The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-06-24


dearly. they rctreated, keep
Ing their backs to the wind,
with tho poisonous dragons
In frone But the breeze
was very slight. and they
were being rapidly blinded and as
phyxiated by tho loathsome fumes.
and deafened by the hideous roarin x
ana swapping of the dragons jaws.
Eealixlng that they could not much
longer reply to the diabolicai host
with lead. they believed their last hour
had come. whcb the ground on which
they we're mixing their last stand
shook, there was u vending OF rocks
and rush OF Imprisoned steam that
drowned even tho dragons roar aad
they were separated from them by a
long fissure and a wsh OF smoke md
vapor. Struggling back from the edse
OF the chasm. they fell upon the ground,
and then for the first time fully renl lied
that the earthquake had saved them.
for the dragons could not come across
the opening. and wouid not venture to
ny through the smoke and steam. When
they recovered sone what from .he
shock, they cut a mum Der of cartridges
IN the same way that they had prepared
those that had done them such good
service. and kept one barrel of each
gun loaded with that kind.
We may thank Providence" saii
Rearwarden. "for that escape. ] hope
we shall have no more sioh close calls"
with q parting glance at the chassn
that had saved their lives. and from
which a cloud ste arose. they turned
slightly 10 the right Of their former
course and climbed the gently rising
bank. When near tho top. being tired
~ their exciting experiences. they sat
down to rest. The Ground all about
them was covered with mushrooms
white on top and pink underneath.
This IL n wonderful place for fungi"
said Ayrault. Here. doubtless. We
shall he safe from the dragons. FOR
thew seemed TO prefer tho toadstools."
As he hay on the ground he watched
one particular mushroom that seemed
to grow before his Dyes. Suddenly. as
he looked. II vanished. Dumfounded ut
this unInistikabie manifestation OF the
phenomenon they though, they had sen
on landing he caiied his coinpan Ions.
and, choosing another mushroom. the
three watched II closely. Presently.
without the least noise or comnotlon,
that also disappeared. leaving no trace.
and the same fate befel number OF
others. At a certain point Of their de-
yelopment they vnnlsrei as completely
"a "a bubble or air coming 70 the sur
fece OF water. EXCEPT that they caused
no ripple. leaving merely a small de-
preston where they had stocd. t.
Well" Eald Bearwarden. IN all ny
travels never have seen anything like
this II were at a sleight-of-hnn
performance. and the prestdlgltateur
after doing that asked for my theory
I should saw. 7 give Il up.' How In ~
with you. DOCTOR" he asked. address
ing Cortlandt.
There must he an explanation" re-
ed Cortlandt. "onlv W. 10 not know
tho natural law 20 which tho rhenome-
non IL subject. having rad no expert
cnce with II on earth, We know that
all substances can be converted into
rasos ana that all gases csn bs rr-
durcd 70 liquids. and even solids, by tho
application Of pressure and cold. II
thero Ia any way by which the visible
substance or these fungi can ho SON
verte3 into !ts invis.O'a gases. as water
into oxygen. and hydrogen, what VIZ
have seen csn Ne logically explained.
Perhaps. favored by some aff'nlty NJ
the atmosphere. !,s constituent parts
arc broken up ana bocors sases Mt this
harometric pressure and temperature.
We n,ust ask the sp!r,. II no visits us
again"
~ wish ne would" said Ayrsu,,i
There ara lots Of things ! should 'iss
70 ask him"
At this po'n, the sun sank bslow the