Our learned men looked at each other with some hesitation.

“Personally, I am unable to classify the creature with any certainty,” said Summerlee, lighting his pipe from the fire.

“In refusing to commit yourself you are but showing a proper scientific reserve,” said Challenger, with massive condescension.  “I am not myself prepared to go farther than to say in general terms that we have almost certainly been in contact to-night with some form of carnivorous dinosaur.  I have already expressed my anticipation that something of the sort might exist upon this plateau.”

“We have to bear in mind,” remarked Summerlee, “that there are many prehistoric forms which have never come down to us.  It would be rash to suppose that we can give a name to all that we are likely to meet.”

“Exactly.  A rough classification may be the best that we can attempt.  To-morrow some further evidence may help us to an identification.  Meantime we can only renew our interrupted slumbers.”

“But not without a sentinel,” said Lord John, with decision.  “We can’t afford to take chances in a country like this.  Two-hour spells in the future, for each of us.”

“Then I’ll just finish my pipe in starting the first one,” said Professor Summerlee; and from that time onwards we never trusted ourselves again without a watchman.

In the morning it was not long before we discovered the source of the hideous uproar which had aroused us in the night.  The iguanodon glade was the scene of a horrible butchery.  From the pools of blood and the enormous lumps of flesh scattered in every direction over the green sward we imagined at first that a number of animals had been killed, but on examining the remains more closely we discovered that all this carnage came from one of these unwieldy monsters, which had been literally torn to pieces by some creature not larger, perhaps, but far more ferocious, than itself.

Our two professors sat in absorbed argument, examining piece after piece, which showed the marks of savage teeth and of enormous claws.

“Our judgment must still be in abeyance,” said Professor Challenger, with a huge slab of whitish-colored flesh across his knee.  “The indications would be consistent with the presence of a saber-toothed tiger, such as are still found among the breccia of our caverns; but the creature actually seen was undoubtedly of a larger and more reptilian character.  Personally, I should pronounce for allosaurus.”

“Or megalosaurus,” said Summerlee.

“Exactly.  Any one of the larger carnivorous dinosaurs would meet the case.  Among them are to be found all the most terrible types of animal life that have ever cursed the earth or blessed a museum.”  He laughed sonorously at his own conceit, for, though he had little sense of humor, the crudest pleasantry from his own lips moved him always to roars of appreciation.

“The less noise the better,” said Lord Roxton, curtly.  “We don’t know who or what may be near us.  If this fellah comes back for his breakfast and catches us here we won’t have so much to laugh at.  By the way, what is this mark upon the iguanodon’s hide?”