As he went down to the lake for water, he thought he heard mocking laughter from amid the willows. But he could see no one, and when he halted to listen, there was no further sound. He continued to the water’s edge and stooped to fill the vessel. Some instinct warned him. He still had heard no sound but, without knowing why, he whirled suddenly.
A dark figure loomed behind him. He caught a blurred impression of an aged face as he ducked.
A heavy object struck him a glancing blow on the side of his head. Senses reeling, he staggered crazily backward into the water as wild laughter rang in his ears.
Dazed as he was, he realized his opponent had struck him with the butt of Warner’s stolen gun. And now the crazed fellow was pointing it at him, laughing idiotically!
Off balance from the stunning blow, Jack let himself collapse into the lake. Then, fearful his assailant would fire, or hurl a rock at him if he emerged, he dived deeper.
Holding his breath, he went down into the chilly depths until he struck sand, and then he swam underwater. When his lungs screamed for air, he cautiously rose to the surface. Raising his nose and mouth just above water, he gazed toward shore.
At first the wild creature who had assaulted him so viciously was nowhere to be seen. But as Jack scanned the shore, he saw the dark figure retreating as stealthily as he had come. He was a bent, twisted man who moved with cat-like tread over the rocks toward a distant ravine.
Scrambling out on shore, Jack ran to the cabin. He met Craig Warner, who only that moment had dressed.
“You fell in the lake!” Warner exclaimed, staring at him.
Jack related what had happened and added: “The fellow who attacked me is as crazy as this mountain! He headed for the far ravine.”