For once, and for the last time, however, it made a mistake. The water seemed to veer to one side. In its eagerness to get a drink the animal took another step forward. At that moment the direction of the column changed again, and it tilted over toward the beast. Suddenly, as the travelers watched, the full force of the big column caught the beast just under the fore shoulders. Up into the air the creature shot, propelled by thousands of pounds pressure. Right up to the top of the column it went, and this time the water rose a thousand feet into the air. Up and up went the animal, struggling to get away from the remorseless grip. Then, when the water had reached its height, it shot the beast off to one side. Then the brute began to fall, twisting, turning, wiggling and struggling. Down it came with a thud that could be heard above the noise of the geyser. “I reckon that finishes him,” observed Andy. And it had, for there was not a sign of life from the creature. “I guess we have seen enough for one morning,” the professor said. “Let’s go back to the airship. It must be nearly dinner time.” They started away. Mark gave a last look at the queer column of water and the dead body of the strange animal. As he passed down the hill he thought he saw the creature move, and stayed to see if this was so. But a second glance convinced him he was mistaken. The others had gone on and were some distance ahead. Mark hurried on to join them. As he got a last glance at the top of the column, over the brow of the hill, he happened to look off to the left. There was another hill, about the size of the one they had been on. [Illustration: UP IN THE AIR THE CREATURE SHOT] And, as Mark looked he saw something move. At first he thought it was another beast. But, to his terror he saw that the creature had only two legs, and that it stood upright like a man, but such a man as Mark had never seen before, for he was nearly twelve feet tall. He was about to cry out and warn the others, when the thing, whatever it was, sunk down, apparently behind some tall bushes, and disappeared as if the earth had opened and swallowed it. “I wonder if I had better tell them,” thought Mark. “I can’t show them anything. I wonder if I really saw it, or if it was only a shadow. I guess I’ll say nothing. But it is very strange.” Then he hurried on to join the others. “What makes you so pale?” asked Jack of his chum. “Nothing,” said Mark, somewhat confused. “I guess I’m a little tired, that’s all.” They reached the ship in safety, and, having dinner started the machinery and took the _Mermaid_ up into the air. “We’ll travel on and see if we can’t find some human beings,” the professor said. All that afternoon they sailed, the country below them unfolding like a panorama. They passed over big lakes, sailing on the surface of some, and over rivers, and vast stretches of forest and dreary plains. But they never saw a sign of human inhabitants.