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diff --git a/68698-0.txt b/68698-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32b2f64 --- /dev/null +++ b/68698-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4062 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 68698 *** + +Transcriber’s Notes: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +This novel was serialized in the _Happy Days_ story paper from March +17-May 3, 1900 (issues 283-290), and it does not appear to have ever +been published in book form. + +Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. + + * * * * * + + + + +Dick and Dr. Dan; Or, THE BOY MONSTER HUNTERS OF THE BAD LANDS. + + + By C. LITTLE. + + FRANK TOUSEY + 24 Union Square + New York, N. Y. + + 1900 + + * * * * * + +Dick and Dr. Dan. + +By C. LITTLE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. + + +“Hello, Dick! Where are you going in such a hurry? You must have had +your breakfast and it isn’t dinner time yet.” + +Two boys of about eighteen years met unexpectedly in the little park in +front of the United States National Museum, Washington, D. C. + +Dick Darrell was one and Charley Nicholson the other; both were in the +employ of the paleontological department of the museum, their duties +being to sort out and arrange the bones of the various prehistoric +animals found by the agents of the museum in different parts of the +United States. + +“I’m not after grub just now, Charley,” replied Dick. “Perhaps you +don’t know that I’ve been under the weather for the last day or two, +but such is the fact. Wasn’t coming down this morning, but I just +received a telegram from old Poynter telling me to come at once if I +was able to leave my bed.” + +“Hello!” cried Charley. “What’s in the wind now, I wonder? Have you +drawn another prize?” + +“Can’t tell.” + +“Great Scott! I only wish it was my luck.” + +“Wait a bit. Perhaps I’m going to get the grand bounce.” + +“I hardly think that. Oh, I know! You are going to be sent off on some +bone hunting expedition or another. A regular picnic. Something that +will last all summer. No such luck ever comes my way.” + +“You can’t tell. Stick to your work and try to do it the best you +possibly can; that’s the thing that brings promotion every time.” + +The boys separated inside the employees’ door of the museum, for +Charley’s duties called him to the extreme end of the long building, +while Dick was bound for Professor Poynter’s office, on the second +floor. + +That genial old scientist was at his desk busily writing. + +“Good morning, Dick,” he called out. “One minute, my boy, until I +finish this letter; then I will talk.” + +Dick waited patiently for fully fifteen minutes, after which the +professor folded up his letter and motioned to him to draw up a chair. + +“Dick,” he said, “we want you for another expedition. You did so well +down among the fossil beds of South Carolina that we are disposed to +try you again.” + +“Thank you, sir,” replied Dick. “I always try to do my best. What is it +to be this time?” + +“Well, it isn’t bone hunting,” replied the professor, “and you will be +surprised when I tell you what it is.” + +Professor Poynter paused and began tumbling over the mass of papers +upon his desk, leaving Dick to wonder what it all meant. + +“I have the letter here somewhere,” he said, “but I don’t seem to find +it. Ah, yes! Here it is, and here’s the newspaper cutting attached +to it which first called our attention to the matter. It’s from the +Cheyenne Herald of a month ago. Listen to this: + +“Ike Izard and Doctor Dan are in town again, back from a three weeks’ +bone hunting trip in the Bad Lands. Ike seems to be sober--more so than +usual--but he reports a most astonishing experience, which is certainly +enough to make us wonder how heavy a supply of Cheyenne bug juice he +and the doctor had with them on their last trip. + +“It seems that they started out from Node Ranch and went into the +Bad Lands as far as Walker’s Creek, pretty well covering the central +eastern section of Converse county; one morning, after climbing a high +mountain--Ike declares they went up at least 5,000 feet--they came +suddenly upon a lake a mile or more wide and five miles long, which +is not down on the maps, and so Ike took the liberty of naming it for +himself, Izard Lake. + +“Here they went into camp and spent several days, as the shores of the +lake were well strewn with fossil bones of the sort they were out after. + +“On the morning of the third day Ike was suddenly awakened by a strange +bellowing, which seemed to come from off on the water. He shook up the +doctor and they both ran out and were nearly paralyzed (question is +if they weren’t entirely paralyzed the night before) at seeing a huge +monster swimming toward them over the lake, bellowing like a mad bull. + +“Ike describes it as having a huge oval body, rounded like a +turtle, about twenty feet long, from which rose an immensely long +neck--Ike declares it was half as long again as the body, ending in a +comparatively small head, like a snake’s head in shape, but with an +enormous mouth full of monstrous teeth. + +“Ike says that the monster swam very gracefully, being provided with +fins, which acted as paddles, two on each side. He and the doctor each +took a shot at it, but in consequence of their semi-paralyzed condition +the shots did nothing more than to so scare the creature that it took +a header into the lake and was seen no more. + +“This is the biggest yarn Ike has given us yet, but he promises to +think up a bigger one for the next trip into the Bad Lands. Send it +along, Isaac. We shall always be glad to print any story that you may +have to tell.” + +“There!” exclaimed Professor Poynter. “What do you think of that, Dick?” + +“Why, it seems to me, sir, that somebody has worked up the description +of the Plesiosaurus Dolichodeirus and made a good yarn about it. Of +course you don’t believe the story can be true?” + +“Such was my first idea, of course,” replied the professor, “but I +make it an invariable rule to investigate all these newspaper stories. +Nine-tenths of them, of course, turn out to be fakes, but as it happens +in this case that this fellow Izard is in our employ and we know him to +be a most faithful man and entirely a sober person, I felt all the more +interest in the matter, so I at once wrote him and received this reply.” + +Here the professor unfolded the letter and read as follows: + + CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 10. + + DEAR SIR:--That story about the monster is true i swar it is as I + hope for hiven i didn’t rite it to you bekos i tought you wood think + me line but its true jest the same and if you don’t believe me ask + Doc Dan who will tell you that we seen it up to the lake say jest + fer satisfaction i am goin’ to take my oath before a notary publick + the thing was there i never seen nothing like it in all my life you + couldn’t ketch it and there would be no use trying don’t believe a + yoke of steers could drag the carcass down to Node Ranch even if + you could get the steers up the mountain which you couldn’t. Mebbe + it would pay you to send a feller out to get a snap shot at it. Yrs + trooly, + + IKE IZARD. + + P. S.--You can bet your bottom dollar it’s no lye. IKE. + +Accompanying the letter was the affidavit duly signed before a notary +public. + +There was also one from Doctor Dan, who Professor Poynter explained was +an Indian guide, who usually accompanied Ike Izard on his expeditions +after fossil bones. + +“There,” said Professor Poynter. “There’s the story, Dick. It is +extremely unlikely that it is true, but still it may be, and we have +determined to send you out to the Bad Lands of Wyoming to investigate. +When will you be ready to start?” + +“To-morrow morning,” replied Dick, promptly, “but let me ask one +question, have the fossil remains of the P. Dolichodeirus been found in +that part of the Bad Lands?” + +“Many times, my boy.” + +“Then it is possible that one or two specimens may have survived?” + +“Just possible, but no more. As you are well aware, this creature +belongs to an entirely different period of the earth’s history from the +one in which we are at present living. On the other hand, it is a fact +that the lakes of eastern Wyoming are the remains of an old prehistoric +sea which once covered all this section. The Great Salt Lake is another +remnant of it and there are others still. The chances of the story +being true, however, are exceedingly remote.” + +“It would be an immense discovery if it was, sir.” + +“Of incalculable value to science. Should you be fortunate enough to +make such a discovery you are authorized to spare no expense to pen the +creature into some cove, if such a thing is possible, but we prefer +you should not kill it. Of course if you see it you will telegraph me +at the first possible moment and I will come right out. Every effort +should be made to take it alive, in order that we may study its habits. +You can go to the cashier and draw what money you think you may need. +You will go first to Node Ranch, where I have instructed Doctor Dan to +meet you; Izard himself is off on another expedition and you will not +see him. That’s all, except that you will need an assistant. I leave +it to you to make your choice.” + +“Will Charley Nicholson suit, sir?” asked Dick, eagerly. + +“He is rather young,” replied the professor, “but still I know you are +great friends, so I will not object. That’s all, Dick. Leave me now, +for I have a mountain of work ahead of me. It won’t be necessary for +you to call again.” + +Dick left the office, wild with enthusiasm. As for Charley, there was +no restraining him when he heard the good news. + +And, indeed, the boys were admirably adapted to the work, Dick being +without parents or family ties of any kind. Charley’s mother had long +since been dead, while his father was a sea captain, who showed little +or no interest in the welfare of his son. + +Thus these two boys were practically without ties and it might be +supposed that Dick could easily have named an earlier hour for his +departure than the next morning, and so he might and certainly would +have done so if it had not happened that he had an engagement to attend +a social gathering that evening at the house of one of his friends. + +Having drawn his money, Dick bought tickets for himself and Charley for +Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, where it would be necessary to go off on a +branch road to Node Ranch. + +The boys spent the afternoon in buying the necessary things for the +trip and in packing up. + +At ten o’clock Dick left a certain house on B street, N. W., where he +had passed the evening, and started for his own room, which was located +on H street, a few squares away. As he was passing down B street, +deeply engrossed in thought about the strange mission with which he had +been charged, he saw two young girls come running down the stoop of a +house a little way ahead of him. + +Evidently they lived close by, for they wore no wraps and the April air +was damp and chilly. + +Dick watched them as they turned the corner and they would have passed +out of his mind in a moment if he had not been startled all at once by +a piercing scream. + +“Help! Help!” came the cry ringing out upon the night. + +Dick darted around the corner like a shot. He was certain that the cry +had proceeded from the two girls and he was right. + +There they stood backed against the iron railing of the corner house, +with two young toughs, both very drunk, standing before them, laughing. + +“You can’t pass us that way, ladies,” Dick heard one of the pair say. +“We want to know your names and where you are going--that’s what.” + +“Hands off those ladies!” cried Dick, running up. + +[Illustration: Right in front of them, not ten