Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-17
CHAPTER XII.

"A ND now we nad 10 decide upon
D. "a our Immediate movements. We
shifted our position from among
the tick laden bushes until we
came to a small clearing thickly sur
rounded by trees upon all sides There
were some fat slabs Of rock in the cen
ter, with an excellent well close by,
and there we sat in cleanly comfort
while we made our first plans for the
Invasion of this new country. Birds
were calling among the foliage. espe-
cially one with a peculiar whooping
cry which was new to us, but beyond
these sounds there were no signs Of
life.
Our first care was to make some sort
OF list Of own own stores, so that we
might know what we had to rely upon.
What with the things we had our
eclyes brought up and those which
Zambo had sent across ON the rope we
were fairly well supplied Most i'm
p0rtant OF all, in view of the dangers
which might surround us, we had our
four rifles and 1900 rounds; also a
shotgun, but not more than 100 medi-
um pellet cartridges In the matter Of
provisions we had enough to last for
Reveral weeks, with sullciency Of
tobacco and few scientific lmple
ments, including large telescope and
q good feldglass. All these things we
collected together In the clearing, and
MS a FIRST precautlon we cut down with
our Ratchet and knives a number Of
thorny bushes, which we piled round
10 circle some fifteen yards In diam
eier This was to be our headquarters
FOR the tlme-Our place Of refuge
against sudden danger and the guard
house for our stores Fort Challenger
we called It,
The peaceful penetration OF Maple
White Land, which we called the new
country, was the pressing subject be
fore us We had the evidence Of our
own eyes that the place was inhabited
nv some unknown creatures, and there
was that Of Maple Whites sketchbook
70 show that more dreadful and dan
garous monsters might slll appear
That there might also prove to be
human occupants and that they were
Of maleyolent character was sug
gested by the skeleton impaled upon
the bamboos, which could not have got
there had 1t not been dropped from
8GoYe Our situation, stranded with
out possibility Of escape in such a
.Iand, was clearly full Of danger, and
our reasons indorsed every measure
OF caution which Lord Johns expert
eace could suggest Yet It was surely
Impossible that we should halt ON the
edge Of this world OF mystery when
our very souls We're tlngllng with i'm
patience TO push forward and to pluck
tue heart FROM It.
We therefore blocked the entrance
60 our zarebO by filling 1t up with sew.
eCll thorny bushes and left our camp
with the stores entirely surrounded by
this protecting hedge We then slowly
aud cautiously set forth into the IN.
Known following the course Of the IT.
tie stream which flowed from our
epplng. as II should always serve us
Az guide on our return.
Hardly had we started when we
came across signs that there were In.
deed wonders awaiting us After a
tcw hundred yards Of thick forest con
timing many trees which were quite
unknown to me, hut which Summer.
lee, who was the botanlst OF the par.
tr, recognized as forms Of conlfera
AID Of cycadOCeous plants which have
loeg passed away In the world below,
we entered region where the stream
videned out and formed considerable
bog Suddenly Lord John, who was
walking drst halted with uplirted
haad
Took at this" said he "By George,
this must be the trail Of tho father Of
aH birds"
An enormous three toed track was
Imprinted ia the soft mud before us.
TOe creature, whatever 1t was, had
crossed the swamp aud had passed on
into the forest We all stopped to eX-
anime that monstrous spoor II It
were indeed bird what animal
could leave such a mOrk?-its foot was
so much larger than an ostrlchs that
iis height upon the same scale must
be enormous, Lord John looked eager.
~ round him and slipped two car
tudges into his elephant gun
'rll stake my good name as a shiSar.
rec" said he, that the track is q
fresh one The creature has not pass.
ed ten minutes. Look how the water
is still oozlng into That deeper print
f,y Jove! See, here is the mark Of a
hide onew
sure enough, smaller tracks OF the
same general Form were running par.
ollel 10 the largeyQnes,