behind with their knives。 It was a vicious…looking brute； and
had a huge horny beak； with which it bit off young trees that
stood in its way as though they had been blades of grass。 They
were passing through a valley about half a mile wide； bordered on
each side by woods； when Bearwarden suddenly exclaimed； 〃Here we
have it！〃 and； looking forward； they unexpectedly saw a head rise
and remain poised about fifteen feet from the ground。 It was a
dinosaur； and belonged to the scaled or armoured species。 In a
few moments another head appeared； and towered several feet above
the first。 The head was obviously reptilian； but had a beak
similar to that of their tortoise。 The hind legs were developed
like those of a kangaroo； while the small rudimentary forepaws；
which could be used as hands or for going quadruped…fashion； now
hung down。 The strong thick tail was evidently of great use to
them when standing erect； by forming a sort of tripod。
〃How I wish we could take a pair of those creatures with us when
we return to the earth！〃 said Cortlandt。
〃They would be trump cards；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃in a zoological
garden or a dime museum； and would take the wind out of the sails
of all the other freaks。〃
As they lay flat on the turtle's back； the monsters gazed at them
unconcernedly； munching the palm…tree fruit so loudly that they
could be heard a long distance。
〃Having nothing to fear from a tortoise；〃 resumed Cortlandt；
〃they may allow us to stalk them。 We are in their eyes like
hippocentaurs； except that we are part of a tortoise instead of
part of a horse； or else they take us for a parasite or fibrous
growth on the shell。〃
〃They would not have much to fear from us as we really are；〃
replied Bearwarden； 〃were it not for our explosive bullets。〃
〃I am surprised；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that graminivorous animals
should be so heavily armed as these； since there can be no great
struggle in obtaining their food。〃
〃From the looks of their jaws；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃I should say
they are omnivorous； and would doubtless prefer meat to what they
are eating now。 Something seems to have gone wrong with the
animal creation hereabouts to…day。〃
Their war…horse clanked along like a badly rusted machine；
approaching the dinosaurs obliquely。 When only about fifty yards
intervened； as the hunters were preparing to aim； their attention
was diverted by a tremendous commotion in the woods on their left
and somewhat ahead。 With the crunching of dead branches and
swaying of the trees； a drove of monsters made a hasty exit and
sped across the open valley。 Some showed only the tops of their
backs above the long grass； while others shambled and leaped with
their heads nearly thirty feet above the ground。 The dinosaurs
instantly dropped on all…fours and joined in the flight； though
at about half…minute intervals they rose on their hind legs and
for a few seconds ran erect。 The drove passed about half a mile
before the travellers； and made straight for the woods opposite；
but hardly had the monsters been out of sight two minutes when
they reappeared； even more precipitately than before； and fled up
the valley in the same direction as the tortoise。
〃The animals here；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃behave as though they were
going to catch a train； only our friend beneath us seems superior
to haste。〃
〃I would give a good deal to know；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃what is
pursuing those giants； and whether it is identical or similar to
the mutilator of the mastodon。 Nothing but abject terror could
make them run like that。〃
〃I have a well…formed idea；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that a hunt is
going on； with no doubt two parties； one in the woods on either
side； and that the hunters may be on a scale commensurate with
that of their victims。〃
〃If the excitement is caused by men；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃our
exploration may turn out to be a far more difficult undertaking
than we anticipated。 But why； if there are men in those woods；
do they not show themselves？for they could certainly keep pace
with the game more easily in the open than among the trees。〃
〃Because；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃the men in the woods are
doubtless the beaters； whose duty it is to drive the game into
and up the valley； at the end of which the killing will be done。〃
〃We may have a chance to see it；〃 said Ayrault； 〃or to take a
hand； for we are travelling straight in that direction； and shall
be able to give a good account ourselves if our rights are
challenged。〃
〃Why；〃 asked Cortlandt； 〃if the hunting parties that have been in
our vicinity were only beaters； should they have mutilated the
mastodon in such it way that he could not walk？ And how were
they able to take themselves off so quicklyfor man in his
natural state has never been a fast mover？ I repeat； it will
upset my theories if we find men。〃
It was obvious to them that tortoises were not much troubled by
the apparently general foe； for the specimen in which they were
