“Probably Professor Poynter gave it no thought, either. What you want to do is to hold on here a week or so and try and find out what the habits of this creature are. When we know more about it we can come to some conclusion as to what we ought to do, which is more than we can now.”
“You are right,” said Dick, “and that’s what we will do; but I must get back to the camp. It isn’t going to pay us to quarrel. I shall have to apologize to Charley for the calling down I gave him.”
“And I’ll keep on around the lake,” replied Doctor Dan. “You and Charley can follow me up after you settle your quarrel.”
They separated then and Dick hurried back to the camp, feeling very sorry for his explosion and full of anxiety to make matters right with his friend.
But when he reached the camp Charley was nowhere visible. Dick looked into the tent, and, not finding him there, set up a shout, a private cry of their own, which ought to have been answered by a different shout. It was just a little signal between the boys agreed upon before they started for the Bad Lands.
Much to Dick’s relief, the answer came promptly from around the point of rocks beyond the camp.
“Hello, Charley, are you there?” shouted Dick.
“Yes. Come around here, Dick.”
Dick started on the run; as soon as he turned the point of rocks he saw, to his surprise, that Charley had pulled off his clothes and was swimming around in the lake.
Evidently he had got over his “mad,” for he called out: