ChapterI
ThisisthetaleofBradleyafterheleftFortDinosauruponthewestcoastofthegreatlakethatisinthecenteroftheisland。
UponthefourthdayofSeptember,1916,hesetoutwithfourcompanions,Sinclair,Brady,James,andTippet,tosearchalongthebaseofthebarriercliffsforapointatwhichtheymightbescaled。
ThroughtheheavyCaspakianair,beneaththeswollensun,thefivemenmarchednorthwestfromFortDinosaur,nowwaist-deepinlush,junglegrassesstarredwithmyriadgorgeousblooms,nowacrossopenmeadow-landandparklikeexpansesandagainplungingintodenseforestsofeucalyptusandacaciaandgiantarboreousfernswithfeatheredfrondswavinggentlyahundredfeetabovetheirheads。
Aboutthemupontheground,amongthetreesandintheairoverthemmovedandswungandsoaredthecountlessformsofCaspak’steeminglife。Alwaysweretheymenacedbysomefrightfulthingandseldomweretheirriflescool,yeteveninthebrieftimetheyhaddweltuponCapronatheyhadbecomecalloustodanger,sothattheyswungalonglaughingandchattinglikesoldiersonasummerhike。
\"ThisremindsmeofSouthClarkStreet,\"remarkedBrady,whohadonceservedonthetrafficsquadinChicago;andasnooneaskedhimwhy,hevolunteeredthatitwas\"becauseit’snoplaceforanIrishman。\"
\"SouthClarkStreetandheavenhavesomethingincommon,then,\"
suggestedSinclair。JamesandTippetlaughed,andthenahideousgrowlbrokefromadensethicketaheadanddivertedtheirattentiontoothermatters。
\"Oneofthembehemothsof’OlyWrit,\"mutteredTippetastheycametoahaltandwithgunsreadyawaitedthealmostinevitablecharge。
\"Hungryloto’beggars,these,\"saidBradley;\"alwaystryingtoeateverythingtheysee。\"
Foramomentnofurthersoundcamefromthethicket。\"Hemaybefeedingnow,\"suggestedBradley。\"We’lltrytogoaroundhim。
Can’twasteammunition。Won’tlastforever。Followme。\"Andhesetoffatrightanglestotheirformercourse,hopingtoavertacharge。Theyhadtakenadozensteps,perhaps,whenthethicketmovedtotheadvanceofthethingwithinit,theleafybranchesparted,andthehideousheadofagiganticbearemerged。
\"Pickyourtrees,\"whisperedBradley。\"Can’twasteammunition。\"
Themenlookedaboutthem。Thebeartookacoupleofstepsforward,stillgrowlingmenacingly。Hewasexposedtotheshouldersnow。Tippettookonelookatthemonsterandboltedforthenearesttree;andthenthebearcharged。HechargedstraightforTippet。Theothermenscatteredforthevarioustreestheyhadselected——allexceptBradley。HestoodwatchingTippetandthebear。Themanhadagoodstartandthetreewasnotfaraway;butthespeedoftheenormouscreaturebehindhimwassomethingtomarvelat,yetTippetwasinafairwaytomakehissanctuarywhenhisfootcaughtinatangleofrootsanddownhewent,hisrifleflyingfromhishandandfallingseveralyardsaway。InstantlyBradley’spiecewasathisshoulder,therewasasharpreportansweredbyaroarofmingledrageandpainfromthecarnivore。Tippetattemptedtoscrambletohisfeet。
\"Liestill!\"shoutedBradley。\"Can’twasteammunition。\"
Thebearhaltedinitstracks,wheeledtowardBradleyandthenbackagaintowardTippet。Againtheformer’sriflespitangrily,andthebearturnedagaininhisdirection。Bradleyshoutedloudly。\"Comeon,youbehemothofHolyWrit!\"hecried。\"Comeon,youduffer!Can’twasteammunition。\"Andashesawthebearapparentlyuponthevergeofdecidingtochargehim,heencouragedtheideabybackingrapidlyaway,knowingthatanangrybeastwillmoreoftenchargeonewhomovesthanonewholiesstill。
Andthebeardidcharge。LikeaboltoflightningheflasheddownupontheEnglishman。\"Nowrun!\"BradleycalledtoTippetandhimselfturnedinflighttowardanearbytree。Theothermen,nowsafelyensconceduponvariousbranches,watchedtheracewithbreathlessinterest。WouldBradleymakeit?Itseemedscarcepossible。Andifhedidn’t!Jamesgaspedatthethought。
Sixfeetattheshoulderstoodthefrightfulmountainofblood-madfleshandboneandsinewthatwasbearingdownwiththespeedofanexpresstrainupontheseeminglyslow-movingman。
Itallhappenedinafewseconds;buttheyweresecondsthatseemedlikehourstothemenwhowatched。TheysawTippetleaptohisfeetatBradley’sshoutedwarning。Theysawhimrun,stoopingtorecoverhisrifleashepassedthespotwhereithadfallen。TheysawhimglancebacktowardBradley,andthentheysawhimstopshortofthetreethatmighthavegivenhimsafetyandturnbackinthedirectionofthebear。Firingasheran,Tippetracedafterthegreatcavebear——themonstrousthingthatshouldhavebeenextinctagesbefore——ranforitandfiredevenasthebeastwasalmostuponBradley。Themeninthetreesscarcelybreathed。ItseemedtothemsuchafutilethingforTippettodo,andTippetofallmen!TheyhadneverlookeduponTippetasacoward——thereseemedtobenocowardsamongthatstrangelyassortedcompanythatFatehadgatheredtogetherfromthefourcornersoftheearth——butTippetwasconsideredacautiousman。Overcautious,somethoughthim。Howfutileheandhislittlepop-gunappearedashedashedafterthatlivingengineofdestruction!But,oh,howglorious!ItwassomesuchthoughtasthisthatranthroughBrady’smind,thougharticulateditmighthavebeenexpressedotherwise,albeitmoreforcefully。
JustthenitoccurredtoBradytofireandhe,too,openeduponthebear,butatthesameinstanttheanimalstumbledandfellforward,thoughstillgrowlingmostfearsomely。Tippetneverstoppedrunningorfiringuntilhestoodwithinafootofthebrute,whichlayalmosttouchingBradleyandwasalreadystrugglingtoregainitsfeet。Placingthemuzzleofhisgunagainstthebear’sear,Tippetpulledthetrigger。ThecreaturesanklimplytothegroundandBradleyscrambledtohisfeet。
\"Goodwork,Tippet,\"hesaid。\"Mightilyobligedtoyou——awfulwasteofammunition,really。\"
Andthentheyresumedthemarchandinfifteenminutestheencounterhadceasedeventobeatopicofconversation。
Fortwodaystheycontinuedupontheirperilousway。Alreadythecliffsloomedhighandforbiddingcloseaheadwithoutsignofbreaktoencouragehopethatsomewheretheymightbescaled。
Lateintheafternoonthepartycrossedasmallstreamofwarmwateruponthesluggishlymovingsurfaceofwhichfloatedcountlessmillionsoftinygreeneggssurroundedbyalightscumofthesamecolor,thoughofadarkershade。TheirpastexperienceofCaspakhadtaughtthemthattheymightexpecttocomeuponastagnantpoolofwarmwateriftheyfollowedthestreamtoitssource;buttheretheywerealmostcertaintofindsomeofCaspak’sgrotesque,manlikecreatures。AlreadysincetheyhaddisembarkedfromtheU-33afteritsperiloustripthroughthesubterraneanchannelbeneaththebarriercliffshadbroughtthemintotheinlandseaofCaspak,hadtheyencounteredwhathadappearedtobethreedistincttypesofthesecreatures。
