's attention, the wings were to advance
simultaneously. These arrangements they carried out to the letter.
When Bearwarden and Ayrault had gone about twenty-five yards on either
side, the doctor imitated the peculiar grunting sound of an alligator,
at which the colossal monster turned and faced him, while Bearwarden
and Ayrault moved to the attack. The plan of this was good, for, with
his attention fixed on three objects, the dinosaur seemed confused, and
though Bearwarden and Ayrault had good angles from which to shoot,
there was no possibility of their hitting each other. They therefore
advanced steadily with their rifles half up. Though their own danger
increased with each step, in the event of their missing, the chance of
their shooting wild decreased, the idea being to reach the brain
through the eye. Cortlandt's part had also its risks, for, being
entirely defenceless with his shot-gun against the large creature,
whose attention it was his duty to attract, he staked all on the
marksmanship of his friends. Not considering this, however, he stood
his ground, having the thumb-piece on his Winchester magazine shoved up
and ready to make a noisy diversion if necessary in behalf of either
wing. Having aroused the monster's curiosity, Cortlandt sprang up,
waving his arms and his gun. The dinosaur lowered his head as if to
charge, thereby bringing it to a level with the rifles, either of which
could have given it the fatal shot. But as their fingers pressed the
triggers the reptile soared up thirty feet in the air. Ayrault pulled
for his first sight, shooting through the lower jaw, and shivering that
member, while Bearwarden changed his aim and sighted straight for the
heart. In an instant the monster was down again, just missing
Ayrault's head as he stepped back, and Bearwarden's rifle poured a
stream of explosive balls against its side, rending and blowing away
the heavy scales. Having drawn the dinosaur's attention to himself, he
retreated, while Ayrault renewed the attack. Cortlandt, seeing that
the original plan had miscarried, poured showers of small shot against
the huge beast's face. Finally, one of Ayrault's balls exploded in the
brain, and all was over.

"We have killed it at last," said Bearwarden "but the first attack,
though artistic, had not the brilliant results we expected. These
creatures' mode of fighting is doubtless somewhat similar to that of
the kangaroo, which it is said puts its fore