The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-17
THE LOST WORLD
BIZ SIR Arthur Conan Doyle

that we can't get back to our base.
Above all, we must never. unless 1t
Is life or death, fire off our guns"
But you fired yesterday" said
Summerlee.
"Well, 1t couldn't be helped. How
ever, the wind was strong and blew
outwards. 1t is not likely that the
sound could have travelled far into
the plateau. Ely the way, what shall
we call this place? suppose it is up
to us give 1t name?"
There were several suggestions,
more or less happy. but Challenger's
was final.
ut can have only one name"
said he. ut is called after the pio-
neer who discovered it. 1t Is Maple
White Land"
Maple White Land 1t became and
so it is named in that chart which
has become my special task. So it
will. I trust, appear in the atlas of
the future.
The peaceful penetration of Maple
White Laid was the pressing sub
ject before us. We had the. evil
dencs of our own eyes that the place
was inhabited by some unknown
creatures. and there was that of
Maple Whites sketch book to show
that more dreadful and more danger
Gus monsters might still appear.
That there might also prove to be
human occupants and that they
were of a malevolent character was
suggested by the skeleton impaled
upon the bamboos, which could not
have got there had 1t not been
dropped from above.
| We blocked the entrance to our
zareba by filling it up with several
thorny bushes, and left our camp
with the stores entirely surrounded
by this protecting hedge. We then
slowly and cautiously set forth into
the unknown, following the course
of the little stream which flowed
from our spring, as 1t should always
serve us as a guide on our return.
Hardly had we started when we
came across signs that there were
indeed wonders awaiting us. After
a few hundred yards of this for
est, containing many trees which
were quite unknown to me, but
which Summerlee, who was the
botanist OF the party, recognized
as forms OF conifera and OF cyca-
daceous plants which have long
passed away in the world below,
we entered a region where the
stream widened out and formed a
considerable bog. High reeds OF
a peculiar type grew thickly be-
fore lis, which were pronounced to
be equisetacea, or mare's-tails,
with tree-ferns scattered amongst
them, ali of them swaying in a brisk
wind. Suddenly Lord John who was
walking first, halted with unified
hand.
Look at thisv' said he. by
George, this must be the trail OF
the father Of all birdsp'
An enormous three -toed track was
imprinted in the soft mud before
us. The creature, whatever it was,
had crossed the swamp and had
passed on into the forest. We all
stopped to examine that monstrous
spoor. If it were indeed bird
and what animal could leave such
a mark--its foot was so much
larger than an ostrich's that its
height upon the same scale must be
enormous. Lord John looked eager
ly round him and slipped two
cartridges into his elephant-gun.
"I'll stake my good name as a
shikarree,' said he. that the track
is fresh one. The creature has
not passed ten minutes. Look how
the water is still oozing into that
deeper print! BY Jove! See. here is
the mark of little onep'
Sure enough, smaller tracks of the
same general form were running
parallel to the large ones.
But what do you make of this?'
cried Professor Summerlee, tri-
umphantly, pointing to what looked
like the huge print Of five-fingered
human hand appearing among the
three-toed marks
"Wealden!' cried Challenger, in
an ecstasy. 1--WE seen them in the
Wealden clay. 1t is creature walk
ing erect upon three-toed feet, and
occasionally putting one of its five
fingered forepaws upon the ground.
Not bird, my dear Roxton-not a
bird"
IA beas u"
mo; a reptile-a dinosaur Moth
ing else could have left such 8, track
They puzzled worthy Sussex doc