edgar rice burroughs - caspak 1 - the land that time forgot

8/19/2019 Edgar Rice Burroughs - Caspak 1 - The Land That Time Forgot

1/48

The Land that Time Forgot

By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Chapter 1

It must have been a little after three o'clock in the afternoon that it happened - the afternoon of

June rd! 1"1#$ It seems incredible that all that I have passed through - all those %eird and

terrifying e&periences - should have been encompassed %ithin so short a span as three brief

months$ Rather might I have e&perienced a cosmic cycle! %ith all its changes and evolutions

for that %hich I have seen %ith my o%n eyes in this brief interval of time - things that no other

mortal eye had seen before! glimpses of a %orld past! a %orld dead! a %orld so long dead that

even in the lo%est Cambrian stratum no trace of it remains$ used %ith the melting inner crust!

it has passed forever beyond the ken of man other than in that lost pocket of the earth %hither

fate has borne me and %here my doom is sealed$ I am here and here must remain$

(fter reading this far! my interest! %hich already had been stimulated by the finding of the

manuscript! %as approaching the boiling-point$ I had come to )reenland for the summer! onthe advice of my physician! and %as slo%ly being bored to e&tinction! as I had thoughtlessly

neglected to bring sufficient reading-matter$ Being an indifferent fisherman! my enthusiasm for

this form of sport soon %aned* yet in the absence of other forms of recreation I %as no% risking

my life in an entirely inade+uate boat off Cape are%ell at the southernmost e&tremity of

)reenland$

)reenland, (s a descriptive appellation! it is a sorry oke - but my story has nothing to do %ith

)reenland! nothing to do %ith me* so I shall get through %ith the one and the other as rapidly as

possible$

.he inade+uate boat finally arrived at a precarious landing! the natives! %aist-deep in the surf!

assisting$ I %as carried ashore! and %hile the evening meal %as being prepared! I %andered to

and fro along the rocky! shattered shore$ Bits of surf-harried beach clove the %orn granite! or %hatever the rocks of Cape are%ell may be composed of! and as I follo%ed the ebbing tide

do%n one of these soft stretches! I sa% the thing$ /ere one to bump into a Bengal tiger in the

ravine behind the Bimini Baths! one could be no more surprised than %as I to see a perfectly

good +uart thermos bottle turning and t%isting in the surf of Cape are%ell at the southern

e&tremity of )reenland$ I rescued it! but I %as soaked above the knees doing it* and then I sat

do%n in the sand and opened it! and in the long t%ilight read the manuscript! neatly %ritten and

tightly folded! %hich %as its contents$

0ou have read the opening paragraph! and if you are an imaginative idiot like myself! you %ill

%ant to read the rest of it* so I shall give it to you here! omitting +uotation marks - %hich are

difficult of remembrance$ In t%o minutes you %ill forget me$

y home is in 2anta onica$ I am! or %as! unior member of my father's firm$ /e are ship- builders$ 3f recent years %e have speciali4ed on submarines! %hich %e have built for

)ermany! England! rance and the 5nited 2tates$ I kno% a sub as a mother kno%s her baby's

face! and have commanded a score of them on their trial runs$ 0et my inclinations %ere all

to%ard aviation$ I graduated under Curtiss! and after a long siege %ith my father obtained his

permission to try for the 6afayette Escadrille$ (s a stepping-stone I obtained an appointment in

the (merican ambulance service and %as on my %ay to rance %hen three shrill %histles

altered! in as many seconds! my entire scheme of life$

I %as sitting on deck %ith some of the fello%s %ho %ere going into the (merican ambulance

service %ith me! my (iredale! Cro%n 7rince 8obbler! asleep at my feet! %hen the first blast of

the %histle shattered the peace and security of the ship$ Ever since entering the 5-boat 4one %e

had been on the lookout for periscopes! and children that %e %ere! bemoaning the unkind fate

that %as to see us safely into rance on the morro% %ithout a glimpse of the dread marauders$


2/48

/e %ere young* %e craved thrills! and )od kno%s %e got them that day* yet by comparison

%ith that through %hich I have since passed they %ere as tame as a 7unch-and-Judy sho%$

I shall never forget the ashy faces of the passengers as they stampeded for their life-belts!

though there %as no panic$ 8obs rose %ith a lo% gro%l$ I rose! also! and over the ship's side! I

sa% not t%o hundred yards distant the periscope of a submarine! %hile racing to%ard the liner

the %ake of a torpedo %as distinctly visible$ /e %ere aboard an (merican ship - %hich! of course! %as not armed$ /e %ere entirely defenseless* yet %ithout %arning! %e %ere being

torpedoed$

I stood rigid! spellbound! %atching the %hite %ake of the torpedo$ It struck us on the starboard

side almost amidships$ .he vessel rocked as though the sea beneath it had been uptorn by a

mighty volcano$ /e %ere thro%n to the decks! bruised and stunned! and then above the ship!

carrying %ith it fragments of steel and %ood and dismembered human bodies! rose a column of

%ater hundreds of feet into the air$

.he silence %hich follo%ed the detonation of the e&ploding torpedo %as almost e+ually

horrifying$ It lasted for perhaps t%o seconds! to be follo%ed by the screams and moans of the

%ounded! the cursing of the men and the hoarse commands of the ship's officers$ .hey %ere

splendid - they and their cre%$ 8ever before had I been so proud of my nationality as I %as thatmoment$ In all the chaos %hich follo%ed the torpedoing of the liner no officer or member of

the cre% lost his head or sho%ed in the slightest any degree of panic or fear$

/hile %e %ere attempting to lo%er boats! the submarine emerged and trained guns on us$ .he

officer in command ordered us to lo%er our flag! but this the captain of the liner refused to do$

.he ship %as listing frightfully to starboard! rendering the port boats useless! %hile half the

starboard boats had been demolished by the e&plosion$ Even %hile the passengers %ere

cro%ding the starboard rail and scrambling into the fe% boats left to us! the submarine

commenced shelling the ship$ I sa% one shell burst in a group of %omen and children! and then

I turned my head and covered my eyes$

/hen I looked again to horror %as added chagrin! for %ith the emerging of the 5-boat I had

recogni4ed her as a product of our o%n shipyard$ I kne% her to a rivet$ I had superintended her

construction$ I had sat in that very conning-to%er and directed the efforts of the s%eating cre%

belo% %hen first her pro% clove the sunny summer %aters of the 7acific* and no% this creature

of my brain and hand had turned rankenstein! bent upon pursuing me to my death$

( second shell e&ploded upon the deck$ 3ne of the lifeboats! frightfully overcro%ded! s%ung at

a dangerous angle from its davits$ ( fragment of the shell shattered the bo% tackle! and I sa%

the %omen and children and the men vomited into the sea beneath! %hile the boat dangled stern

up for a moment from its single davit! and at last %ith increasing momentum dived into the

midst of the struggling victims screaming upon the face of the %aters$

8o% I sa% men spring to the rail and leap into the ocean$ .he deck %as tilting to an impossible

angle$ 8obs braced himself %ith all four feet to keep from slipping into the scuppers andlooked up into my face %ith a +uestioning %hine$ I stooped and stroked his head$

9Come on! boy,9 I cried! and running to the side of the ship! dived headforemost over the rail$

/hen I came up! the first thing I sa% %as 8obs s%imming about in a be%ildered sort of %ay a

fe% yards from me$ (t sight of me his ears %ent flat! and his lips parted in a characteristic grin$

.he submarine %as %ithdra%ing to%ard the north! but all the time it %as shelling the open

boats! three of them! loaded to the gun%ales %ith survivors$ ortunately the small boats

presented a rather poor target! %hich! combined %ith the bad marksmanship of the )ermans

preserved their occupants from harm* and after a fe% minutes a blotch of smoke appeared upon

the eastern hori4on and the 5-boat submerged and disappeared$

(ll the time the lifeboats has been pulling a%ay from the danger of the sinking liner! and no%!

though I yelled at the top of my lungs! they either did not hear my appeals for help or else didnot dare return to succor me$ 8obs and I had gained some little distance from the ship %hen it


3/48

rolled completely over and sank$ /e %ere caught in the suction only enough to be dra%n

back%ard a fe% yards! neither of us being carried beneath the surface$ I glanced hurriedly about

for something to %hich to cling$ y eyes %ere directed to%ard the point at %hich the liner had

disappeared %hen there came from the depths of the ocean the muffled reverberation of an

e&plosion! and almost simultaneously a geyser of %ater in %hich %ere shattered lifeboats!

human bodies! steam! coal! oil! and the flotsam of a liner's deck leaped high above the surfaceof the sea - a %atery column momentarily marking the grave of another ship in this greatest

cemetery of the seas$

/hen the turbulent %aters had some%hat subsided and the sea had ceased to spe% up

%reckage! I ventured to s%im back in search of something substantial enough to support my

%eight and that of 8obs as %ell$ I had gotten %ell over the area of the %reck %hen not a half-

do4en yards ahead of me a lifeboat shot bo% foremost out of the ocean almost its entire length

to flop do%n upon its keel %ith a mighty splash$ It must have been carried far belo%! held to its

mother ship by a single rope %hich finally parted to the enormous strain put upon it$ In no

other %ay can I account for its having leaped so far out of the %ater - a beneficent circumstance

to %hich I doubtless o%e my life! and that of another far dearer to me than my o%n$ I say

beneficent circumstance even in the face of the fact that a fate far more hideous confronts usthan that %hich %e escaped that day* for because of that circumstance I have met her %hom

other%ise I never should have kno%n* I have met and loved her$ (t least I have had that great

happiness in life* nor can Caspak! %ith all her horrors! e&punge that %hich has been$