Therehadbeenthepureapes——huge,gorillalikebeasts——andthosewhowalked,atriflemoreerectandhadfeatureswithjustashademoreofthehumancastaboutthem。ThenthereweremenlikeAhm,whomtheyhadcapturedandconfinedatthefort——Ahm,theclub-man。\"Well-knownclub-man,\"Tylerhadcalledhim。Ahmandhispeoplehadknowledgeofaspeech。Theyhadalanguage,inwhichtheywereunliketheracejustinferiortothem,andtheywalkedmuchmoreerectandwerelesshairy:butitwasprincipallythefactthattheypossessedaspokenlanguageandcarriedaweaponthatdifferentiatedthemfromtheothers。
Allofthesepeopleshadprovenbelligerentintheextreme。IncommonwiththerestofthefaunaofCapronathefirstlawofnatureastheyseemedtounderstanditwastokill——kill——kill。
AndsoitwasthatBradleyhadnodesiretofollowupthelittlestreamtowardthepoolnearwhichweresuretobethecavesofsomesavagetribe,butfortuneplayedhimanunkindtrick,forthepoolwasmuchcloserthanheimagined,itssouthernendreachingfullyamilesouthofthepointatwhichtheycrossedthestream,andsoitwasthatafterforcingtheirwaythroughatangleofjunglevegetationtheycameoutupontheedgeofthepoolwhichtheyhadwishedtoavoid。
Almostsimultaneouslythereappearedsouthofthemapartyofnakedmenarmedwithclubsandhatchets。Bothpartieshaltedastheycaughtsightofoneanother。Themenfromthefortsawbeforethemahuntingpartyevidentlyreturningtoitscavesorvillageladenwithmeat。TheywerelargemenwithfeaturescloselyresemblingthoseoftheAfricanNegrothoughtheirskinswerewhite。Shorthairgrewuponalargeportionoftheirlimbsandbodies,whichstillretainedaconsiderabletraceofapishprogenitors。Theywere,however,adistinctlyhighertypethantheBo-lu,orclub-men。
Bradleywouldhavebeengladtohaveavertedameeting;butashedesiredtoleadhispartysoutharoundtheendofthepool,andasitwashemmedinbythejungleononesideandthewaterontheother,thereseemednoescapefromanencounter。
Onthechancethathemightavoidaclash,Bradleysteppedforwardwithupraisedhand。\"Wearefriends,\"hecalledinthetongueofAhm,theBolu,whohadbeenheldaprisoneratthefort;\"permitustopassinpeace。Wewillnotharmyou。\"
Atthisthehatchet-mensetupagreatjabberingwithmuchlaughter,loudandboisterous。\"No,\"shoutedone,\"youwillnotharmus,forweshallkillyou。Come!Wekill!Wekill!\"
AndwithhideousshoutstheychargeddownupontheEuropeans。
\"Sinclair,youmayfire,\"saidBradleyquietly。\"Pickofftheleader。Can’twasteammunition。\"
TheEnglishmanraisedhispiecetohisshoulderandtookquickaimatthebreastoftheyellingsavageleapingtowardthem。
Directlybehindtheleadercameanotherhatchet-man,andwiththereportofSinclair’sriflebothwarriorslungedforwardinthetallgrass,piercedbythesamebullet。Theeffectupontherestofthebandwaselectrical。Asonemantheycametoasuddenhalt,wheeledtotheeastanddashedintothejungle,wherethemencouldhearthemforcingtheirwayinanefforttoputasmuchdistanceaspossiblebetweenthemselvesandtheauthorsofthisnewandfrightfulnoisethatkilledwarriorsatagreatdistance。
BoththesavagesweredeadwhenBradleyapproachedtoexaminethem,andastheEuropeansgatheredaround,othereyeswerebentuponthemwithgreatercuriositythantheydisplayedforthevictimofSinclair’sbullet。Whenthepartyagaintookupthemarcharoundthesouthernendofthepooltheowneroftheeyesfollowedthem——large,roundeyes,almostexpressionlessexceptforacertaincoldcrueltywhichglintedmalignlyfromundertheirpalegrayirises。
Allunconsciousofthestalker,themencame,lateintheafternoon,toaspotwhichseemedfavorableasacampsite。
Acoldspringbubbledfromthebaseofarockyformationwhichoverhungandpartiallyencircledasmallinclosure。AtBradley’scommand,thementookupthedutiesassignedthem——gatheringwood,buildingacook-fireandpreparingtheeveningmeal。
ItwaswhiletheywerethusengagedthatBrady’sattentionwasattractedbythedismalflappingofhugewings。Heglancedup,expectingtoseeoneofthegreatflyingreptilesofabygoneage,hisriflereadyinhishand。Bradywasabraveman。Hehadgropedhiswayupnarrowtenementstairsandtakenanarmedmaniacfromadarkroomwithoutturningahair;butnowashelookedup,hewentwhiteandstaggeredback。
\"Gawd!\"healmostscreamed。\"Whatisit?\"
AttractedbyBrady’scrytheothersseizedtheirriflesastheyfollowedhiswide-eyed,frozengaze,norwasthereoneofthemthatwasnotmovedbysomespeciesofterrororawe。ThenBradyspokeagaininanalmostinaudiblevoice。\"HolyMotherprotectus——it’sabanshee!\"
Bradley,alwayscoolalmosttoindifferenceinthefaceofdanger,feltastrange,creepingsensationrunoverhisflesh,asslowly,notahundredfeetabovethem,thethingflappeditselfacrossthesky,itshuge,roundeyesglaringdownuponthem。
Anduntilitdisappearedoverthetopsofthetreesofanear-bywoodthefivemenstoodasthoughparalyzed,theireyesneverleavingtheweirdshape;norneveroneofthemappearingtorecallthathegraspedaloadedrifleinhishands。
Withthepassingofthething,camethereaction。Tippetsanktothegroundandburiedhisfaceinhishands。\"Oh,Gord,\"hemoaned。
\"Tykemeawyfromthisorfulplice。\"Brady,recoveredfromthefirstshock,sworeloudandluridly。Hecalleduponallthesaintstowitnessthathewasunafraidandthatanybodywithhalfaneyecouldhaveseenthatthecreaturewasnothingmorethan\"oneavthimflyin’alligators\"thattheyallwerefamiliarwith。
\"Yes,\"saidSinclairwithfinesarcasm,\"we’vesawsomanyofthemwithwhiteshroudson’em。\"
\"Shutup,youfool!\"growledBrady。\"Ifyouknowsomuch,telluswhatitwasafterbein’then。\"
ThenheturnedtowardBradley。\"Whatwasit,sor,doyouthink?\"
heasked。
Bradleyshookhishead。\"Idon’tknow,\"hesaid。\"Itlookedlikeawingedhumanbeingclothedinaflowingwhiterobe。Itsfacewasmorehumanthanotherwise。Thatisthewayitlookedtome;
butwhatitreallywasIcan’tevenguess,forsuchacreatureisasfarbeyondmyexperienceorknowledgeasitisbeyondyours。
AllthatIamsureofisthatwhateverelseitmayhavebeen,itwasquitematerial——itwasnoghost;ratherjustanotherofthestrangeformsoflifewhichwehavemethereandwithwhichweshouldbeaccustomedbythistime。\"
Tippetlookedup。Hisfacewasstillashy。\"Yercawn’ttellme,\"hecried。\"Hiseenhit。Blime,Hiseenhit。Hitwashadeadmanflyin’throughthehair。Didn’tHisee’isheyes?
