The Transient Lake

ship was

It was a terrible realization, for below, thousands of

nd struck full and fair in the air-ship's bow.

ir-ship was floating downward with speed. For one awfu

k Reade,

-house. Barney, who was at the wheel, had

sed the helix lever to fly shut and had shut off the electric current. Th

Frank reache

r found that it was bent. However, the downw

nd she rested upon the ground. Then

bout to see that they were resting safely upon

ain for miles into green va

is feet; "phwat the divil was it that was afthe

, "I thought our bones were spoi

lose call,"

dat struck us?" i

said Frank, as he

e fragment of volcanic rock which had cut its way half through the deck plate

core or more aerolites whi

e distant volcano there was a strong likelihoo

upon the ledge of rock. Frank proc

nd Barney bethought themselves that it was a good

d descended to an altitude now where the air was not so rare

goats and the captain was a

untain side until the air-ship was lost to

helving rock. In the vista beyond a mighty green valley extend

here else in the world. The two men could

ed Barney, "it's a

mus. "I wouldn't care to walk

alt, and raised his gun with o

ntain wall there was creeping toward them a

o recognize the deadly foe of the South Am

cking them, as could be readily

sharply, moving to the right.

oight,

disconcert the puma. It seemed in a q

ard Barney. The Celt

use, and his shock of red

his clutches on me, shure it's lost I am! I'm a

nwhile, had been getti

'll give him a shot. If he tur

oight,

t and careful aim. The

ac

s not easy to say. But the animal gave

ifle from the ground.

" he muttered, a

ac

nimal had already made its spring. Straig

life hung in the balance. He di

momentous

m. If his bullet hit the mark he would stop t

pense. All his nerves were o

ck-

t the same moment. One moment the puma was in

the two hunters ventured to approach it. A

fresh cartridges in his rifle, "the beast

as more skeered in me loife. One moment I thought it was

and kicked the bod

I don't believe it would pay. On my word, I think I

mountain side. Upon a distant spur of

ceed with the greatest caution. These moun

oes, however, until they were

t the mark, for the goat gave

n side, and fell almost at the feet of the h

was well

he did not care to go further. The goat was slung over h

be not such an easy matter. They had wan

was some while before Barney was able to de

nd they set out upon the return. But though they jour

hasm, with sides too precipitous to descend. He

eere, "here's a pretty how d'ye do

ly," replied the Celt. "Shure, I thou

," replied the captain. "We must m

we are already," declared Barney.

omfortable frame of mind. He storme

ult? Darkness is coming on, and we will have to spend the night

do yez mean that, sor! It's

set out along th

ad ascended the mountain some distance in quest of goats a

bandoned all idea of finding the air-ship. It w

y to collecting fag

light. They knew that fire would keep wild

nd waited for daylight to come again. There was no slee

ype="