The Delta independent., 1916-07-21

AS 1 emerged from my unconscious
ness-which could not, 1 think. have
lasted more than a few minutes-I was
aware of most dreadful and pene
trating smell. Putting out my hand in
the darkness, l came upon something
which felt like a huge lump of meat,
while my other hand closed upon a
large bone. Up above me there was
a circle of starit sky, which showed
me that / was lying at the bottom of
a deep pit. Slowly staggered to my
feet and felt myself all over | was
stiff and sore from head to foot, but
there was no limb which would not
move, no joint which would not bend.
1t was, as / have said, pit with
sharply sloping walls and level bot
tom about twenty feet across. This
bottom was Uttered with great COB
bets of flesh. most of which was in the
last state of putridity. The atmos-
phere was poisonous and horrible.
After tripping and stumbling over
tnese Jumps OF decay 1 came suddenly
against something hard, and l found
that an upright post was firmly fixed
in the center of the hollow 1t was
SO high that l could not reach the top
of it with my hand, and 1t appeared to
be covered with grease.
H. Suddenly l remembered that had
tin box of wax vestas in my pocket.
Striking one of them, 1 was able at
last to form some opinion of this place
into which 1 had fallen. There could
be no question as to its nature. 1t was
a trap-made by the hand of man. The
post in the center, some nine feet long,
was sharpened at the upper end and
was black with the stale blood of
the creatures who had been impaled
upon 1t.
The remains scattered about were
fragments of the victims. which had
been cut away in order to clear the
stake for the next who might bunder
in. l remembered that Challenger had
declared that man could. not exist upon
the plateau. since with his feeble
weapons he could not hold his own
against the monsters who roamed
over it.
But now 1t was clear enough how
1t could be done. In their narrow
mouthed caves the natives, whoever
they might be, had refugees into which
the huge saurians could not penetrate,
while with their developed brains they
were capable of setting such traps.
covered with branches. across the
paths which marked the run of the
animals as would destroy them in spite
of all their strength and activity. Man
was always the master.
The sloping wall of the pit was not
difficult for an active man to climb.
but hesitated long before / trusted
myself within reach of the dreadful
creature which had so nearly destroy
ed me.
How did | know that the beast was
not lurking in the nearest clump of
bushes. waiting for my temperance?
/ took heart. however. as recalled
conversation between Challenger and
Summerlee upon the habits of the
great saurians. Both were agreed that
the monsters were practically brain
less. that there was no room for rea-
son In their tiny cranial cavities and
that If they have disappeared from
the rest of the world 1t was assuredly
on account OF their own stupidity.
which made 1t impossible for them to
adapt Themselves to changing condi-
tions
! clambered to the edge of the pit
and looked over. The stars were fad
ing. the sky was whitening and the
cold wind Of morning blew pleasantly
upon my face. could see or hear
nothing of my enemy. Slowly climb
ed out and sat for awhile upon the
ground. ready to spring back into my
refuge If any danger should appear
Then. reassured by the absolute still
ress and by the growing light. | took
my courage in both hands and stole
back along the path which lad come
Some distance down 1t I picked up my
gun and shortly afterward struck the
brook which was my guide. SO. with
many "A frightened backward glance.
made for home.
CHAPTER XVI