feet away, a huge shiny +head, long and flat, with an enormous mouth filled with horrible teeth +and two great, glittering eyes set on the sides, projected over the +rocks. “The monster!” shouted Dick, and instantly the head darted +forward, followed by a long, sinewy neck. Inset 1: MR. MARTIN MUDD. +Inset 2: “HANDS OFF THOSE LADIES.”] + +“Mind your own business,” snarled one of the “lushers,” aiming a blow +at Dick. “What is it to you?” + +“This!” cried Dick, striking out from the shoulder and landing his fist +between the fellow’s eyes, tumbling him back against the electric light +pole. + +The fellow gave a yell, reeled and fell over in the gutter, while the +other one jumped in and caught Dick by the throat. + +“I’ll kill you for this!” he hissed, whipping out a long knife and +flourishing it around the neighborhood of Dick’s heart, as he backed +him up against the post. + + + + +CHAPTER II. ANOTHER MYSTERY OF A DIFFERENT SORT. + + +Dick was in a dangerous fix. + +The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip +like a vise. + +The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the +“lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while. + +How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible +to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came +dashing around the corner. + +He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster +and a battered plug hat. + +He seemed to take in the situation at a glance and pounced upon the +“lusher” without ceremony, wrenching away the knife and flinging it +into the street, pounding the fellow about the head and face with such +vigor that he promptly took to his heels and made off, followed by his +friend. + +“There!” exclaimed the man in the ulster. “There! That’s the way to do +it! Ladies, your most obedient! Let me see, have I not the pleasure of +addressing Miss Clara Eglinton? Ah, yes. I thought so. Miss E., your +humble servant. Yours, too, Miss What’s-your-name, and yours, my dear +sir. My name is Mudd. Martin Mudd. I am always ready and willing to +come to the assistance of any one in distress.” + +“I’m sure I’m ever so much obliged, sir,” replied Dick. “My name is +Darrell. Dick Darrell, I----” + +What was the matter with Martin Mudd? + +The instant Dick announced his name he started back theatrically, +stared, raised his hat to the two girls, and, wheeling about, turned +the corner and disappeared. + +“Is he crazy? He must be!” exclaimed Dick. + +“No, I don’t think so,” replied the girl addressed as Clara Eglinton, +a beautiful blonde of about Dick’s own age. “He is very eccentric, +though. He sometimes has business with my father. Oh, Mr. Darrell, +I want to thank you ever and ever so much for your brave act. Those +insulting fellows! It was just dreadful! I don’t know what Susie and I +would have done if you had not come.” + +“I’m sure I’m most happy to have been of service to you,” replied Dick, +raising his hat. “May I offer to see you to your home?” + +“Why, it is right here in the next house,” replied the girl. “Good +night, Mr. Darrell. We must go in.” + +Evidently Miss Eglinton did not care to pursue the acquaintance. + +Dick tipped his hat again and the two girls ran up the stoop of a +handsome house and vanished in an instant, leaving Dick to continue his +walk. + +“A pretty girl!” he murmured. “A very pretty girl. I only wish I was +going to stay in Washington. I might find a chance to get better +acquainted, but I suppose she will forget all about me before I return.” + +He walked on, wholly oblivious to the fact that Mr. Martin Mudd, with +rubbers on his feet, was stealing after him, staring forward with +gleaming eyes. + +What prompted Dick to turn suddenly and look behind him just before he +reached the next corner? + +Surely there must have been some good angel watching over the boy, for +there was the man close behind him with the very knife the “lusher” had +dropped clutched in his hand. + +“Now I’ve got you, Dick Darrell!” he hissed, and he made a desperate +lunge at the boy, who dodged the stroke just in time. + +Martin Mudd did not attempt to repeat it. With a sharp cry he turned +and ran like a deer. + +Dick shouted after him and followed back along the block, but the man +turned the corner first and when Dick got around he had disappeared. + +And that was the end of the adventure. + +Deeply puzzled over the mysterious affair which he could only attribute +to insanity on the part of the man with the muddy name, Dick went home +and was soon in bed, where he lay tossing wide awake until morning. + +It was the tone in which Martin Mudd had spoken his name and the start +he had given when Dick first introduced himself that bothered the boy. + +“He certainly seemed to know me,” Dick said to himself a hundred times. +“What can it all mean?” + +He gave up thinking about it when morning came and hurried to the B. & +O. station, where he met Charley all ready for the journey. + +The run to Chicago was made in good time and without adventure. + +There was no stop here, except to change cars, and the next thing the +boys knew they were in Omaha, where they took the Union Pacific to +Cheyenne and then ran up to Fort Fetterman, changed cars again and in +due time were set down on a barren, alkali plain, where there was a +station, a windmill, a water tank and a dozen houses--they had reached +Node Ranch at last. + +The boys went at once to the Palace Hotel, which proved to be a dirty +old roost of the worst kind. + +“Heavens!” exclaimed Charley; “if we had to stay here long I should +give up the ghost.” + +Dick felt about the same way, but as it happened they did not have to +stay at the Palace at all, for they had scarcely located themselves +in their room and Dick was just getting ready to go out and look for +Doctor Dan, when all at once there was a knock on the door and when +Charley opened it there stood a tall Indian dressed in an ordinary +business suit, with nothing to distinguish him from a white man except +his features and his long black hair. + +“I want to see Dick Darrell,” he said, without a trace of accent. “Are +you the young man?” + +“No; this is Dick Darrell,” replied Charley, pointing to his friend. +“Come in.” + +The Indian entered the room with solemn tread and an expression of +imperturbable gravity upon his swarthy face. + +“I suppose this is Doctor Dan!” exclaimed Dick, extending his hand. +“I’m glad to see you, I’m sure.” + +“That’s how,” replied the Indian, “I was ordered to meet you here by +Professor Poynter.” + +“That’s right.” + +“I’m ordered to take you up into the Bad Lands to Izard Lake,” +continued Doctor Dan, slowly. “The horses are all ready, likewise the +pack mules, of which there are two. Provision I have laid in enough to +last a month. I have three rifles and two guns. I have blankets and two +tents and cooking utensils. If there is anything more you wish I will +procure it if it is to be had in Node Ranch.” + +The deliberateness with which he spoke was almost ludicrous. It was all +the boys could do to suppress their smiles. + +“Why, I should say you had got everything we could possibly need,” said +Dick. “You speak as good English as I do, doctor. Are you a half-breed?” + +“No, sir, I am not,” replied Doctor Dan, in the same slow way. “I +am a full blooded Sioux, but I was adopted by a rancher when I was +a little boy and I was educated at Carlisle College, Pennsylvania, +an institution for the education of Indian youths, of which you have +doubtless heard.” + +Poor Dick was almost overpowered. As for Charley, he had to go out in +the passage and explode or he would have laughed in Doctor Dan’s face. + +“Well, I’m sure I’m much obliged to you for doing everything up in such +good shape,” said Dick. “When do we start?” + +“Right away after dinner if you follow my advice,” was the reply. “We +have got a long road before us. It will take us three days to reach the +foot of the mountain. If you are anxious to get to work, as I take it +you are, there is no time to lose.” + +“I certainly am,” said Dick, “so we will go at once. Charley and I will +be ready say at one o’clock.” + +“At one o’clock,” repeated Doctor Dan, solemnly. “That is an +engagement. I will keep it. Good day.” + +“What about the monster?” asked Dick. “You saw it, I believe.” + +“I did. It is there,” replied Doctor Dan. + +“Can you describe it?” + +Doctor Dan entered into a most accurate description of the +Plesiosaurus. It seemed hard to imagine that he was lying and Dick’s +hope was greatly aroused. + +“It will be the making of us, Charley,” he remarked, as they went in to +dinner a little later, after Doctor Dan had left the hotel. + +“Gentlemen, did you register?” called the clerk from behind the desk. + +“No,” replied Dick, turning back. + +“Then please do. It’s the law and we have to trouble you.” + +Dick took up the pen and was about to sign his name to the register +when he suddenly gave a quick start. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Charley. + +“Look!” exclaimed Dick, pointing to the name written on the line above +where he was about to write his own. + +The name, written in a bold, firm hand, was MARTIN MUDD. + + + + +CHAPTER III. ABOUT THE STRANGE HEAD THAT CAME OVER THE ROCKS. + + +“Strange!” whispered Charley, as Dick signed the register. “There could +hardly be two with such a name.” + +Dick had told Charley all about his adventure, of course. + +“I don’t see how it can be the same man,” he said, “but we’ll soon find +out. Do you know that gentleman?” he asked the clerk, pointing to the +name. + +“Yes, I know him,” was the reply. “He came in by the westbound train +this morning. He used to live here. Why do you ask?” + +“Because I met him in Washington only a few days ago. Is he in the +hotel now?” + +“No,” replied the clerk. “He bought a horse and went off up into the +mountains. He’s a mining prospector. If you should happen to meet him I +advise you strongly to give him the cold shoulder. He’s a bad lot.” + +“Is he crazy?” asked Dick. + +“Not he!” exclaimed the clerk. “He’s a big liar, though, and a thief +from way back, but he’s well educated and can talk almost as well as +Doctor Dan.” + +“What about Doctor Dan?” asked Charley. “Is he all right?” + +“Yes, you can bank on him every time, even if he is an Indian. Queer +feller, isn’t he? They say he’s got a lot of education, but an Injun’s +an Injun wherever you strike him, that’s sure.” + +Having delivered himself of this sentiment the clerk wrote the room +number after the boys’ names and Dick and Charley went in to dinner, +which was much better than they expected to find. + +At one o’clock precisely the start was made, Doctor Dan appearing on +the scene with the horses and mules. + +All the rest of the afternoon the ride continued. + +Their way led over a barren plain overgrown with sage brush and strewn +with the white alkali of the country. + +High mountains rose in the far distance. Doctor Dan informed the boys +that they skirted the edge of the Bad Lands. + +When night came on a halt was made and Doctor Dan put up the tents in +the most expert manner, hobbling the horses and cooking a splendid +supper of antelope steak and a sort of cornbread, which he rolled out +on a flat stone and cooked in round balls among the hot ashes. + +After supper the boys rolled themselves up in their blankets and slept +comfortably until morning, Doctor Dan going on guard. + +He informed the boys that he was accustomed to going three or four days +at a stretch without sleep and that they would not be called upon to +mount guard at night until they reached the lake and probably not then +unless they found some special cause for alarm. + +The second day’s journey resembled the first too closely to need +description. When they went into camp that night they could see beyond +them a stretch of country which appeared