The Land That Time Forgot · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Chapter 1
Part I: The Land That Time Forgot
Bowen J. Tyler's manuscript begins, recounting the torpedoing of an English liner by a German U-boat, the survivors' rescue in a lifeboat, and their subsequent capture of the U-33. The narrative sets the stage for their journey to the mysterious island of Caprona.
Chapter 2
I
Bradley leads a party from Fort Dinosaur to search for a way up the barrier cliffs. They encounter a giant bear; Tippet is saved by Bradley's quick shooting. Later, James is killed by a saber-tooth tiger. Bradley vanishes mysteriously from camp, leaving only his cap and rifle behind. Brady and Sinclair return to Fort Dinosaur, where they learn of further dangers and the fate of the garrison.
Chapter 3
II
Bradley is captured by Wieroos while on guard duty and taken to the city of Oo-oh, a bizarre metropolis built of human skulls. He meets a captive Galu girl who is to be given to 'He Who Speaks for Luata,' and after a brief struggle, he is bound and carried to the 'Blue Place of Seven Skulls.' The next morning, he is allowed to move about the city and learns more about the Wieroo culture and the term 'cos-ata-lu.'
Chapter 4
The Blue Place of Seven Skulls
Bradley, trapped in the Wieroo city, explores a storeroom and climbs a ladder to discover a chamber where a Wieroo threatens a human girl. He witnesses a duel between two Wieroos, one of whom kills the other and disposes of the body through a central column into the river below. After the victor turns on the girl, Bradley intervenes, using a curved blade to fight the creature. He is later bound and attacked by a starving man, An-Tak, who reveals the secret of Caspak's evolutionary scheme, explaining the lack of children and the role of warm pools in the development of the tribes.
Chapter 5
IV
Bradley and the Galu girl continue their life on the island, growing closer as they hunt and build a shelter. Bradley learns more about the Wieroos' history and their oppressive 'tas-ad' philosophy. They attempt an escape through a passage beneath the city, but are forced to hide in a storeroom. After retrieving his pistol, they plan to flee, but the girl reveals that An-Tak is her brother, not a lover, and she begs Bradley not to leave her.
Chapter 6
V
Bradley and the girl settle into a routine in their sanctuary, but their peace is shattered when a Wieroo discovers them. After a tense confrontation, Bradley captures two Wieroos and forces them to guide him and the girl south toward the fort. Along the coast, they discover the German U-boat still moored, and Bradley witnesses von Schoenvorts and his men brutalizing the English prisoners. Bradley attacks, and with the help of the girl's archery and the defection of Plesser and Hindle, the English prisoners turn the tide in a violent hand-to-hand fight.
Chapter 7
VI
Tom Billings reflects on his love for Ajor, struggling with his own prejudices. He is summoned to a council hut by Al-tan, where a Galu named Du-seen arrives and turns Al-tan against him. Billings is attacked by a dog and escapes with the help of Chal-az, who hides him and reveals that Ajor has fled the village. Billings disguises himself as a Galu and prepares to search for her.
Chapter 8
VII
Bowen J. Tyler, having crossed into the Galu country, searches for Ajor while hunting for food and navigating the dangers of Caspak. He is reunited with Ajor just as she is about to be killed by Du-seen, but both become trapped in a swamp. As Du-seen and his Kro-lu allies prepare to execute them, a sudden volley of rifle fire from the nearby wood cuts down their enemies.
Chapter 9
VIII
Bowen Tyler and Lys La Rue seek shelter among a primitive tribe in the cliffs of Caspak. Tyler gets lost while hunting, stumbles upon a grave, and later finds Lys after she is abducted by a brute. They take refuge in a cave, defended by Tyler's pistol, and observe the tribe's peculiar customs—no children, no elderly, and a belief in becoming 'Galus.' The chapter ends with Tyler reflecting on the mysterious evolutionary truth of Caspak.
Chapter 10
IX
Bowen Tyler continues his journey through Caspak, encountering the Band-lu tribe and learning about the evolutionary hierarchy of the island's inhabitants. He is captured by a more advanced tribe but escapes using jujutsu and his rifle. After searching for Lys among the decimated Sto-lu, he becomes lost and eventually scales the barrier cliffs, discovering a new cavern.
Chapter 11
The Last Message
Bowen J. Tyler, stranded on a cliff ledge, writes his final message after weeks of solitude. He hears a gunshot and rescues Lys from hyaenodons and then from Kho, a hatchet-man. Lys recounts her escape from Kho and the loss of Nobs. They marry under the moon and decide to live out their lives on Caprona, consigning their manuscript to the sea.
Chapter 12
Part II: The People That Time Forgot
Thomas Billings embarks on a perilous journey to Caprona in search of his friend Bowen J. Tyler, encountering prehistoric dangers and primitive tribes as he navigates the mysterious island.
Chapter 13
I
Bradley leads a party from Fort Dinosaur to search for a way up the barrier cliffs. They encounter a giant bear; Tippet is saved by Bradley's quick shooting. Later, James is killed by a saber-tooth tiger. Bradley vanishes mysteriously from camp, leaving only his cap and rifle behind. Brady and Sinclair return to Fort Dinosaur, where they learn of further dangers and the fate of the garrison.
