There was no lake in sight.
[CHAPTER II.—ON TO THE MOUNTAINS.]
“Where—where has it gone?” slowly and painfully asked Diamond. “I am sure I saw it—sure! The lake, the trees, all gone!”
“I told you there was no lake.”
“Then—then it must have been a mirage!”
“That is exactly what it was.”
With a deep groan of despair Diamond fell back limply on the sand, as if the last bit of strength and hope had gone from him.
“This ends it!” he gasped. “What’s the use of struggling any more! We may as well give up right here and die!”
“Not much!” cried Merriwell, with attempted cheerfulness. “That is why I ran you down and dragged you from your wheel.”
“What do you mean?”