The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-26

OobSh AhtO hiy COHA uScu DrdlIl, Il
looked up in terror. expecting to see
that dreadful head silhouetted
against the paling sky. There was
no sign Of the monster, however
nor could | hear any sound from
above l began to walk slowly
round. therefore. feeling in every
direction to find out what this
strange place could be into which
had been so OPPORTUNITY precipitaied.
1t was, as / have said, a pit, with
sharply-sloping walls and a level
bottom about twenty feet across.
This bottom was Uttered with great
.gobbets OF flesh. most of which
was in the last state OF putridity.
The atmosphere was poisonous
and horrible. After tripping and
stumbling over these Jumps Of
decay, l came suddenly against
something hard. and / found that
an upright post was firmly fixed
in the center of the hollow. 1t was
so high that could not reach the
top of 1t with my hand. and it APP
peared to be covered with grease.
Suddenly / remembered that
had tin box of wax-vestas in my
packet. Striking one of them,
was able at last to form some
opinion of his place into which
had fallen. There could be no ques-
tionas to it's nature. 1t was a trap
made by the hand OF man. The
post in the center, some nine feet
long, was sharpened at the upper
end, and was black with the stale
blood of the creatures who had been
impaled upon it. The remains
scattered about were fragments OF
the victims. which had been cut
away in order to clear the stake
for the next two who might blunder
in. l remembered that Challenger
had declared that man could not
exist upon the plateau, since with
his feeble weapons he could not
hold his own against the monsters
who roamed over it. But now it
was clear enough how it could be
done. In their narrow-mouthed
caves the natives, whoever they
might be, had refugees into which
the huge saurians could not
penetrate. while with their developed
brains they were capable Of setting
such traps, covered with branches,
across the paths which marked the
run of the animals as would destroy
them in spite of all their strength
and activity Man was always the
master.
The sloping wall of the pit was
not difficult for an active man to
climb, but L hesitated long before
| trusted myself within reach of
the dreadful creature which had so
nearly destroyed me.
took heart, however, as I re-
called a conversation between Chal-
lenger and Summerlee upon the
habits of the great saurians. Both
were agreed that the monsters were
practically brainless.
To lie in wait for me now would
mean that the creature had appre-
ciated what had happened to me,
and this in turn would argue some
power connecting cause and effect.
Sure it was more. likely that brain
less creature. acting solely by
vague predatory instinct, would give
up the chase when I disappear red.
and, after pause Of establishments.
would wander away in search of
some other prey? clambered to
NJ hA x1tt
The stars were fading. the sky was
whitening, and the cold wind of
morning blew pleasantly upon my
face. I could see or hear nothing
OF my enemy. Slowly / climbed out
and sat for while upon the ground.
ready to spring back into my refuge
If any danger should appear. Then.
treasured by the absolute stiffness
and by the brewing light. I took
my courage in both hands and stole
back along the path which had
come. Some distance down IL |
picked up my gun, and shortly aft
erwards struck the brook which was
my guide So, with many a
frightened backward glance. I made
for home.
And suddenly there came tome
thing to remind me Of my absent
companions. In the clear, still
morning air there sounded far away
the sharp, hard note Of a single
rifle-shot. I paused and listened,
but there was nothing more.
No doubt my absence had been
noticed. They had imagined that /
was lost in the woods, and had fired
this shot to guide me home. I was
weary and spent, so my progress
was not so fast as I wished; but at
last l came into regions which I
knew. l raised my voice in a CHEEKY
shout to allay their fears. No an
swering greeting came back to me
My heart sank at that ominous still.
ress. / quickened my pace into a
run. The zareba rose before me.
even as had left it, but the gate
was open. / rushed in. In the
cold, morning light it was a fearful
sight which met my eyes. Our ef-
rects were scattered in Wild confu.
sion over the ground; my comrades
mad disappeared. and close to the
smoldering ashes of our fire the
grass was stained crimson with
hideous pool of blood.
Go Be Continued
Copyright. 1912, by A. Conan Dovla