“What’s the use of talking about it?” Billy interposed. “We are as we are!”
“No doubt. I hate to think of the two mothers and fathers who are going to accuse me of wanton laxity in my care of their sons if we don’t find them. I shouldn’t have taken the responsibility at all. It’s my fault!”
“Say, for the love of goodness,” Billy pleaded, “you’re like the fellow who ordered his mother-in-law’s flowers two weeks before she died!”
“Well, he had a reason,” Mr. Wilde said, his humorous squint coming to the fore.
“Well, so have you,” Billy answered, “a reason to cheer up. I’ve more faith in Westy’s gameness than Rip’s bragging. If we don’t see any signs of them up there we still shouldn’t feel discouraged.”
“Why?” questioned Lola.
“But,” Mr. Wilde said, “Lola says herself that if they were lucky enough to get out of the lake and land on the cliff they’d have less chance than ever trying to get out of the forest. No one ever has yet, so what chance have two kids? Why, she says there’s absolutely no way of getting any nourishment or water and the place is filled with snakes. Nothing but a dense jungle of trees and stagnant pools. Plenty of malaria I bet. Three days they’ve been gone—think of it!”
“Now come on,” Billy said. “I feel as anxious as you, but I’m not going to give up so easy. Here we are now!”
Turning away from the broad terrace, they could see at first glance what they knew they would see—nothing. Not a sign nor sound of human life but their own, and as they stood looking out over the placid-looking water three minds were all of one thought.
It was so terribly silent that the humming sounded louder than ever. It would almost seem that the heinous spirit of the lake was mocking these humans in their fears and anxiety and challenging their puny bodies to combat this terrific force that Nature gave it as its birthright.