"
"From the way you talk," said Cortlandt, "one would suppose you
attributed this to men. The Goliath we picture to ourselves
would be a child compared to the man that could cut through these
legs, though the necessity of believing him to have merely great
size does not disprove his existence here. I think it probable
we shall find this is the work of some animal with incisors of
such power as it is difficult for us to conceive of."
"There is no indication here of teeth," said Bearwarden, "each
foot being taken off with a clean cut. Besides, we are coming to
believe that man existed on earth during the greater part, if not
the whole, of our Carboniferous period."
"We must reserve our decision pending further evidence," said
Cortlandt.
"I vote we take the heart," said Ayrault, "and cook it, since
otherwise the mammoth will be devoured before our eyes."
While Bearwarden and Ayrault delved for this, Cortlandt, with
some difficulty, parted the mammoth's lips and examined the
teeth. "From the conical projections on the molars," said he,
"this should be classed rather as a mastodon than as a mammoth."
When the huge heart was secured, Bearwarden arranged slices on
sharpened sticks, while Ayrault set about starting a fire.
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