Chapter 14
II
Bradley is captured by Wieroos while on guard duty and taken to the city of Oo-oh, a bizarre metropolis built of human skulls. He meets a captive Galu girl who is to be given to 'He Who Speaks for Luata,' and after a brief struggle, he is bound and carried to the 'Blue Place of Seven Skulls.' The next morning, he is allowed to move about the city and learns more about the Wieroo culture and the term 'cos-ata-lu.'
Chapter 15
The Blue Place of Seven Skulls
Bradley, trapped in the Wieroo city, explores a storeroom and climbs a ladder to discover a chamber where a Wieroo threatens a human girl. He witnesses a duel between two Wieroos, one of whom kills the other and disposes of the body through a central column into the river below. After the victor turns on the girl, Bradley intervenes, using a curved blade to fight the creature. He is later bound and attacked by a starving man, An-Tak, who reveals the secret of Caspak's evolutionary scheme, explaining the lack of children and the role of warm pools in the development of the tribes.
Chapter 16
IV
Bradley and the Galu girl continue their life on the island, growing closer as they hunt and build a shelter. Bradley learns more about the Wieroos' history and their oppressive 'tas-ad' philosophy. They attempt an escape through a passage beneath the city, but are forced to hide in a storeroom. After retrieving his pistol, they plan to flee, but the girl reveals that An-Tak is her brother, not a lover, and she begs Bradley not to leave her.
Chapter 17
V
Bradley and the girl settle into a routine in their sanctuary, but their peace is shattered when a Wieroo discovers them. After a tense confrontation, Bradley captures two Wieroos and forces them to guide him and the girl south toward the fort. Along the coast, they discover the German U-boat still moored, and Bradley witnesses von Schoenvorts and his men brutalizing the English prisoners. Bradley attacks, and with the help of the girl's archery and the defection of Plesser and Hindle, the English prisoners turn the tide in a violent hand-to-hand fight.
Chapter 18
VI
Tom Billings reflects on his love for Ajor, struggling with his own prejudices. He is summoned to a council hut by Al-tan, where a Galu named Du-seen arrives and turns Al-tan against him. Billings is attacked by a dog and escapes with the help of Chal-az, who hides him and reveals that Ajor has fled the village. Billings disguises himself as a Galu and prepares to search for her.
Chapter 19
VII
Bowen J. Tyler, having crossed into the Galu country, searches for Ajor while hunting for food and navigating the dangers of Caspak. He is reunited with Ajor just as she is about to be killed by Du-seen, but both become trapped in a swamp. As Du-seen and his Kro-lu allies prepare to execute them, a sudden volley of rifle fire from the nearby wood cuts down their enemies.
Chapter 20
Part III: Out of Time’s Abyss
The chapter introduces Bradley's tale, a narrative set within the mysterious and prehistoric world of Caprona, exploring themes of survival and the passage of time.
Chapter 21
I
Bradley leads a party from Fort Dinosaur to search for a way up the barrier cliffs. They encounter a giant bear; Tippet is saved by Bradley's quick shooting. Later, James is killed by a saber-tooth tiger. Bradley vanishes mysteriously from camp, leaving only his cap and rifle behind. Brady and Sinclair return to Fort Dinosaur, where they learn of further dangers and the fate of the garrison.
Chapter 22
II
Bradley is captured by Wieroos while on guard duty and taken to the city of Oo-oh, a bizarre metropolis built of human skulls. He meets a captive Galu girl who is to be given to 'He Who Speaks for Luata,' and after a brief struggle, he is bound and carried to the 'Blue Place of Seven Skulls.' The next morning, he is allowed to move about the city and learns more about the Wieroo culture and the term 'cos-ata-lu.'
Chapter 23
The Blue Place of Seven Skulls
Bradley, trapped in the Wieroo city, explores a storeroom and climbs a ladder to discover a chamber where a Wieroo threatens a human girl. He witnesses a duel between two Wieroos, one of whom kills the other and disposes of the body through a central column into the river below. After the victor turns on the girl, Bradley intervenes, using a curved blade to fight the creature. He is later bound and attacked by a starving man, An-Tak, who reveals the secret of Caspak's evolutionary scheme, explaining the lack of children and the role of warm pools in the development of the tribes.
Chapter 24
IV
Bradley and the Galu girl continue their life on the island, growing closer as they hunt and build a shelter. Bradley learns more about the Wieroos' history and their oppressive 'tas-ad' philosophy. They attempt an escape through a passage beneath the city, but are forced to hide in a storeroom. After retrieving his pistol, they plan to flee, but the girl reveals that An-Tak is her brother, not a lover, and she begs Bradley not to leave her.
Chapter 25
V
Bradley and the girl settle into a routine in their sanctuary, but their peace is shattered when a Wieroo discovers them. After a tense confrontation, Bradley captures two Wieroos and forces them to guide him and the girl south toward the fort. Along the coast, they discover the German U-boat still moored, and Bradley witnesses von Schoenvorts and his men brutalizing the English prisoners. Bradley attacks, and with the help of the girl's archery and the defection of Plesser and Hindle, the English prisoners turn the tide in a violent hand-to-hand fight.
Chapter 26
Endnotes
The endnotes provide a brief historical note about the sinking of the Swedish sailing vessel Balmen by a German raider in June 1916, and the recovery of a single dying survivor off the Cape Verde Islands.