to be one mass of great sand +hills which rose in every direction. + +Doctor Dan informed them that this was the beginning of the Bad Lands. + +“Those sand hills run away over into South Dakota for more than a +hundred miles,” he declared. “It’s a terrible country. Not a drop of +water anywhere. There is nothing like it in the whole world.” + +Dick and Charley were all anxiety to see it and within a very short +time after they started out next morning their wish was gratified, for +they found themselves in the midst of the sand hills steadily advancing +toward an isolated peak, which Doctor Dan informed them was their +destination. + +It was a fearful country surely. As far as the eye could reach the +sand hills rose all around them, with not a tree nor a blade of grass +visible anywhere. + +Later in the day they began to ascend and at last came out upon a broad +table land, a mere desert of yellow sand, broken by great rifts called +barrancas in every direction. It required an artist to work around +these breaks, but Doctor Dan seemed to be perfectly acquainted with the +trail, although he declared that he had never visited this part of the +Bad Lands, excepting on his previous trip. + +The mountain was now steadily drawing nearer, and by four o’clock they +reached its base without having seen the slightest sign of life of any +kind since they entered the Bad Lands. + +“Now, then, where does the lake lie?” asked Dick, looking up at the +towering cliffs of reddish, disintegrated stone which rose above them. + +“It’s in that direction, about a thousand feet up,” replied Doctor Dan, +pointing. + +“Can we ride up?” + +“Oh, yes. There’s an easy trail. It’s almost like a road, but it winds +about a good deal.” + +“Then we go right on and camp there?” + +“Just as you say, sir.” + +“I say yes, by all means, providing it is a good place for our camp.” + +“It is quite as good as it is here. Better, in fact, for the lake lies +in a sort of natural basin and if we should happen to get a snowstorm, +which we may, we would be protected.” + +“We will go right on, then,” said Charley. “Hadn’t we better, Dick?” + +“Decidedly,” replied Dick. “We can get our permanent camp all fixed up +before dark.” + +The ascent then began. As they passed up the mountainside with no trees +to obstruct their view, the boys were amazed at the wonderful panorama +displayed. + +It was as if they were looking down upon a sea of sand, and it was easy +to imagine it the bed of some old, vanished ocean, as scientists tell +us the Bad Lands actually are. + +For half an hour the horses toiled up the steep slope, first to the +right, then to the left, but always rising until at last they came +suddenly out upon a level plain, entirely surrounded by towering +cliffs, except for the narrow break through which they entered. + +“The crater of an old volcano!” cried Dick. “That’s what this place is +sure.” + +“So I have been informed,” replied Doctor Dan, with his usual gravity. + +“Where’s the lake?” asked Charley. + +“Just around that bend in the cliffs,” was the reply. “This sink is +double, as you may say. The wall runs pretty near through the middle of +it. One half is dry and the lake fills the other half. We shall see it +in a minute now.” + +They rode on and soon turned the corner of the dividing cliff. + +A broad stretch of water now lay before them. The lake was many times +longer than the dry half of the old crater. + +Its surface was perfectly placid and the water seemed to give out a +strange, sulphurous odor. The shores were broken by projecting points +of rocks, which cut up the lake into many small coves. + +“Now, where’s your Plesiosaurus?” exclaimed Charley. “Let him show +himself. He’s got an audience that will appreciate him, you bet.” + +“It was right over there abreast that little island that I first saw +him,” said Doctor Dan, gravely. “His body reached almost to that point +of rocks on the opposite shore. I hope you don’t think it is all a +fake, boys, but I suppose you will never believe it until you see for +yourselves.” + +“That’s what we are here for,” replied Dick, “and it is no reflection +on you, doctor, if we find it hard work to believe what we have not +seen, but where do we make our camp?” + +Doctor Dan pointed out the spot where he and Ike Izard had camped and +there, sure enough, the boys found traces of a fire and other things +which seemed to prove his story true. + +The horses were now hobbled and the tents pitched. + +Dr. Dan cooked supper in his usual fine style and everything was +arranged for the night. + +When the supper was over, as it was not yet dark, Dick proposed a walk, +and all three, shouldering their rifles, for there was no telling what +might happen, started along the lake shore, winding in and out around +the projecting cliffs until they had gone at least a mile. + +It was now getting toward dusk and Dick, in spite of his hopes, began +to abandon all idea of seeing anything of the monster of the lake that +day. + +“I suppose we might wait around here for days and not see him,” he +said. “Wonder how long a Plesiosaurus can stay down under the water, +anyhow?” + +“Is it known?” asked Doctor Dan. + +“Certainly not, since only their bones have been found,” replied +Charley, “but it must be an air breathing animal or it couldn’t have +swum round with its head above the water the way you saw it.” + +“If that’s the case he must come up every little while,” said Dick. + +“I don’t know,” answered Doctor Dan. “We stayed round here two days +after we saw the thing, but it never showed itself again. I’ve got a +theory about that, but I don’t suppose you young men care to hear my +views.” + +“Indeed we do,” cried Dick. “Out with it, doctor.” + +“Why,” replied the Indian, “my idea is that this lake connects with +another, which is hidden underground, and that the Plesiosaurus makes +its home down there and so gets all the air it needs without coming to +the surface at all.” + +“And a very plausible theory it is,” said Dick. “I was thinking----” + +Right here Dick was interrupted by a wild cry from Charley. + +“Look there! Look there!” he shouted, pointing to the rocks right in +front of them, which concealed the entrance to another cove. + +Dick and Dr. Dan grasped their rifles and started back in terror. + +Right in front of them, not ten feet away, a huge, shiny head, long and +flat, with an enormous mouth filled with horrible teeth and two great, +glittering eyes set on the sides, projected over the rocks. + +“The monster!” shouted Dick, and instantly the head darted forward, +followed by a long, sinewy neck as big round as a man’s body. + +The horrid jaws opened and closed with a vicious snap and a frightful +bellow rang out among the rocks. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. CHARLEY IN CLOSE QUARTERS. + + +“Fire!” shouted Charley, and he instantly flung up his rifle and let +fly at the huge, snake-like head, which was withdrawn instantly. + +The bellowing was heard on the other side of the rocks for a moment and +then all was still. + +“What in thunder did you do that for?” Dick burst out. “Don’t you know +the orders? On no account were we to kill the creature. By thunder, +if you have killed it I am disgraced forever. I wouldn’t have had it +happen so for a thousand dollars. How could you be such a fool?” + +Poor Charley stood abashed. + +It was a terrible thing to him to be so called down by Dick, but he had +allowed his excitement to make him play the fool and he knew it. + +“Dick, excuse me, please,” was all he said, and then he turned and +walked away. + +Dick was too angry for the moment to follow him or call him back. He +had more to say about it and he spat it right out before Doctor Dan. + +“Softly, softly, sir,” replied the half-breed. “Don’t be too hard on +Mr. Charley. He was excited and acted before he had time to think; +besides, I don’t think he hit the head or the neck either. Come, we’ll +see.” + +Doctor Dan started to go around the rocks. Dick began to feel a little +ashamed of his violence. + +“Come, Charley,” he shouted. “Come on, old man. Maybe you didn’t hit +the Plesiosaurus after all.” + +But Charley continued to walk in the direction of the camp and never +even looked back at Dick. + +He was a very sensitive fellow and easily offended. Dick knew this and +felt a good deal troubled. + +He wanted to follow Charley up and make it all right with him, but +then, on the other hand, he did not like to leave Doctor Dan to face +the danger of meeting the Plesiosaurus alone. + +“Come on! Come on!” he shouted again. “Don’t be grumpy, Charley. I’m +going to see what mischief has been done.” + +But as Charley paid no attention to his shout he gave it up for the +moment and hurried around the rocks into another cove, where Dr. Dan +stood looking off on the lake. + +“I don’t see anything of the monster, Mr. Darrell,” he said. “It must +have pulled down into the water again.” + +“Don’t bother to call me Mr. Darrell. Call me Dick. Here’s where it +must have been. The water is very deep right up against the shore, +isn’t it? Of course this is the place.” + +Here the space between the rocks and the water was not more than three +feet in width. + +It would have been an easy matter for the monster to have thrown his +head and neck over the rocks, which were not more than a dozen feet +high above the water, but there was no trace of the Plesiosaurus to be +seen now. + +“Do you suppose he hit him, Doc?” asked Dick, anxiously. + +“No, I don’t,” was the reply. “We should see blood here somewhere if he +had, and there is none.” + +“Anyhow, the shot must have sent the monster down under the water +again. It’s too bad, too bad.” + +“Well, I don’t know,” said Dr. Dan. “It seems to me that it’s about all +right. You couldn’t have done anything anyway. You’ve seen the thing +with your own eyes now, Dick. You can’t accuse me of lying any more.” + +“I never did,” replied Dick. “It was hard to believe that one of +these strange creatures had survived, for they belong to the animal +creation of one of the most distant prehistoric periods, but seeing is +believing, so no more need be said about it. Question now is what’s to +be done?” + +“Your orders are to take the monster alive if possible?” + +“Yes, and to telegraph Professor Poynter at once if I caught a sight of +it.” + +“That’s impossible. We can’t pull up stakes and go back to Node +Ranch without accomplishing more than we have already. It would be +ridiculous.” + +“It seems so to me. I didn’t give it any thought at the time I received +my instructions, but I see it now.” + +“Probably Professor Poynter gave it no thought, either. What you want +to do is to hold on here a week or so and try and find out what the +habits of this creature are. When we know more about it we can come to +some conclusion as to what we ought to do, which is more than we can +now.” + +“You are right,” said Dick, “and that’s what we will do; but I must get +back to the camp. It isn’t going to pay us to quarrel. I shall have to +apologize to Charley for the calling down I gave him.” + +“And I’ll keep on around the lake,” replied Doctor Dan. “You and +Charley can follow me up after you settle your quarrel.” + +They separated then and Dick hurried back to the camp, feeling very +sorry for his explosion and full of anxiety to make matters right with +his friend. + +But when he reached the camp Charley was nowhere visible. Dick looked +into the tent, and, not finding him there, set up a shout, a private +cry of their own, which ought to have been answered by a different +shout. It was just a little signal between the boys agreed upon before +they started for the Bad Lands. + +Much to Dick’s relief, the answer came promptly from around the point +of rocks beyond the camp. + +“Hello, Charley, are you there?” shouted Dick. + +“Yes. Come around here, Dick.” + +Dick