2o for the thousandth time I thank the strange fate %hich sent that lifeboat hurtling up%ard

from the green pit of destruction to %hich it had been dragged - sent it far up above the surface!

emptying its %ater as it rose above the %aves! and dropping it upon the surface of the sea!

buoyant and safe$

It did not take me long to clamber over its side and drag 8obs in to comparative safety! and then

I glanced around upon the scene of death and desolation %hich surrounded us$ .he sea %as

littered %ith %reckage among %hich floated the pitiful forms of %omen and children! buoyed

up by their useless lifebelts$ 2ome %ere torn and mangled* others lay rolling +uietly to the

motion of the sea! their countenances composed and peaceful* others %ere set in hideous lines

of agony or horror$ Close to the boat's side floated the figure of a girl$ :er face %as turned

up%ard! held above the surface by her life-belt! and %as framed in a floating mass of dark and

%aving hair$ 2he %as very beautiful$ I had never looked upon such perfect features! such a

divine molding %hich %as at the same time human - intensely human$ It %as a face filled %ith

character and strength and femininity - the face of one %ho %as created to love and to be loved$

.he cheeks %ere flushed to the hue of life and health and vitality! and yet she lay there upon the

bosom of the sea! dead$ I felt something rise in my throat as I looked do%n upon that radiant

vision! and I s%ore that I should live to avenge her murder$

(nd then I let my eyes drop once more to the face upon the %ater! and %hat I sa% nearlytumbled me back%ard into the sea! for the eyes in the dead face had opened* the lips had parted*

and one hand %as raised to%ard me in a mute appeal for succor$ 2he lived, 2he %as not dead, I

leaned over the boat's side and dre% her +uickly in to the comparative safety %hich )od had

given me$ I removed her life-belt and my soggy coat and made a pillo% for her head$ I chafed

her hands and arms and feet$ I %orked over her for an hour! and at last I %as re%arded by a

deep sigh! and again those great eyes opened and looked into mine$

(t that I %as all embarrassment$ I have never been a ladies' man* at 6eland-2tanford I %as the

butt of the class because of my hopeless imbecility in the presence of a pretty girl* but the men

liked me! nevertheless$ I %as rubbing one of her hands %hen she opened her eyes! and I

dropped it as though it %ere a red-hot rivet$ .hose eyes took me in slo%ly from head to foot*

then they %andered slo%ly around the hori4on marked by the rising and falling gun%ales of thelifeboat$ .hey looked at 8obs and softened! and then came back to me filled %ith +uestioning$


4/48

9I - I - 9 I stammered! moving a%ay and stumbling over the ne&t th%art$ .he vision smiled

%anly$

9(ye-aye! sir,9 she replied faintly! and again her lips drooped! and her long lashes s%ept the

firm! fair te&ture of her skin$

9I hope that you are feeling better!9 I finally managed to say$

9;o you kno%!9 she said after a moment of silence! 9I have been a%ake for a long time, But Idid not dare open my eyes$ I thought I must be dead! and I %as afraid to look! for fear that I

should see nothing but blackness about me$ I am afraid to die, .ell me %hat happened after the

ship %ent do%n$ I remember all that happened before - oh! but I %ish that I might forget it,9 (

sob broke her voice$ 9.he beasts,9 she %ent on after a moment$ 9(nd to think that I %as to

have married one of them - a lieutenant in the )erman navy$9

7resently she resumed as though she had not ceased speaking$ 9I %ent do%n and do%n and

do%n$ I thought I should never cease to sink$ I felt no particular distress until I suddenly

started up%ard at ever-increasing velocity* then my lungs seemed about to burst! and I must

have lost consciousness! for I remember nothing more until I opened my eyes after listening to

a torrent of invective against )ermany and )ermans$ .ell me! please! all that happened after

the ship sank$9I told her! then! as %ell as I could! all that I had seen - the submarine shelling the open boats and

all the rest of it$ 2he thought it marvelous that %e should have been spared in so providential a

manner! and I had a pretty speech upon my tongue's end! but lacked the nerve to deliver it$

8obs had come over and nosed his mu44le into her lap! and she stroked his ugly face! and at

last she leaned over and put her cheek against his forehead$ I have al%ays admired 8obs* but

this %as the first time that it had ever occurred to me that I might %ish to be 8obs$ I %ondered

ho% he %ould take it! for he is as unused to %omen as I$ But he took to it as a duck takes to

%ater$ /hat I lack of being a ladies' man! 8obs certainly makes up for as a ladies' dog$ .he old

scala%ag ust closed his eyes and put on one of the softest 9sugar-%ouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth9

e&pressions you ever sa% and stood there taking it and asking for more$ It made me ealous$

90ou seem fond of dogs!9 I said$

9I am fond of this dog!9 she replied$

/hether she meant anything personal in that reply I did not kno%* but I took it as personal and

it made me feel mighty good$

(s %e drifted about upon that vast e&panse of loneliness it is not strange that %e should +uickly

become %ell ac+uainted$ Constantly %e scanned the hori4on for signs of smoke! venturing

guesses as to our chances of rescue* but darkness settled! and the black night enveloped us

%ithout ever the sight of a speck upon the %aters$

/e %ere thirsty! hungry! uncomfortable! and cold$ 3ur %et garments had dried but little and I

kne% that the girl must be in grave danger from the e&posure to a night of cold and %et upon

the %ater in an open boat! %ithout sufficient clothing and no food$ I had managed to bail all the%ater out of the boat %ith cupped hands! ending by mopping the balance up %ith my

handkerchief - a slo% and back-breaking procedure* thus I had made a comparatively dry place

for the girl to lie do%n lo% in the bottom of the boat! %here the sides %ould protect her from

the night %ind! and %hen at last she did so! almost overcome as she %as by %eakness and

fatigue! I thre% my %et coat over her further to th%art the chill$ But it %as of no avail* as I sat

%atching her! the moonlight marking out the graceful curves of her slender young body! I sa%

her shiver$

9Isn't there something I can do


5/48

came! for %hat %ith the shock and e&posure! she had already gone through enough to kill

almost any %oman$ (nd as I ga4ed do%n at her! so small and delicate and helpless! there %as

born slo%ly %ithin my breast a ne% emotion$ It had never been there before* no% it %ill never

cease to be there$ It made me almost frantic in my desire to find some %ay to keep %arm and

cooling lifeblood in her veins$ I %as cold myself! though I had almost forgotten it until 8obbler

moved and I felt a ne% sensation of cold along my leg against %hich he had lain! and suddenlyreali4ed that in that one spot I had been %arm$ 6ike a great light came the understanding of a

means to %arm the girl$ Immediately I knelt beside her to put my scheme into practice %hen

suddenly I %as over%helmed %ith embarrassment$ /ould she permit it! even if I could muster

the courage to suggest it< .hen I sa% her frame convulse! shudderingly! her muscles reacting to

her rapidly lo%ering temperature! and casting prudery to the %inds! I thre% myself do%n beside

her and took her in my arms! pressing her body close to mine$

2he dre% a%ay suddenly! voicing a little cry of fright! and tried to push me from her$

9orgive me!9 I managed to stammer$ 9It is the only %ay$ 0ou %ill die of e&posure if you are

not %armed! and 8obs and I are the only means %e can command for furnishing %armth$9 (nd

I held her tightly %hile I called 8obs and bade him lie do%n at her back$ .he girl didn't

struggle any more %hen she learned my purpose* but she gave t%o or three little gasps! and then began to cry softly! burying her face on my arm! and thus she fell asleep$

Chapter =

.o%ard morning! I must have do4ed! though it seemed to me at the time that I had lain a%ake

for days! instead of hours$ /hen I finally opened my eyes! it %as daylight! and the girl's hair

%as in my face! and she %as breathing normally$ I thanked )od for that$ 2he had turned her

head during the night so that as I opened my eyes I sa% her face not an inch from mine! my lips

almost touching hers$

It %as 8obs %ho finally a%oke her$ :e got up! stretched! turned around a fe% times and lay

do%n again! and the girl opened her eyes and looked into mine$ :ers %ent very %ide at first!

and then slo%ly comprehension came to her! and she smiled$

90ou have been very good to me!9 she said! as I helped her to rise! though if the truth %ere

kno%n I %as more in need of assistance than she* the circulation all along my left side seeming

to be paraly4ed entirely$ 90ou have been very good to me$9 (nd that %as the only mention she

ever made of it* yet I kno% that she %as thankful and that only reserve prevented her from

referring to %hat! to say the least! %as an embarrassing situation! ho%ever unavoidable$

2hortly after daylight %e sa% smoke apparently coming straight to%ard us! and after a time %e

made out the s+uat lines of a tug - one of those fearless e&ponents of England's supremacy of

the sea that to%s sailing ships into rench and English ports$ I stood up on a th%art and %aved

my soggy coat above my head$ 8obs stood upon another and barked$ .he girl sat at my feet

straining her eyes to%ard the deck of the oncoming boat$ 9.hey see us!9 she said at last$ 9.here

is a man ans%ering your signal$9 2he %as right$ ( lump came into my throat - for her sakerather than for mine$ 2he %as saved! and none too soon$ 2he could not have lived through

another night upon the Channel* she might not have lived through the coming day$

.he tug came close beside us! and a man on deck thre% us a rope$ /illing hands dragged us to

the deck! 8obs scrambling nimbly aboard %ithout assistance$ .he rough men %ere gentle as

mothers %ith the girl$ 7lying us both %ith +uestions they hustled her to the captain's cabin and

me to the boiler-room$ .hey told the girl to take off her %et clothes and thro% them outside the

door that they might be dried! and then to slip into the captain's bunk and get %arm$ .hey didn't

have to tell me to strip after I once got into the %armth of the boiler-room$ In a iffy! my clothes

hung about %here they might dry most +uickly! and I myself %as absorbing! through every

pore! the %elcome heat of the stifling compartment$ .hey brought us hot soup and coffee! and

then those %ho %ere not on duty sat around and helped me damn the >aiser and his brood$


