“Hey, Dick, this is bully. The water is just splendid. Come on and have a swim.”
“Come out of there! Come out at once!” cried Dick. “Good heavens, suppose the Plesiosaurus catches you! Charley, you must be crazy to do such a thing.”
“Oh, it’s all right,” replied Charley, turning on his back and kicking up the water. “I was just dying for a bath and I made up my mind I’d have one anyhow. When I get mad I always want to get in the water and cool down. That’s me. Come on and try it, Dick.”
Dick was strongly tempted. He stood looking at Charley for a moment and then, throwing aside his coat, began to take off his boots.
“I’m sorry I spoke so rough to you, Charley,” he called out. “I won’t do it again.”
“Oh, that’s all right. I ought not to have fired, of course, but you see I was excited and—oh, thunder! What’s this?”
The water all around Charley suddenly began boiling like a pot.
“Quick! Quick! Strike in for the shore!” yelled Dick.
At the same instant the Plesiosaurus rose to the surface of the lake right behind Charley.
First the huge snake-like head was lifted up high in the air, the sinuous neck, which seemed to be at least ten feet long, turning and twisting horribly.