The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-05-13
CHAPTER NI-Contlnucd


That night tour third In Maple
fwh.to Land we had an experience
(which left a fearful impression up.
on our minds, and mado us thank.
tul that Lord John had worked SO
hard In making our retreat impreg.
rable We were all sleeping round
4sur dying fire when We were
aroused OF. rather, should SAY.
shot out OF our slumbers by a sue,
ccsslon OF tho most trighttul cries
and screams to which ! have ever
listened, know no sound TO
which could compare this amas
ing tumult, which seemed TO come
from some spot within few hun.
dred yards OF our camp II was as
carSplitting rs any whistle OF a
raiway,engine; but whereas the
whistle is clear mechanical. sharp.
edged sound. this was far deeper
In volume and vibrant with tho
uttermost strain Of agony and hor,
ror. We elapped our hands to our
cars 20 shut out that nerve,shalSing
appeal. 4 cold sweat broke out
over my body, and my heart turned
sick at the misery OF IT, All the
woes OF tortured life. all It's stu-
pendous indictment OF high heaven,
it's innumerahlc sorrows, seemed 90
be conferred and condensed into that
one dreadful. agoplzed cry. And
then, under this hlgh,pltehcd. ring.
ing sound there was another, more
intermittent, a low. deep.chestcd
laugh, growing. throaty gurgle
OF merTimcnt which formed gro
JesQue accompaniment 20 the shrek
with which IL was blended For
three or four minutes on end the
fcarsome duet continued. while an
the foliage rustlcd with the rising
OF startled birds. Then IL shut Off
rs suddenly as Il began, For
long time VIC sat IN Mortified ST.
lence. Then Lord John threw
bundle OF wigs upon the firc and
their red glare liz up the intent
faces OF my companions and flick
cred over the great boughs above
eur heads,
What was IT, ! whispered.
I'VE have been privileged 10 said
lord John. IT was close TO u.s.
not farther than The glade"
we have been privileged to over
hear q prehistoric tragedy. The sort
OF drama which occurred among
The reeds upon the border OF some
Jurassic lagoon. when tho greater
dragon pinned the lesser among the
slime" said Challenger. with more
solcmnity than had over heard
10 his voice. III was surely well
Tor man that no came late In the
order OF creation. There were pow
crs abroad in earlier days which
no courage and no mechanism OF
his could have met. What could
his sling. his throw-s,ick. or his
arrow avail him against such forces
IS have been loose toniEht2 Even
With modern rifle II would be all
odds on the monster"
II think I should hack my little
friend, said lord John. caresslug
his Express. But the beast would
certainly have ! good sporting
chance"
Summarize raised bis hand
''HushT' nc cried. surely / hear
something?"
From the utter silence there
emerged deep. regular pat.pat.
IT was the tread Of some animal
the rhythm OF soft but heavy pads
placed cautiously upon tho ground.
II stole slowly round the camp and
then halted near our gateway.
There was a loY. sibilant rise and
fall-thc Breathing Of the creature
Only our feeble hedge separated us
from this horror Of the Night. Each
OF Us had seized his rife. and Lord
John bad pulled out a small bush
70 make an eulbgasuEe In the hedge
BY Georses no whispered. Il
think l can see itr'
stopped and peercd over his
shoulder thru the gap. Yes. /
could see IL. too. In the deep sha-
dow OF the tree there was a deeper
shadow yet, black, inchoate. vague