started on the run; as soon as he turned the point of rocks he +saw, to his surprise, that Charley had pulled off his clothes and was +swimming around in the lake. + +Evidently he had got over his “mad,” for he called out: + +“Hey, Dick, this is bully. The water is just splendid. Come on and have +a swim.” + +“Come out of there! Come out at once!” cried Dick. “Good heavens, +suppose the Plesiosaurus catches you! Charley, you must be crazy to do +such a thing.” + +“Oh, it’s all right,” replied Charley, turning on his back and kicking +up the water. “I was just dying for a bath and I made up my mind I’d +have one anyhow. When I get mad I always want to get in the water and +cool down. That’s me. Come on and try it, Dick.” + +Dick was strongly tempted. He stood looking at Charley for a moment and +then, throwing aside his coat, began to take off his boots. + +“I’m sorry I spoke so rough to you, Charley,” he called out. “I won’t +do it again.” + +“Oh, that’s all right. I ought not to have fired, of course, but you +see I was excited and--oh, thunder! What’s this?” + +The water all around Charley suddenly began boiling like a pot. + +“Quick! Quick! Strike in for the shore!” yelled Dick. + +At the same instant the Plesiosaurus rose to the surface of the lake +right behind Charley. + +First the huge snake-like head was lifted up high in the air, the +sinuous neck, which seemed to be at least ten feet long, turning and +twisting horribly. + +Then the enormous body came into view, long, rounding and black and +extending back twenty feet or more from the base of the neck. + +“Oh, Dick! Help!” yelled Charley, swimming with all his might for the +shore. + +At the same instant the strange creature craned its neck forward and +made a quick dart for the boy. + +Dick flung up his rifle and fired straight at the monster’s head. + +[Illustration: “OH, DICK! HELP!” YELLED CHARLEY, SWIMMING WITH ALL HIS +MIGHT FOR THE SHORE. AT THE SAME INSTANT THE STRANGE CREATURE CRANED +ITS NECK FORWARD AND MADE A QUICK DART FOR THE BOY. DICK FLUNG UP HIS +RIFLE AND FIRED STRAIGHT AT THE MONSTER’S HEAD. Inset: DICK CAPTURED BY +THE MONSTER.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. THE DREAM THAT CAME TRUE. + + +It was a frightful moment for Dick, and worse, of course, for poor +Charley, who barely escaped being caught in the awful jaws of the +Plesiosaurus. + +Dick’s shot saved his friend, however. + +Not that the monster was hit--Dick knew that he had made a miss--but +the report of the rifle seemed to startle it, and, with that same awful +bellow, it arched its neck like a swan and sank beneath the lake, to be +seen no more. + +Charley came crawling up out of the water half dead with terror. + +It was some time before Dick recovered himself. + +Charley dressed and they stood side by side discussing the situation +and watching the lake. + +“We are even now, Charley,” said Dick. “We have both broken orders and +fired at the Plesiosaurus. I suppose if we are going to keep on seeing +the creature we shall get used to him in time, but, upon my word, he’s +the strangest looking citizen I ever laid my eyes on, that’s one sure +thing.” + +“A regular nightmare,” said Charley. “Come, let’s look up Doctor Dan. +He must have heard the firing and is no doubt wondering what it means.” + +The guide came running up before they were out of the cove. + +“So you have been firing at him again!” he exclaimed. “You are bound to +kill him it seems.” + +“I’m the one this time,” said Dick, and he told the story. + +“Well, well! That settles the question!” exclaimed Dr. Dan. “The +monster is real--it is very much alive--it is ready any time to make a +meal of one of us. We want to look out.” + +“I move we make the circuit of the lake,” said Charley. + +“Well, you can’t do it unless we get the boat out,” replied Dr. Dan. +“I was brought up short by the rocks not a great way beyond the place +where I left you, Dick. I suggest we stay right where we are and watch.” + +The boat was a rubber affair, which Dick did not feel much confidence +in, and with the recollection of what had just occurred fresh in his +mind, he did not feel very anxious to venture out upon the lake, so +the remainder of the day was spent along the shore, but the wary old +antediluvian monster did not show itself again. + +Night came down upon them at last. Doctor Dan cooked another of his +capital suppers, which the boys enjoyed to the fullest extent, and +about nine o’clock they rolled themselves up in their blankets and went +to sleep, Doctor Dan promising to stand guard till midnight. + +“If I don’t see anything startling by that time I’ll turn in without +disturbing you,” he said. “Really, boys, I see no necessity for keeping +watch here.” + +But there was a necessity far greater than Doctor Dan knew, and it +would have been much wiser to have kept guard until they had studied +the habits of the Plesiosaurus a bit. + +Dick remembered waking up when the half-breed lay down beside him, but +it was only for a moment. Then he dropped off into a deep sleep again +and began to dream. + +It seemed to him that he had drifted far back in point of time to the +days when the Bad Lands were in their original position, at the bottom +of that old prehistoric sea which is known to have covered all this +part of Wyoming at one time. + +It seemed to Dick that he was alone in the rubber boat paddling for all +he was worth, trying to make the little island which they had seen in +the lake, and that he was in a big hurry about it, for the reason that +Miss Clara Eglinton stood upon the shore of the island calling to him +to come and save her. What she feared was clear enough, too, for there +right behind her, stealing out of the bushes, was the man Martin Mudd, +clutching a long, glittering knife in his hand. + +So ran the dream and it was most fearfully vivid. Dick thought that he +shouted to Clara to throw herself into the lake and he would pick her +up in the boat, for it seemed certain that he could not reach the shore +in time. + +Clara did so and Dick threw all his strength into the paddling and was +getting along over the water with great rapidity, when all at once the +surface of the lake began to boil like a pot and the Plesiosaurus rose +right alongside of the boat, made a dart at him with its awful head and +as Clara screamed, instead of catching him in its jaws, the creature +wound its neck about his body and lifted him high in the air. + +Dick yelled for all he was worth--actually yelled--awoke to find +himself yelling and it was no nightmare, either, for something thick +and slimy was twisted around his body and he was drawn out of the tent, +still wrapped in his blanket, all like a flash. + +It was awful. Above him he could see the head of the monster plainly, +for it was bright moonlight; he put out his hands and tried to tear +himself free from that awful thing, which held him captive. + +It was wet and slimy; looking down he could see the huge body of the +Plesiosaurus dragging itself over the ground and then all at once +Charley and Doctor Dan came running out of the tent shouting. + +Charley was empty handed, but the half-breed had his rifle and let fly +at the monster. + +The bullet struck it in the side and glanced off as though it had hit a +rock. + +The next Dick knew the Plesiosaurus slid into the lake and pulled its +neck down, the water closing over poor Dick as Doctor Dan sent another +shot flying from the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. MARTIN MUDD HEARS SOMETHING DROP. + + +Dick gave himself up for lost. The whole thing had struck him so +suddenly that he had scarcely time to realize what it all meant when he +was in the lake, half crushed in the sinuous folds of that awful neck. + +But a change was close at hand. + +Dr. Dan’s second bullet struck the monster on the neck, just below the +head. + +What damage it did it is impossible to say, but it must have caused +the creature some pain, for it instantly unwound itself from Dick’s +body, the neck twisting and turning like a boa constrictor’s; all in +an instant Dick found himself free, for the blanket was unwound by the +twisting of the Plesiosaurus and Dick, in his shirt and trousers and +stocking feet, swam away for dear life. + +The Plesiosaurus made no attempt to reach out for him apparently, or, +if it did, Dick knew nothing about it, but he swam on, possessed of the +horrible fear of feeling those great teeth dug into his legs. + +Nothing of the sort happened, but something else did, almost as serious. + +Before he knew it Dick found himself suddenly caught in some +undercurrent which seemed to draw him along with frightful rapidity +down deeper and deeper into the lake. + +Dick was a splendid swimmer--it would have been difficult to find a +better one in a boy of his age. + +He tried to turn aside out of the current to rise to the surface--to do +anything to escape that awful suction, but it was all no use. + +Naturally he gave himself up for lost and he surely would have been if +relief had not come in a moment, for all at once Dick’s head came up +out of the water, although he had sunk to a great depth. + +But the suction continued and the current ran just as swiftly. + +It was pitch dark. Dick could not make out where he was, but the +rushing of the water seemed to be echoed back from rocks, which were +close at hand, so he assumed that he must be in some cave. + +On he flew--on--on for fully ten minutes. He had thrown himself on his +back now and was resting comfortably enough, but, try all he would, +he could not turn out of that terrible current, for he was in the +subterranean outlet of the lake, one of those underground streams often +found in the far West. + +Dick had read enough about them to realize the situation, and as he +knew perfectly well that many of these underground streams never come +to the surface, the prospect was anything but encouraging. + +All at once the strength of the current seemed to slacken--a little +further on it grew less still until at last there was scarcely any +movement at all and just then, to his great joy, Dick caught sight of a +patch of moonlight striking across the water on ahead, which showed him +the black, dripping walls of the cave. + +“There’s an opening there,” he thought. “I’m saved if I can only get +through it. I must. If it isn’t big enough to let me through I shall +give up in despair.” + +His heart almost stood still as he thought of this new danger, but he +swam on and in a moment was crawling through a narrow opening, which +brought him out upon a ledge of rock under some towering cliffs, where +he sank down too much exhausted to hold his head up, and lay so for +several moments, when all at once he was aroused by hearing a voice +below him say: + +“They are coming! I can see them. It’s just Bill and the girl.” + +“Ah, but I can’t see nothing--hold on! I’m lying. I do see them. Yes, +it’s just Bill and the girl, as sure as fate, Mr. Mudd.” + +The pronouncing of the name put Dick on the alert instantly. + +The two men, whoever they might be, seemed to be just below the ledge +upon which he was resting. + +He crawled to the edge and looked down. + +Now, for the first time, he perceived his true situation. + +He had come out on the side of the mountain. Far below him lay the sand +hills, bathed in moonlight, extending off in the distance as far as he +could see, while directly at his feet ran a narrow trail, which seemed +to go winding higher up the mountain, passing under the shelf. + +Away down the trail he could see two figures mounted upon horses making +their way up the mountainside, but he could not, from his position, +make out just where the two men were standing, although he could hear +their voices plain enough. + +Was it really the man Martin Mudd? + +It seemed so strange that he should have dreamed