just then interested continued his course entirely unconcerned。
Soon； however； he seemed to feel fatigue； for he drew his feet
and head within his shell； which he tightly closed； and after
that no poking or prodding had the desired effect。
〃I suspect we must depend on shank's mares for a time；〃 said
Bearwarden； cheerfully； as they scrambled down。
〃We can now see；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃why our friend was so
unconcerned； since he has but to draw himself within himself to
become invulnerable to anything short of a stroke of lightning；
for no bird could have power enough to raise and drop him from a
great height upon rocks； as the eagles do on earth。〃
〃I suspect； if anxious for turtle soup；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃we
must attach a lightningrod； and wait for a thunderstorm to
electrocute him。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
SPORTSMEN'S REVERIES。
Feeling grateful to the huge tortoise for the good service he had
rendered； they shot a number of the great snakes that were
gliding about on the ground； and placed them where he would find
them on awaiting。 They then picked their way carefully towards
stretches on which the grass was shortest。 When they had gone
about two miles； and had already reached higher ground； they came
to a ridge of rock running at right angles to their course。 This
they climbed； and on looking over the edge of the crest beheld a
sight that made their hearts stand still。 A monster； somewhat
resembling an alligator； except that the back was arched； was
waddling about perhaps seventy… five yards from them。 It was
sixty feet long； and to the top of its scales was at least
twenty…five feet high。 It was constantly moving； and the
travellers noticed with some dismay that its motion was far more
rapid than they would have supposed it could be。
〃It is also a dinosaur；〃 said the professor； watching it sharply；
〃and very closely resembles the Stegosaurus ungulatus restored in
the museums。 The question is； What shall we do with the living
specimen； now that we have it？〃
〃Our chairman；〃 said Ayrault； 〃must find a way to kill it； so
that we may examine it closely。〃
〃The trouble is；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃our bullets will explode
before they penetrate the scales。 In the absence of any way of
making a passage for an explosive ball by means of a solid one；
we must strike a vital spot。 His scales being no harder than the
trunk of a tree； we can wound him terribly by touching him
anywhere； but there is no object in doing this unless we can kill
him； especially as there is no deep stream； such as would have
delayed the mastodon in reaching us； to protect us here。 We must
spread out so as to divert his attention from one to another。〃
After some consultation it was decided that Cortlandt； who had
only a shot…gun； should remain where they were； while Bearwarden
and Ayrault moved some distance to the right and left。 At a
signal from Cortlandt； who was to attract the monster's
attention； the wings were to advance simultaneously。 These
arrangements they carried out to the letter。 When Bearwarden and
Ayrault had gone about twenty…five yards on either side； the
doctor imitated the peculiar grunting sound of an alligator； at
which the colossal monster turned and faced him； while Bearwarden
and Ayrault moved to the attack。 The plan of this was good； for；
with his attention fixed on three objects； the dinosaur seemed
confused； and though Bearwarden and Ayrault had good angles from
which to shoot； there was no possibility of their hitting each
other。 They therefore advanced steadily with their rifles half
up。 Though their own danger increased with each step； in the
event of their missing； the chance of their shooting wild
decreased； the idea being to reach the brain through the eye。
Cortlandt's part had also its risks； for； being entirely
defenceless with his shot…gun against the large creature； whose
attention it was his duty to attract； he staked all on the
marksmanship of his friends。 Not considering this； however； he
stood his ground； having the thumb…piece on his Winchester
magazine shoved up and ready to make a noisy diversion if
necessary in behalf of either wing。 Having aroused the monster's
curiosity； Cortlandt sprang up； waving his arms and his gun。 The
dinosaur lowered his head as if to charge； thereby bringing it to
a level with the rifles； either of which could have given it the
fatal shot。 But as their fingers pressed the triggers the
reptile soared up thirty feet in the air。 Ayrault pulled for his
first sight； shooting through the lower jaw； and shivering that
member； while Bearwarden changed his aim and sighted straight for
the heart。 In an instant the monster was down again； just
missing Ayrault's head as he stepped back； and Bearwarden's rifle
poured a stream of explosive balls against its side； rending and
blowing away the heavy scales。 Having drawn the dinosaur's
attention to himself； he retreated； while Ayrault renewed the
attack。 Cortlandt； seeing that the original plan had miscarried；
poured showers of small shot against the huge beast's face。
Finally； one of Ayrault's balls explod