6/48

(s soon as our clothes %ere dry! they bade us don them! as the chances %ere al%ays more than

fair in those %aters that %e should run into trouble %ith the enemy! as I %as only too %ell

a%are$ /hat %ith the %armth and the feeling of safety for the girl! and the kno%ledge that a

little rest and food %ould +uickly overcome the effects of her e&periences of the past dismal

hours! I %as feeling more content than I had e&perienced since those three %histle-blasts had

shattered the peace of my %orld the previous afternoon$But peace upon the Channel has been but a transitory thing since (ugust! 1"1?$ It proved itself

such that morning! for I had scarce gotten into my dry clothes and taken the girl's apparel to the

captain's cabin %hen an order %as shouted do%n into the engine-room for full speed ahead! and

an instant later I heard the dull boom of a gun$ In a moment I %as up on deck to see an enemy

submarine about t%o hundred yards off our port bo%$ 2he had signaled us to stop! and our

skipper had ignored the order* but no% she had her gun trained on us! and the second shot

gra4ed the cabin! %arning the belligerent tug-captain that it %as time to obey$ 3nce again an

order %ent do%n to the engine-room! and the tug reduced speed$ .he 5-boat ceased firing and

ordered the tug to come about and approach$ 3ur momentum had carried us a little beyond the

enemy craft! but %e %ere turning no% on the arc of a circle that %ould bring us alongside her$

(s I stood %atching the maneuver and %ondering %hat %as to become of us! I felt somethingtouch my elbo% and turned to see the girl standing at my side$ 2he looked up into my face %ith

a rueful e&pression$ 9.hey seem bent on our destruction!9 she said! 9and it looks like the same

boat that sunk us yesterday$9

9It is!9 I replied$ 9I kno% her %ell$ I helped design her and took her out on her first run$9

.he girl dre% back from me %ith a little e&clamation of surprise and disappointment$ 9I

thought you %ere an (merican!9 she said$ 9I had no idea you %ere a - a - 9

98or am I!9 I replied$ 9(mericans have been building submarines for all nations for many

years$ I %ish! though! that %e had gone bankrupt! my father and I! before ever %e turned out

that rankenstein of a thing$9

/e %ere approaching the 5-boat at half speed no%! and I could almost distinguish the features

of the men upon her deck$ ( sailor stepped to my side and slipped something hard and cold into

my hand$ I did not have to look at it to kno% that it %as a heavy pistol$ 9.yke 'er an' use 'er!9

%as all he said$

3ur bo% %as pointed straight to%ard the 5-boat no% as I heard %ord passed to the engine for

full speed ahead$ I instantly grasped the bra4en effrontery of the plucky English skipper - he

%as going to ram five hundreds tons of 5-boat in the face of her trained gun$ I could scarce

repress a cheer$ (t first the boches didn't seem to grasp his intention$ Evidently they thought

they %ere %itnessing an e&hibition of poor seamanship! and they yelled their %arnings to the

tug to reduce speed and thro% the helm hard to port$

/e %ere %ithin fifty feet of them %hen they a%akened to the intentional menace of our

maneuver$ .heir gun cre% %as off its guard* but they sprang to their piece no% and sent a futileshell above our heads$ 8obs leaped about and barked furiously$ 96et 'em have it,9 commanded

the tug-captain! and instantly revolvers and rifles poured bullets upon the deck of the

submersible$ .%o of the gun-cre% %ent do%n* the other trained their piece at the %ater-line of

the oncoming tug$ .he balance of those on deck replied to our small-arms fire! directing their

efforts to%ard the man at our %heel$

I hastily pushed the girl do%n the companion%ay leading to the engine-room! and then I raised

my pistol and fired my first shot at a boche$ /hat happened in the ne&t fe% seconds happened

so +uickly that details are rather blurred in my memory$ I sa% the helmsman lunge for%ard

upon the %heel! pulling the helm around so that the tug sheered off +uickly from her course!

and I recall reali4ing that all our efforts %ere to be in vain! because of all the men aboard! ate

had decreed that this one should fall first to an enemy bullet$ I sa% the depleted gun-cre% on


7/48

the submarine fire their piece and I felt the shock of impact and heard the loud e&plosion as the

shell struck and e&ploded in our bo%s$

I sa% and reali4ed these things even as I %as leaping into the pilot-house and grasping the

%heel! standing astride the dead body of the helmsman$ /ith all my strength I thre% the helm

to starboard* but it %as too late to effect the purpose of our skipper$ .he best I did %as to

scrape alongside the sub$ I heard someone shriek an order into the engine-room* the boatshuddered and trembled to the sudden reversing of the engines! and our speed +uickly lessened$

.hen I sa% %hat that madman of a skipper planned since his first scheme had gone %rong$

/ith a loud-yelled command! he leaped to the slippery deck of the submersible! and at his heels

came his hardy cre%$ I sprang from the pilot-house and follo%ed! not to be left out in the cold

%hen it came to strafing the boches$ rom the engine room companion%ay came the engineer

and stockers! and together %e leaped after the balance of the cre% and into the hand-to-hand

fight that %as covering the %et deck %ith red blood$ Beside me came 8obs! silent no%! and

grim$ )ermans %ere emerging from the open hatch to take part in the battle on deck$ (t first

the pistols cracked amidst the cursing of the men and the loud commands of the commander

and his unior* but presently %e %ere too indiscriminately mi&ed to make it safe to use our

firearms! and the battle resolved itself into a hand-to-hand struggle for possession of the deck$.he sole aim of each of us %as to hurl one of the opposing force into the sea$ I shall never

forget the hideous e&pression upon the face of the great 7russian %ith %hom chance confronted

me$ :e lo%ered his head and rushed at me! bello%ing like a bull$ /ith a +uick side-step and

ducking lo% beneath his outstretched arms! I eluded him* and as he turned to come back at me!

I landed a blo% upon his chin %hich sent him spinning to%ard the edge of the deck$ I sa% his

%ild endeavors to regain his e+uilibrium* I sa% him reel drunkenly for an instant upon the brink

of eternity and then! %ith a loud scream! slip into the sea$ (t the same instant a pair of giant

arms encircled me from behind and lifted me entirely off my feet$ >ick and s+uirm as I %ould!

I could neither turn to%ard my antagonist nor free myself from his maniacal grasp$

Relentlessly he %as rushing me to%ard the side of the vessel and death$ .here %as none to stay

him! for each of my companions %as more than occupied by from one to three of the enemy$

or an instant I %as fearful for myself! and then I sa% that %hich filled me %ith a far greater

terror for another$

y boche %as bearing me to%ard the side of the submarine against %hich the tug %as still

pounding$ .hat I should be ground to death bet%een the t%o %as lost upon me as I sa% the girl

standing alone upon the tug's deck! as I sa% the stern high in air and the bo% rapidly settling for

the final dive! as I sa% death from %hich I could not save her clutching at the skirts of the

%oman I no% kne% all too %ell that I loved$

I had perhaps the fraction of a second longer to live %hen I heard an angry gro%l behind us

mingle %ith a cry of pain and rage from the giant %ho carried me$ Instantly he %ent back%ard

to the deck! and as he did so he thre% his arms out%ards to save himself! freeing me$ I fellheavily upon him! but %as upon my feet in the instant$ (s I arose! I cast a single glance at my

opponent$ 8ever again %ould he menace me or another! for 8ob's great a%s had closed upon

his throat$ .hen I sprang to%ard the edge of the deck closest to the girl upon the sinking tug$

9Jump,9 I cried$ 9Jump,9 (nd I held out my arms to her$ Instantly as though %ith implicit

confidence in my ability to save her! she leaped over the side of the tug onto the sloping!

slippery side of the 5-boat$ I reached far over to sei4e her hand$ (t the same instant the tug

pointed its stern straight to%ard the sky and plunged out of sight$ y hand missed the girl's by

a fraction of an inch! and I sa% her slip into the sea* but scarce had she touched the %ater %hen

I %as in after her$

.he sinking tug dre% us far belo% the surface* but I had sei4ed her the moment I struck the

%ater! and so %e %ent do%n together! and together %e came up - a fe% yards from the 5-boat$.he first thing I heard %as 8obs barking furiously* evidently he had missed me and %as


8/48

searching$ ( single glance at the vessel's deck assured me that the battle %as over and that %e

had been victorious! for I sa% our survivors holding a handful of the enemy at pistol points

%hile one by one the rest of the cre% %as coming out of the craft's interior and lining up on

deck %ith the other prisoners$

(s I s%am to%ard the submarine %ith the girl! 8obs' persistent barking attracted the attention

of some of the tug's cre%! so that as soon as %e reached the side there %ere hands to help usaboard$ I asked the girl if she %as hurt! but she assured me that she %as none the %orse for this

second %etting* nor did she seem to suffer any from shock$ I %as to learn for myself that this

slender and seemingly delicate creature possessed the heart and courage of a %arrior$

(s %e oined our o%n party! I found the tug's mate checking up our survivors$ .here %ere ten

of us left! not including the girl$ 3ur brave skipper %as missing! as %ere eight others$ .here

had been nineteen of us in the attacking party and %e had accounted in one %ay and another

during the battle for si&teen )ermans and had taken nine prisoners! including the commander$