about him and that his +dream should come out partially true like this. + +Dick craned his neck over the rock as far as he dared, catching sight +of the men at last as they stood there leaning against the wall +directly underneath the overhanging ledge. + +It was Martin Mudd, sure enough. The moon shone directly upon him, and, +although the glance was a brief one, Dick could see him plainly. + +He pulled back quick and crouched upon the rock, listening, for Mudd +had begun to talk again. + +“Yes, Tony,” he was saying, “this is a case of revenge upon the old man +in part and a case of true love for the other part. You may think me +looney, but I actually have fallen in love with Clara Eglinton and I am +determined to make her my wife.” + +“Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed the concealed Tony. “Your wife! Why, she might as +well be the wife of a coyote. Ho! Ho! Ho!” + +“What do you mean, you pigeon-breasted tenderfoot!” cried Mudd. “I’d +have you to understand I am about to come into a fortune. As soon as I +put a knife into Dick Darrell’s heart I collect $10,000. Put that in +your pipe and smoke it. Call me a coyote, indeed.” + +Dick was lost in amazement. For the life of him he couldn’t imagine +what it all meant. + +“Who in the world wants me out of the way?” he thought again and again, +as he listened to still further conversation about mines and mining, +which did not interest him at all. + +All this time the two figures on the horses were coming steadily on up +the trail. + +Mudd was evidently watching through a night glass, for once he made a +remark about its being misty. At last he suddenly exclaimed: + +“Here they are. Lay low, Tony. You jump in and pretend to seize Bill. +I’ll take care of the girl.” + +Dick stood up, clutching a heavy stone in each hand. + +“Halt, there!” shouted Tony, suddenly springing out of his concealment +as the forward horse came around the turn in the rocks. + +“Miss Clara, your most obedient,” said Martin Mudd, also stepping out +into view. “Sorry to detain you on your way to join your father at the +mine, but I have a little business to transact with you.” + +The girl screamed. + +Bill pretended to resist and did some threatening, but yielded to Tony +without a struggle just the same. + +“Get off the horse,” cried Mudd. “Now, then, no nonsense, my dear; you +are in my power. Unless something drops I----” + +“Here it is,” cried a voice above them, and Dick Darrell jumped down +from the shelf above still clutching the stones in his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. CAPTURED BY MUDD. + + +“Great guns! The Darrell boy!” gasped Martin Mudd, as Dick boldly faced +the three men. + +“Help! Oh, save me from this fellow!” screamed Clara. + +Dick threw up his right hand and let one of the stones fly. + +That was the time Martin Mudd came near seeing his finish. + +If he had not dodged the stone he would have got it alongside the head. + +Dick followed up with the other stone, but that was a miss also and +before he could show any further fight Tony and Bill Struthers rushed +upon him. + +The case looked desperate then. + +Clara Eglinton, terribly frightened, urged her horse on up the hill. + +“Don’t kill him! Hold him till I come back, Tony!” shouted Mudd, +starting up the trail after the horse. + +“Yes, hold me if you can get me!” cried Dick, whipping out his +revolver. “Now, then, slope, you scoundrels! Slope or I’ll make short +work of you both.” + +The men dodged back. + +Bill Struthers vaulted upon his horse and clashed away up the trail. + +“Cowards!” snarled Tony, throwing up his hands. “I surrender, young +feller. They have both deserted me. I’m not going to do this act +alone.” + +“Throw down your gun, then, and your knife, too, if you have one,” +retorted Dick. “I don’t trust your kind.” + +Tony flung a revolver at Dick’s feet. + +“Now the knife.” + +“Hain’t got one.” + +“I know better. Throw it down or I’ll make a finish of you--do you +hear?” + +Tony pulled out a long knife and flung it upon the ground by the +revolver. + +Then, as Dick stooped to pick them up he improved the opportunity to +take to his heels and run like a deer up the trail. + +“By gracious, they are a sweet lot of cowards!” exclaimed Dick. “Never +saw their equal. What in the world shall I do about that girl, though? +Strange that I should meet her again away out here. I can’t imagine +what it means.” + +He was hurrying along up the trail as these thoughts flashed over him, +for he had no notion of deserting Clara Eglinton, in spite of the fact +that she had deserted him. + +There was evidently trouble ahead for himself, too, unless he could +keep out of the way of the man Mudd. + +More puzzled than ever to know what it all meant, Dick made the best +time he could up the trail, but his wet clothes seemed to hold him back +and it seemed to him that he had never run so slow as he was running +now. + +For a few moments he could hear the clatter of the horses’ hoofs upon +the stony trail and once he heard Mudd give a shout. + +Then, after a few moments of silence, other horses were heard--there +seemed to be several of them. Then the sounds suddenly died away and +all was still. + +Dick followed on, a good deal perplexed. + +He had no idea where the trail was going to lead him, but he knew +enough about the Bad Lands to be quite well aware that to be lost in +them meant simply death. + +Even the Indians avoid these dreary wastes. For a hundred miles east +and twice as much west Doctor Dan had told him that there was not a +ranch or a house of any kind and it was just as bad if he went north, +as he seemed to be going now. + +“If it wasn’t for Miss Eglinton I would go straight down the mountain +and try to get back to camp by the trail we followed,” thought Dick, +“yet I can’t run away and leave the poor girl in the hands of those +scoundrels. What in the world shall I do, anyhow? I’m blest if I know.” + +He pushed on for a short distance further, passing into a dark canyon +where the cliffs towered on either side of him. + +There was nothing to be seen or heard of the horses here, either. They +seemed to have utterly vanished. With many windings the canyon led off +up the mountain; it was broken by cross canyons, dark, narrow passages +opening off every few yards. + +Dick soon saw that the case was absolutely hopeless, for the horses +might have taken to any of these canyons. + +He came to the conclusion that Martin Mudd and Tony must have had +horses concealed near by and had mounted them when they started away +from the scene of the fight. + +“This won’t do,” exclaimed Dick, stopping short at last. “I must go +back. I must go straight down to the foot of the mountain and try to +get back to camp and rely upon Doctor Dan to help me find that girl.” + +This was a wise resolve, no doubt, but Dick soon found that it was one +thing to come to it and quite another to carry it out. + +He calculated that he was about three hundred yards away from the +entrance of the canyon and he expected to spend five or ten minutes +getting back, but, after he had walked twenty, he still found himself +between those towering walls of rock, the dark canyon still winding on. + +Dick stopped again, a horrible fear coming over him. + +“I’m lost already. That’s what’s the matter,” he muttered. “What in the +world am I to do?” + +And, indeed, the situation was anything but pleasant. + +The little moonlight which found its way down into the canyon did no +more than to enable Dick to keep from stumbling. + +The entrances to all the cross canyons looked alike. It was the easiest +thing in the world to mistake one for the other and Dick knew that this +was just what he must have done. + +He hurriedly retraced his steps, trying to determine which of the many +openings was the correct one and at last settled upon one a little +wider than the rest and undertook to follow that. + +He was doomed to disappointment, however, for after going a short +distance down on the down grade the trail through the canyon suddenly +began to ascend, growing steeper and steeper every moment, but Dick +continued to follow it, for he could see more light ahead and a cold +damp wind came rushing down the canyon and both of these signs made him +fancy that he must be pretty close to the lake. + +“If I can only strike it I don’t want anything better,” he thought; +“then all I’ve got to do is to follow the shore around till I come to +the camp.” + +He had not far to go before he knew that he was right, for suddenly he +passed out of the canyon and came upon the shore of the lake. + +Within a few rods of the end of the canyon stood an old, ruinous log +hut, in the window of which a light burned. + +There were four horses hobbled near-by cropping the grass which grew +over a level stretch that extended back toward the rocks, being the +only trace of any green thing which Dick had seen since he entered the +Bad Lands. + +“That’s where they are,” he muttered. “I’ve run them down at last.” + +He hesitated a moment and then started to walk over to the hut. + +“I’m bound to help that girl if I can,” thought Dick. “Those fellows +are such a lot of cowards that----” + +Suddenly two hands were clapped upon his shoulders from behind and Dick +found himself whirled violently around to face Martin Mudd. + +“That’s the talk. Glad you came around,” chuckled the man. “It’s +dollars in my pocket to do you up, Dick Darrell, and don’t you forget +it you are going to be done.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. A NEW ARRIVAL FROM THE LAKE. + + +If Dick had been fool enough to show fight then there is no doubt that +he would have been killed outright, for the man Mudd got him by the +throat with his left hand and at the same time tried his old game of +whipping out a knife and holding it over Dick’s heart. + +“Hold on!” cried Dick. “Hold on, there, Mr. Mudd. Aren’t you making a +mistake?” + +Dick spoke with amazing calmness considering the circumstances. + +No one to have heard him would have dreamed of the excitement he was +laboring under just then. + +“No mistake at all,” laughed Mudd. “Mebbe you think I am mad?” + +“You act that way. I don’t know you and you can’t possibly know me. I’m +only a poor assistant in the National Museum. If you are working for +money I don’t see where you expect to gain anything by sticking that +knife into me.” + +This remark and the coolness with which it was uttered undoubtedly +saved Dick’s life. + +Martin Mudd immediately changed his tune. + +“Say,” he exclaimed, “you give me an idea, young feller. I am working +for money every time and the man who bids the highest for my services +is the man who gets them--mebbe you’d like to bid.” + +“I’ll make a bid for my life, you bet,” said Dick. “Suppose you explain +the situation. I’ll be blest if I understand it at all.” + +“That’s business,” replied Mr. Mudd, looking over at the hut; “just +drop that gun of yours while I hold you as you are. Don’t try to use it +on me now, boy, for if you do by the piper who played before Moses I’ll +bury this knife in your heart.” + +Dick threw the revolver down on the ground. There was no chance to use +it with that terrible grip on his throat. + +“That’s right,” said Mudd, kicking the revolver off to some distance. +“Now we can talk. Promise me that you won’t make a move and I’ll let go +your throat.” + +“I promise,” said Dick. “There’s no sense in our quarreling. We don’t +know each other. What I want to find out is what all this is about.” + +Martin Mudd let go and leaned back against the rocks, indulging in a +hearty laugh. + +“Of course we don’t know each other--that’s got nothing to do with it,” +he said. “Now, look here, young Darrell, suppose I could put you in the +way of picking up a big fortune--say a million and over. What about +that?” + +“Honestly?” asked Dick. + +“Yes, honestly. Oh, I’m