Oh,Gord!Didn’tHisee’em?\"
\"Itdidn’tlooklikeanybeastorreptiletome,\"spokeupSinclair。
\"Itwaslookin’rightdownatmewhenIlookedupandIsawitsfaceplainasIseeyours。Ithadbigroundeyesthatlookedallcoldanddead,anditscheeksweresunkenindeep,andIcouldseeitsyellowteethbehindthin,tight-drawnlips——likeamanwhohadbeendeadalongwhile,sir,\"headded,turningtowardBradley。
\"Yes!\"Jameshadnotspokensincetheapparitionhadpassedoverthem,andnowitwasscarcespeechwhichheuttered——ratheraseriesofarticulategasps。\"Yes——dead——a——long——while。It——meanssomething。
It——come——forsome——one。Forone——ofus。One——ofusisgoin’——
todie。I’mgoin’todie!\"heendedinawail。
\"Come!Come!\"snappedBradley。\"Won’tdo。Won’tdoatall。
Gettowork,allofyou。Wasteoftime。Can’twastetime。\"
Hisauthoritativetonesbroughtthemallupstanding,andpresentlyeachwasoccupiedwithhisownduties;buteachworkedinsilenceandtherewasnosingingandnobanteringsuchashadmarkedthemakingofpreviouscamps。Notuntiltheyhadeatenandtoeachhadbeenissuedthelittlerationofsmokingtobaccoallowedaftereacheveningmealdidanysignofarelaxationoftautnervesappear。ItwasBradywhoshowedthefirstsignsofreturninggoodspirits。Hecommencedhumming\"It’saLongWaytoTipperary\"andpresentlytovoicethewords,buthewaswellintohisthirdsongbeforeanyonejoinedhim,andeventhenthereseemedadismalnoteineventhegayestoftunes。
Ahugefireblazedintheopeningoftheirrockyshelterthattheprowlingcarnivoramightbekeptatbay;andalwaysonemanstoodonguard,watchfullyalertagainstasuddenrushbysomemaddenedbeastofthejungle。Beyondthefire,yellow-greenspotsofflameappeared,movedrestlesslyabout,disappearedandreappeared,accompaniedbyahideouschorusofscreamsandgrowlsandroarsasthehungrymeat-eatershuntingthroughthenightwereattractedbythelightorthescentofpossibleprey。
Buttosuchsightsandsoundsasthesethefivemenhadbecomecallous。Theysangortalkedasunconcernedlyastheymighthavedoneinthebar-roomofsomepublichouseathome。
Sinclairwasstandingguard。TheotherswerelisteningtoBrady’sdescriptionoftrafficcongestionattheRushStreetbridgeduringtherushhouratnight。Thefirecrackledcheerily。
Theownersoftheyellow-greeneyesraisedtheirfrightfulchorustotheheavens。Conditionsseemedagaintohavereturnedtonormal。
Andthen,asthoughthehandofDeathhadreachedoutandtouchedthemall,thefivementensedintosuddenrigidity。
Abovethenocturnaldiapasonoftheteemingjunglesoundedadismalflappingofwingsandoverhead,throughthethicknight,ashadowyformpassedacrossthediffusedlightoftheflaringcamp-fire。Sinclairraisedhisrifleandfired。Aneeriewailfloateddownfromaboveandtheapparition,whateveritmighthavebeen,wasswallowedbythedarkness。Forseveralsecondsthelisteningmenheardthesoundofthosedismallyflappingwingslesseninginthedistanceuntiltheycouldnolongerbeheard。
Bradleywasthefirsttospeak。\"Shouldn’thavefired,Sinclair,\"hesaid;\"can’twasteammunition。\"Buttherewasnonoteofcensureinhistone。Itwasasthoughheunderstoodthenervousreactionthathadcompelledtheother’sact。
\"Icouldn’thelpit,sir,\"saidSinclair。\"Lord,itwouldtakeanironmantokeepfromshootin’atthatawfulthing。Doyoubelieveinghosts,sir?\"
\"No,\"repliedBradley。\"Nosuchthings。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutthat,\"saidBrady。\"TherewasawomanmurderedoverontheprairienearBrighton——herthroatwascutfromeartoear,and——\"
\"Shutup,\"snappedBradley。
\"MygrandaddyusedtolivedownCoppingtonwy,\"saidTippet。
\"Theywereaholdruinedcastleona’illnearby,handatmidnighttheyusedtoseepalebluelightsthroughthewindowsan’ear——\"
\"Willyoucloseyourhatch!\"demandedBradley。\"Youfoolswillhaveyourselvesscaredtodeathinaminute。Nowgotosleep。\"
Buttherewaslittlesleepincampthatnightuntilutterexhaustionovertooktheharassedmentowardmorning;norwasthereanyreturnoftheweirdcreaturethathadsetthenervesofeachofthemonedge。
Thefollowingforenoonthepartyreachedthebaseofthebarriercliffsandfortwodaysmarchednorthwardinanefforttodiscoverabreakinthefrowningabutmentthatraiseditsrockyfacealmostperpendicularlyabovethem,yetnowherewastheretheslightestindicationthatthecliffswerescalable。
Disheartened,Bradleydeterminedtoturnbacktowardthefort,ashealreadyhadexceededthetimedecideduponbyBowenTylerandhimselffortheexpedition。Thecliffsformanymileshadbeentrendinginanortheasterlydirection,indicatingtoBradleythattheywereapproachingthenorthernextremityoftheisland。
AccordingtothebestofhiscalculationstheyhadmadesufficienteastingduringthepasttwodaystohavebroughtthemtoapointalmostdirectlynorthofFortDinosaurandasnothingcouldbegainedbyretracingtheirstepsalongthebaseofthecliffshedecidedtostrikeduesouththroughtheunexploredcountrybetweenthemandthefort。
Thatnight(September9,1916),theymadecampashortdistancefromthecliffsbesideoneofthenumerouscoolspringsthataretobefoundwithinCaspak,oftentimesclosebesidethestillmorenumerouswarmandhotspringswhichfeedthemanypools。
Aftersupperthemenlaysmokingandchattingamongthemselves。
Tippetwasonguard。Fewernightprowlersthreatenedthem,andthemenwerecommentinguponthefactthatthefarthernorththeyhadtraveledthesmallerthenumberofallspeciesofanimalsbecame,thoughitwasstillpresentinwhatwouldhaveseemedappallingplenitudeinanyotherpartoftheworld。ThediminutioninreptilianlifewasthemostnoticeablechangeinthefaunaofnorthernCaspak。Here,however,wereformstheyhadnotmetelsewhere,severalofwhichwereofgiganticproportions。
Accordingtotheircustomall,withtheexceptionofthemanonguard,soughtsleepearly,nor,oncedisposeduponthegroundforslumber,weretheylonginfindingit。ItseemedtoBradleythathehadscarcelyclosedhiseyeswhenhewasbroughttohisfeet,wideawake,byapiercingscreamwhichwaspunctuatedbythesharpreportofariflefromthedirectionofthefirewhereTippetstoodguard。Asherantowardtheman,Bradleyheardabovehimthesameuncannywailthathadseteverynerveonedgeseveralnightsbefore,andthedismalflappingofhugewings。
Hedidnotneedtolookupatthewhite-shroudedfigurewingingslowlyawayintothenighttoknowthattheirgrimvisitorhadreturned。
