Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
Continued from page 9


Again the impulse to return swept over
me. Here, surely, was most excellent rea-
son for my failure for which no one
would think the less of me. But again the
foolish pride fought against that very word.
| could not, must not, fail! After all, my
rifle would probably have been as useless as
a shotgun against such dangers as | might
meet. If | were to go back to camp to
change my weapon, | could hardly expect
to enter and leave again without being seen.
In that case there would be explanations,
and my attempt would no longer be all my
own.
After little hesitation then, screwed up
my courage and continued upon my way,
my useless gun under my arm.
THE darkness of the forest had been alarm
ing; but even worse was the white, still
flood of moonlight in the open glade of the
iguanodons Hid among the bushes looked
out at it. None of the great brutes were in
sight. Perhaps the tragedy which had be-
fallen one of them had driven them from
their feeding ground. In the misty, silvery
light I could see no sign of any living thing.
Taking courage therefore, l slipped rapidly
across it, and in the jungle on the farther
side picked up once again the brook which
was my guide. 1t was CHEEKY companion,
gurgling and chuckhng as it ran like the dear
old trout stream in the west country where
l fished at night in my boyhood. So long as
| followed it down / must come to the lake,
and so long as l followed it back | must
come to the camp. Often l had to lose sight
of it on account of the tangled brushwood;
but was always within earshot of its tinklc
and splash.
AS one descended the slope, the woods be-
came thinner, and bushes with occasional
high trees took the place of the forest. |
could make good progress, therefore, and
could see without being seen. passed close
to the pterodactyl swamp, and as | did so,
with dry, crisp, leathery rattle of wings one
of these great creatures was twenty feet
at least from tip to tip-rose up from some
where near me and scared into the air. As
it passed across the face of the moon the
light shone clearly through the membranous
wings, and it looked like flying skeleton
against the white, tropical radiance.
from past experience that with a single cry
the creature could bring hundred of its
loathesorne mates about my ears. 1t was not
until it had settled again that | dared to
steal onward upon my journey.
The night had been exceedingly still; but
as | advanced | became conscious of a low,
rumbling sound, continuous murmur,
somewhere in front of me. This grew louder
as proceeded, until at last it was quite close
to me- When | stood still the sound was
constant, SO that it seemed to come from
some stationary cause. 1t was like boiling
kettle or the bubbling of some great pot.
Soon | came upon the source of it; for in
the center of a small clearing found lake
or pool, rather, for it was not larger than
the basin of the Trafalgar Square fountain
of some black, pitchlike stuff, the surface
of which rose and fell in great blisters of
bursting gas. The air above it was simmer
ing with heat and the ground round was SO
hot that could hardly bear to lay my hand
on it. 1t was clear that the great outburst
which had raised this strange plateau SO
many years ago had not yet entirely spent
its forces. Blackened rocks and mounds of
lava had already seen everywhere peeping
out from amid the luxuriant vegetation
which draped them; but this asphalt pool
in the jungle was the first sign which we had
of actual existing activity on the slopes of
the ancient crater had no time to examine
it further for had need to hurry if | were
to be back in camp in the morning.
1t was a fearsome walk, and one which will
be with me as long as memory holds. In the
great, moonlit clearings | skunk along among
the shadows on the margin. In the jungle
l crept forward, stopping with beating
heart whenever | heard, as | often did, the
crash of breaking branches as some wild