a journey in other worlds-第21章

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poured　showers　of　small　shot　against　the　huge　beast's　face。　
Finally；　one　of　Ayrault's　balls　exploded　in　the　brain；　and　all
was　over。
　　　
〃We　have　killed　it　at　last；〃　said　Bearwarden　〃but　the　first
attack；　though　artistic；　had　not　the　brilliant　results　we
expected。　　These　creatures'　mode　of　fighting　is　doubtless
somewhat　similar　to　that　of　the　kangaroo；　which　it　is　said　puts
its　forepaws　gently；　almost　lovingly；　on　a　man's　shoulders；　and
then　disembowels　him　by　the　rapid　movement　of　a　hind　leg。　　But　we
shall　get　used　to　their　method；　and　can　do　better　next　time。〃
　　　
They　then　reloaded　their　weapons　and；　while　Cortlandt　examined
their　victim　from　a　naturalist's　point　of　view；　Bearwarden　and
Ayrault　secured　the　heart；　which　they　thought　would　be　the　most
edible　part；　the　operation　being　rendered　possible　by　the　amount
of　armour　the　explosive　balls　had　stripped　off。
　　　
〃To…morrow；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃we　must　make　it　a　point　to　get
some　well…fed　birds；　for　I　can　roast；　broil；　or　fricassee　them　to
a　turn。　　Life　is　too　short　to　live　on　this　meat　in　such　a
sportsman's　paradise。　　In　any　case　there　can　be　no　end　of
mastodons；　mammoths；　woolly　rhinoceroses；　moa　birds；　and　all　such
shooting。〃
　　　
As　the　sun　was　already　near　the　horizon；　they　chose　a　dry；　sandy
place；　to　secure　as　much　immunity　as　possible　from　nocturnal
visits；　and；　after　procuring　a　supply　of　water　from　a　pool；
proceeded　to　arrange　their　camp　for　the　night。　　They　first　laid
out　the　protection…　wires；　setting　them　while　the　sun　still
shone。　　Next　they　built　a　fire　and　prepared　their　evening　meal。　
While　they　ate　it；　twilight　became　night；　and　the　fire…flies；
twinkling　in　legions　in　the　neighbouring　valley；　seemed　like　the
lamps　of　a　great　city。
　　　
〃Their　lights；〃　said　Bearwarden；　pointing　to　them；　〃are　not　as
fine　as　the　jelly…fish　Will…o'…the　wisps　were　last　night；　but
they　are　not　so　dangerous。　　No　gymnotus　or　electric　eel　that　I
have　ever　seen　compared　with　them；　and　I　am　convinced　that　any
one　of　us　they　might　have　touched　would　have　been　in　kingdom
come。〃
　　　
The　balmy　air　soothed　the　travellers'　brows　as　they　reclined
against　mounds　of　sand；　while　the　flowers　in　the　valley　sent　up
their　dying　notes。　　One　by　one　the　moons　arose；　till　fouramong
them　the　Lilliputian；　discovered　by　Prof。　Barnard　in　1893were
in　the　sky；　flooding　the　landscape　with　their　silvery　light；　and
something　in　the　surroundings　touched　a　sympathetic　cord　in　the
men。
　　　
〃Oh　that　I　were　young　again；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃and　had　life
before　me！　　I　should　like　to　remain　here　and　grow　up　with　this
planet；　in　which　we　already　perceive　the　next　New　World。　　The
beauties　of　earth　are　barren　compared　with　the　scenes　we　have
here。〃
　　　
〃You　remember；〃　replied　Bearwarden；　〃how　Cicero　defends　old　age
in　his　De　Senectute；　and　shows　that　while　it　has　almost
everything　that　youth　has；　it　has　also　a　sense　of　calm　and　many
things　besides。〃
　　　
〃Yes；〃　answered　Cortlandt；　〃but；　while　plausible；　it　does　not
convince。　　The　pleasures　of　age　are　largely　negative；　the　old
being　happy　when　free　from　pain。〃
　　　
〃Since　the　highest　joy　of　life；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃is　coming　to　know
our　Creator；　I　should　say　the　old；　being　further　advanced；　would
be　the　happier　of　the　two。　　I　should　never　regard　this　material
life　as　greatly　to　be　prized　for　itself。　　You　remember　the　old　
song：
　　　　　　　　　　　〃'O　Youth！　　When　we　come　to　consider
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　pain；　the　toil；　and　the　strife；
　　　　　　　　　　　The　happiest　man　of　all　is
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　one　who　has　finished　his　life。'

　　　
〃I　suspect；〃　continued　Ayrault；　〃that　the　man　who　reaches　even
the　lowest　plane　in　paradise　will　find　far　more　beautiful　visions
than　any　we　have　here。〃
　　　
As　they　had　but　little　rest　the　night　before；　they　were　all
tired。　　The　warm　breeze　swayed　the　long　dry　grass；　causing　it　to
give　out　a　soft　rustle；　all　birds　except　the　flitting　bats　were
asleep　among　the　tall　ferns　or　on　the　great　trees　that　spread
their　branches　towards　heaven。　　There　was　nothing　to　recall　a
picture　of　the　huge　monsters　they　had　seen　that　day；　or　of　the
still　more　to　be　dreaded　terror　these　had　borne　witness　to。　　Thus
night　closes　the　activities　of　the　day；　and　in　its　serene
grandeur　the　soul　has　time　to　think。　　While　they　thought；
however；　drowsiness　overcame　them；　and　in　a　little　while　all　were
asleep。
　　　
The　double　line　of　protection…wires　encircled　them　like　a　silent
guard；　while　the　methodical　ticking　of　the　alarm…clock　that　was
to　wake　them　at　the　approach　of　danger；　and　register　the　hour　of
interruption；　formed　a　curious　contrast　to　the　irregular　cries　of
the　night…hawks　in　the　distance。　　Time　and　again　some　huge
iguanodon　or　a　hipsohopus　would　pass；　shaking　the　ground　with　its
tread；　but　so　implicit　was　the　travellers'　trust　in　the　vigilance
of　their　mechanical　and　tireless　watch；　that　they　slept　on　as
calmly　and　unconcernedly　as　though　they　had　been　in　their　beds　at
home；　while　the　tick　was　as　constant　and　regular　as　a　sentry's
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　lo