“This won’t do,” he thought. “I must brace up. I escaped before and I shall escape again. It’s a wonder that these underground outlets don’t drain the lake off. I’ve seen two of them now and I believe there are others. Hello! What’s that on ahead?”
The sun struck down through the big hole in the roof of the cavern and far in the distance there seemed to be a curious shimmering of light.
“It’s a lake—that’s what it is—an underground lake, just as Charley said,” thought Dick. “I’ll make for it, only I must get the water out of my clothes.”
He hurriedly undressed and wrung his wet clothing out as dry as possible, dressing himself as soon as he had finished.
“I suppose I shall get my death of cold either way,” he thought “so I might as well put my clothes on as to leave them off. Now for the lake. Nothing like a good run to warm a fellow up in a case like this.”
He ran with all his might, coming in a few moments out upon the shore of a broad sheet of water, which extended off as far as the eye could penetrate into the darkness.
The cavern was of vast proportions. Dick could see no walls on either side now, and as the lake cut off further advance, his heart sank, for how could he hope to escape from this strange place? The case seemed hopeless, indeed.
As Dick stood there on the shore of the lake wondering what he ought to do, his attention was suddenly attracted by seeing in the distance a shadowy form hurrying toward him along the shore.
“Charley! Charley! That you, Charley?” he shouted, starting off on the run again.
The shadow halted and stood motionless, but there was no response.