not joking. I’m in dead earnest. How much will +you give?” + +“I’ll give you a hundred thousand dollars the day I come into the +money,” replied Dick, but when he said it he had not the faintest +notion that Martin Mudd’s singular words were anything more than a +bluff. + +“Humph! Well, that’s business, but perhaps you’ll make it more.” + +“A hundred thousand dollars is a good lump of money,” said Dick. “You +were going to explain about this. Do it, and----” + +“Not now. You are the highest bidder by a lot. Will you sign a paper to +that effect?” + +“Certainly I will if you will let me read it before I sign.” + +“You shall draw it up yourself.” + +“That’s satisfactory. Now what?” + +“Where’s your camp? You were coming up here monster hunting. I know. +Thought you would find that big prehistoric monster Ike Izard claimed +to have seen. Ha! Ha! What fools your scientists are.” + +“Not quite so big fools as you may think,” replied Dick. “I’ve seen +that same monster all right.” + +“Rats! Rubbish! Come on to the hut. We’ll talk this thing over. +I--merciful mother of Moses! Look there!” + +Suddenly the water of Izard Lake, close to where they stood, began to +boil in the same old fashion, and all at once a huge head, shaped like +a crocodile’s, was thrust out. + +It was not the Plesiosaurus at all, but a monster of an entirely +different sort. + +Its vast body was covered with great scales, its huge eyes seemed to +reflect back the moonlight. It opened its cavernous mouth fully a yard +long and uttered a hissing roar which seemed to shake the very earth as +it made a rush shoreward, directly for the place where Dick and Martin +Mudd stood. + +The effect was to break up Dick’s little session with that eccentric +individual on the instant, for Mudd gave a wild yell of terror, took to +his heels and ran toward the hut, leaving Dick to shift for himself. + +But Dick was not running away. + +He was altogether too much interested in this wonderful monster. + +Without an instant’s hesitation he scrambled up on the rocks behind +him, stopping and looking back when he had gained a flat ledge about +ten feet up from the ground. + +Undoubtedly he then witnessed a sight which no other man had ever seen +before, unless it might be some Indian wandering through this part of +the Bad Lands. + +Without paying the least attention to Dick the monster came up out of +the water entirely and went waddling along the shore on four little +stumpy legs, dragging behind it a thick, scaly tail fully thirty feet +in length and taking his course toward the hut. + +Martin Mudd looked back and saw it coming. The hut door flew open and +Bill Struthers and the man Tony came rushing out. + +“Gee whiz! What’s that? Have I got ’em again?” Tony yelled and he made +a bee line for the horses. + +“Not without me. I don’t stay here none now,” shouted Struthers, +following him. + +“Hold on. Hold on, you fools. Get your guns and shoot the critter. +Don’t go off and leave me so,” Martin Mudd called out at the top of his +lungs. + +But his companions paid no attention to him. + +Cutting the hobbles, they flung themselves on their horses and went +dashing up the lake shore. + +Mudd paused for a moment, looked back and hesitated. + +At the same instant the lake monster treated him to another taste of +that tremendous hissing roar, alongside of which the bellow of the +Plesiosaurus was sweet music. + +It was too much for Mr. Mudd. He went bounding toward the remaining +horses, which stood half paralyzed with fear. + +In a moment he was astride one of them and dashing away after the +others, while the monster, without altering its course, kept steadily +on toward the hut. + +“Great Scott! What’s going to become of Clara Eglinton?” thought Dick. +“Is she tied up in there a prisoner all alone?” + + + + +CHAPTER IX. WHAT MONSTER IS COMING NOW? + + +No such thought as fear, no idea of holding back, ever entered Dick +Darrell’s head. + +He scrambled down off the rocks and ran at full speed over the grass, +giving that moving nightmare a wide berth and by a semi-circular course +making for the hut. + +The monster moved very slowly, seeming to have but slight powers of +locomotion on land, although Dick never doubted that in the water it +would show itself lively enough. + +“If it was to rise up on that tail and fall on the hut it would crush +it to splinters,” thought Dick, “but I don’t believe it has any such +idea.” + +He had almost reached the hut now. There was no back door, as he had +expected to see, so he started to run around in front. + +He had almost gained the door when, to his astonishment, he suddenly +heard his name shouted from off on the lake. + +“Dick! Dick!” + +Dick turned and faced the monster, and, looking over and beyond him, +saw Charley paddling the rubber canoe for all he was worth. + +“Hello, Dick! What in thunder are you doing there?” yelled Charley. +“Look on the shore! Don’t you see?” + +Bang! Bang! + +At the same instant two rifle shots rang out in quick succession and +Dick saw Doctor Dan running along the shore toward the monster. + +He fired again as Dick caught sight of him. The bullet struck the +monster’s tail, but glanced off as though it had come against an iron +wall. + +The shots, however, had their effect, for the report of the gun seemed +to startle the huge creature. + +It stopped, turned its head and looked back, and, with another roar, +waddled to the water and slipped in with a tremendous splash, the +commotion nearly swamping the rubber canoe, which Charley drove up on +the beach heedless of any ill effect the sharp stones might have on the +bottom. + +An instant later and it was all over. + +The monster had disappeared and Dick, Doctor Dan and Charley Nicholson +stood together on the shore. + +We pass over the explanations which naturally followed. + +Charley was fairly wild with joy at the meeting. + +“I gave you up for dead, sure,” he said, “but Doctor Dan wouldn’t have +it. It was he who insisted upon getting the canoe out and coming to +look for you. What sort of a creature was it, Dick? I thought I must +have gone mad when I first saw it crawling up on the shore.” + +But Dick was in no mood to talk science then. + +He hastily explained about Clara and they hurried toward the hut, fully +expecting to find her a prisoner inside. + +To their astonishment the hut proved to be unoccupied. + +There could be no mistake about it, either, for the interior consisted +of but a single room. + +There were several bunks against the wall and on a table in the middle +of the room was a whisky bottle and three glasses, but there was +absolutely nothing to show that Clara had ever been there. + +“Well, where’s your girl, Dick?” asked Charley, staring around. + +“Strange. That horse out there is certainly the one she rode,” replied +Dick, and the horrible fear seized him that Martin Mudd might have made +way with Clara on the road up to the lake. + +They searched in all directions, shouting Miss Eglinton’s name, but all +to no purpose. + +Then they returned to the hut and began discussing the new monster, as +a matter of course. + +“In some respects it resembles the Ichthyosaurus,” said Dick, “but +still its short legs don’t fill the bill at all in that direction. It +is probably entirely unknown to science.” + +“And immensely valuable if it could only be taken alive,” said Dr. Dan. + +“I wish I had either one of those monsters in a tank in New York or +Chicago and could charge ten cents a head to show them,” cried Charley. +“I shouldn’t want any better fortune than that.” + +“They can never be taken alive,” said Dick, decidedly. “It is the +merest nonsense to think of such a thing. This is a wonderful place, +though, Doc. If the National Museum will only take possession of this +lake there may be money in these discoveries for some of us yet.” + +“Do you think they will?” asked Doctor Dan. + +“I’m sure of it. The land must belong to the government as it is.” + +“It undoubtedly does,” replied the guide. “Well, there may be something +in it for Ike Izard and myself, after all. Now, then, what are we going +to do?” + +“I don’t leave here till I know what has become of Miss Eglinton,” said +Dick, decidedly. + +“Let me see,” said Dr. Dan. “I know that name. She must be the daughter +of Colonel Eglinton, who owns a big gold mine back here in the +mountains over toward the Black Hills.” + +“No doubt of it, from what I heard that fellow Mudd say,” replied Dick. +“But let’s think what we had better do.” + +Doctor Dan gave one of his short laughs. “If you want to find her I can +tell you how,” he said. + +“Tell it, then, for gracious sake!” cried Charley. + +“Mount that horse, turn his head toward the canyon and give him free +rein. I’ll bet you what you like he’ll take you straight to the place +where they halted. If you knew these mustangs of ours as well as I do +you would say the same thing.” + +“It’s a splendid idea and we’ll try it right now!” cried Dick. “Shall +we pack the canoe on behind the saddle?” + +“I think we had better. It may hold three but it will never hold four +in case we find the girl. I can work my way back to camp through the +canyons all right, don’t you be afraid of that.” + +Doctor Dan then caught the horse, which Dick mounted, after the canoe +had been folded up and placed behind the saddle. + +He then started, Charley and Doctor Dan following behind. + +Dick threw the bridle down on the horse’s neck and the sure-footed +little mustang walked straight toward the entrance of the canyon, but +instead of turning into it, kept on under the cliffs. + +“Hello! It seems they didn’t come the way you thought they did after +all!” exclaimed Doctor Dan; “probably there is another canyon just +beyond here and----” + +“Gee! There it comes again!” broke out Charley, pointing off on the +lake. + +The water had begun a furious commotion close to the shore. + +Dick stopped the horse and all remained staring at it for a minute or +more, but as yet nothing appeared. + + + + +CHAPTER X. EXPLORING AROUND THE LAKE. + + +If Dick and Doctor Dan expected to see a new monster come up out of the +lake that was the time they got left. + +Charley said from the first that nothing was coming and he was right. + +“It’s not old P. D.,” he declared; “that isn’t the way he boils the +pot.” + +Doctor Dan looked a bit puzzled. + +“Might I inquire,” he asked in his stately way, “what you mean by old +P. D.?” + +“Why, certainly,” replied Charley. “Life is altogether too short to say +Plesiosaurus Dolichodeirus every time and even Plesiosaurus without the +doli-what’s-its-name takes too long, so from this time on I shall speak +of our rubber-necked friend as old P. D.” + +“Exactly,” said Doctor Dan. “Now that I know I shall remember. I am not +familiar with the scientific names of these monsters. I expect to see +something. Watch! It will come. On this very spot Ike Izard and I saw +the water boil like this.” + +“And nothing came of it?” asked Charley. + +“Nothing then. The monster did not rise.” + +“No, nor no monster will rise this time,” said Charley, emphatically. +“You’ll see.” + +“I think I know what you are driving at,” said Dick. “You are thinking +of the underground lake we talked about.” + +Charley nodded. + +Doctor Dan looked puzzled, not understanding what that had to do with +the boiling of the water which still continued. + +They watched the troubled surface of the lake for several minutes. + +The boiling grew less and less until finally it ceased altogether, +nothing having appeared. + +“There you are,” said Charley, triumphantly. “Just as I said.” + +“Your idea is, I suppose,” said Dick, “that the water is running off +into the underground lake?” + +“My idea is,” said Charley, “that under the mountain on the left here +is a big cavern at a lower level than this lake and that between it and +the lake is a