A Journey in Other Worlds [57]
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
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