The dinner had commenced—indeed, it was half over—when there was a shout outside, the usual stentorian cry of the telegraph boy, "Tal agiar, tal agiar!" and a long message was handed to Gascoigne. He read it, and with a hasty apology hurried out; but he returned in a moment to say:
"The lake will escape in an hour. I'm going up to the dam now."
"But I thought it was we who were to escape—not the lake," sneered Lola, reaching for the salt. She paused, saltspoon in hand, and gave a sharp exclamation. "My luck is gone—oh, I've lost my luck!" and the face she turned to Angel was as white as a sheet.
"Why, what do you mean? What is it?"
"A little charm I always wear on my bangle. I would not lose it for anything in the whole world. Oh, I shall never be happy until I find it."
"Perhaps it is in my hut," suggested Angel. "When did you last see it?"
"This morning, when I was turning out of that other cabin—which now seems to have been so unnecessary. Oh, I would not lose my lucky charm for a thousand pounds."
"I daresay we shall find it. I'll help you as soon as you have finished. We will get a big hurricane lantern, and search everywhere. Is it very valuable—and what is it like?"
"It has brought me no end of fortune," said Lola, rising as she spoke. "I must, and will find it—though it is only a little diamond skull."