The Delta independent., 1916-07-28


Their FriehtfuI Blows Shattered Every
thing Upon Which They Fell.
the man-beast to find forever his allot-
ted place. Fly as they would. the
fugitives were too slow to escape from
the active savages. and from every
side In the tangled woods we heard
the exultant yells. the twanging of
bows and the crash and thud as ape
men were brought down from their
hiding places in the trees.
l was following the others when /
found that Lord John and Challenger
had come across to join us.
Its over" said Lord John. IL think
we can leave the tidying up to them
Perhaps the less we see OF it the bet
ter we shall sleep"
Challenger's eyes were shining with
the lust OF slaughter
1t needed a robust faith - the end
TO Justify such tragic means As we
advanced together through the woods
we found the ape men lying thick.
transfixed with spears or arrows. Here
and there a little group OF shattered
Indians marked where one or the ap-
thropoids had turned to bay and sold
his life dearly. Always in front of us
We heard the yelling and roaring which
showed the direction of the pursuit.
The ape men had been driven back TO
their city. they had made last stand
there. once again they had been broken.
and now we were In time to see the
final fearful scene OF all. Some eighty
or hundred males. the last survivors.
had been driven across that same little
clearing which led to the edge of the
cliff. the scene of our own exploit two
days before. As we arrived the In
dians. semicircle of spearmen, had
closed In ON them. and In n minute 1t
was over. Thirty or forty died where
they stood. The others, screaming and
ella awing. were thrust over the precipice
and went burtling down, as their prls-
oners had of old. on to the sharp bam-
boos 600 feet below. 1t was as Chal-
lenger had said. and the reign of man
was assured forever in Maple White
Land. The males were exterminated.
Ape Town was destroyed. the females
and young were driven away to live
in bondage. and the long rivalry of un-
told centuries had reached its bloody
end
For us the victory brought much ad-
vantage. Once again we were able to
visit our camp and get at our stores.
Once more also we were able to com
municate with Zambo. who had been
terrified by the spectacle from afar OF
an avalanche of apes falling from the
edge of the cliff.
Come away. Massas; come awayr'
he cried. his eyes starting from his
head. THE debbil get you sure II you
stay up there!'
1T Is the voice of sanity" said Sum
merlee, with conviction. I'VE have
had adventures enough. and they are
neither suitable to our character or
our position. hold you to your word,
Challenger. From now onward you
devote your energies to getting us out
of this horrible country and back once
more to civilization"
We had returned across the plateau
with our allies two days after the bat
tie and made our camp at the foot Of
their cliffs. They would have us share
their caves with them. bnt Lord John
would by no means consent to II. con-
sidering that to do so would put us In
their power II they were treacberousIy
disposed. We kept our Independence.
therefore, and had our weapons ready
for any emergency while preserving
the most friendly relations. We also
continually visited their caves. which
were most remarkable places. though
whether made by man or by nature
we have never been able to determine.
They were all on the one stratum, hol-
lowed out of some soft rock which lay
between the volcanic basaIt forming
the ruddy cliffs above them and the
hard granite which formed their base.
ITO be continued)