The air-ship hung silently over it. Birds shot across its surface, and small fish played in its limpid depths.

Above, the sky was calm and serene. A fierce tropical heat beat down upon all.

Captain Nicodemus turned to Frank.

“Well, skipper,” he said. “What do you think of it?”

Frank drew a deep breath.

“It is a wonderful freak of mighty nature,” he said. “I am satisfied. Let us go home!”

“Home!”

It was a magic word just now. The aerial voyagers had accomplished their project, and had explored the Transient Lake.

They had yet a mighty distance to travel, and after all there is no place like home.

So Frank turned the course of the air-ship eastward.