deep hole. When the hole is full of water it discharges +into the cavern gradually by a small outlet, when it gets down to a +certain level the water of Izard Lake runs down into the hole until the +equilibrium is restored.” + +“Right,” said Dick. “Just what I think, exactly.” + +“It’s too deep for me,” said Doctor Dan, shaking his head. + +“What, the theory or the hole?” laughed Dick. + +“Both. I should have to see the hole before I believed in it and I +don’t understand the theory of all.” + +“If we could only stay here and watch we would find that the boiling +takes place at regular intervals and continues just so long,” added +Charley. “We can investigate this later on if you say so, Dick.” + +“By all means,” replied Dick, “but now we must be on the move. I shall +never rest until I have found Clara Eglinton and I only hope Doctor +Dan’s theory proves correct.” + +“About the horse?” replied Doctor Dan. “You will find it entirely +correct. If I am not up on science I am on horses. Give that mare her +head and she will take us to the place where they turned off with the +lady sure; that is, if there is any such place. As I understand the +situation, you are not actually sure that Mudd captured her at all.” + +“Well, I have only his word for it,” said Dick, “and that don’t amount +to much, I own.” + +They now moved on. The mare led the way into the pass through which +Dick had come, continuing along about half the distance to the trail up +the mountain, when she suddenly turned and stopped short up against the +solid ledge. + +“Well!” exclaimed Doctor Dan, “this is queer!” + +The place into which the mare had turned was a sort of niche in the +rocky wall, crescent shaped and perhaps forty feet deep. + +There was no break anywhere and the rocks towered to a height of +several hundred feet above their heads. + +“What’s the matter with the beast? What does she stop here for?” +demanded Dick. + +But Doctor Dan could give no satisfactory answer to this question. + +He dismounted and made a long and careful examination of the place +without discovering anything to explain the conduct of the mare. + +“It beats me,” he said at last, “but one thing is certain there is no +way through that ledge.” + +“Perhaps they just halted here for some purpose or other,” said Dick. +“I think we had better push on. The mare may give us another steer.” + +But the mare did nothing of the sort. They continued on to the trail +and then down the mountain to the alkali plains. + +Doctor Dan’s knowledge of the country came in play here, for he +recognized the place and led the way to their old trail up the +mountain, which began about half a mile further along. + +It seemed useless to spend any more time then looking for Clara +Eglinton, so they continued on to the camp, where Doctor Dan cooked a +splendid breakfast, having shot an antelope just before they turned off +from the plain. + +The remainder of the day passed without any notable adventure. + +In the afternoon the rubber boat was launched again and Dick and +Charley pulled across the lake to the hut, leaving Doctor Dan to go on +an exploring expedition along the shore on his own account. + +The hut was still deserted and there was no sign that Mudd and his +companions had returned. + +The boys on the way back pulled around to the place where the singular +boiling of the water had occurred. + +All was placid enough now, but just as they were turning away the +boiling began again. + +The boys watched it until it ceased, the time being exactly ten minutes. + +After it was over they waited around for half an hour more, but the +phenomenon was not repeated. + +“We must come over and spend the day here soon,” declared Dick. “My +theory is that if an underground lake really exists that is where old +P. D. and the other monster have their holdout and we must contrive +some way to get down into it. Maybe the underground passage I went +through connects with your cavern, Charley. What do you say to +following it up and trying to find out?” + +“That’s the idea, exactly,” said Charley. “We know from your discovery +that there is a small underground lake, so what’s to hinder there being +a big one? We’ll take that in to-morrow and the event will prove that I +am right.” + +On the way back to camp Charley thought that he caught sight of the +head of old P. D. lifted for a single instant above the water, but Dick +did not see it and Charley could not feel quite sure. + +When they got back to camp they found that Doctor Dan had already +returned and had supper ready. + +“I’ve got great news to tell you, boys,” he exclaimed. “I’ve seen old +P. D. again and this time on the land. What do you say to that?” + +“Hooray!” cried Dick. “Here’s another discovery of the habits of old P. +D. It gives me hope that we may succeed in capturing him yet.” + +“There’s a chance for us,” said Doctor Dan, “and I can show you just +how it can be done if you will follow me around the lake shore to a +place where I was to-day.” + +He had scarcely made the remark when the same old bellow was heard off +on the lake. + +All hands ran down to the shore and looked off upon the water, but not +a thing could they see of old P. D. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. THE LETTER ON THE TABLE. + + +“He’s around here somewhere,” said Dick. “There’s no mistaking that +melodious voice, but where?” + +Suddenly another strange sound broke upon the air; half scream, half +roar, and then a tremendous splash was heard over in the direction of +the next cove. + +The boys and Doctor Dan, seizing their rifles, ran that way, but before +they got to the bend of the rocks they were able to see what was going +on. + +It was such a combat as probably no man on earth ever witnessed before. + +There was old P. D. and a monster precisely similar to the one the boys +had seen on the other side of the lake hard at it, and a bellowing and +roaring broke upon the air that was fairly deafening. + +The Plesiosaurus would rear its ugly head far above the water and +strike with lightning rapidity at its antagonist, which would dodge and +then dart forward, squirting up two vast streams of water out of holes +in each side of its huge snout, snapping its crocodile-like jaws and +displaying its terrible teeth. + +For about twenty seconds the boys were treated to this wonderful +exhibition and then, with a fearful splash, monster No. 2 leaped half +its length out of the water, caught old P. D. by the neck and dragged +him down out of sight. + +“By gracious!” cried Charley. “That’s great!” + +“Tremendous!” echoed Dick. “Who on earth ever saw the like?” + +“I’ll bet on old P. D. every time,” chuckled Doctor Dan, relaxing his +gravity for once and indulging in a hearty laugh. “It don’t seem to +strike you as comical as it does me, boys. It’s one of the funniest +things I ever saw.” + +Dick failed to see where the laugh came in, but he said nothing and for +some time they stood watching for the reappearance of the monsters, but +the moments passed and they did not come to the surface again. + +“There must be more than one Plesiosaurus,” remarked Dick, as they +sat at supper; “by the way, Doctor, you were going to tell us of your +discovery and how we could capture old P. D.” + +“Why, there is a cove around on the western shore that has a very +narrow entrance,” replied Doctor Dan. “There are great stones scattered +all around there and there is one that I am sure would choke up the +entrance if it was dropped between the ledges. Now if we could rig up +some sort of a snare in the cove with the ropes we have brought and +then pry the boulder over into the break and choke it up we would have +our friend P. D. hard and fast.” + +“Always providing he is obliging enough to go into the cove and run +into our snare,” said Dick. “Well, we will take a look at it in the +morning and see what we can make out of it. I’m dead tired now and I’m +going to turn in.” + +The tents had been moved further up the bank and as Doctor Dan had +agreed to watch until morning Dick and Charley now wrapped themselves +up in their blankets and put in a good night undisturbed. + +Doctor Dan had no news to report in the morning and after breakfast +he went up on the ledges, wrapped himself in his blankets and went to +sleep there, telling the boys that they need not trouble their heads +about him, but just do whatever they pleased. + +“Let’s try the underground passage, Dick,” said Charley. “I’m wild to +know if my theory is correct.” + +“If I knew where we could dive and strike it I’d say yes in a minute,” +replied Dick, “but I could never locate the place and I don’t care +about running the horses around to the other trail without Doctor Dan.” + +“I suppose that means we are to go across the lake again and see what +we can find of the girl?” + +“That’s what we ought to do.” + +“Then by all means let’s do it. Duty first and pleasure afterward. How +long do you intend to stop up here, anyhow?” + +“Oh, a day or two. If we fail entirely I think I shall try to persuade +Doctor Dan to take me on to Mr. Eglinton’s mine and see if Clara is +safe there.” + +“That means time lost. How about telegraphing Professor Poynter?” + +“We can do that from the mine just as well as from Node Ranch. No doubt +there is a line through to there.” + +“The girl is a nuisance,” declared Charley. “I really believe you are +ready to fall in love with her, Dick.” + +“I’m ready to help her if she needs help and to save her from that +scoundrel Mudd,” declared Dick, “but don’t let’s do any more talking +until we have made a start.” + +The boat was soon stretched and the seats placed and the boys then +carried it down to the lake and got in. + +It was not a pleasant craft to navigate, but Charley had become quite +skillful with the paddle and they were soon making good headway across +the lake. + +“If we happen to run into old P. D. or his enemy there’s going to be +an interesting time of it,” observed Dick. “You don’t say a word about +that, Charley, but I know you are thinking about it all the same.” + +“And why not?” replied Charley. “Of course I’m thinking about it, but +what’s the use talking? We have just got to take our chances. When I’m +out on an expedition like this I don’t believe in showing the white +feather. It isn’t my style nor yours, either, Dick.” + +“If it was mine you bet I wouldn’t be here,” said Dick, “but the danger +is real just the same.” + +Charley paddled on until at last they reached the other side of the +lake and pulled up their boat on the shore close to the hut. + +It still wore the same air of desertion. Dick had left the door partly +open and had placed a small pebble on top of it in such a manner that +if the door was touched the stone would be sure to fall. + +He seized hold of the door and pulled it open, but no pebble fell. + +“There’s been some one here!” he exclaimed. “Look, Charley, the floor +is all tracked over with alkali since we were here.” + +“That’s what, Dick. If it was mud, now, we might guess it was your +friend.” + +“Ten to one it was Mudd,” replied Dick. “Hello, what’s this?” + +In the middle of the long table which occupied the centre of the room +lay a paper upon which some words were written, fastened to the table +by a rusty old bowie knife which had been driven deep into the wood. + +“That’s yours, Dick,” cried Charley. “Don’t you see what it says?” + +“For you, Dick Darrell,” were the words scrawled over the paper in +letters at least six inches long. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. INTO THE BOILING POT. + + +“That’s Mudd’s work, sure,” exclaimed Dick, and he pulled out the knife +and picked the paper up, turning it over and finding the following +written on the other side: + + “Friends or enemies--which?