With the first signs of coming night the animals grew restive. The deer moved toward the high, barren sides of the crater; the armadillos sought their burrows; the tortoises waddled into crevices in the rocks, and the other creatures hurried to the forested areas. Within the space of half an hour the crater appeared deserted. It was ominous. Experience had taught the denizens of this strange region to seek their shelters before the onrush of darkness.
“I’ve loaded the magazines so there will be bursts of ten shots,” Ted announced. “That ought to be enough, and if it is not, we can let loose another string of ten additional ones.”
“If that does not stop them, nothing will.”
“This place does not seem so high as I thought, somehow or other.”
“The coming darkness and the shadows are deceptive. Powerful as they are, the tigers could not possibly jump up here.”
“No, of course not. But this is a creepy place, just the same. I hope they do not keep us waiting very long. I almost think I might get nervous,” Ted laughed, but the laugh sounded hollow and was without mirth. It seemed as if the experience would be more exciting and less enjoyable than they had anticipated.
Just then a black apparition swept past their faces, not a yard away, on silent wings, and settled on the ledge near by. When it hooted dismally they knew it was an owl.
“Wow!” Stanley exclaimed. “I’ll say it’s creepy here. And we are in for a whole night of it. They took the ladder away so we can’t get down if we want to. Come on, tigers; this suspense is worse than fighting you.”
And, almost before he knew it, his wish was gratified.