Our friends looked at each other with astonishment; they had seen the lake upon their entrance; their fears then had been realized; they had been describing a circle and were now but a few feet from the starting point. But there was now hope and the men carefully lifted the native and carried him in the direction indicated by him and in less than five minutes they were again standing by an underground lake. The man was laid on the floor of the cave and his wounds washed again with water. Harry tore from his tunic a piece of the silk and this was bound about the wound.
“Do you know a way by which we can reach the death chamber without traversing that part of the cave where your people live?” Onrai asked.
“I do,” said the man, “but I could not explain so that you could understand.”
“But if we took you with us, could you guide us?” asked Onrai.
“But am I strong enough to walk?” asked the man, and he tried to rise to his feet.
“You may be able to walk a part of the way and we will carry you the remainder,” said Onrai.
“I can guide you,” said the stranger, and his face lighted up with hope as he thought that he might yet see that great outside world of which he had heard. The more the native thought of this, the more probable it seemed to him and with this great hope springing into life came renewed energy, and after awhile, when Mr. Bruce had bandaged the wounds well and he had been given something to eat he stood erect and declared that he could walk as well as ever. But this he could not do, although with help he got along very well for a time, and then Onrai picked him up in his powerful arms and carried him as if he were a babe.
Before leaving the lake they had caught some fish after the method of the natives and had cooked them over a slow fire. This they hoped would last them until they reached the upper world. They found the line of coals and found it easy work to follow it. The way was long but not tedious, still there was that desire to leave this place which made the time long and the journey anything but pleasant. The native was doing very well with the help of Onrai and would very frequently relate such things concerning his people and country which would help to while away the time.
“We do not know,” said he, “when first our people came into this underground world, nor do we know from whence they came; but we do know from traditions handed down, that we have had this world many, many ages. Then our old tunnels have been abandoned many ages, how many we know not, nor do we know why these have been laid aside for new ones, unless it be because new ones had to be built in order to keep down our population.”
“What do you mean by that?” inquired Mr. Bruce.