Themusclesofhisarm,reactingtothesightandsoundofthemenacingform,carriedhishandtothebuttofhispistol;butafterhehaddrawntheweapon,heimmediatelyreturnedittoitsholsterwithashrug。
\"Whatfor?\"hemuttered。\"Can’twasteammunition。\"ThenhewalkedquicklytowhereTippetlaysprawleduponhisface。
BythistimeJames,BradyandSinclairwereathisheels,eachwithhisrifleinreadiness。
\"Ishedead,sir?\"whisperedJamesasBradleykneeledbesidetheprostrateform。
BradleyturnedTippetoveronhisbackandpressedanearclosetotheother’sheart。Inamomentheraisedhishead。
\"Fainted,\"heannounced。\"Getwater。Hurry!\"ThenheloosenedTippet’sshirtatthethroatandwhenthewaterwasbrought,threwacupfulintheman’sface。SlowlyTippetregainedconsciousnessandsatup。Atfirsthelookedcuriouslyintothefacesofthemenabouthim;thenanexpressionofterroroverspreadhisfeatures。Heshotastartledglanceupintotheblackvoidaboveandthenburyinghisfaceinhisarmsbegantosoblikeachild。
\"What’swrong,man?\"demandedBradley。\"Buckup!Can’tplaycry-baby。Wasteofenergy。Whathappened?\"
\"Wot’appened,sir!\"wailedTippet。\"Oh,Gord,sir!Hitcameback。
Hitcameforme,sir。Righthitdid,sir;stritehatme,sir;
handwithlongw’ite’andsitclawedforme。Oh,Gord!Hitalmostcaughtme,sir。Hi’mhasgoodasdead;Hi’mamarkedman;that’swotHiham。Hitwasa-goin’fortocarrymehorf,sir。\"
\"Stuffandnonsense,\"snappedBradley。\"Didyougetagoodlookatit?\"
Tippetsaidthathedid——amuchbetterlookthanhewanted。
Thethinghadalmostclutchedhim,andhehadlookedstraightintoitseyes——\"deadheyesinadeadface,\"hehaddescribedthem。
\"Wotwasitafterbein’,doyouthink?\"inquiredBrady。
\"HitwasDeath,\"moanedTippet,shuddering,andagainapallofgloomfelluponthelittleparty。
ThefollowingdayTippetwalkedasoneinatrance。Heneverspokeexceptinreplytoadirectquestion,whichmoreoftenthannothadtoberepeatedbeforeitcouldattracthisattention。
Heinsistedthathewasalreadyadeadman,forifthethingdidn’tcomeforhimduringthedayhewouldneverlivethroughanothernightofagonizedapprehension,waitingforthefrightfulendthathewaspositivewasinstoreforhim。\"I’llseetothat,\"
hesaid,andtheyallknewthatTippetmeanttotakehisownlifebeforedarknesssetin。
Bradleytriedtoreasonwithhim,inhisshort,crispway,butsoonsawthefutilityofit;norcouldhetaketheman’sweaponsfromhimwithoutsubjectinghimtoalmostcertaindeathfromanyofthenumberlessdangersthatbesettheirway。
Theentirepartywasmoodyandglum。Therewasnoneofthebanteringthathadmarkedtheirintercoursebefore,eveninthefaceofblightinghardshipsandhideousdanger。Thiswasanewmenacethatthreatenedthem,somethingthattheycouldn’texplain;andso,naturally,itarousedwithinthemsuperstitiousfearwhichTippet’sattitudeonlytendedtoaugment。Toaddfurthertotheirgloom,theirwayledthroughadenseforest,where,onaccountoftheunderbrush,itwasdifficulttomakeevenamileanhour。Constantwatchfulnesswasrequiredtoavoidthemanysnakesofvariousdegreesofrepulsivenessandenormitythatinfestedthewood;andtheonlyrayofhopetheyhadtoclingtowasthattheforestwould,likethemajorityofCaspakianforests,provetobeofnoconsiderableextent。
BradleywasintheleadwhenhecamesuddenlyuponagrotesquecreatureofTitanicproportions。Crouchingamongthetrees,whichherecommencedtothinoutslightly,Bradleysawwhatappearedtobeanenormousdragondevouringthecarcassofamammoth。Fromfrightfuljawstothetipofitslongtailitwasfullyfortyfeetinlength。Itsbodywascoveredwithplatesofthickskinwhichboreastrikingresemblancetoarmor-plate。
ThecreaturesawBradleyalmostatthesameinstantthathesawitandreareduponitsenormoushindlegsuntilitsheadtoweredafulltwenty-fivefeetabovetheground。Fromthecavernousjawsissuedahissingsoundofavolumeequaltotheescapingsteamfromthesafety-valvesofhalfadozenlocomotives,andthenthecreaturecamefortheman。
\"Scatter!\"shoutedBradleytothosebehindhim;andallbutTippetheededthewarning。Themanstoodasthoughdazed,andwhenBradleysawtheother’sdanger,hetoostoppedandwheelingaboutsentabulletintothemassivebodyforcingitswaythroughthetreestowardhim。Theshotstruckthecreatureinthebellywheretherewasnoprotectingarmor,elicitinganewnotewhichroseinashrillwhistleandendedinawail。ItwasthenthatTippetappearedtocomeoutofhistrance,forwithacryofterrorheturnedandfledtotheleft。Bradley,seeingthathehadasgoodanopportunityastheotherstoescape,nowturnedhisattentiontoextricatinghimself;andasthewoodsseemeddenseontheright,heraninthatdirection,hopingthattheclose-setboleswouldpreventpursuitonthepartofthegreatreptile。
Thedragonpaidnofurtherattentiontohim,however,forTippet’ssuddenbreakforlibertyhadattracteditsattention;andafterTippetitwent,bowlingoversmalltrees,uprootingunderbrushandleavingawakebehinditlikethatofasmalltornado。
Bradley,themomenthehaddiscoveredthethingwaspursuingTippet,hadfollowedit。Hewasafraidtofireforfearofhittingtheman,andsoitwasthathecameuponthemattheverymomentthatthemonsterlungeditsgreatweightforwarduponthedoomedman。Thesharp,three-toedtalonsoftheforelimbsseizedpoorTippet,andBradleysawtheunfortunatefellowliftedhighabovethegroundasthecreatureagainreareduponitshindlegs,immediatelytransferringTippet’sbodytoitsgapingjaws,whichclosedwithasickening,crunchingsoundasTippet’sbonescrackedbeneaththegreatteeth。
Bradleyhalfraisedhisrifletofireagainandthenlowereditwithashakeofhishead。Tippetwasbeyondsuccor——whywasteabulletthatCaspakcouldneverreplace?Ifhecouldnowescapethefurthernoticeofthemonsteritwouldbeawiseractthantothrowhislifeawayinfutilerevenge。Hesawthatthereptilewasnotlookinginhisdirection,andsoheslippednoiselesslybehindtheboleofalargetreeandthencequietlyfadedawayinthedirectionhebelievedtheotherstohavetaken。Atwhatheconsideredasafedistancehehaltedandlookedback。Halfhiddenbytheinterveningtreeshestillcouldseethehugeheadandthemassivejawsfromwhichprotrudethelimplegsofthedeadman。
Then,asthoughstruckbythehammerofThor,thecreaturecollapsedandcrumpledtotheground。Bradley’ssinglebullet,penetratingthebodythroughthesoftskinofthebelly,hadslaintheTitan。
