Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-07

mountains. Night overlook them be-
fore they had gone more than half way
up the side. The tents were pitched and
the following day the start was made at
dawn. 1t was nearly noon when they
reached the top. High cliffs fringed
the little lake. which lay spread out
before them deep, placid, and without a
suggestion OF danger. The party halted
to view the lake and decided which was
the best way to make descent to its
level.
There is the path which we de-
scended," said Lasca, pointing to the
east where a smooth roadway seemed
to run down to the lake. But there is
still time to turn back and not tempt
fate by hunting lake devils
The forest for miles around was de-
serted, for the natives summed the top
Of the mountain as an accursed place.
Even wild animals seemed less COM
mon than in other parts of that region.
The only living thing in sight was big
bull elephant that could be seen max
ing his way down the road towards the
lake.
THAT elephant must be a rogue who
has wandered here from some far-away
told me that none of the animals living
near here would water at the devils
lake"
The big elephant marched down to
the lake. waded out until the water was
up to his body, and began drinking.
When he had drank his fill he COM
menced to wash. spraying himself all
over with big streams from his trunk.
THAT old fellow seems to be enjoying
himself without any thought Of danger
from lake DEVILS" said Captain Jacltion.
Out in the middle of the lake appear
ed little eddy. Lasca saw it first and
silently pointed it out to the English
captain. Nearer and nearer to the
shore came the eddy, but still the big
bull elephant stood spraying himself.
unconscious of all danger. Then dimly
| thru the clear lake Captain jackson
could make out some huge creature
rushing toward the shore. A furry of
waves, and with a splash and road a
gigantic head broke thru the water. 1t
was followed by sanky, twisting neck.
nearly forty feet long. Then came the
| body like that of turtle, but far
| larger than that of any turtle since the
ages when geological monsters, beside
whom the largest animals of today are
small ruled land and sea. Too late the
| big elephant saw his terrible peril and
| turned to rush toward the shore. The
snaky head shot out, the big jaws OPP
ened, and then closed with a snap,
grasping the elephant about his body as
| a cat catches mouse.
| over and over in the water, kicking
with his feet, striking with his trunk,
and trying in vain to thrust with his
tusks, the elephant rolled. No creature
| in the African jungle could have match
ed him in strength, but against the sur
vival of past age, even the elephant
was helpless. Nearer and near In shore
came the lake devil, clutching the big
elephant in his unbreakable grip. The
water was churned into foam by the
desperate efforts of the elephant to free
himself. But still the Lake Devil push
ed forward until all his body was rest
ing on the bottom. The elephant had
also succeeded in getting all four feet
firmly planted on solid ground and
threw all his strength into one supreme
effort to get away. Failing lin this he
twisted his body around and began
striking fierce, flashing blows with his
trunk at the head Of the monster. Then
the Lake Devil eXerted all his tremen-
dous strength. The snaky neck and
huge head swung around, the elephant
being lifted clear off its feet. For
second the air vibrated with the shrill,
agonizing trumphetings of the elephant.
Then the Lake Devil gave little push
with his fins and his body moved to-
ward deeper water. The big head sank
under carrying the shrieking elephant
with 1t. Another instant and with a
rush like the launching Of a battleship
the Lake Devil shot out towards the
middle of the lake and sank down into
its unfathomable depths.
1T is death to go out on the lake"
said Lasca sullenly. "Our bullets will
not hurt him. Why throw our lives
away? When even the big rogue ele-
plant was helpless, what can men do
against the Lake Devil?"
1T would be suicide to go on the
lake. answered Captain Jackson, de-
cidedly. THAT fellow could sink any
thing smaller than an ocean liner. Our
only hope will be to get him to attack
us on land. Then we can try our bullets
on him. If they don't work we can use
it is case of life or death, for it would
blow him to pieces and destroy the
skeleton"
The little party moved slowly around
the side OF the lake to the pathway be-
tween the cliffs. Even Captain Jackson
felt nervous as they approached the
lake, the lair of the great plesiosaurus,
the prehistoric monster before whose
might the strongest and fiercest of
modern animals would be helpless.
Lasca glanced apprehensively at the
smooth sides of the roadway.
"They have been worn smooth by the
journeys OF the Lake Devil" he MUIR
INJURED. "The guide said that although
he Is clumsy on land, he can outstrip
the fastest runner"
Captain Jackson halted his men about
a hundred yards from the shore of the
lake.
There is no use going any nearer.
wish he was hungry so that we could
decoy him to the shore"
THE Lake Devil is always hungry
and always angry" said Lasca decid-
eddy. I'VE have only to disturb the
water in some manner and he will show
himself.
The captain ordered his men to get
their rifles in readiness for instant use.
Then he unstrapped little bag, and
drew out three dynamite cartridges.
One of them he handed to Lasca, an
other he slipped into his own pocket.
"These two will explode If we throw