“But haven’t you heard?” Dick persisted.
“No, I haven’t,” Sandy commenced to eat his favorite dish. “Uncle Walter never tells me anything about his business. He’s as close-mouthed as the average Scotchman, I guess.”
“There are some ways in which you do not resemble him in the least,” pointed out Dick, winking at Toma.
No more was said on the subject then. As soon as they had washed their breakfast dishes, Dick and Sandy went over for another view of the dinosaur, while Toma set out to explore the island. The dinosaur, in the bright morning sunlight, seemed to be as ugly and repellent as it had been in the evening’s shadows on the night before. Again they were awed by its presence. It seemed inconceivable that anything so huge and ugly had ever walked upon the earth.
“How’d you like to meet one of those things alive?” asked Sandy.
“Not for me. A bullet would probably flatten out on its scaly hide. At the best, it would feel like no more than a pin-prick. And Mr. Frazer told us we could bring that thing back on a raft. He must have known better, because he was here two years ago and saw it with his own eyes.”
“Of course, he knew better,” growled Sandy.
The bushes parted behind them. First Toma’s head was thrust through and then his body. He motioned to them eagerly.
“Come on,” he said. “I show you something. Come quick!”
They turned and followed him, finding it difficult to keep pace with him, so quickly did he go. They came presently to a fringe of willows not far from the western shore of the lake. The young Indian motioned them to be seated.