All watched the cloud until the whole western sky was obscured. Then there was a distant rumble, lightning shot across the heavens.
The ground began to rock and pitch violently, trees and shrubs swayed and were bent to the ground, the air-ship was tossed about like a pebble, and no man could stay on his feet a moment.
“An earthquake!” gasped Frank.
“Bejabers, wud yez luk at the lake!” cried Barney.
All gazed in that direction and were dumfounded at the fearful spectacle presented.
The lake was like one mighty whirlpool, and went swirling about like a vast maelstrom. Its waters seemed to be receding every second.
Then the white sands of the shore line began to widen. Islands appeared in its surface.
The truth was plain.
The Transient Lake, impelled no doubt by the earthquake, was about to make one of its periodical disappearances.
Round and round swirled the waters. The ground had now ceased shaking.