The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-07
CHAPTER XIV.
A Strange Victory

THE aeroplane tipped as II de-
scended- and, with confused cries
most Of its crew tUmbled or
some falling into the water
others dlsa ppeaTing IN the tangled veg
citation The light went out, but Ed
nund's lamp continued % burn
We could see Ala as the machine
sank lower and crashed through the
branches. clIng1nE desperately 10 an up-
right on the inclined deck
The awful arm was Clasped about the
steel work within 2 foot OF her body
With terrible cry Edmund dashed
into the matted grOwths, madly fight
ING his WaV through Jack and 4 tol-
lowed, but Henry sank upon the vet
ground helpless through sheer terror
That's the fate they intended for
u.s. Edmund shouted But. by HeaV-
en-, il shall not come 10 her
If we had had far TO go We should
never have been able 10 get through
that awful mass. Even in the excite
ment of the moment I shra1k from the
hateful touch Of those twisted branches
clammy as the skin Of Serpents-
But Edmund regarded nothing cx-
cept his purpose He batusd mani
sCauy with the obstacles in his path,
leaving an opening for US at his heels
Through IL ali We hung to our rifles,
feeling that they alone could save US
/ suppose Il was not more LE1sn ITO
minutes before We emerged into a com
paratveiyt open place-and then the
sight that met US,
visible in the gloom. on huge squat
legs. stood such a monster as yOU
lave perhaps read OF in books on
palSontoloeE- bul me equal OF TINS
enc no CeOioEiSt ever imagined
7 don't know how large Its BODY
was, bat its gigantic three-COrnered
head looked as big as a beer vat. and
from the front of the head Issued
something reSem bling the trunk OF an
elephant, but as large as q dozen The
eye un that side OF the head Wnlcn
was turned toward US giOwed Ike
an ember in the light Of Edmund's
lamp
plane. bending ats sides Ike paste
hoard with that mighty trunk For
mvspart, / was paralyzed by the awful
spectacle but Edmund sharp COM
niand brought me 10 ny senses
"'5old the lamp
Mechanically 7 took it IT. my hand.
Then I saw Edmund aiming his rifle
Rang Bang Bang
Ten times the shots rang out zip
ping one on the heels OF another. and
7 knew that the cham Der was eN-
hausted.
''Give me your riHe---to Jack
But ii was unnedeed- At the very
first shot T saw the monsters red eve
90 dull. and 7 believe that every bull
let entered MS brain He was 50 huge
ard ung-ie!dy that. he couldn't fall
like an ordinary animal He released
the wrecked aeTopla7e- threw his
vast trunk heaVinC IN agony and
thrashiug the branches over his head
sank upon his immense knees. and
slowly rolled down in the sedSy mud
Without a moments hesitation Ed
nIund rushed forward. and a minute
later 7 saw him carrying Ala
She had tainted but was UIiEjuTed-
A little stimulant brought her round,
and. lyinr in his arms, she looked a.
him dazed at first and then with Sucn
2 IN expression as I should ike just once
70 encounter in a wOman's ewes
While We were thus engaged Juha ~
reared. his white furry body thick With
mud. and his huge eyes actually conf
c1I in their mingled look Of amazene1F
and terror Presently. half q dozen OF
The men who had been thrown from
the aeroplane fought their w n Us
Quick now, boys" said Edmund
We've cot 10 fE uU z shelter
Still carrying Ala he led the wav 20
the aerOplane- Its light steel frame was
badly bent in places, but il had settled
right side up, and a short inspection