The Washington times., 1910-08-15

y Clamati0n OF refrain from start
ing backward, although in a
second she recovered and laughed
at her own nervousness There was
room for only one, beside Edmund,
81 the little window, and when Ala had
satisfied her curiosity We each took our
turn
When mine came was for an instant
almost as much asitated as Ala had
been
Directly ahead Of Us, not more than
Beventy-f5ve yards distant, there was a
shallow pond. its banks thick with
tangled bushes, and In the midst Of il
stood a monster on eight legs. tawuy-
colored IN the electric light, seeming 10
bristIe with stiff hairs all over its huge
round body Its head was relatively
small, black, and apparently armored
with POLISHED Jet, and facered with in
Vulnerable eyes, which famed in the
brilliant beam poured upon them
Good Lord-' I could not but exclaim.
st is Ike a prOdigious tarantUia. Look
It's going TO leap IT Us-'
Upon my vOrd.' said Edmund, 7
think the fellow does mean fight Get
away a moment, and III swing the car
round Wen give him broadside II ne
becomes too ugly
-ACCDEQlLs-lE- me car was swung mo
su-h a position that one Of the side win
oOws faced the creature. and Edmund
brought the movable searchIight to
the window. which ne threw wide open
For Heavens sake'7 cried Henry
Don't DO that He'll set at US"
Don't be alarmed Edmund replied
He can DO US no harm We are eJt
feet away
All OF US crowded about the window.
and Il IS unnecessary 10 say that the
H md
the pistols ready
During the few seconds that the
streaming light had been removed the
monster had changed his position and
now ~ me giare feIT T70o1 him lin
we were startled 70 ind that he had ap-
preached US He was within forty feet
OF the car, standing in a grassy glade,
having with uncomfortable rapldIty and
agility Clambered or IeaDed over the
stuuted trees and bushes surrounding
the pond in which We had drst seen
him
His huge, sPiky body seemed TO bristIe
with anger. and his countless eyes blaZ-
&C like SO many great rubies in the
piercing light II was truly heart
gUaking sight
Ala started hack with a womanly CRY
Of alarm, and Henry, I am almost
ashamed 10 say sank helpless upon a
bench
I believe he is going TO jump at Us. %
said Edmund quietly Aim for his
head and let him have half 2 dozen
shots IN quick succession"
Before anybody could touch q trigger
the awful creature bounded with light
ming speed upon the car
If YOU nave ever seen q hunting
spider leap upon g fiv, you know the
Incredible rapidly OF its spring and its
stroke This monster was no less swift
In his action
Through sheer nervous shock we
simultaneously discharged our guns
but without aim. and unfortunately,
IT, --,,o-,srsr e+---ol- The csr nil, o
force that made r. roll back and TWO
shaggy legs entered the window
A yell of horror and terror broke
from Jacks lips. anC in an instant he
was dragged from the window ouE
terrible aSsallanL dropping out Of sight
al the same moment
Edmund sprang 70 the controllers
and the car sank swiftly to the
ground. As we landed in a tangle Of
bushes Edmund leaped out into them
calling 70 me 20 follow Then the
light streaming from the open win
dow fell upon the most awful spec
tacle that a man ever lived TO tell
about.
The monster was within twenty
feet OF us. holding Jack high above the
ground with the claws OF Two Of its
legs. and turning him round and
round as spider prepares a ny foI
his meal
The dreadful Jaws were open TO re
ceive the morSe-, when stream Of fire
shot from EGmund's gun followed in
stantIy BIZ half a dozen more
The animal reelsd. and its less CAV,
way, thrashing the bushes as Ii tumbleC
JACK dropped Ike lead, ar5 I rushed
TO his side, while Edmund pumped NOR
shots into the huge rolling L"dy- who's
struggles broke the intertwinin.
branches with terrible crashes
As I reached Jack he resenlbled
shapeieSs lump Edmund rushed baci
as soon as he could to look at him