caves.Now,asIlookedupatthesamecliffs,Isawdiscsoflightineverydirection,ruddy,clearly-definedpatches,liketheport-holesofalinerinthedarkness.ForamomentIthoughtitwasthelava-glowfromsomevolcanicactionbutthiscouldnotbeso.Anyvolcanicactionwouldsurelybedowninthehollowandnothighamongtherocks.What,then,wasthealternative?Itwaswonderful,andyetitmustsurelybe.Theseruddyspotsmustbethereflectionoffireswithinthecaves—fireswhichcouldonlybelitbythehandofman.Therewerehumanbeings,then,upontheplateau.Howgloriouslymyexpeditionwasjustified!HerewasnewsindeedforustobearbackwithustoLondon!
ForalongtimeIlayandwatchedthesered,quiveringblotchesoflight.Isupposetheyweretenmilesofffromme,yetevenatthatdistanceonecouldobservehow,fromtimetotime,theytwinkledorwereobscuredassomeonepassedbeforethem.WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletocrawluptothem,topeepin,andtotakebacksomewordtomycomradesastotheappearanceandcharacteroftheracewholivedinsostrangeaplace!Itwasoutofthequestionforthemoment,andyetsurelywecouldnotleavetheplateauuntilwehadsomedefiniteknowledgeuponthepoint.
LakeGladys—myownlake—laylikeasheetofquicksilverbeforeme,withareflectedmoonshiningbrightlyinthecenterofit.Itwasshallow,forinmanyplacesIsawlowsandbanksprotrudingabovethewater.EverywhereuponthestillsurfaceIcouldseesignsoflife,sometimesmereringsandripplesinthewater,sometimesthegleamofagreatsilver-sidedfishintheair,sometimesthearched,slate-coloredbackofsomepassingmonster.OnceuponayellowsandbankIsawacreaturelikeahugeswan,withaclumsybodyandahigh,flexibleneck,shufflingaboutuponthemargin.Presentlyitplungedin,andforsometimeIcouldseethearchedneckanddartingheadundulatingoverthewater.Thenitdived,andIsawitnomore.
Myattentionwassoondrawnawayfromthesedistantsightsandbroughtbacktowhatwasgoingonatmyveryfeet.Twocreatureslikelargearmadilloshadcomedowntothedrinking-place,andweresquattingattheedgeofthewater,theirlong,flexibletongueslikeredribbonsshootinginandoutastheylapped.Ahugedeer,withbranchinghorns,amagnificentcreaturewhichcarrieditselflikeaking,camedownwithitsdoeandtwofawnsanddrankbesidethearmadillos.Nosuchdeerexistanywhereelseuponearth,forthemooseorelkswhichIhaveseenwouldhardlyhavereacheditsshoulders.Presentlyitgaveawarningsnort,andwasoffwithitsfamilyamongthereeds,whilethearmadillosalsoscuttledforshelter.Anew-comer,amostmonstrousanimal,wascomingdownthepath.
ForamomentIwonderedwhereIcouldhaveseenthatungainlyshape,thatarchedbackwithtriangularfringesalongit,thatstrangebird-likeheadheldclosetotheground.Thenitcameback,tome.Itwasthestegosaurus—thever