The Delta independent., 1916-07-14


was like boiling kettle or the bub-
bling of some great pot. Soon came
upon the source of it. for in the center
of small clearing found a lake-or a
pool. rather. for it was not larger than
the basin of the Trafalgar square foun-
tain-of some black, pitchlike stun, the
surface of which rose and fell in great
blisters of bursting gas. The air above
1t was shimmering with heat, and the
ground round was so hot that 1 could
hardly bear to lay my hand on It. It
was clear that the great volcanic out
burst which had raised the strange
plateau so many years ago had not yet
entirely spent its forces. Blackened
| rocks and mounds OF lava I had al
ready seen everywhere peeping out
from amid the luxuriant vegetation
which draped them, but this asphalt
pool in the jungle was the first sign
that we had of actual existing activity
on the slopes of the ancient crater. /
had no time to examine it further, for
l had need to hurry II 1 were to be
back in camp In the morning.
1t was a fearsome walk and one
which will he with me so long as mem
ory holds. In the great moonlight
clearings i skunk along among the
| shadows on the margin. In the jungle
l crept forward. stopping with beat
ing heart whenever l heard. as / Of
ten did. the crash of breaking branches
as some wild beast went past. Now
and then great shadows loomed up for
an instant and We're gone-great, ST.
lent shadows which seemed to prowl
upon padded feet. How often l stop
ped with the intention of returning
and yet every time my pride conquer
| ed my fear and sent me on again until
my object should be attained.
| AT last tmy watch showed that II
was 1 in the morning. saw the gleam
of water amid the openings of the Jun.
gle. and ten minutes later l was among
the reeds upon the borders of the cen
tral lake. l was exceedingly dry. SO
lay down and took a long draft Of its
waters. which were fresh and cold.
There was a broad pathway with
many tracks upon it at the spot which
had found. so that IL was clearly one
! of the drinking places OF the animals.
| Close to the waters edge there was n
huge isolated block of lava. Up this
| climbed. and lying on the top OF
this block. l had an excellent view in
every direction.
| Lake Gladys-my own lake-lay like
q sheet of quicksilver before me. with
a reflected moon shining brightly In
the center of it. 1t was shallow. for
In many places l saw low sand banks
protruding above the water. Every.
where upon the still surface l could
| clio nf ho erlo
Of great silver sided fish In the air.
sometimes the arched. slate colored
back Of some passing monster. Once
upon a yellow sand bank saw a crea.
ture like a huge swan. with a clumsy
body and high. flexible neck. shufiling
about upon the margin Presently 1t
plunged Ia. and for some time could
see the arched neck and darting head
undulating over the water. Then II
dived. and saw 1t no more
My attention was soon drawn away
from these distant sights and brought
back to what was going on Mt my very
feet. Two creatures like large arma-
dillos had come down to the drinking
place and were squatting ut the edge
Of the water. their long. flexible
tongues, like red ribbons. shooting III
and out as they Tapped. A huge deer.
with branching horns, a magnificent
creature. which carried itself like q
king. came down with its doe and two
fawns and drank beside the armadil-
los No such deer exist anywhere else
upon earth. for the moose or eIks
which I have seen would hardly have
| rls- a a
gave a warning snort and was OF
with its family among the reeds. while
the armadillos also scuttled for shell
ter. A newcomer. a most monstrous
animal. was coming down the path.
For moment l wondered where
could have seen that ungainly shape.
that arched back with triangular
fringes along 1t. that strange. birdlike
head held close to the ground Then
It came back to me. 1t was the stego-
saurus-the very creature which Maple
White had preserved In his sketch
| book and which had been the first OBJ
ject which arrested the attention Of
Challenger There he was. perhaps
the very specimen which the American
artist had encountered. The ground
shook beneath his tremendous weight.
and his gulpinRs of water resoundcd
through the still night For 6ve min
ntes he was so close to my rock that
by stretching out my hand I could
have touched the hideous waving
hackles upon his back. Then he ium-
bered away and was lost among the
| bowlders
Looking at my watch. I saw that It.
was half past o'clock and high time.