The evening world., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER VIII.
Mdsf0dOn and WW o. the

AFARWARDHN'8 bullet struck
the manmoth IN the shoulder.
NAN while Ayrauit's aim was fur
ther back. A. the balls ex-
- pioded . half-barreifui Of
flesh and hide waS shot from each. isa~-
tng two gaping holes. Instantly he
rushed among the trees. making his
course known for some time by his
-oars As he turned Bearwarden hred
again. but the ball new over him. blow
ng OF the top OF q tree.
Now for the chase!" said Ayrauit.
There would be no excuse for losing
him."
Quickly pushing their raft to shore
and securing II to the bank. the three
Jumped off. Thanks TO their rubber
boots and gaivanic outf,ts which auto
maticaiiy kept them charged. they were
a. spry as they would have been on
earth. The ground all about them. 1nf
IN a strip twelve feet wide whore tho
mammoth had gone. was torn up. and
the vegetation trodden down. Following
this trail. they struck back into the
woods. where In places the gloom cast
by the thick foliage was so dense that
there was q more twilight. startling M
they went numbers OF birds of gray ana
sombre piumaR., whose necks and heads
and the sounds they uttered were so
reptilian tina. tho three terrestrials he-
lievcd they must also possess poison
fangs.
"The most highly developed things we
have seen here" said Bearwarden. "aro
tho flowers and nrenies. most Of the
bird, and amphibians being simply
loathsome."
Az they proceeded they found tracks
of blood. which were rapidly attracting
swarms OF tho reptile birds and snakes.
which. however. as a rule. Ned at their
approach.
IT wonder what can have caused that
mammoth TO move so fast and 70 have
seemed so III M ease7" said the doctor.
"Ul, motive certainly was not thirst.
for he did not approach the water IN a
direct line. neither did he drink on
reaching H. Ono would think nothing
short OF an earthquake or landslide
could trouble him"
..There can bs no landslide here" said
Ayrault, "for the country Is too nat"
AND after Yesterdays eruptlons,"
sddeS Rearwardcn. "it wsuld seem a.
though the volcanoes could have scarce-
iy enough steam loft to max. trouble"
The blood trarbs. continuing TO be-
come fresher. showeH them thew were
nearing the game. when suddenly fNe
trail took a sharp turn N the r'rht.
eve, returning tow'r RI the lake A ll'''a
further II took another sham turn. hon
followed Q series ~ douh''ngs, whVs
.t,i Vnrther the g-ound was romo'"ts'v
denuded ~ trees. ~ torr-up ana tram
pIed condition and the enormous amount
OF st,I, warm Mood showing how tsr-
rjec F., battle had trst taken pl'ce.
White they iookAd shout th~v s,w
wis, ,ppes red 70 bs the trunk NJ = tree
ahou, four feet IN diameter md s'~ foot
long, with a SLIGHT crook. ON coming
closer thew r-co~n'y~f IN Z one NJ the
forereet Of the nam mo'N, cut ne c'eon'v
a. though win a knife from the log
,u-, above the ankle. and still warm
A little further they found the huge
trunk cut 70 sl'vers, and. lust beyond,
the bodv ~ the unfortunate boast With
three Of Us feet zone, and m. thick
hide cut snd slashed Ike 50 much pap~r
II stu, br~athed md Ayrau,'. who rad
a tsnder heart. sent an explosive hall
into It's skull. which ended It's SUFFERING.
The three hunters then surveyed ire
scene. The larges, and most powerful
he,s, thew had believed could exist Law
beforr them dead nc from the hl'e az
a snake or anv oth-r poison but from
mechanical iniur'c. o' which those thew
rad inflicted formed hut n very small
part. and literally cnt 10 pieces.
81 nm curious 20 900 the animal" ss'd
Cor'lard, capable Of doing this.
though nothing short ~ dynamite bombs
would protect Ms from him"
as he has not stopped 10 eat his v,c-
tim" said Bearwarden. 'lt II fair 20 sup
pose he Is not carnivnrous, and 50 must
have had some other motive than hum