However, it soon became evident that the spirits of the lads had been lightened somewhat, and they pedaled onward straight for the grim mountains which had seemed so near for the last two hours.
The sun poured its stifling heat down on the great desert, where nothing save an occasional clump of sage brush could be seen.
Heat shimmered in the air, and it was not strange that the young cyclists were disheartened and ready to give up in despair.
Suddenly a cry came from Diamond.
“Look!” he shouted. “Look to the south! Why haven’t we seen it before? We’re blind. Water, water!”
They looked, and, at a distance of less than a mile it seemed they could see a beautiful lake of water, with trees on the distant shore. The reflection of the trees showed in the mirror-like surface of the blue lake.
“Come on!” hoarsely cried Jack, as he turned his wheel southward. “I’ll be into that water up to my neck in less than ten minutes!”
“Stop!” shouted Merriwell.
Jack did not seem to hear. If he heard, he did not heed the command. He was bending far over the handlebars and using all his energy to send his wheel spinning toward the beautiful lake.
“I must stop him!” cried Frank. “It is a race for life!”