epression such as such heavy bodies would necessarily have
made had they been rolled along the ground, neither does it seem to me
that these curious tracks in the sand are those of men."

The loose earth looked as if the cross-ties of some railroad had been
removed, the space formerly occupied having been but partly filled, and
these depressions were across the probable direction of motion.

"Whatever was capable of chasing mastodons and carrying such weights,"
said Ayrault, "will, I suspect, have little to fear from us. Probably
nothing short of light artillery would leave much effect."

"I dare say," replied Bearwarden, "we had better give the unknown
quantity a wide berth, though I would give a year's salary to see what
it is like. The absence of other tracks shows that his confreres leave
'Scissor-jaw' alone."

Keeping a sharp lookout in all directions, they resumed their march
along the third side of the square which was to bring them back to the
Callisto. Their course was parallel to the stream, and on
comparatively high ground. Cortlandt's gun did good service, bringing
down between fifty and sixty birds that usually allowed them to get as
near as they pleased, and often seemed unwilling to leave their
branches. By the time they were ready for luncheon they saw it would
be dark in an hour. As the rapidity of the planet's rotation did not
give them a chance to become tired, they concluded not to pitch their
camp, but to resume the march by moonlight, which would be easy in the
high, open country they were traversing.

While in quest of fire-wood, they came upon great heaps of bones,
mostly those of birds, and were attracted by the tall, bell-shaped
flowers growing luxuriantly in their midst. These exhaled a most
delicious perfume, and at the centre of each flower was a viscous
liquid, the colour of honey.

"If this tastes as well as it looks," said Bearwarden, "it will come in
well for dessert"; saying which he thrust his finger into the recesses
of the flower, intending to taste the essence. Quietly, but like a
flash, the flower closed, his hand being nearly caught and badly
scratched by the long, sharp thorns that now appeared at the edges.

"Ha!" he exclaimed, "a sensitive and you may almost say a man-eating
plant. This doubtless has been the fate of these birds, whose bones
now lie bleaching at its feet after they have nourished its lips with
their lives. No doubt the plant has use for them st