The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-21

prepared to agree with our colleague
that a protracted stay in Maple
White Land is at present inadvisable
and that the question of our return
will soon have to be faced. 1 alb
solutely refuse to leave, however,
until we have made at least a SUI
perhcial examination of this country
and are able to take back with us
something in the nature of chart"
Professor Summerlee gave a snort
OF impotence.
I'VE have spent two long days in
exploration" said he, land we are
no wiser as to the actual geography
Of the place than when we started.
1t Is clear that 1t Is all thiclSly
wooded and it would take months to
penetrate 1t and to learn the rela-
tons of one part to another. If
there were some central peak it
would be different, but 1t all slopes
downward, so far as we can see.
The farther we go the less likely 1t
is that we will get any general
view"
1t was at that moment that
had my inspiration. My eyes
CHANGED to light upon the enormous
gnarled trunk Of the gingko tree
which cast it's huge branches over
us. Surely If its bole exceeded that
of all others, its height must do
the same If the rim of the plateau
was indeed the highest point, then
why should this mighty tree not
prove to be a watchtower which
commanded the whole country?
Now, ever since I ran wild as lad
in Ireland I have been a bold and
skilled tree-climber. My comrades
might be masters on the rocks, bat
knew that I would be supreme
among its branches. Could I only
get my legs on to the lowest OF
the giant off-shoots, then 1t would
be strange indeed If could not
make my way to the top. MY com.
rades were delighted at my idea.
by George, young fellah, you've
put your hand on itr' said Lord
John, clapping me on the back.
How we never came to think OF 1t
before I can't imagine! There's not
more than an hour of daylight left.
but IL you take your notebook you
may be able to get some rough
sketch of the place. il we put these
three ammunition cases under the
branch, I will soon hoist you on
to it."
He stood on the boxes while
faced the trunk, and was gently rails
ing me when Challenger sprang for
ward and gave me such a thrust
with is huge hand that he fairly shot
me into the tree With both arms
clasping the branch, scrambled
hard with my feet until I had
worked. first my body, and then my
knees, on to it. There were three
excellent offishoots, Ike the huge
runks of a ladder, above my head,
and a tangle of convenient branches
beyond, so that I clambered upward
with such speed that soon lost
sight of the ground and had nothing
but foliage beneath me.
There was some thick, bush-lil1e
clump which seemed to be para
site upon a branch up which 1 was
swarming. / leaned my head round
II in order to see what was beyond,
my surprise and horror at what !
saw.
A face was gazing into mine-at
the distance of only a foot or two.
The creature that owned 1t had
been crouching behind the parasite,
and had looked round at the same
instant that did. 1t was human
face-or at least 1t was for more
human than any monkeys that I
have ever seen. It was long,
whitish, and blotched with pimples,
the nose flattsned. and the lower
jaw projecting, with a bristle of
coarse whiskers round the chin.
The eyes. which were under thick
and heavy brows, were bestial and
ferocious, and as 1t opened its
mouth to snarl what sounded like
q curse at me observed that 1t
had curved, sharp canine teeth. For
an instant I read hatred and
meance in the evil eyes. Then
quick as a flash. came an expression
crash Of broken boughs as 1t
dived wildly down into the tangle
Of green. I caught glimpse of
hairy body like that OF a reddish
pig, and then 1t was gone amid a
swirl Of leaves and branches.
What's the matter?' shouted
Roxton from below. Anything
wrong with your"
Ibid you see it?" 1 cried, with
my arms round the branch and all
my nerves tingling.
Eve heard a row, as IL your foot
had slipped. What was it?"
I was so shocked at the sudden
and strange appearance Of this ape
man that / hesitated whether 1
should not climb down again and
tell my experience to my COM
panions. But l was already 80 far
up the great tree that 1t seemed
humiliation to return without
having carried out my mission.
After long pause, therefore, to
recover my breath and my cour-
age, continued my ascent. Once
put my weight upon a rotten
branch and swung for few seconds
by my hands, but in the main
it was all easy climbing. Gradually
the leaves thinned around me
and was aware. from the wind
upon my face, that had topped all
the trees of the forest. I was de-
termii,ed. however, not to look