The Delta independent., 1916-07-07
SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS
EpwARD MALONE. newspaper man. IL
- In love with Gladys Hungerton. She
tells him the man she loves must do some
brave act. Malone gets an assignment to
Interview Professor Challenger. explorer.
When Challenger and Malone meet Chal-
lenger proclaims Malone an impostor. and
they have fierce personal encounter.
Challenger expresses a liking for Ma
lone when the latter refuses to have him
arrested. The professor then proceeds to
show Malone proofs of a prehistoric land.
Malone reports to McArdle. his city ed
itor. that Challenger is not an impostor
and that he has arranged to be present
at scientific meeting of professors
There's a great demonstration In the
hall when Professor Challenger arrives.
Challenger asks for volunteers to go on
an expedition to the prehistoric land.
The meeting finally decides that Pro-
feesor Summerlee. Lord John Roxton.
South America to prove or disprove Chal-
lengers statements. On their departure
Challenger gives them letter to open
on a certain date.
The peaceful penetration of Maple
White Land, which we called the new
country, was the pressing subject be-
own eyes that the place was inhabited
by some unknown creatures, and there
was that Of Maple Whites sketchbook
to show that more dreadful and dan
gerous monsters might still appear
That there might also prove to be
human occupants and that they were
of a malevolent character was sug.
gested by the skeleton impaled upon
the bamboos, which could not have got
there had it not been dropped from
above. Our situation, stranded with
out possibility of escape in such a
land, was clearly full of danger, and
our reasons indorsed every measure
of caution which Lord Johns expert
ence could suggest. Yet it was surely
impossible that we should halt on the
edge of this world of mystery when
our very souls were tingling with i'm
the heart from it.
We therefore blocked the entrance
to our zareba by filing it up with sew
eral thorny bushes and left our camp
with the stores entirely surrounded by
this protecting hedge. We then slowly
and cautiously set forth into the un-
known, following the course of the lit
tie stream which flowed from our
spring. as 1t should always serve us
as guide on our return.
Hardly had we started when we
came across signs that there were In
deed wonders awaiting u.s. After
Few hundred yards of thick forest con-
tanning many trees which were quite
unknown to me. but which Summer
lee. who was the botanist of the par
ty, recognized as forms of conifera
and of cycadaceous plants which have
long passed away in the world below,
we entered a region where the stream
widened out and formed considerable
bog. Suddenly Lord John, who was
walking first. halted with uplifted
hand.
Look at thisr' said he. "By George.
this must be the trail Of the father Of
all birdsi''
An enormous three toed track was
imprinted In the soft mud before us.
The creature. whatever II was, had
crossed the swamp and had passed on
Into the forest. We all stopped to ex-
anime that monstrous spoor II 1t
were indeed a bird-and what animal
could leave such a mark Its foot was
SO much larger than an ostrich's that
Its height upon the same scale must
be enormous. Lord John looked eager
iy round him and slipped two car
tridges into his elephant gun.
'Ill stake my good name as shikar-
rec" said he. that the track is n
fresh one. The creature has not pass
ed ten minutes. Look how the water
is still oozing into that deeper prirt!
BY Jove! See. here is the mark of a
little one.''
Sure enough. smaller tracks of the
same general form were running par
aIlel to the large ones.
But what do you make OF thisY'
cried Professor Summerlee triumphant