Afewminuteslater,Bradleyfoundtheothersoftheparty。
Thefourreturnedcautiouslytothespotwherethecreaturelayandafterconvincingthemselvesthatitwasquitedead,cameclosetoit。ItwasanarduousandgruesomejobextricatingTippet’smangledremainsfromthepowerfuljaws,themenworkingforthemostpartsilently。
\"Itwastheworkofthebansheeallright,\"mutteredBrady。
\"ItwarnedpoorTippet,itdid。\"
\"Hitkilledhim,that’swothitdid,handhit’llkillsomemoreofus,\"saidJames,hislowerliptrembling。
\"Ifitwasaghost,\"interjectedSinclair,\"andIdon’tsayasitwas;butifitwas,why,itcouldtakeonanyformitwantedto。
Itmighthaveturneditselfintothisthing,whichain’tnonaturalthingatall,justtogetpoorTippet。Ifithadofbeenalionorsomethingelsehumanlikeitwouldn’tlooksostrange;
butthisherethingain’thumanlike。Thereain’tnosuchthingan’neverwas。\"
\"Bulletsdon’tkillghosts,\"saidBradley,\"sothiscouldn’thavebeenaghost。Furthermore,therearenosuchthings。I’vebeentryingtoplacethiscreature。Justsucceeded。It’satyrannosaurus。
Sawpictureofskeletoninmagazine。There’soneinNewYorkNaturalHistoryMuseum。SeemstomeitsaiditwasfoundinplacecalledHellCreeksomewhereinwesternNorthAmerica。Supposedtohavelivedaboutsixmillionyearsago。\"
\"HellCreek’sinMontana,\"saidSinclair。\"IusedtopunchcowsinWyoming,an’I’veheardofHellCreek。Doyous’posethattherething’ssixmillionyearsold?\"Histonewasskeptical。
\"No,\"repliedBradley;\"ButitwouldindicatethattheislandofCapronahasstoodalmostwithoutchangeformorethansixmillionyears。\"
TheconversationandBradley’sassurancethatthecreaturewasnotofsupernaturaloriginhelpedtoraiseatriflethespiritsofthemen;andthencameanotherdiversionintheformofravenousmeat-eatersattractedtothespotbytheuncannysenseofsmellwhichhadapprisedthemofthepresenceofflesh,killedandreadyfortheeating。
ItwasaconstantbattlewhiletheydugagraveandconsignedallthatwasmortalofJohnTippettohislast,lonelyresting-place。
Norwouldtheyleavethen;butremainedtofashionarudehead-
stonefromacrumblingout-croppingofsandstoneandtogatheramassofthegorgeousflowersgrowinginsuchgreatprofusionaroundthemandheapthenew-madegravewithbrightblooms。
UpontheheadstoneSinclairscratchedinrudecharactersthewords:
HERELIESJOHNTIPPET
ENGLISHMAN
KILLEDBYTYRANNOSAURUS
10SEPT。A。D。1916
R。I。P。
andBradleyrepeatedashortprayerbeforetheylefttheircomradeforever。
Forthreedaysthepartymarchedduesouththroughforestsandmeadow-landandgreatpark-likeareaswherecountlessherbivorousanimalsgrazed——deerandantelopeandbosandthelittleecca,thesmallestspeciesofCaspakianhorse,aboutthesizeofarabbit。
Therewereotherhorsestoo;butallweresmall,thelargestbeingnotaboveeighthandsinheight。Preyingcontinuallyupontheherbivorawerethemeat-eaters,largeandsmall——wolves,hyaenadons,panthers,lions,tigers,andbearaswellasseverallargeandferociousspeciesofreptilianlife。
OnSeptembertwelfththepartyscaledalineofsandstonecliffswhichcrossedtheirroutetowardthesouth;buttheycrossedthemonlyafteranencounterwiththetribethatinhabitedthenumerouscaveswhichpittedthefaceoftheescarpment。Thatnighttheycampeduponarockyplateauwhichwassparselywoodedwithjarrah,andhereonceagaintheywerevisitedbytheweird,nocturnalapparitionthathadalreadyfilledthemwithanamelessterror。
AsonthenightofSeptemberninththefirstwarningcamefromthesentinelstandingguardoverhissleepingcompanions。
Aterror-strickencrypunctuatedbythecrackofariflebroughtBradley,SinclairandBradytotheirfeetintimetoseeJames,withclubbedrifle,battlingwithawhite-robedfigurethathoveredonwidespreadwingsonalevelwiththeEnglishman’shead。
Astheyran,shouting,forward,itwasobvioustothemthattheweirdandterribleapparitionwasattemptingtoseizeJames;butwhenitsawtheotherscomingtohisrescue,itdesisted,flappingrapidlyupwardandaway,itslong,raggedwingsgivingforththepeculiarlydismalnoteswhichalwayscharacterizedthesoundofitsflying。
Bradleyfiredatthevanishingmenaceroftheirpeaceandsafety;
butwhetherhescoredahitornot,nonecouldtell,though,followingtheshot,therewaswaftedbacktothemthesamepiercingwailthathadonotheroccasionsfrozentheirmarrow。
ThentheyturnedtowardJames,wholayfacedownwardupontheground,tremblingaswithague。Foratimehecouldnotevenspeak,butatlastregainedsufficientcomposuretotellthemhowthethingmusthaveswoopedsilentlyuponhimfromaboveandbehindasthefirstpremonitionofdangerhehadreceivedwaswhenthelong,clawlikefingershadclutchedhimbeneatheitherarm。Inthemeleehisriflehadbeendischargedandhehadbrokenawayatthesameinstantandturnedtodefendhimselfwiththebutt。Theresttheyhadseen。
FromthatinstantJameswasanabsolutelybrokenman。
Hemaintainedwithshakinglipsthathisdoomwassealed,thatthethinghadmarkedhimforitsown,andthathewasasgoodasdead,norcouldanyamountofargumentorrailleryconvincehimtothecontrary。HehadseenTippetmarkedandclaimedandnowhehadbeenmarked。Norwerehisconstantreiterationsofthisbeliefwithouteffectupontherestoftheparty。EvenBradleyfeltdepressed,thoughforthesakeoftheothershemanagedtohideitbeneathashowofconfidencehewasfarfromfeeling。
AndonthefollowingdayWilliamJameswaskilledbyasaber-toothtiger——September13,1916。BeneathajarrahtreeonthestonyplateauonthenorthernedgeoftheSto-lucountryinthelandthatTimeforgot,heliesinalonelygravemarkedbyaroughheadstone。
Southwardfromhisgravemarchedthreegrimandsilentmen。
TothebestofBradley’sreckoningtheyweresometwenty-fivemilesnorthofFortDinosaur,andthattheymightreachthefortonthefollowingday,theyploddedonuntildarknessovertookthem。
Withcomparativesafetyfifteenmilesaway,theymadecampatlast;
buttherewasnosingingnowandnojoking。Inthebottomofhishearteachprayedthattheymightcomesafelythroughjustthisnight,fortheyknewthatduringthemorrowtheywouldmakethefinalstretch,yetthenervesofeachweretautwithstrainedanticipationofwhatgruesomethingmightflapdownuponthemfromtheblacksky,markinganotherforitsown。Whowouldbethenext?
