hat the banks were
slightly higher, while palms, pine-trees, and rubber plants succeeded
the ferns. In the distance they now heard a tremendous crashing, which
grew louder as the seconds passed. It finally sounded like an
earthquake. Involuntarily they held their breath and grasped their
weapons. Finally, at some distance in the woods they saw a dark mass
moving rapidly and approaching the river obliquely. Palms and
pine-trees went down before it like straws, while its head was
continually among the upper branches. As the monster neared the lake,
the water at the edges quivered, showing how its weight shook the banks
at each stride, while stumps and tree-trunks on which it stepped were
pressed out of sight in the ground. A general exodus of the other
inhabitants from his line of march began; the moccasins slid into the
water with a low splash, while the boa-constrictors and the tree-snakes
moved off along the ground when they felt it tremble, and a number of
night birds retreated into the denser woods with loud cries at being so
rudely disturbed. The huge beast did not stop till he reached the
bank, where lie switched his tail, raised his proboscis, and sniffed
the air uneasily, his height being fully thirty feet and his length
about fifty. On seeing the raft and its occupants, he looked at them
stupidly and threw back his head.

"He seems to be turning up his nose at us," said Bearwarden. "All the
same, he will do well for breakfast."

As the creature moved, his chest struck a huge overhanging palm,
tearing it off as though it had been a reed. Brushing it aside with
his trunk, he was about to continue his march, when two rifle reports
rang out together, rousing the echoes and a number of birds that
screeched loudly.

CHAPTER VI.

MASTODON AND WILL-O'-THE WISPS.

Bearwarden's bullet struck the mammoth in the shoulder, while Ayrault's
aim was farther back. As the balls exploded, a half-barrelful of flesh
and hide was shot from each, leaving two gaping holes. Instantly he
rushed among the trees, making his course known for some time by his
roars. As he turned, Bearwarden fired again, but the hall flew over
him, blowing off the top of a tree.

"Now for the chase!" said Ayrault. "There would be no excuse for
losing him."

Quickly pushing their raft to shore and securing it to the bank, the
three jumped off. Thanks to their rubber boots and galvanic out