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！
upon something stonelike。 Digging about the obstacle； I presently
loosened it； and when I had withdrawn it from its sepulcher I found the
thing to be an ancient brick of clay； baked in an oven。
Delcarte we had left in charge of the boat； but Snider and Taylor were
with me； and following my example； each engaged in the fascinating sport
of prospecting for antiques。 Each of us uncovered a great number of
these bricks； until we commenced to weary of the monotony of it； when
Snider suddenly gave an exclamation of excitement； and； as I turned to
look； he held up a human skull for my inspection。
I took it from him and examined it。 Directly in the center of the
forehead was a small round hole。 The gentleman had evidently come to
his end defending his country from an invader。
Snider again held aloft another trophy of the searcha metal spike and
some tarnished and corroded metal ornaments。 They had lain close beside
the skull。
With the point of his cutlass Snider scraped the dirt and verdigris from
the face of the larger ornament。
〃An inscription；〃 he said； and handed the thing to me。
They were the spike and ornaments of an ancient German helmet。
Before long we had uncovered many other indications that a great battle
had been fought upon the ground where we stood。 But I was then； and
still am； at loss to account for the presence of German soldiers upon the
English coast so far from London； which history suggests would have
been the natural goal of an invader。
I can only account for it by assuming that either England was
temporarily conquered by the Teutons； or that an invasion of so vast
proportions was undertaken that German troops were hurled upon the
England coast in huge numbers and that landings were necessarily effected
at many places simultaneously。 Subsequent discoveries tend to
22
… Page 23…
THE LOST CONTINENT
strengthen this view。
We dug about for a short time with our cutlasses until I became
convinced that a city had stood upon the spot at some time in the past； and
that beneath our feet； crumbled and dead； lay ancient Devonport。
I could not repress a sigh at the thought of the havoc war had wrought
in this part of England； at least。 Farther east； nearer London； we should
find things very different。 There would be the civilization that two
centuries must have wrought upon our English cousins as they had upon
us。 There would be mighty cities； cultivated fields； happy people。 There
we would be welcomed as long…lost brothers。 There would we find a
great nation anxious to learn of the world beyond their side of thirty； as I
had been anxious to learn of that which lay beyond our side of the dead
line。
I turned back toward the boat。
〃Come； men！〃 I said。 〃We will go up the river and fill our casks with
fresh water； search for food and fuel； and then tomorrow be in readiness to
push on toward the east。 I am going to London。〃
23
… Page 24…
THE LOST CONTINENT
3
The report of a gun blasted the silence of a dead Devonport with
startling abruptness。
It came from the direction of the launch； and in an instant we three
were running for the boat as fast as our legs would carry us。 As we came
in sight of it we saw Delcarte a hundred yards inland from the launch；
leaning over something which lay upon the ground。 As we called to him
he waved his cap； and stooping； lifted a small deer for our inspection。
I was about to congratulate him on his trophy when we were startled
by a horrid； half…human； half…bestial scream a little ahead and to the right
of us。 It seemed to come from a clump of rank and tangled bush not far
from where Delcarte stood。 It was a horrid； fearsome sound； the like of
which never had fallen upon my ears before。
We looked in the direction from which it came。 The smile had died
from Delcarte's lips。 Even at the distance we were from him I saw his
face go suddenly white； and he quickly threw his rifle to his shoulder。 At
the same moment the thing that had given tongue to the cry moved from
the concealing brushwood far enough for us； too； to see it。
Both Taylor and Snider gave little gasps of astonishment and dismay。
〃What is it； sir？〃 asked the latter。
The creature stood about the height of a tall man's waist； and was long
and gaunt and sinuous； with a tawny coat striped with black； and with
white throat and belly。 In conformation it was similar to a cata huge cat；
exaggerated colossal cat； with fiendish eyes and the most devilish cast of
countenance； as it wrinkled its bristling snout and bared its great yellow
fangs。
It was pacing； or rather； slinking； straight for Delcarte； who had now
leveled his rifle upon it。
〃What is it； sir？〃 mumbled Snider again； and then a half… forgotten
picture from an old natural history sprang to my mind； and I recognized in
the frightful beast the Felis tigris of ancient Asia； specimens of which had；
in former centuries； been exhibited in the Western Hemisphere。
Snider and Taylor were armed with rifles and revolvers； while I carried
24
… Page 25…
THE LOST CONTINENT
only a revolver。 Seizing Snider's rifle from his trembling hands； I called
to Taylor to follow me； and together we ran forward； shouting； to attract
the beast's attention from Delcarte until we should all be quite close
enough to attack with the greatest assurance of success。
I cried to Delcarte not to fire until we reached his side； for I was
fearful lest our small caliber； steel…jacketed bullets should； far from killing
the beast； tend merely to enrage it still further。 But he misunderstood me；
thinking that I had ordered him to fire。
With the report of his rifle the tiger stopped short in apparent surprise；
then turned and bit savagely at its shoulder for an instant； after which it
wheeled again toward Delcarte； issuing the most terrific roars and screams；
and launched itself； with incredible speed； toward the brave fellow； who
now stood his ground pumping bullets from his automatic rifle as rapidly
as the weapon would fire。
Taylor and I also opened up on the creature； and as it was broadside to
us it offered a splendid target； though for all the impression we appeared
to make upon the great cat we might as well have been launching soap
bubbles at it。
Straight as a torpedo it rushed for Delcarte； and； as Taylor and I
stumbled on through the tall grass toward our unfortunate comrade； we
saw the tiger rear upon him and crush him to the earth。
Not a backward step had the noble Delcarte taken。 Two hundred
years of peace had not sapped the red blood from his courageous line。
He went down beneath that avalanche of bestial savagery still working his
gun and with his face toward his antagonist。 Even in the instant that I
thought him dead I could not help but feel a thrill of pride that he was one
of my men； one of my class； a Pan…American gentleman of birth。 And
that he had demonstrated one of the principal contentions of the army…and…
navy adherentsthat military training was necessary for the salvation of
personal courage in the Pan…American race which for generations had had
to face no dangers more grave than those incident to ordinary life in a
highly civilized community； safeguarded by every means at the disposal of
a perfectly organized and all… powerful government utilizing the best that
advanced science could suggest。
25
… Page 26…
THE LOST CONTINENT
As we ran toward Delcarte； both Taylor and I were struck by the fact
that the beast upon him appeared not to be mauling hi