Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-07
THE STAYING OF THE
PLESIOSAURUs = =
A Terrible Snake Stoty
Edwin J. Webster In National, Magazine
A Terrible Snake Stoty

Captain Charles Jackson stood before
his tent looking anXiously to the north,
where far in the distance loomed up
the forbidding slopes of the Central
African mountain range. 1t was now
four days since his head scout, Lasca,
had left camp for an exploring tour OF
the mountains and the region at their
base. Captain Jackson was in charge
of one of the surveying parties sent
north from the Transvaal to take an
inspection of the possible routes for the
great Cape-to-Cairo railway. which
would bring together the northern and
southern portion of England's African
empire. Lasca was faithful, intelligent,
and had hunted over southern and CEN
trail Africa for years. There We're no
hostile tribes in that region and the
captain was at loss to explain the abb
sence of his trusted scout.
A man, weary, footsore, his clothes
torn to rags, broke thru the underbrush
at the top of the little hill on which the
camp was located. Slowly like per-
son who had run until exhausted, he
climbed toward the camp. 1t was Las
ca. His rifle was gone, so was his re-
volver, and cartridge belt, and even as
he drew near the camp he looked
around like a man who had escaped
some peril, the memory of which still
haunts him. His face was drawn and
haggard, and in the eyes of the bronzed
old Arab was timid, frightened look
no one had ever seen before. Dead.
all dead" replied Lasca, not sullenly,
but in the tone of man who had pas
sed beyond caring, when Captain Jack
son asked him what had become of the
rest Of this party. "A devil rose from
the waters and seized them. 1t was
kismet that l should not die then, so 1
live. Though after what l have seen
I do not greatly care for life"
Were they seized by some animal?"
inquired the English captain in per-
picked tones. He had known Lasca for
years and did not doubt his faithful
nessAnd he had seen the grim old Arab
fighter face death unmoved many times
and could not understand what had SO
fearfully shaken his iron nerves.
1T was no animal, my captain" re-
piled Lasca earn astly. Il, who have
fought and hunted over Africa for years
know all the animals and there is none
that can stand before the bullets of a
Lee-Metford. 1t was in very truth a
devil that seized them. I am not a
ran to be frightened at old wives tales,
And l saw him with my own eyes and
felt his burning breath. But will tell
you the tale from the beginning, that
you may not think Lasca, who has fac
ed danger with you many times, was
terrified by vision in the night.
with the four men you gave me /
travelled north until came to the foot
of the mountains. We were well armed
the natives were friendly, and We had
no thought OF peril. AS we went up
the mountains l noticed we met few
natives, but l gave the matter little
thought The peak to the north is said
to have once been volcano, though
it was so long ago that the tradition
of it is left. Where once it poured
cut fire, there is now lake.
Now the thought in my mind was
that we should explore this lake, for
perhaps the water might be of use
tried to get guide every native was
unwilling to go with me. They all said
the lake had no bottom, but connected
with hell, and that the devil came up
thru the water and seized all, man or
beast who ventured near 1t. AT last,
offering q high price, l persuaded ma
tive to lead me in sight of the lake.
When I saw it l laughed at his fears.
for the lake is like a jewel set in the
top of the mountain. All around It are
high cliffs, with palm trees, and 1t is
beautiful to look upon. AT one point
there is an opening thru the cliffs, and
a steep roadway down to the lake 1T
self. The native, though in fear,
brought us to the top of the roadway.
Then he refused to go any farther. even
when / offered him more pay. l was
angry, and, drawing my revolver, told
him that if he did not guide us down to
the lake l would shoot him. But even
then, though clearly in terror Of my re-
volver, he refused to lead us down the
roadway.
"'Better TO die by the little gum he
answered me, than. to be seized by the
devil, and living, dragged down thru
the waters to hell
when saw that neither threats nor
brides would persuade, let him stay.
and, accompanied by the men you sent
OUT Will lut, SlStItSu 1ONiA LAC AOoN-
way toward the lake. For ! thought
the natives had been, frightened by
hippopotamus. or a very big crocodile,
or some other animal living in the lake.
and, having our rifles, / felt little fear.
The pathway was smooth. as If it had
often been travelled over by some big
snake.
"This I wondered at, but being afool
thought myself wise. and that knew
of all the animals in Africa and feared
none. The water of the lake is not blue.
but green like the ocean. After had
explored the sides, I thought it might
be useful to know the depth. So we
built raft and padd'e.l out on the
water. The captain remembers that he
gave me three sounding lines before I
started. I tied heavy stone to one OF
BEWARE OF OuININE