The Washington times., 1912-04-03

mediation ladder that was being let
down on the starboard side. when he
heard a shout, and. lifting his eyes from
his work, was startled TO see boat con-
tanning, besides the rowers, two men
whom he instantly reCogniZed-Presloeht
Samson and Prof. Pludder.
Their sudden appearance mere A@sIon @
ished him as much as that OF Enke sis
Peak itself had done. He dropped ms
hands and stared at them as their BOAT
swiftly approached. The ladder naa
just been got ready, and the o9nsonr m3menr
PIudder mounted to the deck Of the ARK
as rapidly as his great weight ""u'u
permit. <a.
met the deck, and smilinGly said:
"VersaI, you were right about the
nebula."
"PIudder," responded Cosmo. imme-
diately recovering his aplomb, and TAX
| ing the extended hand of the professor'
| You know the truth when you see It :"
Not another word was exchanged be
| tween them for the time. and Professor
| Pludder instantly set to work aiding the
passengers to descend the ladder. Cosmo
waved his hand in greeting TO the
| President. who remained IN the hoSt:
and politely lifted his tall. but sadly
! battered hat in response.
| The Ark had become so firmly lodged
| that after the passengers had all got
| ashore, Cosmo decided to open way
| through the forward end OF the vessel
| by removing some OF the plates, so that
! the animals could be taken ashore Glrect
| from their deck by simply descending
| slightly sloping gangway.
! This was Il work that required a
whole day. and Whila ~ was going for
ward urder Cosmos directions, the
were not needed found their way led
| BY the professor and the President,
| round a bluff into kind OF mountain
| lap, where they were astonished to see
] situated
| turesquely among the rocks, and small
| covered spaces, with grass and flowers
surrounding them.
Hero dwelt some hundreds Of people
| who received the shipwrecked com
pany with Western hospitality after
the first effects of their astonishment
had worn off. Il appears that. oW-
| ing to its ConCealment by project
ing part of the mountain, the Ark
had not been seen until just at the
moment when it went ashore.
OF September. the air was warm and
balmy, and barnyard fowls were
cluckinE and scratching about the
rather nleaEer soil around the houses
There was not room in this place
for All the newcomers. but Prof.
Pludder assured them that in many
of the neiChhorinc hollows, which
there were similar settlements, and
that room would he found for all.
Parties We're sent off under the lead
of guides. and great was the aston
ishment and it may be added. Joy
with which they Were received in the
little communities that clustered
about the flGnks of the mountain.
About half Of cosmos animals had
pCriShed most of them during the
, terrible experiences attending the
arrival Of the nucleus. which have
already been described, hut those
that remained wore in fairly good
condition. and with tho possible ex-
CeptiOn of the elephants, they seemed
, glad to feel solid ground once more
under their feet.
The elephants had considerable dif-
fCultY in making their way over the
, rocks TO the little village, but finally
, all were got TO a place of security
The great Californian cattle caused
, hardly less trouble than the ele-
; plants, but the AstoriRn turtles ap-
, pcared to feel themselves at home
at once.
4 Continuation of ThtS story VIII
! he Found In TOmOrrOw's
Issue Of The Times.