehisribs,Iwillfollowyouinthehole。"

Ayraultinstantlyfiredforapointjustbackoftheleftforeleg。Theexplosionhadthesameeffectasonthemastodon,removingahalf—barrelofhide,etc;andthenextsecondBearwardensentabulletlessthananinchfromwhereAyrault"shadstopped。Beforethecolossuscouldturn,eachhadcausedseveralexplosionsincloseproximitytothefirst。Thecreaturewasofcourseterriblywounded,andseveralribswerecracked,butnoballhadgonethrough。Witharoaritmadestraightforthewoods,andwithsurprisingagility,runningfullyasfastasanelephant。BearwardenandAyraultkeptuparapidfireatthelefthindleg,andsooncompletelydisabledit。Thedinosaur,however,supporteditselfwithitshugetail,andcontinuedtomakegoodtime。Knowingtheycouldnotgiveitafatalwoundattheinterveningdistance,intheuncertainlight,theystoppedfiringandsetoutinpursuit。Cortlandtpausedtostopthebellthatstillrang,andthenputhisbestfootforemostinregaininghisfriends。Forhalfamiletheyhurriedalong,until,seeingbythequantityofbloodonthegroundthattheywereinnodangeroflosingthegame,theydeterminedtosavetheirstrength。Thetrailenteredthewoodsbyanarrowravine,passedthroughwhatprovedtobebutabeltoftimber,andthenturnednorthtotheright。Presentlyinthesemi—darknesstheysawthemonster"sheadagainstthesky。Hewasbrowsingamongthetrees,tearingofftheyoungbranches,andthehunterssucceededingettingwithinseventy—fiveyardsbeforebeingdiscovered。Justashebegantorun,thetworiflesagainfired,thistimeattherighthindleg,whichtheysucceededinhamstringing。AfterthattheTriceratopsprorsuswasattheirmercy,andtheyquicklyputanendtoitssuffering。

"Thesunisabouttorise,"saidBearwarden;"inafewminutesweshallhaveenoughlight。"

Theycutoutadozenthickslicesoftenderloinsteak,andsoonwerebroilingandeatingasubstantialbreakfast。

"Therearenotasmanyspectatorstowatchuseathere,"saidCortlandt,"asinthewoods。Isuggestthat,afterreturningtocampforourblanketsandthings,westeerfortheCallisto,viathisTriceratops,toseewhatcreatureshavebeenattractedbythebody。"

Onfinishingtheirmealtheyreturnedtotheplaceatwhichtheyhadpassedthenight。Havingstraightenedtheprotection—wires,whichhadbecometwisted,andarrangedtheirimpedimenta,theysetout,andweresoononcemorebesidetheirlatestvictim。

CHAPTERIX。

THEHONEYOFDEATH。

Atfirstnothingseemedtohavebeendisturbed,whentheysuddenlyperceivedthatbothforelegsweremissing。Onfurtherexaminationtheyfoundthattheponderoustail,sevenfeetindiameter,wascutthroughintwoplaces,thethickerportionhavingdisappeared,andthattheheavybonesinthisextremityofthevertebralcolumnhadbeenseveredlikestraws。Thecutsurfaceswerebutlittlecoolerthantheinteriorofthebody,showinghowrecentlythemutilationhadbeeneffected。

"Byallthegods！"exclaimedBearwarden,"itiseasytoseethemethodinthis;thehuntershaveagaincutoffonlythosepartsthatcouldbeeasilyrolled。TheseJovianfellowsmusthaveweaponscomparedwithwhichtheoldscythechariotswouldbebuttoys,withwhichtheyamputatethelegsoftheirvictims。Wemustseetoitthattheirscimitarsdonotcometooneartous,andIventuretohopethatinourbulletstheywillfindtheirmatch。Whatsayyou,doctor？"

"Iseenodepressionsuchassuchheavybodieswouldnecessarilyhavemadehadtheybeenrolledalongtheground,neitherdoesitseemtomethatthesecurioustracksinthesandarethoseofmen。"

Thelooseearthlookedasifthecross—tiesofsomerailroadhadbeenremoved,thespaceformerlyoccupiedhavingbeenbutpartlyfilled,andthesedepressionswereacrosstheprobabledirectionofmotion。

"Whateverwascapableofchasingmastodonsandcarryingsuchweights,"saidAyrault,"will,Isuspect,havelittletofearfromus。Probablynothingshortoflightartillerywouldleavemucheffect。"

"Idaresay,"repliedBearwarden,"wehadbettergivetheunknownquantityawideberth,thoughIwouldgiveayear"ssalarytoseewhatitislike。Theabsenceofothertracksshowsthathisconfreresleave"Scissor—jaw"alone。"

