Then they ceased swimming, and drew themselves up on a cold, stony bank.
Looking in the direction from whence they came, they saw the glimmer of a torch, so far away that it appeared like a little star, in the milkmaid’s path.
“We’ve come a great distance, Swamp Oak,” said the giant, touching the Indian’s shoulder, in the Stygian gloom that surrounded them. “Coleola is more than a woman if she swam this far with one arm, an’ the burden of a girl to weigh her down.”
“Coleola is in league with Watchemenetoc,” returned the Indian, the superstitious part of his nature gaining the ascendency. “But,” and he gritted his teeth, “Swamp Oak will catch the hag when Watchemenetoc is far away. Then!”
In the gloom Doc Bell smiled at Swamp Oak’s thirst for revenge, and turned from the water.
The bank extended a short distance back without interruption, when our adventurers brought up against a wall of rock, containing many gigantic indentations.
“Ef we had a light!” cried the hunter.
A light was soon found.
The rough walls were covered with a network of creepers, which no doubt had perished for lack of sunshine, for a ray of the life-giving planet never penetrated this place. The Peoria tore a quantity of the dry creepers from the wall, and wrapped them around his scalping-knife. Then he had recourse to the invaluable flints, and presently the knife was crowned by a bright, crackling blaze.
They resumed their search, and found that the indentations I have mentioned extended out a few feet into the wall, and they were on the eve of relinquishing the quest, when a startling “Ugh!” burst from the Peoria’s throat.