The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-11

there had emerged a black, glisten-
ing object. AS it came slowly forth
and overhung the chasm we saw
that it was very large snake with
peculiar fiat, spadelike head. 1t
wavered and quivered above us for
a minute, the morning sun cleaning
upon its sleek, sinuous coils. Then
1t slowly crew inward and disap-
peared.>
Summarize had been so interested
that he had stood unresisting while
Challenger tilted his head in the air.
Now he shook his colleague off and
came back to his dignity,
IT should be glad, Professor Char-
renger,- said ne, "if you could see
your way to make any remarks
which may occur to you without
selling me by the chin
But there is life upon the pla-
teau all the same his colleague re-
piled in triumph. -And now, having
demonstrated this important conclu-
sion so that it is clear to any one,
however prejudiced or obsuse, I am
Of opinion that we cannot do better
than pick up our camp and travel
to westward until we find some
means Of ascent
The ground at the foot Of the cliff
was rocky and broken so that the
going was slow and difficult. Sud-
denly we came, however, upon some
thing which cheered our hearts IT
Ua he 81 "a Of al nv,f
with several empty Chicago meat
tins. bottle labeled Brandy" a
broken tin-opener and quantity of
other tTav1fers' debris A crumpfed
and disi1tegrated newspaper re-
veaEed itself as the Chicago Demo-
crat. though the date had been oblit-
Grated
Not mine" said Challenger. 1T
must be Maple Whites"
Lord John had been gazing curl
ousIy at a great tree fern which
overshadowed the encampment. At
say. look at this" he said. at be-
neve it is meant for a signpost.'
A slip of hard wood had been
nailed to the tree in such a way as
to point to the westward.
Most certainly signpost," said
Challenger.
Immediately beneath the cliff there
grew a considerable patch of high
bamboo. like that which we had ira
versed in our journey. We were
passing along the edge of this cover
when my eye was caught by the
CLEAN Of something white within n.
ThrustinG in my head between the
stems, I found myself gazing at a
flesh-less skull. The whole skele-
ton was there. but the skull had de-
tached itself and lay some feet near
er to the open.
With a few blows from the ma
chetes Of our Indians we cleared the
spot and were able to study the de-
tails Of this old tragedy. Only a
few shreds Of clothes could still be
distinguished. but there were the
remains OF boots upon the bony feet.
and 1t was very clear that the dead
man was European. A gold watch,
by Hudson Of New York, and a chain
which held a stylographic pen, lay
among the bones. There was also
silver cigaret case with u. c. from
A. e. s." upon the lid The state
Of the metal seemed to show that the
catastrophe had occurred no great
time before.
who can he be?' asked Lord
John. Poor devill .Eevery bone n
his body seems to be broken"
"And the bamboo grows through
his smashed ribs" said Summerlee.
1T is fast growing plant. but 1t
Is surely inconceivable that this
body could have been here while the
canes grew to be twenty feet in
length"
AS to the mans identity said
Professor Challenger, IT have no
doubt whatever upon that point. As
l made my way UP the river before
I reached you at the fazenda, in
stituted very particular inquiries
about Maple White. At Para they
knew nothing. Fortunately, I had
a definite clew, for there was a par
ticular picture in his sketch book
which showed him taking lunch with
certain ecclesiastic at Rosario.
This priest was able to find.
He none the less gave me some
positive information. Maple White
passed Rosario four years ago. or
two years before 1 saw his dead
body. He was not alone at the time.
but there was friend, an American
named James Colver, who remained
in the boat and did not meet this &c.
clesiastic- I think. therefore, that
there can be no doubt that we are
now looking upon the remains of
this James Colver."
Nor" said Lord John, lis there
much doubt Has to how he met his
death. He has fallen or has been
chucked from the top and so been
impaled.
A hush came over us as we stood
round these shattered remains and
realized the truth of Lord John Rox-
toms words. The beetling head of
the cliff projected over the cane
brake. Undoubtedly he had fallen
from above. But had he fallen? Tad
1t been an accident? Ur-already
ominous and terrible possibilities be-
gan to form round that unknown
/, land.
We moved off in silence, and con-
tinued to coast round the line Of
cliffs.
IL Eve miles we saw no rift or
break And then suddenly we nor.
ceived something which filled us
with new hope In hollow cf the
rock, protected from the rain, there
was drawn a rough arrow in chalk,
pointing stiH to the .westwards