arebabyfillingitupwithseveralthornybushes,andleftourcampwiththestoresentirelysurroundedbythisprotectinghedge.Wethenslowlyandcautiouslysetforthintotheunknown,followingthecourseofthelittlestreamwhichflowedfromourspring,asitshouldalwaysserveusasaguideonourreturn.
Hardlyhadwestartedwhenwecameacrosssignsthattherewereindeedwondersawaitingus.Afterafewhundredyardsofthickforest,containingmanytreeswhichwerequiteunknowntome,butwhichSummerlee,whowasthebotanistoftheparty,recognizedasformsofconiferaandofcycadaceousplantswhichhavelongpassedawayintheworldbelow,weenteredaregionwherethestreamwidenedoutandformedaconsiderablebog.Highreedsofapeculiartypegrewthicklybeforeus,whichwerepronouncedtobeequisetacea,ormare's-tails,withtree-fernsscatteredamongstthem,allofthemswayinginabriskwind.SuddenlyLordJohn,whowaswalkingfirst,haltedwithupliftedhand.
"Lookatthis!"saidhe."ByGeorge,thismustbethetrailofthefatherofallbirds!"
Anenormousthree-toedtrackwasimprintedinthesoftmudbeforeus.Thecreature,whateveritwas,hadcrossedtheswampandhadpassedonintotheforest.Weallstoppedtoexaminethatmonstrousspoor.Ifitwereindeedabird—andwhatanimalcouldleavesuchamark?—itsfootwassomuchlargerthananostrich'sthatitsheightuponthesamescalemustbeenormous.LordJohnlookedeagerlyroundhimandslippedtwocartridgesintohiselephant-gun.
"I'llstakemygoodnameasashikarree,"saidhe,"thatthetrackisafreshone.Thecreaturehasnotpassedtenminutes.Lookhowthewaterisstilloozingintothatdeeperprint!ByJove!See,hereisthemarkofalittleone!"
Sureenough,smallertracksofthesamegeneralformwererunningparalleltothelargeones.
"Butwhatdoyoumakeofthis?"criedProfessorSummerlee,triumphantly,pointingtowhatlookedlikethehugeprintofafive-fingeredhumanhandappearingamongthethree-toedmarks.
"Wealden!"criedChallenger,inanecstasy."I'veseenthemintheWealdenclay.Itisacreaturewalkingerectuponthree-toedfeet,andoccasionallyputtingoneofitsfive-fingeredforepawsupontheground.Notabird,mydearRoxton—notabird."
"Abeast?"
"Noareptile—adinosaur.Nothingelsecouldhaveleftsuchatrack.TheypuzzledaworthySussexdoctorsomeninetyyearsagobutwhointheworldcouldhavehoped—hoped—tohaveseenasightlikethat?"
Hiswordsdiedawayintoawhisper,andweallstoodinmotionlessamazement.Followingthetracks,wehadleftthemorassandpassedthroughascreenofbrushwoodandtrees.Beyon