Past iron-toothed rocks she drifted, which reared their jagged crests threateningly amid the swirling waters; past huge caverns and grottoes, the stalactites of which flashed crystal like as the electric light penetrated for an instant into their dark obscurity; past seething mud-banks, in the midst of which foul, loathsome forms sprawled and wallowed. And still her crew lay unconscious in the wheelhouse, knowing naught of the perils through which their craft was passing. Slowly the force of the current expended itself, and at length the _Seal,_ drifting into shoal water, grounded gently on a shelving bank of mud. Then, out from the filth and mire of the mud-flats on either hand, hideous heads were thrust, and monstrous goggle eyes glared upon the motionless vessel. Moving with a strange, shuffling motion, full a score of these horrible river-creatures--loathsome beyond all imagination--shambled towards the _Seal._ Their great claws--hideous in their likeness to men’s hands--were outstretched eagerly, ravenously, and their green eyes were aglow with fiendish desire. Soon they reached the rail, and, gripping it, dragged their misshapen bodies aboard. Gibbering and snarling, the monsters crept along the deck until they reached the turret, the glass of which appeared to puzzle them for some little time. Then one shambled to the rail and plunged over, returning shortly with a fragment of rock, with which he presently began to batter the glass. _Bang! bang!_ Even the stout, specially-toughened glass of the turret could not long withstand those blows. _Bang!_ The creature’s arms rose and fell with tireless, machine-like monotony. His fellows, squatting upon their haunches, awaited his efforts impatiently. Ere long the sound of the blows penetrated to Haverly’s brain, and he stirred uneasily. As it noted the movement, the river-creature paused in its attack, and, pressing its hideous face against the glass, glared ferociously at the American. Slowly Silas rose, steadying himself against the wheel; then, as his eyes swept round the turret, he encountered the malignant gaze of the horror without, and, with a startled exclamation, he leapt back, drawing his revolver. At that the river-creature once more raised its clumsy weapon, and dashed it with terrible force against the glass of the door. With a splintering crash the door burst open, and, as one, the whole band of waiting monsters rose, and, with teeth gnashing savagely, plunged towards the doorway. CHAPTER VI. THE LAND OF ETERNAL TWILIGHT. _Crack!_ The Yankee’s revolver spoke viciously, and the foremost, with a shuddering death-sob, dropped in his tracks. Two others, stumbling over his prostrate form, also fell to Haverly’s unerring aim; whereupon the rest, gibbering savagely, paused in their advance, seeming to be undecided whether to resume the attack or no.