:is lieutenant had been killed$

98ot a bad day's %ork!9 said Bradley! the mate! %hen he had completed his roll$ 93nly losing

the skipper!9 he added! 9%as the %orst$ :e %as a fine man! a fine man$9

3lson - %ho in spite of his name %as Irish! and in spite of his not being 2cotch had been thetug's engineer - %as standing %ith Bradley and me$ 90is!9 he agreed! 9it's a day's %or-rk %e're

after doin'! but %hat are %e goin' to be doin' %id it no% %e got it


9/48

I merely inclined my head$ 2he had loved him, I %ondered if in her heart of hearts she did not

love him yet$ Immediately I became insanely ealous$ I hated Baron riedrich von 2choenvorts

%ith such utter intensity that the emotion thrilled me %ith a species of e&altation$

But I didn't have much chance to enoy my hatred then! for almost immediately the lookout

poked his face over the hatch%ay and ba%led do%n that there %as smoke on the hori4on! dead

ahead$ Immediately I %ent on deck to investigate! and Bradley came %ith me$9If she's friendly!9 he said! 9%e'll speak her$ If she's not! %e'll sink her - eh! captain


10/48

9.here is only one place you can go!9 von 2choenvorts sent %ord to me! 9and that is >iel$ 0ou

can't land any%here else in these %aters$ If you %ish! I %ill take you there! and I can promise

that you %ill be treated %ell$9

9.here is another place %e can go!9 I sent back my reply! 9and %e %ill before %e'll go to

)ermany$ .hat place is hell$9

Chapter .hose %ere an&ious days! during %hich I had but little opportunity to associate %ith 6ys$ I had

given her the commander's room! Bradley and I taking that of the deck-officer! %hile 3lson and

t%o of our best men occupied the room ordinarily allotted to petty officers$ I made 8obs' bed

do%n in 6ys' room! for I kne% she %ould feel less alone$

8othing of much moment occurred for a %hile after %e left British %aters behind us$ /e ran

steadily along upon the surface! making good time$ .he first t%o boats %e sighted made off as

fast as they could go* and the third! a huge freighter! fired on us! forcing us to submerge$ It %as

after this that our troubles commenced$ 3ne of the ;iesel engines broke do%n in the morning!

and %hile %e %ere %orking on it! the for%ard port diving-tank commenced to fill$ I %as on

deck at the time and noted the gradual list$ )uessing at once %hat %as happening! I leaped for

the hatch and slamming it closed above my head! dropped to the centrale$ By this time the craft%as going do%n by the head %ith a most unpleasant list to port! and I didn't %ait to transmit

orders to some one else but ran as fast as I could for the valve that let the sea into the for%ard

port diving-tank$ It %as %ide open$ .o close it and to have the pump started that %ould empty

it %ere the %ork of but a minute* but %e had had a close call$

I kne% that the valve had never opened itself$ 2ome one had opened it - some one %ho %as

%illing to die himself if he might at the same time encompass the death of all of us$

(fter that I kept a guard pacing the length of the narro% craft$ /e %orked upon the engine all

that day and night and half the follo%ing day$ ost of the time %e drifted idly upon the

surface! but to%ard noon %e sighted smoke due %est! and having found that only enemies

inhabited the %orld for us! I ordered that the other engine be started so that %e could move out

of the path of the oncoming steamer$ .he moment the engine started to turn! ho%ever! there

%as a grinding sound of tortured steel! and %hen it had been stopped! %e found that some one

had placed a cold-chisel in one of the gears$

It %as another t%o days before %e %ere ready to limp along! half repaired$ .he night before the

repairs %ere completed! the sentry came to my room and a%oke me$ :e %as rather an

intelligent fello% of the English middle class! in %hom I had much confidence$

9/ell! /ilson!9 I asked$ 9/hat's the matter no%eep your eyes and ears open and report every

suspicious thing you see or hear$9

.he man saluted and left me* but for an hour or more I tossed! restless! upon my hard bunk in

an agony of ealousy and fear$ inally I fell into a troubled sleep$ It %as daylight %hen I a%oke$

/e %ere steaming along slo%ly upon the surface! my orders having been to proceed at half

speed until %e could take an observation and determine our position$ .he sky had been

overcast all the previous day and all night* but as I stepped into the centrale that morning I %asdelighted to see that the sun %as again shining$ .he spirits of the men seemed improved*


11/48

everything seemed propitious$ I forgot at once the cruel misgivings of the past night as I set to

%ork to take my observations$

/hat a blo% a%aited me, .he se&tant and chronometer had both been broken beyond repair!

and they had been broken ust this very night$ .hey had been broken upon the night that 6ys

had been seen talking %ith von 2choenvorts$ I think that it %as this last thought %hich hurt me

the %orst$ I could look the other disaster in the face %ith e+uanimity* but the bald fact that 6ysmight be a traitor appalled me$

I called Bradley and 3lson on deck and told them %hat had happened! but for the life of me I

couldn't bring myself to repeat %hat /ilson had reported to me the previous night$ In fact! as I

had given the matter thought! it seemed incredible that the girl could have passed through my

room! in %hich Bradley and I slept! and then carried on a conversation in the cre%'s room! in

%hich @on 2choenvorts %as kept! %ithout having been seen by more than a single man$

Bradley shook his head$ 9I can't make it out!9 he said$ 93ne of those boches must be pretty

clever to come it over us all like this* but they haven't harmed us as much as they think* there

are still the e&tra instruments$9

It %as my turn no% to shake a doleful head$ 9.here are no e&tra instruments!9 I told them$

9.hey too have disappeared as did the %ireless apparatus$9Both men looked at me in ama4ement$ 9/e still have the compass and the sun!9 said 3lson$

9.hey may be after getting the compass some night* but they's too many of us around in the

daytime fer 'em to get the sun$9

It %as then that one of the men stuck his head up through the hatch%ay and seeing me! asked

permission to come on deck and get a breath of fresh air$ I recogni4ed him as Benson! the man

%ho! /ilson had said! reported having seen 6ys %ith von 2choenvorts t%o nights before$ I

motioned him on deck and then called him to one side! asking if he had seen anything out of the

%ay or unusual during his trick on %atch the night before$ .he fello% scratched his head a

moment and said! 98o!9 and then as though it %as an afterthought! he told me that he had seen

the girl in the cre%'s room about midnight talking %ith the )erman commander! but as there

hadn't seemed to him to be any harm in that! he hadn't said anything about it$ .elling him never

to fail to report to me anything in the slightest out of the ordinary routine of the ship! I

dismissed him$

2everal of the other men no% asked permission to come on deck! and soon all but those actually

engaged in some necessary duty %ere standing around smoking and talking! all in the best of

spirits$ I took advantage of the absence of the men upon the deck to go belo% for my breakfast!

%hich the cook %as already preparing upon the electric stove$ 6ys! follo%ed by 8obs! appeared

as I entered the centrale$ 2he met me %ith a pleasant 9)ood morning,9 %hich I am afraid I

replied to in a tone that %as rather constrained and surly$

9/ill you breakfast %ith me


12/48

them$ /omen are much the same! e&cept that they %ill go even further than most men - they

%ill sacrifice everything! even honor! for love$9

I %atched her face carefully as I spoke! and I thought that I detected a very faint flush mounting

her cheek$ 2eeing an opening and an advantage! I sought to follo% it up$

9.ake von 2choenvorts! for instance!9 I continued 9he %ould doubtless be glad to die and take

us all %ith him! could he prevent in no other %ay the falling of his vessel into enemy hands$ :e%ould sacrifice anyone! even you* and if you still love him! you might be his ready tool$ ;o

you understand me


13/48

steadily upon our %est%ard course$ Either the sun %as rising in the south! or the compass had

been tampered %ith$ .he conclusion %as obvious$

I %ent back to Bradley and told him %hat I had discovered$ 9(nd!9 I concluded! 9%e can't make

another five hundred knots %ithout oil* our provisions are running lo% and so is our %ater$ )od

only kno%s ho% far south %e have run$9

9.here is nothing to do!9 he replied! 9other than to alter our course once more to%ard the %est*%e must raise land soon or %e shall all be lost$9

I told him to do so* and then I set to %ork improvising a crude se&tant %ith %hich %e finally

took our bearings in a rough and most unsatisfactory manner* for %hen the %ork %as done! %e

did not kno% ho% far from the truth the result might be$ It sho%ed us to be about =' north and

' %est - nearly t%enty-five hundred miles off our course$ In short! if our reading %as

any%here near correct! %e must have been traveling due south for si& days$ Bradley no%

relieved Benson! for %e had arranged our shifts so that the latter and 3lson no% divided the

nights! %hile Bradley and I alternated %ith one another during the days$

I +uestioned both 3lson and Benson closely in the matter of the compass* but each stoutly

maintained that no one had tampered %ith it during his tour of duty$ Benson gave me a

kno%ing smile! as much as to say 9/ell! you and I kno% %ho did this$9 0et I could not believe that it %as the girl$

/e kept to our %esterly course for several hours %hen the lookout's cry announced a sail$ I

ordered the 5-'s course altered! and %e bore do%n upon the stranger! for I had come to a

decision %hich %as the result of necessity$ /e could not lie there in the middle of the (tlantic

and starve to death if there %as any %ay out of it$ .he sailing ship sa% us %hile %e %ere still a

long %ay off! as %as evidenced by her efforts to escape$ .here %as scarcely any %ind! ho%ever!

and her case %as hopeless* so %hen %e dre% near and signaled her to stop! she came into the

%ind and lay there %ith her sails flapping idly$ /e moved in +uite close to her$ 2he %as the