Aswastheircustom,theytookturnsatguard,eachmandoingtwohoursandthenarousingthenext。Bradyhadgoneonfromeighttoten,followedbySinclairfromtentotwelve,thenBradleyhadbeenawakened。Bradywouldstandthelastguardfromtwotofour,astheyhaddeterminedtostartthemomentthatitbecamelightenoughtoinsurecomparativesafetyuponthetrail。
ThesnappingofatwigarousedBradyoutofadeadsleep,andasheopenedhiseyes,hesawthatitwasbroaddaylightandthatattwentypacesfromhimstoodahugelion。Asthemansprangtohisfeet,hisriflereadyinhishand,Sinclairawokeandtookinthesceneinasingleswiftglance。ThefirewasoutandBradleywasnowhereinsight。Foralongmomentthelionandthemeneyedoneanother。Thelatterhadnomindtofireifthebeastmindeditsownaffairs——theywereonlytoogladtoletitgoitswayifitwould;butthelionwasofadifferentmind。
Suddenlythelongtailsnappedstifflyerect,andasthoughithadbeenattachedtotwotriggerfingersthetworiflesspokeinunison,forbothmenknewthissignalonlytoowell——theimmediateforerunnerofadeadlycharge。Asthebrute’sheadhadbeenraised,hisspinehadnotbeenvisible;andsotheydidwhattheyhadlearnedbylongexperiencewasbesttodo。Eachcoveredafrontleg,andasthetailsnappedaloft,fired。Withahideousroarthemightyflesh-eaterlurchedforwardtothegroundwithbothfrontlegsbroken。Itwasaneasyaccomplishmentintheinstantbeforethebeastcharged——after,itwouldhavebeenwell-nighanimpossiblefeat。Bradysteppedcloseinandfinishedhimwithashotinthebaseofthebrainlesthisterrificroaringsshouldattracthismateorothersoftheirkind。
Thenthetwomenturnedandlookedatoneanother。\"WhereisLieutenantBradley?\"askedSinclair。Theywalkedtothefire。
Onlyafewsmokingembersremained。AfewfeetawaylayBradley’srifle。Therewasnoevidenceofastruggle。ThetwomencircledaboutthecamptwiceandonthelastlapBradystoopedandpickedupanobjectwhichhadlainabouttenyardsbeyondthefire——itwasBradley’scap。Againthetwolookedquestioninglyatoneanother,andthen,simultaneously,bothpairsofeyesswungupwardandsearchedthesky。AmomentlaterBradywasexaminingthegroundaboutthespotwhereBradley’scaphadlain。Itwasoneofthoselittlebarren,sandystretchesthattheyhadfoundonlyuponthisstonyplateau。Brady’sownfootstepsshowedasplainlyasblackinkuponwhitepaper;buthiswastheonlyfootthathadmarredthesmooth,windsweptsurface——therewasnosignthatBradleyhadcrossedthespotuponthesurfaceoftheground,andyethiscaplaywelltowardthecenterofit。
Breakfastlessandwithshakennervesthetwosurvivorsplungedmadlyintothelongday’smarch。Bothwerestrong,courageous,resourcefulmen;buteachhadreachedthelimitofhumannerveenduranceandeachfeltthathewouldratherdiethanspendanothernightinthehideousopenofthatfrightfulland。
VividinthemindofeachwasapictureofBradley’send,forthoughneitherhadwitnessedthetragedy,bothcouldimaginealmostpreciselywhathadoccurred。Theydidnotdiscussit——theydidnotevenmentionit——yetalldaylongthethingwasuppermostinthemindofeachandmingledwithitasimilarpicturewithhimselfasvictimshouldtheyfailtomakeFortDinosaurbeforedark。
Andsotheyplungedforwardatrecklessspeed,theirclothes,theirhands,theirfacestornbytheretardingunderbrushthatreachedforthtohinderthem。Againandagaintheyfell;butbeittotheircreditthattheonealwayswaitedandhelpedtheotherandthatintothemindofneitherenteredthethoughtorthetemptationtodeserthiscompanion——theywouldreachtheforttogetherifbothsurvived,orneitherwouldreachit。
Theyencounteredtheusualnumberofsavagebeastsandreptiles;
buttheymetthemwithacourageousrecklessnessbornofdesperation,andbyvirtueoftheverymadnessofthechancestheytook,theycamethroughunscathedandwiththeminimumofdelay。
Shortlyafternoontheyreachedtheendoftheplateau。
Beforethemwasadropoftwohundredfeettothevalleybeneath。
Totheleft,inthedistance,theycouldseethewatersofthegreatinlandseathatcoversaconsiderableportionoftheareaofthecraterislandofCapronaandatalittlelesserdistancetothesouthofthecliffstheysawathinspiralofsmokearisingabovethetree-tops。
Thelandscapewasfamiliar——eachrecognizeditimmediatelyandknewthatthatsmokycolumnmarkedthespotwhereDinosaurhadstood。Wasthefortstillthere,ordidthesmokearisefromthesmolderingembersofthebuildingtheyhadhelpedtofashionforthehousingoftheirparty?Whocouldsay!
