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march。 The wires of course did not protect them from creatures
having wings； and they ran some risk of a visitation from the
blood…sucking bats。 The far…away volcanoes occasionally sent up
sheets of flame； which in the distance were like summer
lightning； the torrents of lava and crashes that had sounded so
thunderous when near； were now like the murmur of the ocean's ebb
tide； lulling the terrestrials to deeper sleep。 The pale moons
were at intervals momentarily obscured by the rushing clouds in
the upper air； only to reappear soon afterwards as serene as
before。 All Nature seemed at rest。
Shortly before dawn there was an unusually heavy step。 A moment
later the ever…vigilant batteries poured forth their current； and
the clang of the alarm…bell made the still night ring。 In an
instant the three men were awake； each resting on one knee； with
their backs towards the centre and their polished barrels raised。
It was not long before they perceived the intruder by the
moonlight。 A huge monster of the Triceratops prorsus species had
entered the camp。 It was shaped something like an elephant； but
had ten or twelve times the bulk； being over forty feet in
length； not including the long； thick tail。 The head carried two
huge horns on the forehead and one on the nose。
〃A plague on my shot…gun！〃 said Cortlandt。 〃Had I known how much
of this kind of game we should see； I too should have brought a
rifle。〃
The monster was entangled in the wires； and in another second
would have stepped on the batteries that were still causing the
bell to ring。
〃Aim for the heart；〃 said Bearwarden to Ayrault。 〃When you show
me his ribs； I will follow you in the hole。〃
Ayrault instantly fired for a point just back of the left
foreleg。 The explosion had the same effect as on the mastodon；
removing a half…barrel of hide； etc； and the next second
Bearwarden sent a bullet less than an inch from where Ayrault's
had stopped。 Before the colossus could turn； each had caused
several explosions in close proximity to the first。 The creature
was of course terribly wounded； and several ribs were cracked；
but no ball had gone through。 With a roar it made straight for
the woods； and with surprising agility； running fully as fast as
an elephant。 Bearwarden and Ayrault kept up a rapid fire at the
left hind leg； and soon completely disabled it。 The dinosaur；
however； supported itself with its huge tail； and continued to
make good time。 Knowing they could not give it a fatal wound at
the intervening distance； in the uncertain light； they stopped
firing and set out in pursuit。 Cortlandt paused to stop the bell
that still rang； and then put his best foot foremost in regaining
his friends。 For half a mile they hurried along； until； seeing
by the quantity of blood on the ground that they were in no
danger of losing the game； they determined to save their
strength。 The trail entered the woods by a narrow ravine； passed
through what proved to be but a belt of timber； and then turned
north to the right。 Presently in the semi…darkness they saw the
monster's head against the sky。 He was browsing among the trees；
tearing off the young branches； and the hunters succeeded in
getting within seventy…five yards before being discovered。 Just
as he began to run； the two rifles again fired； this time at the
right hind leg； which they succeeded in hamstringing。 After that
the Triceratops prorsus was at their mercy； and they quickly put
an end to its suffering。
〃The sun is about to rise；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃in a few minutes we
shall have enough light。〃
They cut out a dozen thick slices of tenderloin steak； and soon
were broiling and eating a substantial breakfast。
〃There are not as many spectators to watch us eat here；〃 said
Cortlandt； 〃as in the woods。 I suggest that； after returning to
camp for our blankets and things； we steer for the Callisto； via
this Triceratops； to see what creatures have been attracted by
the body。〃
On finishing their meal they returned to the place at which they
had passed the night。 Having straightened the protection…wires；
which had become twisted； and arranged their impedimenta； they
set out； and were soon once more beside their latest victim。
CHAPTER IX。
THE HONEY OF DEATH。
At first nothing seemed to have been disturbed； when they
suddenly perceived that both forelegs were missing。 On further
examination they found that the ponderous tail； seven feet in
diameter； was cut through in two places； the thicker portion
having disappeared； and that the heavy bones in this extremity of
the vertebral column had been severed like straws。 The cut
surfaces were but little cooler than the interior of the body；
showing how recently the mutilation had been effected。
〃By all the gods！〃 exclaimed Bearwarden； 〃it is easy to see the
method in this； the hunters have again cut off only those parts
that could be easily rolled。 These Jovian fellows must have
weapons compared with which the old scythe chariots would be but
toys； with which they amputate the legs of their victims。 We
must see to it that their scimitars do not come too near to us；
and I venture to hope that in our bullets they will find their
match。 What say you； doctor？〃
〃I see no depression such as such heavy bodies would necessarily
have made had they been rolled along the ground； neither does it
seem to me that these curious tracks in the sand are those of
men。〃
The loose earth looked as if the cross…ties of some railroad had
been removed； the space formerly occupied having been but partly
filled； and these depressions were across the probable direction
of motion。
〃Whatever was capable of chasing mastodons and carrying such
weights；〃 said Ayrault； 〃will； I suspect； have little to fear
from us。 Probably nothing short of light artillery would leave
much effect。〃
〃I dare say；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃we had better give the unknown
quantity a wide berth； though I would give a year's salary to see
what it is like。 The absence of other tracks shows that his
confreres leave 'Scissor… jaw' alone。〃
Keeping a sharp lookout in all directions； they resumed their
march along the third side of the square which was to bring them
back to the Callisto。 Their course was parallel to the stream；
and on comparatively high ground。 Cortlandt's gun did good
service； bringing down between fifty and sixty birds that usually
allowed them to get as near as they pleased； and often seemed
unwilling to leave their branches。 By the time they were ready
for luncheon they saw it would be dark in an hour。 As the
rapidity of the planet's rotation did not give them a chance to
become tired； they concluded not to pitch their camp； but to
resume the march by moonlight； which would be easy in the high；
open country they were traversing。
While in quest of fire…wood； they came upon great heaps of bones；
mostly those of birds； and were attracted by the tall；
bell…shaped flowers growing luxuriantly in their midst。 These
exhaled a most delicious perfume； and at the centre of each
flower was a viscous liquid； the colour of honey。
〃If this tastes as well as it looks；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃it will
come in well for dessert〃； saying which he thrust his finger into
the recesses of the flower； intending to taste the essence。
Quietly； but like a flash； the flower closed； his hand being
nearly caught and badly scratched by the long； sharp thorns that
now appeared at the edges。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed； 〃a sensitive and you may almost say a
man…eating plant。 This doubtless has been the fate of these
birds； whose bones now lie bleaching at its feet after they have
nourished its lips with their lives。 No doubt the plant has use
for them still； since their skeletons may serve to fertilize its
roots。〃
Wishing to investigate further； Bearwarden placed one of the
birds they had shot within the bell of another flower； which
immediately contracted with such force that they saw drops of
blood squeezed out。 After some minutes the flower opened； as
beautiful as ever； and discharged an oblong ball compressed to
about the size of a hen's egg； though the bird that was placed
within it had been as large as a small duck。 Towards evening
these flowers sent up their most beautiful song； to hear which
flocks of birds came from far and near； alighting on the trees；
and many were lured to death by the siren strains and the honey。
Before resuming their journey； the travellers paid a parting
visit to the bell…shaped lilies on their pyramids of bones。 The
flowers were closed for the night； and the travellers saw by the
moonlight that the white mounds were simply alive with
diamond…headed snakes。 These coiled themselves； flattened their
heads； and set up such a hissing on the explorers' approach that
they were glad to retire； and leave this curious contrast of
hideousness and beauty to the fire…flies and the moons。 Marching
along in Indian file； the better to avoid treading on the
writhing serpents that strewed the ground； they kept on for about
two hours。 They freque