Keepingasharplookoutinalldirections,theyresumedtheirmarchalongthethirdsideofthesquarewhichwastobringthembacktotheCallisto。Theircoursewasparalleltothestream,andoncomparativelyhighground。Cortlandt"sgundidgoodservice,bringingdownbetweenfiftyandsixtybirdsthatusuallyallowedthemtogetasnearastheypleased,andoftenseemedunwillingtoleavetheirbranches。Bythetimetheywerereadyforluncheontheysawitwouldbedarkinanhour。Astherapidityoftheplanet"srotationdidnotgivethemachancetobecometired,theyconcludednottopitchtheircamp,buttoresumethemarchbymoonlight,whichwouldbeeasyinthehigh,opencountrytheyweretraversing。

Whileinquestoffire—wood,theycameupongreatheapsofbones,mostlythoseofbirds,andwereattractedbythetall,bell—shapedflowersgrowingluxuriantlyintheirmidst。Theseexhaledamostdeliciousperfume,andatthecentreofeachflowerwasaviscousliquid,thecolourofhoney。

"Ifthistastesaswellasitlooks,"saidBearwarden,"itwillcomeinwellfordessert";sayingwhichhethrusthisfingerintotherecessesoftheflower,intendingtotastetheessence。

Quietly,butlikeaflash,theflowerclosed,hishandbeingnearlycaughtandbadlyscratchedbythelong,sharpthornsthatnowappearedattheedges。

"Ha！"heexclaimed,"asensitiveandyoumayalmostsayaman—eatingplant。Thisdoubtlesshasbeenthefateofthesebirds,whosebonesnowliebleachingatitsfeetaftertheyhavenourisheditslipswiththeirlives。Nodoubttheplanthasuseforthemstill,sincetheirskeletonsmayservetofertilizeitsroots。"

Wishingtoinvestigatefurther,Bearwardenplacedoneofthebirdstheyhadshotwithinthebellofanotherflower,whichimmediatelycontractedwithsuchforcethattheysawdropsofbloodsqueezedout。Aftersomeminutesthefloweropened,asbeautifulasever,anddischargedanoblongballcompressedtoaboutthesizeofahen"segg,thoughthebirdthatwasplacedwithinithadbeenaslargeasasmallduck。Towardseveningtheseflowerssentuptheirmostbeautifulsong,tohearwhichflocksofbirdscamefromfarandnear,alightingonthetrees,andmanywereluredtodeathbythesirenstrainsandthehoney。

Beforeresumingtheirjourney,thetravellerspaidapartingvisittothebell—shapedliliesontheirpyramidsofbones。Theflowerswereclosedforthenight,andthetravellerssawbythemoonlightthatthewhitemoundsweresimplyalivewithdiamond—headedsnakes。Thesecoiledthemselves,flattenedtheirheads,andsetupsuchahissingontheexplorers"approachthattheyweregladtoretire,andleavethiscuriouscontrastofhideousnessandbeautytothefire—fliesandthemoons。MarchingalonginIndianfile,thebettertoavoidtreadingonthewrithingserpentsthatstrewedtheground,theykeptonforabouttwohours。Theyfrequentlypassedhugeheapsormoundsofbones,evidentlytheremainsofbearsorotherlargeanimals。Thecarnivorousplantsgrowingattheircentrewereoftenlikehollowtrees,andmighteasilyhavereceivedthethreetravellersinoneembrace。Butasbefore,themoundswerealivewithserpentsthatevidentlymadethemtheirhomes,andraisedanangryhisswheneverthemenapproached。

"Thewondertome,"saidBearwarden,"is,thatthesesnakesdonotprotectthegame,bykeepingitfromthelife—devouringplants。Itmaybethattheydonotshowthemselvesbydayorwhenthevictimsarenear,orthatthequadrupedsonwhichtheseplantslivetakeapleasure,likedeer,inkillingthembyjumpingwithallfourfeetupontheirbacksorinsomeotherway,andafterthatareentrappedbytheflowers。"

Shortlyaftermidnighttheyrestedforahalfhour,butthedawnfoundthemtrudgingalongsteadily,thoughsomewhatwearily,andhavingaboutcompletedthethirdsideoftheirsquare。

Accordingly,theysoonmadearight—angleturntotheleft,andhadbeenpickingtheirwayovertheroughgroundfornearlytwohours,withthesunalreadyhighinthesky,whentheynoticedadiminutionoflight。Glancingup,theysawthatoneofthemoonswaspassingacrossthesun,andthattheywereontheeveofatotaleclipse。

"Sinceallbutthefifthmoon,"saidCortlandt,"revolveexactlyintheplaneofJupiter"sequator,anyinhabitantsthatsettletherewillbecomeaccustomedtoeclipses,fortheremustbeoneofthesun,andalsoofthemoons,ateachrevolution,oraboutforty—fivehundredineveryJovianyear。Thereasonwehaveseennonebeforeis,becausewearenotexactlyontheequator。"

Theyhadaglimpseofthecoronalstreamersasthelastportionofthesunwascovered,andalltheotherphenomenathatattendaneclipseonearth。Forafewminutestherewasatotalreturntonight。Thetwinklingstarsandothermoonsshonetranquillyinthesky,andeventhenoiseoftheinsectsceased。Presentlytheedgeofthesunthathadbeenfirstobscuredreappeared,andthenNaturewentthroughthephenomenonofanaccelerateddawn。