“There don’t seem to be any game in this section,” he remarked. “Not a sign could I see, nor have I since we have been here, unless you count those grasshoppers. But the fruit is good, I’ll say that.”
“Come on, we’d better be getting back,” Mark said, as he noticed it was getting dark. “I’m hungry.”
CHAPTER XXII
THE SNAKE-TREE
They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before. Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
As the machinery of the Mermaid was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness. The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal. After seeing that the ship was in readiness for a quick start, the professor suggested they take a walk around and see what sort of country they might be in now.
They tramped on for several miles, meeting with no adventures, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It was a pleasant day, just warm enough to be comfortable, and a little wind was blowing through the trees.
“It would be almost like home if it wasn’t for the strange lights, and the memory of the queer things here,” said Jack. “I feel fine. Let’s see if you can hit that dead tree over there, Mark.”
Jack stooped to grab up a stone, but no sooner had his fingers touched it than he called out:
“There! I forgot all about the stones here being heavier than lead. Guess we can’t throw any of ’em. But come on. I’ll race you to the dead tree!”