For a moment the brute remained glaring upon its victims, then, giving voice once more to its fear-inspiring cry, it lurched forward from the shelter of the fungi and stood revealed in all its diabolical horror. Terror-stricken as they were, the adventurers gazed with a kind of fascination upon the reptile. There was something so devilish about him as he stood there in the full glare of the fungi, the scaly plates of his hide shimmering like a silver sea with every move he made, and his sabre-like teeth gnashing with fury, that they could do naught but stare. Not one could lift a weapon, save the Ayuti. He alone had not succumbed to the paralysing fascination of the creature. Moving upon his huge hind legs, his short fore-limbs held kangaroo-wise before him, the saurian shambled through the quarry entrance, the Ayuti, watching keenly for a chance to attack, retreating before him. “We’re done,” Seymour groaned; “of what use are spears against such a brute? Great Heaven! be careful!” Forgetting for an instant that he did not understand English, the baronet addressed the warning to Chenobi, who had leapt forward to slash with his great axe at the saurian’s side. He sprang back only just in time to escape the great teeth, which snapped within a hair’s-breadth of his uplifted arm, having gained nothing by his effort. “This is horrible!” Mervyn cried, “waiting here for death. Can we do nothing against the brute?” His question was answered in an unexpected manner. With a furious bellow the great elk leapt forward, pawed the ground for an instant, then launched himself like a thunderbolt upon the monstrous reptile. Utterly unprepared for this attack, the latter swerved in his advance, attempting to avoid the advancing elk. But Muswani was too quick for him. With a shock that flung him back upon his haunches, his antlers struck the saurian’s scaly hide, and the huge brute staggered beneath the blow. Ere he could recover, the elk had leapt out of reach and stood pawing the ground, preparatory to another charge. “Be ready,” Chenobi cried eagerly, gripping the handle of his great weapon; “if Muswani should overthrow the beast, then we will speedily make an end of him.” The fury of the megalosaurus was now directed against the elk, who, with all the cunning of an old warrior, was prancing about his enemy, seeking to draw him on to attack. And he succeeded, for suddenly, with a movement so swift that eye could scarce follow it, the reptile’s claw-armed fore-limb lashed out. With a nimble leap Muswani evaded the stroke, charging in an instant later upon his adversary. The shock of the meeting rang like a thunderclap through the quarry, and the great saurian, reeling from the impact, lurched over upon his side, exposing his only vulnerable part, the belly. [Illustration: “THE GREAT SAURIAN REELING FROM THE IMPACT, LURCHED OVER UPON HIS SIDE” (_p. 175._)]