按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
As the monster neared the lake； the water at the edges quivered；
showing how its weight shook the banks at each stride； while
stumps and tree…trunks on which it stepped were pressed out of
sight in the ground。 A general exodus of the other inhabitants
from his line of march began； the moccasins slid into the water
with a low splash； while the boa…constrictors and the tree…snakes
moved off along the ground when they felt it tremble； and a
number of night birds retreated into the denser woods with loud
cries at being so rudely disturbed。 The huge beast did not stop
till he reached the bank； where lie switched his tail； raised his
proboscis； and sniffed the air uneasily； his height being fully
thirty feet and his length about fifty。 On seeing the raft and
its occupants； he looked at them stupidly and threw back his
head。
〃He seems to be turning up his nose at us；〃 said Bearwarden。
〃All the same； he will do well for breakfast。〃
As the creature moved； his chest struck a huge overhanging palm；
tearing it off as though it had been a reed。 Brushing it aside
with his trunk； he was about to continue his march； when two
rifle reports rang out together； rousing the echoes and a number
of birds that screeched loudly。
CHAPTER VI。
MASTODON AND WILL…O'…THE WISPS。
Bearwarden's bullet struck the mammoth in the shoulder； while
Ayrault's aim was farther back。 As the balls exploded； a
half…barrelful of flesh and hide was shot from each； leaving two
gaping holes。 Instantly he rushed among the trees； making his
course known for some time by his roars。 As he turned；
Bearwarden fired again； but the hall flew over him； blowing off
the top of a tree。
〃Now for the chase！〃 said Ayrault。 〃There would be no excuse for
losing him。〃
Quickly pushing their raft to shore and securing it to the bank；
the three jumped off。 Thanks to their rubber boots and galvanic
outfits which automatically kept them charged； they were as spry
as they would have been on earth。 The ground all about them； and
in a strip twelve feet wide where the mammoth had gone； was torn
up； and the vegetation trodden down。 Following this trail； they
struck back into the woods； where in places the gloom cast by the
thick foliage was so dense that there was a mere twilight；
startling as they went numbers of birds of grey and sombre
plumage； whose necks and heads； and the sounds they uttered； were
so reptilian that the three terrestrials believed they must also
possess poison fangs。
〃The most highly developed things we have seen here；〃 said
Bearwarden； 〃are the flowers and fireflies； most of the birds and
amphibians being simply loathsome。〃
As they proceeded they found tracks of blood； which were rapidly
attracting swarms of the reptile birds and snakes； which；
however； as a rule； fled at their approach。
〃I wonder what can have caused that mammoth to move so fast； and
to have seemed so ill at ease？〃 said the doctor。 〃His motive
certainly was not thirst； for he did not approach the water in a
direct line； neither did he drink on reaching it。 One would
think nothing short of an earthquake or a land…slide could
trouble him。〃
〃There can be no land…slide here；〃 said Ayrault； for the country
is too flat。〃
〃And after yesterday's eruptions；〃 added Bearwarden； 〃it would
seem as though the volcanoes could have scarcely enough steam
left to make trouble。〃
The blood…tracks； continuing to become fresher； showed them they
were nearing the game； when suddenly the trail took a sharp turn
to the right； even returning towards the lake。 A little farther
it took another sharp turn； then followed a series of doublings；
while still farther the ground was completely denuded of trees；
its torn…up and trampled condition and the enormous amount of
still warm blood showing how terrific a battle had just taken
place。
While they looked about they saw what appeared to be the trunk of
a tree about four feet in diameter and six feet long； with a
slight crook。 On coming closer； they recognized in it one of the
forefeet of the mammoth； cut as cleanly as though with a knife
from the leg just above the ankle； and still warm。 A little
farther they found the huge trunk cut to slivers； and； just
beyond； the body of the unfortunate beast with three of its feet
gone； and the thick hide cut and slashed like so much paper。 It
still breathed； and Ayrault； who had a tender heart； sent an
explosive ball into its skull； which ended its suffering。
The three hunters then surveyed the scene。 The largest and most
powerful beast they had believed could exist lay before them
