"In the world from which I come," said Jason, "there are huge reptiles, called crocodiles, who build such nests or retreats in the banks of rivers, just above the water line, but the only entrance leads down below the waters of the river. It is such a hole as that into which we have been dragged."
"Why can't we swim out again?" asked Thoar.
"Perhaps we could," replied Jason, "but they would see us and bring us back again."
"Are we going to lie here in the mud and wait to be slaughtered?" demanded Lajo.
"No," said Jason; "but let us work out a reasonable plan of escape. It will gain us nothing to act rashly."
For some time the men sat in silence, which was finally broken by the American. "Do you think we are alone here?" he asked in a low tone. "I have listened carefully, but I have heard no sound other than our own breathing."
"Nor I," said Thoar.
"Come closer then," said Jason, and the five men groped through the darkness and arranged themselves in a circle, where they squatted leaning forward till their heads touched. "I have a plan," continued Jason. "When they were bringing us here I noticed that the forest grew close to the lake at this point. If we can make a tunnel into the forest, we may be able to escape."
"Which way is the forest?" asked Lajo.
"That is something that we can only guess at," replied Jason. "We may guess wrong, but we must take the chance. But I think that it is reasonable to assume that the direction of the forest is directly opposite the entrance through which we were carried into this hole."