Holding his breath and still being dragged downward by that terrible
suction, Dick Darrell gave himself up for lost.
His only hope was that his previous experience under the lake might be
repeated.
And in a different way this is just what happened. Dick was brought up
with a round turn before he knew it.
Suddenly the suction ceased and he went shooting forward; the next he
knew his head was out of water and he was swimming for all he was worth
down a swiftly flowing stream.
He was now in a mighty cavern and it was comparatively light.
Above him was the roof with immense stalactites hanging down like great
icicles; the wall on his left was covered with the same glittering
white formation; on the right the cave extended off into the distance
further than the eye could reach; on ahead there was no roof, the
cavern being open to the sky for a space of several hundred feet, which
admitted light and air and enabled Dick to take in his surroundings.
It was a truly wonderful place. Doubtless the opening was at some
inaccessible point far up on the top of the mountain. It was at least a
hundred feet up from the floor of the cavern and nothing without wings
could hope to reach it.
The stream rushed on with tremendous rapidity and Dick, feeling that
he might be swept into a worse place, made all possible haste to get
ashore, something not to be accomplished without difficulty, but at
last he managed it, and, wet to the skin and gasping for breath, he
sank down upon the sand and lay there, scarcely caring whether he lived
or died.
This state of things lasted only for a few moments, however.
Dick’s strength soon returned and he scrambled to his feet and gave the
peculiar shout which had been agreed upon as a signal between Charley
and himself.
There was so answer, although Dick shouted again and again. Still he
did not give up hope now, for it was easy to imagine that Charley might
have been swept on further and still have escaped.
Dick ran on, calling, wild with anxiety, but nevertheless keeping cool,
until at length he came under the opening, where he halted from sheer
exhaustion and again sank down upon the sand.
“This won’t do,” he thought. “I must brace up. I escaped before and I
shall escape again. It’s a wonder that these underground outlets don’t
drain the lake off. I’ve seen two of them now and I believe there are
others. Hello! What’s that on ahead?”
The sun struck down through the big hole in the roof of the cavern and
far in the distance there seemed to be a curious shimmering of light.
“It’s a lake--that’s what it is--an underground lake, just as Charley
said,” thought Dick. “I’ll make for it, only I must get the water out
of my clothes.”
He hurriedly undressed and wrung his wet clothing out as dry as
possible, dressing himself as soon as he had finished.
“I suppose I shall get my death of cold either way,” he thought “so I
might as well put my clothes on as to leave them off. Now for the lake.
Nothing like a good run to warm a fellow up in a case like this.”
He ran with all his might, coming in a few moments out upon the shore
of a broad sheet of water, which extended off as far as the eye could
penetrate into the darkness.
The cavern was of vast proportions. Dick could see no walls on either
side now, and as the lake cut off further advance, his heart sank, for
how could he hope to escape from this strange place? The case seemed
hopeless, indeed.
As Dick stood there on the shore of the lake wondering what he ought to
do, his attention was suddenly attracted by seeing in the distance a
shadowy form hurrying toward him along the shore.
“Charley! Charley! That you, Charley?” he shouted, starting off on the
run again.
The shadow halted and stood motionless, but there was no response.
“It’s not Charley,” thought Dick. “If it was he would certainly answer.
Who can it be? By gracious, it’s a woman! Hello, there! Hello! Don’t be
afraid of me! I’ll not do you any harm.”
The shadow had turned and started to run away, but seeming to be
reassured by Dick’s cry, stopped again and now waited for him to come
up.
As Dick drew nearer he almost forgot Charley in the excitement which
came over him as he recognized Clara Eglinton.
“Who is it?” she called out. “What do you want with me? I won’t go
back! No, I won’t!”
“Miss Eglinton! Don’t you know me?” cried Dick.
She recognized him the instant he spoke.
“Oh, Mr. Darrell!” she exclaimed. “What ever brought you here? Oh, I am
so thankful to see you! I--I----”
She paused and burst into a passion of tears.
Dick caught her in his arms and spoke such soothing words as came first
to his tongue.
“I am here to help you,” he said, “although my coming here is only the
result of an accident. Tell me about yourself. What brought you here
and how is it that you are alone?”
“It was that scoundrel Mudd!” replied the girl. “He has held me a
prisoner in this dreadful place since his tools captured me on the
mountain night before last. They have a camp down here, Mr. Darrell.
I’ve been a close prisoner until about an hour ago, when I managed to
get away and--oh, oh! There comes that dreadful noise again! What is
it? Oh, what is it?”
In her excitement she clutched Dick’s arm and begged him to protect
her, and there was nothing strange about her excitement either, for
an awful bellowing was heard off on the lake, echoing and re-echoing
back from the rocky walls of the cavern until the whole atmosphere
reverberated with the frightful sound.
But it did not disturb Dick a bit. He knew very well that it was only
the Plesiosaurus.
This underground lake then had its monster as well as the one above.
Of course, Dick had given up the idea that there was only one P. D. He
knew that there must be many and if Charley had only been safe with him
he would have rejoiced in the discovery.
As it was he hastily explained to Clara what the noise really meant and
as the bellowing continued they stood there looking off on the lake
watching for the Plesiosaurus to appear.
“We may not see it at all,” said Dick. “There! It has stopped. No doubt
it has gone under the water and--oh, Charley! Charley! This way! Here I
am! It’s Dick! Hello! Hello!”
Suddenly Charley’s shout was heard in the distance and Dick lost no
time in answering.
At the same instant there was a rushing sound on the water right in
front of them and the same old monstrous head came up out of the lake.
Clara screamed and threw her arms about Dick.
Higher and higher the head was thrust up as the neck of the monster
came out of the water.
Then came the frightful bellow once more and the head of the monster
came darting toward them.
Flinging a protecting arm about Clara, Dick drew her hastily back and
they ran for their lives.