dead； not from the bite of a snake or any other poison； but from
mechanical injuries of which those they had inflicted formed but
a very small part； and literally cut to pieces。
〃I am curious to see the animal；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃capable of
doing this； though nothing short of dynamite bombs would protect
us from him。〃
〃As he has not stopped to eat his victim；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃it
is fair to suppose he is not carnivorous； and so must have had
some other motive than hunger in making the attack； unless we can
suppose that our approach frightened him away； which； with such
power as he must possess； seems unlikely。 Let us see；〃 he
continued； 〃parts of two legs remain unaccounted for。 Perhaps；
on account of their shape； he has been able the more easily to
carry or roll them off； for we know that elephant foot makes a
capital dish。〃
〃From the way you talk；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃one would suppose you
attributed this to men。 The Goliath we picture to ourselves
would be a child compared to the man that could cut through these
legs； though the necessity of believing him to have merely great
size does not disprove his existence here。 I think it probable
we shall find this is the work of some animal with incisors of
such power as it is difficult for us to conceive of。〃
〃There is no indication here of teeth；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃each
foot being taken off with a clean cut。 Besides； we are coming to
believe that man existed on earth during the greater part； if not
the whole； of our Carboniferous period。〃
〃We must reserve our decision pending further evidence；〃 said
Cortlandt。
〃I vote we take the heart；〃 said Ayrault； 〃and cook it； since
otherwise the mammoth will be devoured before our eyes。〃
While Bearwarden and Ayrault delved for this； Cortlandt； with
some difficulty； parted the mammoth's lips and examined the
teeth。 〃From the conical projections on the molars；〃 said he；
〃this should be classed rather as a mastodon than as a mammoth。〃
When the huge heart was secured； Bearwarden arranged slices on
sharpened sticks； while Ayrault set about starting a fire。 He
had to use Cortlandt's gun to clear the dry wood of snakes；
which； attracted doubtless by the dead mastodon； came in such
numbers that they covered the ground； while huge pterodactyls；
more venomous…looking than the reptiles； hovered about the
opening above。
Arranging a double line of electric wires in a circle about the
mastodon and themselves； they sat down and did justice to the
meal； with appetites that might have dismayed the waiting throng。
Whenever a snake's head came in contact with one wire； while his
tail touched the other； he gave a spasmodic leap and fell back
dead。 If he happened to fall across the wires； lie immediately
began to sizzle； a cloud of smoke arose； and lie was reduced to
ashes。
〃Any time that we are short of mastodon or other good game；〃 said
Ayrault； 〃we need not hunger if we are not above grilled snake。〃
All laughed at this； and Bearwarden； drawing a whiskey…flask from
his pocket； passed it to his friends。
〃When we rig our fishing…tackle；〃 he continued； 〃and have fresh
fish for dinner； an entree of rattlesnake； roast mastodon for the
piece de resistance； and begin the whole with turtle soup and
clams； of which there must be plenty on the ocean beach； we shall
want to stay here the rest of our lives。〃
〃I suspect we shall have to；〃 replied Ayrault 〃for we shall
become so like Thanksgiving turkeys that the Callisto's door will
be too small for us。〃
While they sat and talked； the flowers and plants about them
softly began their song； and； as a visual accompaniment； the
fire…flies they had not before noticed twinkled through the
forest。
〃My goodness！ 〃 exclaimed Cortlandt； 〃how time goes here！ We
started to get breakfast； and now it's growing dark。〃
Hastily cutting some thick but tender slices from the mastodon；
and impaling them with the remains of the heart on a sharpened
stake； they took up the wires； and the battery that had been
supplying the current； and retraced their steps by the way they
had come。 Their rubber…lined cowhide boots protected them from
all but the largest snakes； and as these were for the most part
already enjoying their gorge； they trampled with impunity on
those that remained in their path。 When they had covered about
half the distance to the raft； a huge boa…constrictor； which they
had mistaken for a branch； fell upon Cortlandt； pinioning