Five Thousand Miles Underground Part 23

"I don't want to go fishing in this lake any more," spoke Jack, as he looked at the repulsive creature. "I never want to eat fish any more."

"Same here," agreed Mark, and old Andy was of the opinion that the thing killed would not make a wholesome dish for the table.

"There don't seem to be any game in this section," he remarked. "Not a sign could I see, nor have I since we have been here, unless you count those gra.s.shoppers. But the fruit is good, I'll say that."

"Come on, we'd better be getting back," Mark said, as he noticed it was getting dark. "I'm hungry."

CHAPTER XXII

THE SNAKE-TREE

THEY managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found, the day before. Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moon-beams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.

As the machinery of the Mermaid was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness. The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.

Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal. After seeing that the ship was in readiness for a quick start, the professor suggested they take a walk around and see what sort of country they might be in now.

They tramped on for several miles, meeting with no adventures, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It was a pleasant day, just warm enough to be comfortable, and a little wind was blowing through the trees.

"It would be almost like home if it wasn't for the strange lights, and the memory of the queer things here," said Jack. "I feel fine. Let's see if you can hit that dead tree over there, Mark."

Jack stooped to grab up a stone, but no sooner had his fingers touched it than he called out:

"There! I forgot all about the stones here being heavier than lead.

Guess we can't throw any of 'em. But come on. I'll race you to the dead tree!"

Mark was willing, so the two boys set off at a fast pace.

"Look out where you're going!" the professor called after them. "No telling what may be in those woods," for the boys were approaching a little glade, on the edge of which the dead tree stood.

Jack reached the goal first, and stood leaning against the trunk, waiting for Mark.

"You'd better practice sprinting!" exclaimed the victor.

Mark was about to excuse himself for his poor showing, on the plea of having eaten too much breakfast, when to his horror he saw what seemed to be a long thin snake spring out from the branches of a nearby tree and twine itself about Jack.

"Help me! Save me!" cried the unfortunate boy, as he was lifted high into the air and pulled within the shadow of the wood.

For an instant Mark was too horror-stricken to move. Then with a shout that alarmed the others, who were coming along more slowly, he made a dash for the place he had last seen Jack.

Had old Andy not been on the watch, with those keen eyes of his, there might have been a double tragedy. He had seen from afar the sudden s.n.a.t.c.hing up of Jack, and noted Mark's rush to save his chum.

"Stand still! Don't go in there for your life!" yelled the hunter, at the same time running forward with gun ready.

His example was followed by the professor, Washington and the other two men.

"A snake has Jack!" called Mark, when Andy was at his side.

"No! It's not a snake!" replied the hunter. "It's worse. It's the snake-tree!"

"What's that?" asked Mr. Henderson, hurrying up.

"The snake-tree has Jack," the hunter went on. "It is a plant, half animal, half-vegetable. It has long branches, not unlike a snake in shape. They can move about and grab things."

"One of them got a grip on Jack as he leaned against the dead tree trunk. I just caught a glimpse of it, and called to prevent Mark from running into danger."

"Can't we save him?" asked Mr. Henderson.

"I'm going to try!" replied Andy. "Quick! Gather up some pieces of dry wood. I have some paper, and my pipe lighter. We must fight the snake-tree with fire!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE DESERTED VILLAGE

JACK'S Cries were growing fainter and fainter. Peering in through the branches of the dead tree the professor could see the whip-like limbs winding closer and closer about the boy.

"I am afraid we will be too late!" he said.

Andy had twisted some paper into a rude torch. He set fire to it with his pocket lighter, and, when Bill and Mark brought him some little pieces of dead wood the old hunter added them to his bundle, which was now blazing brightly.

"How are you going to do it?" asked the professor.

"I'll show you," replied Andy. He bound the sticks and paper together with wisps of gra.s.s and then, when it was so hot he could hardly hold it longer, he ran as close as he dared to the snake-tree and tossed the torch at the foot of it.

The blazing bundle fell among some damp leaves and gra.s.s, as Andy had intended it should, and soon a dense smoke arose, pouring straight up through the branches of the animal-tree, the limbs of which were gathered in a knot about the half-unconscious form of the boy.

For a few minutes they all waited anxiously. Would Andy's trick succeed? Had the terrible tree not already squeezed the life from Jack?

But, while they watched, there seemed to come a change over the tree.

The snake-like arms waved less and less. They seemed to straighten out, as though deprived of power by the smoke which was now so dense as to hide Jack from sight. Then the arms suddenly relaxed and something rolled from them and fell to the ground. With a quick movement Andy darted in, crawling on his hands and knees beneath the limbs, and brought Jack out. The boy was white and his eyes were closed.

"Get some water!" cried the old hunter.

Mark ran toward a stream a little distance away. He brought some of the curiously thick liquid in his hat, and while Andy held the boy the professor sprinkled some of the drops on his face, and forced some between his lips. In a little while Jack's eyes slowly opened.

"Don't let it eat me!" he begged.

"You're all right now," said Andy heartily. "Not a bit harmed, Jack.

But," he added in a low tone, "it was a close call."