Balmen of :almstad! 2%eden! %ith a general cargo from Bra4il for 2pain$

I e&plained our circumstances to her skipper and asked for food! %ater and oil* but %hen he

found that %e %ere not )erman! he became very angry and abusive and started to dra% a%ay

from us* but I %as in no mood for any such business$ .urning to%ard Bradley! %ho %as in the

conning-to%er! I snapped out 9)un-service on deck, .o the diving stations,9 /e had no

opportunity for drill* but every man had been posted as to his duties! and the )erman members

of the cre% understood that it %as obedience or death for them! as each %as accompanied by a

man %ith a pistol$ ost of them! though! %ere only too glad to obey me$

Bradley passed the order do%n into the ship and a moment later the gun-cre% clambered up the

narro% ladder and at my direction trained their piece upon the slo%-moving 2%ede$ 9ire a

shot across her bo%!9 I instructed the gun-captain$

(ccept it from me! it didn't take that 2%ede long to see the error of his %ay and get the red and

%hite pennant signifying 9I understand9 to the masthead$ 3nce again the sails flapped idly! andthen I ordered him to lo%er a boat and come after me$ /ith 3lson and a couple of the

Englishmen I boarded the ship! and from her cargo selected %hat %e needed - oil! provisions

and %ater$ I gave the master of the Balmen a receipt for %hat %e took! together %ith an

affidavit signed by Bradley! 3lson! and myself! stating briefly ho% %e had come into

possession of the 5- and the urgency of our need for %hat %e took$ /e addressed both to

any British agent %ith the re+uest that the o%ners of the Balmen be reimbursed* but %hether or

not they %ere! I do not kno%$ D1

D1 6ate in July! 1"1#! an item in the shipping ne%s mentioned a 2%edish sailing vessel!

Balmen! Rio de Janiero to Barcelona! sunk by a )erman raider sometime in June$ ( single

survivor in an open boat %as picked up off the Cape @erde Islands! in a dying condition$ :e

e&pired %ithout giving any details$


14/48


15/48

filled %ith officers and men$ .he cruiser lay dead ahead$ 9y!9 I thought! 9%hat a %onderful

targ - 9 I stopped even thinking! so surprised and shocked %as I by the boldness of my imagery$

.he girl %as ust belo% me$ I looked do%n on her %istfully$ Could I trust her< /hy had she

released me at this moment< I must, I must, .here %as no other %ay$ I dropped back belo%$

9(sk 3lson to step do%n here! please!9 I re+uested* 9and don't let anyone see you ask him$9

2he looked at me %ith a pu44led e&pression on her face for the barest fraction of a second! andthen she turned and %ent up the ladder$ ( moment later 3lson returned! and the girl follo%ed

him$ 9Auick,9 I %hispered to the big Irishman! and made for the bo% compartment %here the

torpedo-tubes are built into the boat* here! too! %ere the torpedoes$ .he girl accompanied us!

and %hen she sa% the thing I had in mind! she stepped for%ard and lent a hand to the s%inging

of the great cylinder of death and destruction into the mouth of its tube$ /ith oil and main

strength %e shoved the torpedo home and shut the tube* then I ran back to the conning-to%er!

praying in my heart of hearts that the 5- had not s%ung her bo% a%ay from the prey$ 8o!

thank )od,

8ever could aim have been truer$ I signaled back to 3lson 96et 'er go,9 .he 5- trembled

from stem to stern as the torpedo shot from its tube$ I sa% the %hite %ake leap from her bo%

straight to%ard the enemy cruiser$ ( chorus of hoarse yells arose from the deck of our o%ncraft I sa% the officers stand suddenly erect in the boat that %as approaching us! and I heard

loud cries and curses from the raider$ .hen I turned my attention to my o%n business$ ost of

the men on the submarine's deck %ere standing in paraly4ed fascination! staring at the torpedo$

Bradley happened to be looking to%ard the conning-to%er and sa% me$ I sprang on deck and

ran to%ard him$ 9Auick,9 I %hispered$ 9/hile they are stunned! %e must overcome them$9

( )erman %as standing near Bradley - ust in front of him$ .he Englishman struck the fello% a

frantic blo% upon the neck and at the same time snatched his pistol from its holster$ @on

2choenvorts had recovered from his first surprise +uickly and had turned to%ard the main hatch

to investigate$ I covered him %ith my revolver! and at the same instant the torpedo struck the

raider! the terrific e&plosion dro%ning the )erman's command to his men$

Bradley %as no% running from one to another of our men! and though some of the )ermans

sa% and heard him! they seemed too stunned for action$

3lson %as belo%! so that there %ere only nine of us against eight )ermans! for the man Bradley

had struck still lay upon the deck$ 3nly t%o of us %ere armed* but the heart seemed to have

gone out of the boches! and they put up but half-hearted resistance$ @on 2choenvorts %as the

%orst - he %as fairly fren4ied %ith rage and chagrin! and he came charging for me like a mad

bull! and as he came he discharged his pistol$ If he'd stopped long enough to take aim! he might

have gotten me* but his pace made him %ild! so that not a shot touched me! and then %e

clinched and %ent to the deck$ .his left t%o pistols! %hich t%o of my o%n men %ere +uick to

appropriate$ .he Baron %as no match for me in a hand-to-hand encounter! and I soon had him

pinned to the deck and the life almost choked out of him$( half-hour later things had +uieted do%n! and all %as much the same as before the prisoners

had revolted - only %e kept a much closer %atch on von 2choenvorts$ .he )eier had sunk

%hile %e %ere still battling upon our deck! and after%ard %e had dra%n a%ay to%ard the north!

leaving the survivors to the attention of the single boat %hich had been making its %ay to%ard

us %hen 3lson launched the torpedo$ I suppose the poor devils never reached land! and if they

did! they most probably perished on that cold and unhospitable shore* but I couldn't permit

them aboard the 5-$ /e had all the )ermans %e could take care of$

.hat evening the girl asked permission to go on deck$ 2he said that she felt the effects of long

confinement belo%! and I readily granted her re+uest$ I could not understand her! and I craved

an opportunity to talk %ith her again in an effort to fathom her and her intentions! and so I made

it a point to follo% her up the ladder$ It %as a clear! cold! beautiful night$ .he sea %as calme&cept for the %hite %ater at our bo%s and the t%o long radiating s%ells running far off into the


16/48

distance upon either hand astern! forming a great @ %hich our propellers filled %ith choppy

%aves$ Benson %as in the to%er! %e %ere bound for 2an ;iego and all looked %ell$

6ys stood %ith a heavy blanket %rapped around her slender figure! and as I approached her! she

half turned to%ard me to see %ho it %as$ /hen she recogni4ed me! she immediately turned

a%ay$

9I %ant to thank you!9 I said! 9for your bravery and loyalty - you %ere magnificent$ I am sorrythat you had reason before to think that I doubted you$9

90ou did doubt me!9 she replied in a level voice$ 90ou practically accused me of aiding Baron

von 2choenvorts$ I can never forgive you$9

.here %as a great deal of finality in both her %ords and tone$

9I could not believe it!9 I said* 9and yet t%o of my men reported having seen you in

conversation %ith von 2choenvorts late at night upon t%o separate occasions - after each of

%hich some great damage %as found done us in the morning$ I didn't %ant to doubt you* but I

carried all the responsibility of the lives of these men! of the safety of the ship! of your life and

mine$ I had to %atch you! and I had to put you on your guard against a repetition of your

madness$9

2he %as looking at me no% %ith those great eyes of hers! very %ide and round$9/ho told you that I spoke %ith Baron von 2choenvorts at night! or any other time


17/48

single glance at the heavens confirmed my suspicions* the constellations %hich should have

been dead ahead %ere directly starboard$ /e %ere sailing due %est$

Just for an instant longer I stood there to check up my calculations - I %anted to be +uite sure

before I accused Benson of perfidy! and about the only thing I came near making +uite sure of

%as death$ I cannot see even no% ho% I escaped it$ I %as standing on the edge of the conning-

to%er! %hen a heavy palm suddenly struck me bet%een the shoulders and hurled me for%ardinto space$ .he drop to the triangular deck for%ard of the conning-to%er might easily have

broken a leg for me! or I might have slipped off onto the deck and rolled overboard* but fate

%as upon my side! as I %as only slightly bruised$ (s I came to my feet! I heard the conning-

to%er cover slam$ .here is a ladder %hich leads from the deck to the top of the to%er$ 5p this I

scrambled! as fast as I could go* but Benson had the cover tight before I reached it$

I stood there a moment in dumb consternation$ /hat did the fello% intend< /hat %as going

on belo%< If Benson %as a traitor! ho% could I kno% that there %ere not other traitors among

us< I cursed myself for my folly in going out upon the deck! and then this thought suggested

another - a hideous one %ho %as it that had really been responsible for my being here<

.hinking to attract attention from inside the craft! I again ran do%n the ladder and onto the

small deck only to find that the steel covers of the conning-to%er %indo%s %ere shut! and thenI leaned %ith my back against the to%er and cursed myself for a gullible idiot$

I glanced at the bo%$ .he sea seemed to be getting heavier! for every %ave no% %ashed

completely over the lo%er deck$ I %atched them for a moment! and then a sudden chill

pervaded my entire being$ It %as not the chill of %et clothing! or the dashing spray %hich

drenched my face* no! it %as the chill of the hand of death upon my heart$ In an instant I had

turned the last corner of life's high%ay and %as looking )od (lmighty in the face - the 5-

%as being slo%ly submerged,

It %ould be difficult! even impossible! to set do%n in %riting my sensations at that moment$ (ll

I can particularly recall is that I laughed! though neither from a spirit of bravado nor from

hysteria$ (nd I %anted to smoke$ 6ord, ho% I did %ant to smoke* but that %as out of the