Thirtypreciousminutesthatseemedasmanyhourstotheimpatientmenwereconsumedinlocatingaprecariouswayfromthesummittothebaseofthecliffsthatboundedtheplateauuponthesouth,andthenonceagaintheystruckoffuponlevelgroundtowardtheirgoal。Theclosertheyapproachedthefortthegreaterbecametheirapprehensionthatallwouldnotbewell。
Theypicturedthebarracksdesertedorthesmallcompanymassacredandthebuildingsinashes。Itwasalmostinafrenzyoffearthattheybrokethroughthefinalfringeofjungleandstoodatlastuponthevergeoftheopenmeadowahalf-milefromFortDinosaur。
\"Lord!\"ejaculatedSinclair。\"Theyarestillthere!\"Andhefelltohisknees,sobbing。
Bradytrembledlikealeafashecrossedhimselfandgavesilentthanks,fortherebeforethemstoodthesturdyrampartsofDinosaurandfrominsidetheinclosureroseathinspiralofsmokethatmarkedthelocationofthecook-house。Allwaswell,then,andtheircomradeswerepreparingtheeveningmeal!
Acrosstheclearingtheyracedasthoughtheyhadnotalreadycoveredinasingledayatrackless,primevalcountrythatmighteasilyhaverequiredtwodaysbyfreshanduntiredmen。
WithinhailingdistancetheysetupsuchaloudshoutingthatpresentlyheadsappearedabovethetopoftheparapetandsoonansweringshoutswererisingfromwithinFortDinosaur。Amomentlaterthreemenissuedfromtheinclosureandcameforwardtomeetthesurvivorsandlistentothehurriedstoryoftheeleveneventfuldayssincetheyhadsetoutupontheirexpeditiontothebarriercliffs。TheyheardofthedeathsofTippetandJamesandofthedisappearanceofLieutenantBradley,andanewterrorsettleduponDinosaur。
Olson,theIrishengineer,withWhitelyandWilsonconstitutedtheremnantsofDinosaur’sdefenders,andtoBradyandSinclairtheynarratedthesalienteventsthathadtranspiredsinceBradleyandhispartyhadmarchedawayonSeptember4th。TheytoldthemoftheinfamousactofBaronFriedrichvonSchoenvortsandhisGermancrewwhohadstolentheU-33,breakingtheirparole,andsteamingawaytowardthesubterraneanopeningthroughthebarriercliffsthatcarriedthewatersoftheinlandseaintotheopenPacificbeyond;andofthecowardlyshellingofthefort。
TheytoldofthedisappearanceofMissLaRueinthenightofSeptember11th,andofthedepartureofBowenTylerinsearchofher,accompaniedonlybyhisAiredale,Nobs。ThusoftheoriginalpartyofelevenAlliesandnineGermansthathadconstitutedthecompanyoftheU-33whensheleftEnglishwatersafterhercapturebythecrewoftheEnglishtugtherewerebutfivenowtobeaccountedforatFortDinosaur。Benson,Tippet,James,andoneoftheGermanswereknowntobedead。ItwasassumedthatBradley,TylerandthegirlhadalreadysuccumbedtosomeofthesavagedenizensofCaspak,whilethefateoftheGermanswasequallyunknown,thoughitmightreadilybebelievedthattheyhadmadegoodtheirescape。TheyhadhadampletimetoprovisiontheshipandtherefiningofthecrudeoiltheyhaddiscoverednorthofthefortcouldhaveinsuredthemanamplesupplytocarrythembacktoGermany。
Chapter2
Whenbradleywentonguardatmidnight,September14th,histhoughtswerelargelyoccupiedwithrejoicingthatthenightwasalmostspentwithoutseriousmishapandthatthemorrowwoulddoubtlessseethemallsafelyreturnedtoFortDinosaur。
Thehopefulnessofhismoodwastingedwithsorrowbyrecollectionofthetwomembersofhispartywholaybackthereinthesavagewildernessandforwhomtherewouldneveragainbeahomecoming。
Nopremonitionofimpendingillcastgloomoverhisanticipationsforthecomingday,forBradleywasamanwho,whiletakingeveryprecautionagainstpossibledanger,permittednogloomyforebodingstoweighdownhisspirit。Whendangerthreatened,hewasprepared;buthewasnotforevercourtingdisaster,andsoitwasthatwhenaboutoneo’clockinthemorningofthefifteenth,heheardthedismalflappingofgiantwingsoverhead,hewasneithersurprisednorfrightenedbutidlypreparedforanattackhehadknownmightreasonablybeexpected。
Thesoundseemedtocomefromthesouth,andpresently,lowabovethetreesinthatdirection,themanmadeoutadim,shadowyformcirclingslowlyabout。Bradleywasabraveman,yetsokeenwasthefeelingofrevulsionengenderedbythesightandsoundofthatgrim,uncannyshapethathedistinctlyfeltthegoosefleshriseoverthesurfaceofhisbody,anditwaswithdifficultythatherefrainedfromfollowinganinstinctiveurgetofireuponthenocturnalintruder。Better,farbetterwouldithavebeenhadhegivenintotheinsistentdemandofhissubconsciousmentor;buthisalmostfanaticalobsessiontosaveammunitionprovednowhisundoing,forwhilehisattentionwasriveteduponthethingcirclingbeforehimandwhilehisearswerefilledwiththebeatingofitswings,thereswoopedsilentlyoutoftheblacknightbehindhimanotherweirdandghostlyshape。Withitshugewingspartlyclosedforthediveanditswhiterobeflutteringinitswake,theapparitionswoopeddownupontheEnglishman。
SogreatwastheforceoftheimpactwhenthethingstruckBradleybetweentheshouldersthatthemanwashalfstunned。
Hisrifleflewfromhisgrasp;hefeltclawliketalonsofgreatstrengthseizehimbeneathhisarmsandsweephimoffhisfeet;
andthenthethingroseswiftlywithhim,soswiftlythathiscapwasblownfromhisheadbytherushofairashewasbornerapidlyupwardintotheinkyskyandthecryofwarningtohiscompanionswasforcedbackintohislungs。
Thecreaturewheeledimmediatelytowardtheeastandwasatoncejoinedbyitsfellow,whocircledthemonceandthenfellinbehindthem。Bradleynowrealizedthestrategythatthepairhadusedtocapturehimandatonceconcludedthathewasinthepowerofreasoningbeingscloselyrelatedtothehumanraceifnotactuallyofit。
Pastexperiencesuggestedthatthegreatwingswereapartofsomeingeniousmechanicaldevice,forthelimitationsofthehumanmind,whichisalwaysloathtoacceptaughtbeyonditsownlittleexperience,wouldnotpermithimtoentertaintheideathatthecreaturesmightbenaturallywingedandatthesametimeofhumanorigin。FromhispositionBradleycouldnotseethewingsofhiscaptor,norinthedarknesshadhebeenabletoexaminethoseofthesecondcreaturecloselywhenitcircledbeforehim。Helistenedforthepuffofamotororsomeothertelltalesoundthatwouldprovethecorrectnessofhistheory。
However,hewasrewardedwithnothingmorethantheconstantflap-flap。
Presently,farbelowandahead,hesawthewatersoftheinlandsea,andamomentlaterhewasborneoverthem。ThenhiscaptordidthatwhichprovedbeyonddoubttoBradleythathewasinthehandsofhumanbeingswhohaddevisedanalmostperfectschemeofduplicating,mechanically,thewingsofabird——thethingspoketoitscompanionandinalanguagethatBradleypartiallyunderstood,sinceherecognizedwordsthathehadlearnedfromthesavageracesofCaspak。Fromthishejudgedthattheywerehuman,andbeinghuman,heknewthattheycouldhavenonaturalwings——forwhohadeverseenahumanbeingsoadorned!
