hypnotic in those terrible eyes.  I could struggle no longer.  As the creature felt me grow limp in his grasp, two white canines gleamed for a moment at each side of the vile mouth, and the grip tightened still more upon my chin, forcing it always upwards and back.  A thin, oval-tinted mist formed before my eyes and little silvery bells tinkled in my ears.  Dully and far off I heard the crack of a rifle and was feebly aware of the shock as I was dropped to the earth, where I lay without sense or motion.

I awoke to find myself on my back upon the grass in our lair within the thicket.  Someone had brought the water from the brook, and Lord John was sprinkling my head with it, while Challenger and Summerlee were propping me up, with concern in their faces.  For a moment I had a glimpse of the human spirits behind their scientific masks.  It was really shock, rather than any injury, which had prostrated me, and in half-an-hour, in spite of aching head and stiff neck, I was sitting up and ready for anything.

“But you’ve had the escape of your life, young fellah my lad,” said Lord Roxton.  “When I heard your cry and ran forward, and saw your head twisted half-off and your stohwassers kickin’ in the air, I thought we were one short.  I missed the beast in my flurry, but he dropped you all right and was off like a streak.  By George!  I wish I had fifty men with rifles.  I’d clear out the whole infernal gang of them and leave this country a bit cleaner than we found it.”

It was clear now that the ape-men had in some way marked us down, and that we were watched on every side.  We had not so much to fear from them during the day, but they would be very likely to rush us by night; so the sooner we got away from their neighborhood the better.  On three sides of us was absolute forest, and there we might find ourselves in an ambush.  But on the fourth side—­that which sloped down in the direction of the lake—­there was only low scrub, with scattered trees and occasional open glades.  It was, in fact, the route which I had myself taken in my solitary journey, and it led us straight for the Indian caves.  This then must for every reason be our road.

One great regret we had, and that was to leave our old camp behind us, not only for the sake of the stores which remained there, but even more because we were losing touch with Zambo, our link with the outside world.  However, we had a fair supply of cartridges and all our guns, so, for a time at least, we could look after ourselves, and we hoped soon to have a chance of returning and restoring our communications with our negro.  He had faithfully promised to stay where he was, and we had not a doubt that he would be as good as his word.