+uestion$

I %atched the %ater rise until the little deck I stood on %as a%ash! and then I clambered once

more to the top of the conning-to%er$ rom the very slo% submergence of the boat I kne% that

Benson %as doing the entire trick alone - that he %as merely permitting the diving-tanks to fill

and that the diving-rudders %ere not in use$ .he throbbing of the engines ceased! and in its

stead came the steady vibration of the electric motors$ .he %ater %as half%ay up the conning-

to%er, I had perhaps five minutes longer on the deck$ I tried to decide %hat I should do after I

%as %ashed a%ay$ 2hould I s%im until e&haustion claimed me! or should I give up and end the

agony at the first plunge<

rom belo% came t%o muffled reports$ .hey sounded not unlike shots$ /as Benson meeting

%ith resistance< 7ersonally it could mean little to me! for even though my men mightovercome the enemy! none %ould kno% of my predicament until long after it %as too late to

succor me$ .he top of the conning-to%er %as no% a%ash$ I clung to the %ireless mast! %hile

the great %aves surged sometimes completely over me$

I kne% the end %as near and! almost involuntarily! I did that %hich I had not done since

childhood - I prayed$ (fter that I felt better$

I clung and %aited! but the %ater rose no higher$

Instead it receded$ 8o% the top of the conning-to%er received only the crests of the higher

%aves* no% the little triangular deck belo% became visible, /hat had occurred %ithin< ;id

Benson believe me already gone! and %as he emerging because of that belief! or had he and his

forces been van+uished< .he suspense %as more %earing than that %hich I had endured %hile

%aiting for dissolution$ 7resently the main deck came into vie%! and then the conning-to%er


18/48

opened behind me! and I turned to look into the an&ious face of Bradley$ (n e&pression of

relief overspread his features$

9.hank )od! man,9 %as all he said as he reached forth and dragged me into the to%er$ I %as

cold and numb and rather all in$ (nother fe% minutes %ould have done for me! I am sure! but

the %armth of the interior helped to revive me! aided and abetted by some brandy %hich

Bradley poured do%n my throat! from %hich it nearly removed the membrane$ .hat brandy%ould have revived a corpse$

/hen I got do%n into the centrale! I sa% the )ermans lined up on one side %ith a couple of my

men %ith pistols standing over them$ @on 2choenvorts %as among them$ 3n the floor lay

Benson! moaning! and beyond him stood the girl! a revolver in one hand$ I looked about!

be%ildered$

9/hat has happened do%n here


19/48

9.hen!9 replied 3lson! 9ye're sout' of fourteen! me b'y$9

/e thought he %as cra4y* but he %asn't! for that afternoon %e sighted a great berg south of us!

and %e'd been running north! %e thought! for days$ I can tell you %e %ere a discouraged lot*

but %e got a faint thrill of hope early the ne&t morning %hen the lookout ba%led do%n the open

hatch 96and, 6and north%est by %est,9

I think %e %ere all sick for the sight of land$ I kno% that I %as* but my interest %as +uicklydissipated by the sudden illness of three of the )ermans$ (lmost simultaneously they

commenced vomiting$ .hey couldn't suggest any e&planation for it$ I asked them %hat they had

eaten! and found they had eaten nothing other than the food cooked for all of us$ 9:ave you

drunk anything


20/48

But metaphor! ho%ever poetic! never slaked a dry throat$ .o enoy Caprona's romantic

suggestions %e must have %ater! and so %e came in close! al%ays sounding! and skirted the

shore$ (s close in as %e dared cruise! %e found fathomless depths! and al%ays the same

undented coastline of bald cliffs$ (s darkness threatened! %e dre% a%ay and lay %ell off the

coast all night$ /e had not as yet really commenced to suffer for lack of %ater* but I kne% that

it %ould not be long before %e did! and so at the first streak of da%n I moved in again and oncemore took up the hopeless survey of the forbidding coast$

.o%ard noon %e discovered a beach! the first %e had seen$ It %as a narro% strip of sand at the

base of a part of the cliff that seemed lo%er than any %e had before scanned$ (t its foot! half

buried in the sand! lay great boulders! mute evidence that in a bygone age some mighty natural

force had crumpled Caprona's barrier at this point$ It %as Bradley %ho first called our attention

to a strange obect lying among the boulders above the surf$

96ooks like a man!9 he said! and passed his glasses to me$

I looked long and carefully and could have s%orn that the thing I sa% %as the spra%led figure

of a human being$ iss 6a Rue %as on deck %ith us$ I turned and asked her to go belo%$

/ithout a %ord she did as I bade$ .hen I stripped! and as I did so! 8obs looked +uestioningly

at me$ :e had been %ont at home to enter the surf %ith me! and evidently he had not forgottenit$

9/hat are you going to do! sir


21/48

7ithecanthropus! the Java ape-man! and a daughter of the 7iltdo%n race of prehistoric 2usse&$ (

%ooden cudgel lay beside the corpse$

8o% this fact set me thinking$ .here %as no %ood of any description in sight$ .here %as

nothing about the beach to suggest a %recked mariner$ .here %as absolutely nothing about the

body to suggest that it might possibly in life have kno%n a maritime e&perience$ It %as the

body of a lo% type of man or a high type of beast$ In neither instance %ould it have been of aseafaring race$ .herefore I deduced that it %as native to Caprona - that it lived inland! and that

it had fallen or been hurled from the cliffs above$ 2uch being the case! Caprona %as

inhabitable! if not inhabited! by man* but ho% to reach the inhabitable interior, .hat %as the

+uestion$ ( closer vie% of the cliffs than had been afforded me from the deck of the 5- only

confirmed my conviction that no mortal man could scale those perpendicular heights* there %as

not a finger-hold! not a toe-hold! upon them$ I turned a%ay baffled$

8obs and I met %ith no sharks upon our return ourney to the submarine$ y report filled

everyone %ith theories and speculations! and %ith rene%ed hope and determination$ .hey all

reasoned along the same lines that I had reasoned - the conclusions %ere obvious! but not the

%ater$ /e %ere no% thirstier than ever$

.he balance of that day %e spent in continuing a minute and fruitless e&ploration of themonotonous coast$ .here %as not another break in the fro%ning cliffs - not even another

minute patch of pebbly beach$ (s the sun fell! so did our spirits$ I had tried to make advances

to the girl again* but she %ould have none of me! and so I %as not only thirsty but other%ise sad

and do%nhearted$ I %as glad %hen the ne% day broke the hideous spell of a sleepless night$

.he morning's search brought us no shred of hope$ Caprona %as impregnable - that %as the

decision of all* yet %e kept on$ It must have been about t%o bells of the afternoon %atch that

Bradley called my attention to the branch of a tree! %ith leaves upon it! floating on the sea$ 9It

may have been carried do%n to the ocean by a river!9 he suggested$ 90es! 9 I replied! 9it may

have* it may have tumbled or been thro%n off the top of one of these cliffs$9

Bradley's face fell$ 9I thought of that! too!9 he replied! 9but I %anted to believe the other$9

9Right you are,9 I cried$ 9/e must believe the other until %e prove it false$ /e can't afford to

give up heart no%! %hen %e need heart most$ .he branch %as carried do%n by a river! and %e

are going to find that river$9 I smote my open palm %ith a clenched fist! to emphasi4e a

determination unsupported by hope$ 9.here,9 I cried suddenly$ 92ee that! Bradley


22/48

get outside the fresh-%ater current$ .here %as a very light off-shore %ind and scarcely any

breakers! so that the approach to the shore %as continued %ithout finding bottom* yet though

%e %ere already +uite close! %e sa% no indication of any indention in the coast from %hich

even a tiny brooklet might issue! and certainly no mouth of a large river such as this must

necessarily be to freshen the ocean even t%o hundred yards from shore$ .he tide %as running

out! and this! together %ith the strong flo% of the fresh%ater current! %ould have prevented our going against the cliffs even had %e not been under po%er* as it %as %e had to buck the

combined forces in order to hold our position at all$ /e came up to %ithin t%enty-five feet of

the sheer %all! %hich loomed high above us$ .here %as no break in its forbidding face$ (s %e

%atched the face of the %aters and searched the cliff's high face! 3lson suggested that the fresh

%ater might come from a submarine geyser$ .his! he said! %ould account for its heat* but even

as he spoke a bush! covered thickly %ith leaves and flo%ers! bubbled to the surface and floated

off astern$

9lo%ering shrubs don't thrive in the subterranean caverns from %hich geysers spring!9

suggested Bradley$

3lson shook his head$ 9It beats me!9 he said$

9I've got it,9 I e&claimed suddenly$ 96ook there,9 (nd I pointed at the base of the cliff aheadof us! %hich the receding tide %as gradually e&posing to our vie%$ .hey all looked! and all sa%

%hat I had seen - the top of a dark opening in the rock! through %hich %ater %as pouring out

into the sea$ 9It's the subterranean channel of an inland river!9 I cried$ 9It flo%s through a land

covered %ith vegetation - and therefore a land upon %hich the sun shines$ 8o subterranean

caverns produce any order of plant life even remotely resembling %hat %e have seen disgorged

by this river$ Beyond those cliffs lie fertile lands and fresh %ater - perhaps! game,9

90is! sir!9 said 3lson! 9behoind the cliffs, 0e spoke a true %ord! sir - behoind,9

Bradley laughed - a rather sorry laugh! though$ 90ou might as %ell call our attention to the fact!

sir!9 he said! 9that science has indicated that there is fresh %ater and vegetation on ars$9

