The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-05-02
CHAPTER IN.-Contlnucd

NhNi lEh tNs-Aonlllh'h
81 have already explained to our
young friend here said Challenger
tho has a way OF alluding 60 me as
II were a school child 10 years
old. that IL is quite impossible that
there should be an easy way up any
who're, for tho simple reason that n
there were summit would not ho iso-
lated. and those conditions would not
obtain which have effected so slngu'
lar an Interference with the general
laws Of survival. Yet admit that
there may very well be places where
an expert human climber may reach
the summit. and yet cumhrous and
heavy animal be unable to descend,
l, is certain that there Is point
where an ascent is possible"
How do YOU know that sirH'
asked Summorlec, sharply
Because my predecessor, the
American. Maple White, actually
made such an ascent How other
wise could he have seen tho monster
which he sketehed in his notebook
There you reason somewhat
ahead OF tho proved facts, said the
stubborn Summarize, 81 admit your
plateau. because | have seen il,
but have not as yet satisfied myself
that it contains any form OF lie
whatever"
What you admit, sir or what you
do not admit. is really OF inConceiy-
ably small Importance. am glad 10
perceive that the plateau itself has
actually obtruded itself upon your
Intelligence" He glanced up at IL
and then. TO our amaEcment. he
sprang from his rock. and. seizlng
Summcrlee by the neck. he Tilted his
face into the air, Now sir he
shouted. hoarse with excitement, ''Do
help YOU to realize that the plateau
contains some animal lifes"
have said that a thick fringe OF
green overhung the edge OF the cliff.
out OF this there had emerged a
black. Eiistening object. As IL came
slowly forth and oycrhung the chasm
NC saw that Il was very large
snake with peculiar fiat. spadc.likc
head. II wayercd and auiyered above
us for n minute. the morning sun
cleaning upon its sleek. sinuous
coils Then II slowly drew inwards
and disappeared.
Summarize had been so interested
that he had stood unreslstinE while
Challenger tilted his head in the air.
Now he shook his colleague OFF and
came back 10 his dignity.
Il should be glad. Professor Chai-
lenger." said he, ~ you could see
your way to make any remarks
which may occur to you without
seizing me by the chin. Even the
appearance OF very ordinary rock
python does not appear TO justify
such a liberty"
But there IS life upon the plateau
all the same his colleague replied in
triumph. And now. having demon.
strated this important conclusion SO
that II is clear to anyone, however
prejudiced or obtuse. ! am Of opinion
that we cannot do better than hs<9;5='siiS
up our camp and travel - westward
until we find some means OF ascent.
The ground az 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. I,
was the site OF an old encampment.
with several empty Chicago mea,
tins. a bottle labeled brandy"
broken tin.opener. and quantity OF
other travellers debris. A crumpled.
dIstintegrated newspaper revealed H.
self as the Chicago Democrat, tho
the date had been obliterated.
Not mine" said Challenger. 1T
must be Maple Whites"
Lord John had been gazing curl
ously at n great tree-fern which
overshadowed the encampment. II
say. look at this" said he. II be.
lieve II is meant for sign-post."
a slip OF hard wood had been
nailed TO the tree in such way as
TO point to the westward.
Most certainly sign.post."
said Challenger. What else? Find
ing himself upon dangerous GRAND.
our pioneer has left this sign 80 that
any party which follows him may
know the way he has taken. Per-
haps we shall come upon some other
Indications as we proceed"
We did. indeed. but they were Of
a terrible and most unexpected ma
ture. Immediately beneath the cliff
there grew considerable patch Of
high bamboo. Ike that which we had
traverscd in our Journey. Many Of
these stems were 20 feet high. with