The Delta independent., 1916-06-16

lutte cna0S TO wnlcn the as
sembly had by this time been reduced.
30 terrific was the uproar that several
ladies had already beaten a hurried re-
treat. Grave and reverend seniors
seemed to have caught the prevailing
spirit as badly as the students, and
saw white bearded men rising and
shaking their fists at the obdurate pro-
fessor. The whole great audience
eeethed and simmered like a boiling
Dot. The professor took a step for
ward and raised both his hands. There
was something so big and arresting
and virile in the man that the clatter
and shouting died gradually away be-
fore his commanding gesture and his
masterful eyes. He seemed to have a
definite message. They hushed to
hear 1t. .tA
"I will not detain you," he said. "It
y not worth it Truth is truth, and
the noise of a number of foolish young
men-and, l fear l must add. of their
equally foolish seniors-cannot affect
the matter. l claim that I have open
ed a new field of science. You dispute
II" (Cheers.) Then put you to the
test Will you accredit one or more
OF your own number to go out as your
Representatives and test my statement
In your manner
Mr.. Summerlee, the veteran professor
OF comparative anatomy, rose among
the audience, a tall, thin, bitter man.
with the withered aspect of theolo-
gian. He wished. he said, to ask Pro
fessor Challenger whether the results
TO which he had alluded In his remarks
had been obtained during journey to
the headwaters of the Amazon made
by him two years before.
Professor Challenger answered that
they had
Mr.. Summerlee desired to know how
It was that Professor Challenger claim
ed to have made discoveries in those
regions which had been overlooked by
Wallace, Bates and other previous ex-
plorers of established scientific repute.
Professor Challenger answered that
Mr.. Summerlee appeared to be confus-
ing the Amazon with the Thames, that
1t was in reality somewhat larger
river. that Mr.. Summerlee might be in
terested to know that. with the ORR
noco. which communicated with it,
some 10000 miles of country were
opened up. and that in so vast a space
It was not impossible for one person to
nnd what another had missed
Mr.. Summerlee declared, with an acid
smile. that he fully appreciated the diff
ference between the Thames and the
Amazon. which lay in the fact that any
assertion about the former could be
tested. while about the latter it could
not He would be obliged II Professor
Challenger would give the latitude and
the longitude of the country In which
prehistoric animals were to be found
Professor Challenger replied that he
reserved such information for good rea-
sons of his own. but would be prepared
to give 1t with proper precautions to
committee chosen from the audience.
Would Mr.. Summerlee serve on such
a committee and test his story in per.
son?
Mr.. summerlee-Yes. I will. Great
cheeiing.l
Professor Chalenger-Then I guaran-
tee that will place in your hands such
material as will enable you to find your
way. 1t is only right. however. since
Mr.. Summerlee goes to check my state
ment that I should have one or more
with him who may check him. ! will
not disguise from you that there are
difficulties and dangers. Mr.. Summer
lee Will need younger colleague. May
] ask for volunt eern?
1t Is thus tnat the great crisis OF a
mans life springs out at him. Could
! have imagined when ] entered that
hall that | was about to pledge myself
TO wilder adventure than had ever
come to me in my dreams? But
Gladys-was 1t not the very opportu-
nifty OF which she spoke? Gladys
would have told me TO go. had
sprung to my feet. ! was speaking.
and yet had prepared no words. Tarp
Henry, my companion. was plucking
at my skirts. and l heard him whis-
pering: ''Sit down. Malone. Don't
make public ass OF yourself" At the
same time ! was aware that tall.
thin man with dark. gingery hair q
few seats In front OF me was also
upon his feet He glared back at me
with hard. angry eyes. but refused
to give way. o1
II will 20. Mr.. Chairman" ! kept re
peating over and over again.
Name. Name!" cried the audience.
my name Is Edward Dunn Malone
! am the reporter Of the Daily Gazette
claim to be an absolutely unprejn.
diced witness wnI
"What is your name. sirr' the chair.
man asked OF my tall rival.
II am Lord John Roxton. have
already been up the Amazon. / know
bn the ground and hnve special quail
ocations for this investigation
Lord John Roxton's reputation ~