98ot at all!9 I reoined$ 9( 5-boat isn't constructed to navigate space! but it is designed to travel

belo% the surface of the %ater$9

90ou'd be after sailin' into that blank pocket


23/48

greater than those %hich %e no% faced< I tried to keep my mind from vain imagining by

calling everything %hich I observed to the eager ears belo%$ I %as the eyes of the %hole

company! and I did my best not to fail them$ /e had advanced a hundred yards! perhaps! %hen

our first danger confronted us$ Just ahead %as a sharp right-angle turn in the tunnel$ I could see

the river's flotsam hurtling against the rocky %all upon the left as it %as driven on by the

mighty current! and I feared for the safety of the 5- in making so sharp a turn under suchadverse conditions* but there %as nothing for it but to try$ I didn't %arn my fello%s of the

danger - it could have but caused them useless apprehension! for if %e %ere to be smashed

against the rocky %all! no po%er on earth could avert the +uick end that %ould come to us$ I

gave the command full speed ahead and %ent charging to%ard the menace$ I %as forced to

approach the dangerous left-hand %all in order to make the turn! and I depended upon the

po%er of the motors to carry us through the surging %aters in safety$ /ell! %e made it* but it

%as a narro% s+ueak$ (s %e s%ung around! the full force of the current caught us and drove

the stern against the rocks* there %as a thud %hich sent a tremor through the %hole craft! and

then a moment of nasty grinding as the steel hull scraped the rock %all$ I e&pected momentarily

the inrush of %aters that %ould seal our doom* but presently from belo% came the %elcome

%ord that all %as %ell$In another fifty yards there %as a second turn! this time to%ard the left, but it %as more of a

gentle curve! and %e took it %ithout trouble$ (fter that it %as plain sailing! though as far as I

could kno%! there might be most anything ahead of us! and my nerves strained to the snapping-

point every instant$ (fter the second turn the channel ran comparatively straight for bet%een

one hundred and fifty and t%o hundred yards$ .he %aters gre% suddenly lighter! and my spirits

rose accordingly$ I shouted do%n to those belo% that I sa% daylight ahead! and a great shout of

thanksgiving reverberated through the ship$ ( moment later %e emerged into sunlit %ater! and

immediately I raised the periscope and looked about me upon the strangest landscape I had ever

seen$

/e %ere in the middle of a broad and no% sluggish river the banks of %hich %ere lined by

giant! arboraceous ferns! raising their mighty fronds fifty! one hundred! t%o hundred feet into

the +uiet air$ Close by us something rose to the surface of the river and dashed at the periscope$

I had a vision of %ide! distended a%s! and then all %as blotted out$ ( shiver ran do%n into the

to%er as the thing closed upon the periscope$ ( moment later it %as gone! and I could see

again$ (bove the trees there soared into my vision a huge thing on batlike %ings - a creature

large as a large %hale! but fashioned more after the order of a li4ard$ .hen again something

charged the periscope and blotted out the mirror$ I %ill confess that I %as almost gasping for

breath as I gave the commands to emerge$ Into %hat sort of strange land had fate guided us<

.he instant the deck %as a%ash! I opened the conning-to%er hatch and stepped out$ In another

minute the deck-hatch lifted! and those %ho %ere not on duty belo% streamed up the ladder!

3lson bringing 8obs under one arm$ or several minutes no one spoke* I think they must eachhave been as overcome by a%e as %as I$ (ll about us %as a flora and fauna as strange and

%onderful to us as might have been those upon a distant planet had %e suddenly been

miraculously transported through ether to an unkno%n %orld$ Even the grass upon the nearer

bank %as unearthly - lush and high it gre%! and each blade bore upon its tip a brilliant flo%er -

violet or yello% or carmine or blue - making as gorgeous a s%ard as human imagination might

conceive$ But the life, It teemed$ .he tall! fernlike trees %ere alive %ith monkeys! snakes! and

li4ards$ :uge insects hummed and bu44ed hither and thither$ ighty forms could be seen

moving upon the ground in the thick forest! %hile the bosom of the river %riggled %ith living

things! and above flapped the %ings of gigantic creatures such as %e are taught have been

e&tinct throughout countless ages$

96ook,9 cried 3lson$ 9/ould you look at the giraffe comin' up out o' the bottom of the say


24/48

rising above the surface of the river$ 7resently the back of the creature %as e&posed! bro%n and

glossy as the %ater dripped from it$ It turned its eyes upon us! opened its li4ard-like mouth!

emitted a shrill hiss and came for us$ .he thing must have been si&teen or eighteen feet in

length and closely resembled pictures I had seen of restored plesiosaurs of the lo%er Jurassic$ It

charged us as savagely as a mad bull! and one %ould have thought it intended to destroy and

devour the mighty 5-boat! as I verily believe it did intend$/e %ere moving slo%ly up the river as the creature bore do%n upon us %ith distended a%s$

.he long neck %as far outstretched! and the four flippers %ith %hich it s%am %ere %orking

%ith po%erful strokes! carrying it for%ard at a rapid pace$ /hen it reached the craft's side! the

a%s closed upon one of the stanchions of the deck rail and tore it from its socket as though it

had been a toothpick stuck in putty$ (t this e&hibition of titanic strength I think %e all

simultaneously stepped back%ard! and Bradley dre% his revolver and fired$ .he bullet struck

the thing in the neck! ust above its body* but instead of disabling it! merely increased its rage$

Its hissing rose to a shrill scream as it raised half its body out of %ater onto the sloping sides of

the hull of the 5- and endeavored to scramble upon the deck to devour us$ ( do4en shots

rang out as %e %ho %ere armed dre% our pistols and fired at the thing* but though struck

several times! it sho%ed no signs of succumbing and only floundered farther aboard thesubmarine$

I had noticed that the girl had come on deck and %as standing not far behind me! and %hen I

sa% the danger to %hich %e %ere all e&posed! I turned and forced her to%ard the hatch$ /e had

not spoken for some days! and %e did not speak no%* but she gave me a disdainful look! %hich

%as +uite as elo+uent as %ords! and broke loose from my grasp$ I sa% I could do nothing %ith

her unless I e&erted force! and so I turned %ith my back to%ard her that I might be in a position

to shield her from the strange reptile should it really succeed in reaching the deck* and as I did

so I sa% the thing raise one flipper over the rail! dart its head for%ard and %ith the +uickness of

lightning sei4e upon one of the boches$ I ran for%ard! discharging my pistol into the creature's

body in an effort to force it to relin+uish its prey* but I might as profitably have shot at the sun$

2hrieking and screaming! the )erman %as dragged from the deck! and the moment the reptile

%as clear of the boat! it dived beneath the surface of the %ater %ith its terrified prey$ I think %e

%ere all more or less shaken by the frightfulness of the tragedy - until 3lson remarked that the

balance of po%er no% rested %here it belonged$ ollo%ing the death of Benson %e had been

nine and nine - nine )ermans and nine 9(llies!9 as %e called ourselves! no% there %ere but

eight )ermans$ /e never counted the girl on either side! I suppose because she %as a girl!

though %e kne% %ell enough no% that she %as ours$

(nd so 3lson's remark helped to clear the atmosphere for the (llies at least! and then our

attention %as once more directed to%ard the river! for around us there had sprung up a perfect

bedlam of screams and hisses and a seething caldron of hideous reptiles! devoid of fear and

filled only %ith hunger and %ith rage$ .hey clambered! s+uirmed and %riggled to the deck!forcing us steadily back%ard! though %e emptied our pistols into them$ .here %ere all sorts and

conditions of horrible things - huge! hideous! grotes+ue! monstrous - a veritable eso4oic

nightmare$ I sa% that the girl %as gotten belo% as +uickly as possible! and she took 8obs %ith

her - poor 8obs had nearly barked his head off* and I think! too! that for the first time since his

littlest puppyhood he had kno%n fear* nor can I blame him$ (fter the girl I sent Bradley and

most of the (llies and then the )ermans %ho %ere on deck - von 2choenvorts being still in

irons belo%$

.he creatures %ere approaching perilously close before I dropped through the hatch%ay and

slammed do%n the cover$ .hen I %ent into the to%er and ordered full speed ahead! hoping to

distance the fearsome things* but it %as useless$ 8ot only could any of them easily outdistance

the 5-! but the further upstream %e progressed the greater the number of our besiegers! untilfearful of navigating a strange river at high speed! I gave orders to reduce and moved slo%ly


25/48

and maestically through the plunging! hissing mass$ I %as mighty glad that our entrance into

the interior of Caprona had been inside a submarine rather than in any other form of vessel$ I

could readily understand ho% it might have been that Caprona had been invaded in the past by

venturesome navigators %ithout %ord of it ever reaching the outside %orld! for I can assure you

that only by submarine could man pass up that great sluggish river! alive$

/e proceeded up the river for some forty miles before darkness overtook us$ I %as afraid tosubmerge and lie on the bottom overnight for fear that the mud might be deep enough to hold

us! and as %e could not hold %ith the anchor! I ran in close to shore! and in a brief interim of

attack from the reptiles %e made fast to a large tree$ /e also dipped up some of the river %ater

and found it! though +uite %arm! a little s%eeter than before$ /e had food enough! and %ith the

%ater %e %ere all +uite refreshed* but %e missed fresh meat$ It had been %eeks! no%! since %e

had tasted it! and the sight of the reptiles gave me an idea - that a steak or t%o from one of them

might not be bad eating$ 2o I %ent on deck %ith a rifle! t%enty of %hich %ere aboard the 5-$

