THE BIG MEN HAD GATHERED IN A COMPACT MASS
Jack, seeing how successful his comrade was, attacked the three giants who were striving to make him a captive. He succeeded in disposing of them, knocking one down so hard that the man was unable to rise until his companions helped him.
“That’s the way!” cried Washington. “They’re soft as snow men!”
The vanquished giants set up a sort of roar, which was answered by their fellows, and soon there was a terrible din.
“All get together!” called the professor. “They are evidently going to make a rush for us. If we stand by one another we may fight them off, though they outnumber us a hundred to one. Besides it will soon be dark, and we may be able to escape!”
Washington, Jack and Mark retreated toward the ship, in the direction of which the others had also made their way. The big men had gathered in a compact mass and were advancing on the adventurers.
“What do you suppose makes them so soft?” asked Mark. “I believe I could manage half a dozen.”
“It must be the effect of the climate and conditions here,” the professor replied. “Probably they have to be big to stand the pressure of the thick water, and the increased attraction of gravitation. Then too, being without the weight of the atmosphere to which we are accustomed, they have probably expanded. If they were to go up to earth, they might shrink to our size.”
“Do you think that possible?”