acrossthepathswhichmarkedtherunoftheanimalsaswoulddestroytheminspiteofalltheirstrengthandactivity.Manwasalwaysthemaster.
Theslopingwallofthepitwasnotdifficultforanactivemantoclimb,butIhesitatedlongbeforeItrustedmyselfwithinreachofthedreadfulcreaturewhichhadsonearlydestroyedme.HowdidIknowthathewasnotlurkinginthenearestclumpofbushes,waitingformyreappearance?Itookheart,however,asIrecalledaconversationbetweenChallengerandSummerleeuponthehabitsofthegreatsaurians.Bothwereagreedthatthemonsterswerepracticallybrainless,thattherewasnoroomforreasonintheirtinycranialcavities,andthatiftheyhavedisappearedfromtherestoftheworlditwasassuredlyonaccountoftheirownstupidity,whichmadeitimpossibleforthemtoadaptthemselvestochangingconditions.
Tolieinwaitformenowwouldmeanthatthecreaturehadappreciatedwhathadhappenedtome,andthisinturnwouldarguesomepowerconnectingcauseandeffect.Surelyitwasmorelikelythatabrainlesscreature,actingsolelybyvaguepredatoryinstinct,wouldgiveupthechasewhenIdisappeared,and,afterapauseofastonishment,wouldwanderawayinsearchofsomeotherprey?Iclamberedtotheedgeofthepitandlookedover.Thestarswerefading,theskywaswhitening,andthecoldwindofmorningblewpleasantlyuponmyface.Icouldseeorhearnothingofmyenemy.SlowlyIclimbedoutandsatforawhileupontheground,readytospringbackintomyrefugeifanydangershouldappear.Then,reassuredbytheabsolutestillnessandbythegrowinglight,ItookmycourageinbothhandsandstolebackalongthepathwhichIhadcome.SomedistancedownitIpickedupmygun,andshortlyafterwardsstruckthebrookwhichwasmyguide.So,withmanyafrightenedbackwardglance,Imadeforhome.
Andsuddenlytherecamesomethingtoremindmeofmyabsentcompanions.Intheclear,stillmorningairtheresoundedfarawaythesharp,hardnoteofasinglerifle-shot.Ipausedandlistened,buttherewasnothingmore.ForamomentIwasshockedatthethoughtthatsomesuddendangermighthavebefallenthem.Butthenasimplerandmorenaturalexplanationcametomymind.Itwasnowbroaddaylight.Nodoubtmyabsencehadbeennoticed.Theyhadimagined,thatIwaslostinthewoods,andhadfiredthisshottoguidemehome.Itistruethatwehadmadeastrictresolutionagainstfiring,butifitseemedtothemthatImightbeindangertheywouldnothesitate.Itwasformenowtohurryonasfastaspossible,andsotoreassurethem.
Iwaswearyandspent,somyprogresswasnotsofastasIwishedbutatlastIcameintoregionswhichIknew.Therewastheswampofthepterodactylsuponmyleftthereinfrontofmewasthegladeoftheiguanodons.NowIwasinthelastbeltoftreeswhichseparatedmefromFortChallenger.Iraisedmyvoiceinacheeryshouttoallaytheirfears.Noansweringgreetingcamebacktome.Myhearts