(t sight of me a huge thing charged and climbed to the deck$ I retreated to the top of the

conning-to%er! and %hen it had raised its mighty bulk to the level of the little deck on %hich I

stood! I let it have a bullet right bet%een the eyes$

.he thing stopped then and looked at me a moment as much as to say 9/hy this thing has astinger, I must be careful$9 (nd then it reached out its long neck and opened its mighty a%s

and grabbed for me* but I %asn't there$ I had tumbled back%ard into the to%er! and I mighty

near killed myself doing it$ /hen I glanced up! that little head on the end of its long neck %as

coming straight do%n on top of me! and once more I tumbled into greater safety! spra%ling

upon the floor of the centrale$

3lson %as looking up! and seeing %hat %as poking about in the to%er! ran for an a&* nor did he

hesitate a moment %hen he returned %ith one! but sprang up the ladder and commenced

chopping a%ay at that hideous face$ .he thing didn't have sufficient brainpan to entertain more

than a single idea at once$ .hough chopped and hacked! and %ith a bullethole bet%een its eyes!

it still persisted madly in its attempt to get inside the to%er and devour 3lson! though its body

%as many times the diameter of the hatch* nor did it cease its efforts until after 3lson had

succeeded in decapitating it$ .hen the t%o men %ent on deck through the main hatch! and

%hile one kept %atch! the other cut a hind +uarter off 7lesiosaurus 3lsoni! as Bradley dubbed

the thing$ eantime 3lson cut off the long neck! saying that it %ould make fine soup$ By the

time %e had cleared a%ay the blood and refuse in the to%er! the cook had uicy steaks and a

steaming broth upon the electric stove! and the aroma arising from 7$ 3lsoni filled us an %ith a

hitherto unfelt admiration for him and all his kind$

Chapter

.he steaks %e had that night! and they %ere fine* and the follo%ing morning %e tasted the

broth$ It seemed odd to be eating a creature that should! by all the la%s of paleontology! have

been e&tinct for several million years$ It gave one a feeling of ne%ness that %as almostembarrassing! although it didn't seem to embarrass our appetites$ 3lson ate until I thought he

%ould burst$

.he girl ate %ith us that night at the little officers' mess ust back of the torpedo compartment$

.he narro% table %as unfolded* the four stools %ere set out* and for the first time in days %e sat

do%n to eat! and for the first time in %eeks %e had something to eat other than the monotony of

the short rations of an impoverished 5-boat$ 8obs sat bet%een the girl and me and %as fed

%ith morsels of the 7lesiosaurus steak! at the risk of forever contaminating his manners$ :e

looked at me sheepishly all the time! for he kne% that no %ell-bred dog should eat at table* but

the poor fello% %as so %asted from improper food that I couldn't enoy my o%n meal had he

been denied an immediate share in it* and any%ay 6ys %anted to feed him$ 2o there you are$

6ys %as coldly polite to me and s%eetly gracious to Bradley and 3lson$ 2he %asn't of thegushing type! I kne%* so I didn't e&pect much from her and %as duly grateful for the fe%


26/48

morsels of attention she thre% upon the floor to me$ /e had a pleasant meal! %ith only one

unfortunate occurrence - %hen 3lson suggested that possibly the creature %e %ere eating %as

the same one that ate the )erman$ It %as some time before %e could persuade the girl to

continue her meal! but at last Bradley prevailed upon her! pointing out that %e had come

upstream nearly forty miles since the boche had been sei4ed! and that during that time %e had

seen literally thousands of these deni4ens of the river! indicating that the chances %ere veryremote that this %as the same 7lesiosaur$ 9(nd any%ay!9 he concluded! 9it %as only a scheme

of r$ 3lson's to get all the steaks for himself$9

/e discussed the future and ventured opinions as to %hat lay before us* but %e could only

theori4e at best! for none of us kne%$ If the %hole land %as infested by these and similar horrid

monsters! life %ould be impossible upon it! and %e decided that %e %ould only search long

enough to find and take aboard fresh %ater and such meat and fruits as might be safely

procurable and then retrace our %ay beneath the cliffs to the open sea$

(nd so at last %e turned into our narro% bunks! hopeful! happy and at peace %ith ourselves! our

lives and our )od! to a%aken the follo%ing morning refreshed and still optimistic$ /e had an

easy time getting a%ay - as %e learned later! because the saurians do not commence to feed

until late in the morning$ rom noon to midnight their curve of activity is at its height! %hilefrom da%n to about nine o'clock it is lo%est$ (s a matter of fact! %e didn't see one of them all

the time %e %ere getting under %ay! though I had the cannon raised to the deck and manned

against an assault$ I hoped! but I %as none too sure! that shells might discourage them$ .he

trees %ere full of monkeys of all si4es and shades! and once %e thought %e sa% a manlike

creature %atching us from the depth of the forest$

2hortly after %e resumed our course upstream! %e sa% the mouth of another and smaller river

emptying into the main channel from the south - that is! upon our right* and almost immediately

after %e came upon a large island five or si& miles in length* and at fifty miles there %as a still

larger river than the last coming in from the north%est! the course of the main stream having

no% changed to northeast by south%est$ .he %ater %as +uite free from reptiles! and the

vegetation upon the banks of the river had altered to more open and parklike forest! %ith

eucalyptus and acacia mingled %ith a scattering of tree ferns! as though t%o distinct periods of

geologic time had overlapped and merged$ .he grass! too! %as less flo%ering! though there

%ere still gorgeous patches mottling the greens%ard* and lastly! the fauna %as less

multitudinous$

2i& or seven miles farther! and the river %idened considerably* before us opened an e&panse of

%ater to the farther hori4on! and then %e sailed out upon an inland sea so large that only a

shore- line upon our side %as visible to us$ .he %aters all about us %ere alive %ith life$ .here

%ere still a fe% reptiles* but there %ere fish by the thousands! by the millions$

.he %ater of the inland sea %as very %arm! almost hot! and the atmosphere %as hot and heavy

above it$ It seemed strange that beyond the buttressed %alls of Caprona icebergs floated andthe south %ind %as biting! for only a gentle bree4e moved across the face of these living %aters!

and that %as damp and %arm$ )radually! %e commenced to divest ourselves of our clothing!

retaining only sufficient for modesty* but the sun %as not hot$ It %as more the heat of a steam-

room than of an oven$

/e coasted up the shore of the lake in a north-%esterly direction! sounding all the time$ /e

found the lake deep and the bottom rocky and steeply shelving to%ard the center! and once

%hen I moved straight out from shore to take other soundings %e could find no bottom

%hatsoever$ In open spaces along the shore %e caught occasional glimpses of the distant cliffs!

and here they appeared only a trifle less precipitous than those %hich bound Caprona on the

sea%ard side$ y theory is that in a far distant era Caprona %as a mighty mountain - perhaps

the %orld's mightiest volcanic action ble% off the entire crest! ble% thousands of feet of themountain up%ard and out%ard and onto the surrounding continent! leaving a great crater* and


27/48

then! possibly! the continent sank as ancient continents have been kno%n to do! leaving only the

summit of Caprona above the sea$ .he encircling %alls! the central lake! the hot springs %hich

feed the lake! all point to a conclusion! and the fauna and the flora bear indisputable evidence

that Caprona %as once part of some great land-mass$

(s %e cruised up along the coast! the landscape continued a more or less open forest! %ith here

and there a small plain %here %e sa% animals gra4ing$ /ith my glass I could make out aspecies of large red deer! some antelope and %hat appeared to be a species of horse* and once I

sa% the shaggy form of %hat might have been a monstrous bison$ :ere %as game a plenty,

.here seemed little danger of starving upon Caprona$ .he game! ho%ever! seemed %ary* for

the instant the animals discovered us! they thre% up their heads and tails and %ent cavorting off!

those farther inland follo%ing the e&ample of the others until all %ere lost in the ma4es of the

distant forest$ 3nly the great! shaggy o& stood his ground$ /ith lo%ered head he %atched us

until %e had passed! and then continued feeding$

(bout t%enty miles up the coast from the mouth of the river %e encountered lo% cliffs of

sandstone! broken and tortured evidence of the great upheaval %hich had torn Caprona asunder

in the past! intermingling upon a common level the rock formations of %idely separated eras!

fusing some and leaving others untouched$/e ran along beside them for a matter of ten miles! arriving off a broad cleft %hich led into

%hat appeared to be another lake$ (s %e %ere in search of pure %ater! %e did not %ish to

overlook any portion of the coast! and so after sounding and finding that %e had ample depth! I

ran the 5- bet%een head-lands into as pretty a landlocked harbor as sailormen could care to

see! %ith good %ater right up to %ithin a fe% yards of the shore$ (s %e cruised slo%ly along!

t%o of the boches again sa% %hat they believed to be a man! or manlike creature! %atching us

from a fringe of trees a hundred yards inland! and shortly after %e discovered the mouth of a

small stream emptying into the bay It %as the first stream %e had found since leaving the river!

and I at once made preparations to test its %ater$ .o land! it %ould be necessary to run the 5-

close in to the shore! at least as close as %e could! for even these %aters %ere infested! though!

not so thickly! by savage reptiles$ I ordered sufficient %ater let into the diving-tanks to lo%er us

about a foot! and then I ran the bo% slo%ly to%ard the shore! confident that should %e run

aground! %e still had sufficient lifting force to free us %hen the %ater should be pumped out of

the tanks* but the bo% nosed its %ay gently into the reeds and touched the shore %ith the keel

still clear$

y men %ere all armed no% %ith both rifles and pistols! each having plenty of ammunition$ I

ordered one of the )ermans ashore %ith a line! and sent t%o of my o%n men to guard him! for

from %hat little %e had seen of Caprona! or Caspak as %e learned later to call the interior! %e

reali4ed that any instant some ne% and terrible danger might confront us$ .he line %as made

fast to a small tree! a

edgar rice burroughs - caspak 1 - the land that time forgot

Documents