t any sufficient cleft or
protuberance to give hand or foot-hold. All were disappointed, for we
hungered for a view of the ocean and the outside world. We even had a
hope that we might see and attract the attention of a passing ship. Our
exploration has determined one thing which will probably be of little
value to us and never heard of beyond Caprona's walls--this crater was
once entirely filled with water. Indisputable evidence of this is on
the face of the cliffs.

Our return journey occupied two days and was as filled with adventure
as usual. We are all becoming accustomed to adventure. It is beginning
to pall on us. We suffered no casualties and there was no illness.

I had to smile as I read Bradley's report. In those four days he had
doubtless passed through more adventures than an African big-game
hunter experiences in a lifetime, and yet he covered it all in a few
lines. Yes, we are becoming accustomed to adventure. Not a day passes
that one or more of us does not face death at least once. Ahm taught
us a few things that have proved profitable and saved us much
ammunition, which it is useless to expend except for food or in the
last recourse of self-preservation. Now when we are attacked by large
flying reptiles we run beneath spreading trees; when land carnivora
threaten us, we climb into trees, and we have learned not to fire at
any of the dinosaurs unless we can keep out of their reach for at least
two minutes after hitting them in the brain or spine, or five minutes
after puncturing their hearts--it takes them so long to die. To hit
them elsewhere is worse than useless, for they do not seem to notice
it, and we had discovered that such shots do not kill or even disable
them.

September 7, 1916: Much has happened since I last wrote. Bradley is
away again on another exploration expedition to the cliffs. He expects
to be gone several weeks and to follow along their base in search of a
point where they may be scaled. He took Sinclair, Brady, James, and
Tippet with him. Ahm has disappeared. He has been gone about three
days; but the most startling thing I have on record is that von
Schoenvorts and Olson while out hunting the other day discovered oil
about fifteen miles north of us beyond the sandstone cliffs. Olson says
there is a geyser of oil there, and von Schoenvorts is making
preparations to refine it. If he succeeds, we shall have the means for
leaving Caspak and returning to our own wor