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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"


Then, calling to Harry and grasping Desiree by the arm, I started
to turn.
But too late. For Desiree, inspired by a boundless terror,
suddenly raised her spear high above her head and hurled it
straight at the glowing, flashing eyes.
The point struck squarely between them with such force that it
must have sunk clear to the shaft. The head of the monster rolled
for an instant from side to side, and then, before I was aware of
what had happened, so rapid was the movement, a long, snakelike
coil had reached out through the air and twisted itself about
Desiree's body.
As she felt the thing tighten about her waist and legs she gave a
scream of terror and twisted her face round toward me. The next
instant the snaky tentacle had dragged her along the ground and
lifted her to the head of the monster, where her white body could
be seen in sharp outline sprawling over its black form, between
the terrible eyes.
Harry and I sprang forward.
As we did so the eyes closed and the reptile began to move
backward with incredible swiftness, lashing about on the ground
before us with other tentacles similar to the one that had
captured Desiree.


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