“It was that scoundrel Mudd!” replied the girl. “He has held me a prisoner in this dreadful place since his tools captured me on the mountain night before last. They have a camp down here, Mr. Darrell. I’ve been a close prisoner until about an hour ago, when I managed to get away and—oh, oh! There comes that dreadful noise again! What is it? Oh, what is it?”
In her excitement she clutched Dick’s arm and begged him to protect her, and there was nothing strange about her excitement either, for an awful bellowing was heard off on the lake, echoing and re-echoing back from the rocky walls of the cavern until the whole atmosphere reverberated with the frightful sound.
But it did not disturb Dick a bit. He knew very well that it was only the Plesiosaurus.
This underground lake then had its monster as well as the one above. Of course, Dick had given up the idea that there was only one P. D. He knew that there must be many and if Charley had only been safe with him he would have rejoiced in the discovery.
As it was he hastily explained to Clara what the noise really meant and as the bellowing continued they stood there looking off on the lake watching for the Plesiosaurus to appear.
“We may not see it at all,” said Dick. “There! It has stopped. No doubt it has gone under the water and—oh, Charley! Charley! This way! Here I am! It’s Dick! Hello! Hello!”
Suddenly Charley’s shout was heard in the distance and Dick lost no time in answering.
At the same instant there was a rushing sound on the water right in front of them and the same old monstrous head came up out of the lake.
Clara screamed and threw her arms about Dick.
Higher and higher the head was thrust up as the neck of the monster came out of the water.