Thereforetheirwingsmustbemechanical。ThusBradleyreasoned——
thusmostofusreason;notbywhatmightbepossible;butbywhathasfallenwithintherangeofourexperience。
Whatheheardthemsaywastotheeffectthathavingcoveredhalfthedistancetheburdenwouldnowbetransferredfromonetotheother。Bradleywonderedhowtheexchangewastobeaccomplished。Heknewthatthosegiantwingswouldnotpermitthecreaturestoapproachoneanothercloselyenoughtoeffectthetransferinthismanner;buthewassoontodiscoverthattheyhadothermeansofdoingit。
Hefeltthethingthatcarriedhimrisetoagreateraltitude,andbelowheglimpsedmomentarilythesecondwhite-robedfigure;
thenthecreatureabovesoundedalowcall,itwasansweredfrombelow,andinstantlyBradleyfelttheclutchingtalonsreleasehim;gaspingforbreath,hehurtleddownwardthroughspace。
Foraterrifyinginstant,pregnantwithhorror,Bradleyfell;
thensomethingswoopedforhimfrombehind,anotherpairoftalonsclutchedhimbeneaththearms,hisdownwardrushwaschecked,withinanotherhundredfeet,andclosetothesurfaceoftheseahewasagainborneupward。Asahawkdivesforasongbirdonthewing,sothisgreat,humanbirddivedforBradley。
Itwasaharrowingexperience,butsoonover,andonceagainthecaptivewasbeingcarriedswiftlytowardtheeastandwhatfatehecouldnotevenguess。
Itwasimmediatelyfollowinghistransferinmid-airthatBradleymadeouttheshadowyformofalargeislandfarahead,andnotlongafter,herealizedthatthismustbetheintendeddestinationofhiscaptors。Norwashemistaken。Threequartersofanhourfromthetimeofhisseizurehiscaptorsdroppedgentlytoearthinthestrangestcitythathumaneyehadeverrestedupon。JustabriefglimpseofhisimmediatesurroundingsvouchsafedBradleybeforehewaswhiskedintotheinteriorofoneofthebuildings;butinthatmomentaryglancehesawstrangepilesofstoneandwoodandmudfashionedintobuildingsofallconceivablesizesandshapes,sometimespiledhighontopofoneanother,sometimesstandingaloneinanopencourt-way,butusuallycrowdedandjammedtogether,sothattherewerenostreetsoralleysbetweenthemotherthanafewwhichendedalmostassoonastheybegan。Theprincipaldoorwaysappearedtobeintheroofs,anditwasthroughoneofthesethatBradleywasinductedintothedarkinteriorofalow-ceiledroom。Herehewaspushedroughlyintoacornerwherehetrippedoverathickmat,andtherehiscaptorslefthim。Heheardthemmovingaboutinthedarknessforamoment,andseveraltimeshesawtheirlargeluminouseyesglowinginthedark。Finally,thesedisappearedandsilencereigned,brokenonlybythebreathingofthecreaturewhichindicatedtotheEnglishmanthattheyweresleepingsomewhereinthesameapartment。
Itwasnowevidentthatthematuponthefloorwasintendedforsleepingpurposesandthattheroughshovethathadsenthimtoithadbeenarudeinvitationtorepose。Aftertakingstockofhimselfandfindingthathestillhadhispistolandammunition,somematches,alittletobacco,acanteenfullofwaterandarazor,Bradleymadehimselfcomfortableuponthematandwassoonasleep,knowingthatanattemptedescapeinthedarknesswithoutknowledgeofhissurroundingswouldbepredoomedtofailure。
Whenheawoke,itwasbroaddaylight,andthesightthatmethiseyesmadehimrubthemagainandagaintoassurehimselfthattheywerereallyopenandthathewasnotdreaming。Abroadshaftofmorninglightpouredthroughtheopendoorwayintheceilingoftheroomwhichwasaboutthirtyfeetsquare,orroughlysquare,beingirregularinshape,onesidecurvingoutward,anotherbeingindentedbywhatmighthavebeenthecornerofanotherbuildingjuttingintoit,anotheralcovedbythreesidesofanoctagon,whilethefourthwasserpentineincontour。Twowindowsletinmoredaylight,whiletwodoorsevidentlygaveingresstootherrooms。Thewallswerepartiallyceiledwiththinstripsofwood,nicelyfittedandfinished,partiallyplasteredandtherestcoveredwithafine,wovencloth。
Figuresofreptilesandbeastswerepaintedwithoutregardtoanyuniformschemehereandthereuponthewalls。Astrikingfeatureofthedecorationsconsistedofseveralengagedcolumnssetintothewallsatnoregularintervals,thecapitalsofeachsupportingahumanskullthecraniumofwhichtouchedtheceiling,asthoughthelatterwassupportedbythesegrimreminderseitherofdepartedrelativesorofsomehideoustribalrite——Bradleycouldnotbutwonderwhich。
Yetitwasnoneofthesethingsthatfilledhimwithgreatestwonder——no,itwasthefiguresofthetwocreaturesthathadcapturedhimandbroughthimhither。Atoneendoftheroomastoutpoleabouttwoinchesindiameterranhorizontallyfromwalltowallsomesixorsevenfeetfromthefloor,itsendssecurelysetintwoofthecolumns。Hangingbytheirkneesfromthisperch,theirheadsdownwardandtheirbodieswrappedintheirhugewings,sleptthecreaturesofthenightbefore——liketwogreat,horridbatstheyhung,asleep。
AsBradleygazedupontheminwide-eyedastonishment,hesawplainlythatallhisintelligence,allhisacquiredknowledgethroughyearsofobservationandexperienceweresetatnaughtbythesimpleevidenceofthefactthatstoodoutglaringlybeforehiseyes——thecreatures’wingswerenotmechanicaldevicesbutasnaturalappendages,growingfromtheirshoulderblades,asweretheirarmsandlegs。Hesaw,too,thatexceptfortheirwingsthepairboreastrongresemblancetohumanbeings,thoughfashionedinamostgrotesquemold。
Ashesatgazingatthem,oneofthetwoawoke,separatedhiswingstoreleasehisarmsthathadbeenfoldedacrosshisbreast,placedhishandsuponthefloor,droppedhisfeetandstooderect。
Foramomenthestretchedhisgreatwingsslowly,solemnlyblinkinghislargeroundeyes。ThenhisgazefelluponBradley。
Thethinlipsdrewbacktightlyagainstyellowteethinagrimacethatwasnothingbuthideous。Itcouldnothavebeentermedasmile,andwhatemotionitregisteredtheEnglishmanwasatalosstoguess。Noexpressionwhateveralteredthesteadygazeofthoselarge,roundeyes;therewasnocoloruponthepasty,sunkencheeks。Adeath’sheadgrimacedasthoughamanlongdeadraisedhisparchment-coveredskullfromanoldgrave。