--I swore to kill you. On certain + conditions I am willing to let you live--$100,000--you understand--but + we can’t get together by keeping apart. Shall I come to you or will + you come to me? I shall be in this hut at midnight and alone and you + must come alone if you want to meet me. It will pay you, Dick Darrell, + and you need fear nothing. If you do not come I shall take it to + mean that I shall come to you. It will be too late to talk about the + $100,000 then, for when I come I come to kill. Yours any way you like + to take me, MUDD.” + +“Well!” exclaimed Charley, for Dick had been reading aloud, “that’s a +most remarkable communication. What on earth does it all mean?” + +“Rubbish!” cried Dick. “He must think I am a born idiot. Still it shows +the fellow is watching us.” + +“I don’t know about that. There may be more in it than you think for. +Are you going to do as he says?” + +“Well, I think I see myself,” laughed Dick. “If he wants to come to me +let him try it. I’m ready for him.” + +“I wouldn’t do it that way. I’d come to the hut and let me and Doctor +Dan hang around somewhere. If we could once capture Mr. Martin Mudd his +name would be mud for fair and we could find out then exactly what has +become of the girl.” + +“Well, I’ll think it over,” said Dick. “Come on now and let’s have a +look at the boiling pot.” + +This was the name the boys had given to the point on the lake which so +interested Charley and they now went back into the boat and paddled +along the shore until they came to the place. + +The water was now as calm here as elsewhere and showed no signs of +disturbance. + +After pulling around a few moments Dick paddled ashore, declaring that +he was going to look up the footprints of the monster and measure them. + +“You don’t need any help, I suppose,” said Charley. “I’ll stay out +here. I want to watch the pot.” + +“They say a watched pot never boils,” laughed Dick, “but I’ve no +objections to you trying to prove it. Of course I don’t need any help. +It won’t take me five minutes, anyhow.” + +So Dick hurried along the shore, while Charley paddled out on the lake +again. There was no difficulty in finding the impress of the monster’s +huge feet in the sand and Dick got out his rule and was in the act +of measuring them when all at once a shout from Charley called his +attention to the lake. + +“She boils, Dick! She boils!” cried Charley. + +“Look out!” shouted Dick, running down to the shore. “Don’t go too +near. There may be some suction there.” + +“By Jove, there is a big suction,” answered Charley, “and what’s more +I’m right in it now.” + +He commenced to paddle furiously and perhaps he thought he was making +some headway, but Dick saw that he was not. + +“Jump out, Charley!” he shouted. “Jump and save yourself.” + +“I can do it! I can do it!” Charley replied, working the paddle more +vigorously than ever. + +Meanwhile the water was boiling furiously--more than it had done at any +time yet. + +Dick was terribly alarmed. He was standing now on a point of rocks +directly over the boiling pot and all at once, to his horror, he +saw the boat half double up and go shooting into the middle of this +miniature maelstrom. + +“I’m a goner!” yelled Charley, and he tumbled out of the boat. + +But he was too late to save himself. + +Like a flash the boat disappeared beneath the water. + +Charley made a noble effort to save himself, but the suction was too +much for him. + +“Oh, Dick!” he cried suddenly, and then threw up his hands and was gone. + +Dick hesitated just one instant--no more. + +Without even stopping to throw off his coat he took a header into the +boiling pot, disappearing like a flash. + +It seemed a piece of mad folly. + +How could he hope to rescue Charley under such circumstances as these? + +But Dick never gave that a thought. He would have jumped in just the +same if he had known that he was jumping to his death. + +Down he went--down--down--drawn deeper every second by that terrible +pull. + +“I’m a goner,” he thought “I can’t help myself,” and his heart began to +fail him as he was still drawn on and on, deeper into the boiling pot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. THE WONDERFUL CAVERN. + + +Holding his breath and still being dragged downward by that terrible +suction, Dick Darrell gave himself up for lost. + +His only hope was that his previous experience under the lake might be +repeated. + +And in a different way this is just what happened. Dick was brought up +with a round turn before he knew it. + +Suddenly the suction ceased and he went shooting forward; the next he +knew his head was out of water and he was swimming for all he was worth +down a swiftly flowing stream. + +He was now in a mighty cavern and it was comparatively light. + +Above him was the roof with immense stalactites hanging down like great +icicles; the wall on his left was covered with the same glittering +white formation; on the right the cave extended off into the distance +further than the eye could reach; on ahead there was no roof, the +cavern being open to the sky for a space of several hundred feet, which +admitted light and air and enabled Dick to take in his surroundings. + +It was a truly wonderful place. Doubtless the opening was at some +inaccessible point far up on the top of the mountain. It was at least a +hundred feet up from the floor of the cavern and nothing without wings +could hope to reach it. + +The stream rushed on with tremendous rapidity and Dick, feeling that +he might be swept into a worse place, made all possible haste to get +ashore, something not to be accomplished without difficulty, but at +last he managed it, and, wet to the skin and gasping for breath, he +sank down upon the sand and lay there, scarcely caring whether he lived +or died. + +This state of things lasted only for a few moments, however. + +Dick’s strength soon returned and he scrambled to his feet and gave the +peculiar shout which had been agreed upon as a signal between Charley +and himself. + +There was so answer, although Dick shouted again and again. Still he +did not give up hope now, for it was easy to imagine that Charley might +have been swept on further and still have escaped. + +Dick ran on, calling, wild with anxiety, but nevertheless keeping cool, +until at length he came under the opening, where he halted from sheer +exhaustion and again sank down upon the sand. + +“This won’t do,” he thought. “I must brace up. I escaped before and I +shall escape again. It’s a wonder that these underground outlets don’t +drain the lake off. I’ve seen two of them now and I believe there are +others. Hello! What’s that on ahead?” + +The sun struck down through the big hole in the roof of the cavern and +far in the distance there seemed to be a curious shimmering of light. + +“It’s a lake--that’s what it is--an underground lake, just as Charley +said,” thought Dick. “I’ll make for it, only I must get the water out +of my clothes.” + +He hurriedly undressed and wrung his wet clothing out as dry as +possible, dressing himself as soon as he had finished. + +“I suppose I shall get my death of cold either way,” he thought “so I +might as well put my clothes on as to leave them off. Now for the lake. +Nothing like a good run to warm a fellow up in a case like this.” + +He ran with all his might, coming in a few moments out upon the shore +of a broad sheet of water, which extended off as far as the eye could +penetrate into the darkness. + +The cavern was of vast proportions. Dick could see no walls on either +side now, and as the lake cut off further advance, his heart sank, for +how could he hope to escape from this strange place? The case seemed +hopeless, indeed. + +As Dick stood there on the shore of the lake wondering what he ought to +do, his attention was suddenly attracted by seeing in the distance a +shadowy form hurrying toward him along the shore. + +“Charley! Charley! That you, Charley?” he shouted, starting off on the +run again. + +The shadow halted and stood motionless, but there was no response. + +“It’s not Charley,” thought Dick. “If it was he would certainly answer. +Who can it be? By gracious, it’s a woman! Hello, there! Hello! Don’t be +afraid of me! I’ll not do you any harm.” + +The shadow had turned and started to run away, but seeming to be +reassured by Dick’s cry, stopped again and now waited for him to come +up. + +As Dick drew nearer he almost forgot Charley in the excitement which +came over him as he recognized Clara Eglinton. + +“Who is it?” she called out. “What do you want with me? I won’t go +back! No, I won’t!” + +“Miss Eglinton! Don’t you know me?” cried Dick. + +She recognized him the instant he spoke. + +“Oh, Mr. Darrell!” she exclaimed. “What ever brought you here? Oh, I am +so thankful to see you! I--I----” + +She paused and burst into a passion of tears. + +Dick caught her in his arms and spoke such soothing words as came first +to his tongue. + +“I am here to help you,” he said, “although my coming here is only the +result of an accident. Tell me about yourself. What brought you here +and how is it that you are alone?” + +“It was that scoundrel Mudd!” replied the girl. “He has held me a +prisoner in this dreadful place since his tools captured me on the +mountain night before last. They have a camp down here, Mr. Darrell. +I’ve been a close prisoner until about an hour ago, when I managed to +get away and--oh, oh! There comes that dreadful noise again! What is +it? Oh, what is it?” + +In her excitement she clutched Dick’s arm and begged him to protect +her, and there was nothing strange about her excitement either, for +an awful bellowing was heard off on the lake, echoing and re-echoing +back from the rocky walls of the cavern until the whole atmosphere +reverberated with the frightful sound. + +But it did not disturb Dick a bit. He knew very well that it was only +the Plesiosaurus. + +This underground lake then had its monster as well as the one above. +Of course, Dick had given up the idea that there was only one P. D. He +knew that there must be many and if Charley had only been safe with him +he would have rejoiced in the discovery. + +As it was he hastily explained to Clara what the noise really meant and +as the bellowing continued they stood there looking off on the lake +watching for the Plesiosaurus to appear. + +“We may not see it at all,” said Dick. “There! It has stopped. No doubt +it has gone under the water and--oh, Charley! Charley! This way! Here I +am! It’s Dick! Hello! Hello!” + +Suddenly Charley’s shout was heard in the distance and Dick lost no +time in answering. + +At the same instant there was a rushing sound on the water right in +front of them and the same old monstrous head came up out of the lake. + +Clara screamed and threw her arms about Dick. + +Higher and higher the head was thrust up as the neck of the monster +came out of the water. + +Then came the frightful bellow once more and the head of the monster +came darting toward them. + +Flinging a protecting arm about Clara, Dick drew her hastily back and +they ran for their lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. LOST UNDERGROUND. + + +The Plesiosaurus made no attempt to come up out of the water. + +Once more it gave its strange cry and Dick, looking around, saw its +huge back come up into view, and, with its long neck arched like a +swan, it sailed away over the lake and was soon lost to view in the +darkness. + +Dick and Clara had now stopped running and stood looking off over the +lake watching the strange creature as it sailed away. + +“I ought to be ashamed of myself for being so timid, Mr. Darrell,” +said Clara. “But I have had such a dreadful time that my nerves are +all shaken. What is that creature? I didn’t suppose anything like it +existed on earth.” + +“And I don’t believe there is such a thing existing anywhere else,” +replied Dick. “I’ll tell you all about it in a few moments. My friend +is coming. I’ve got such a lot to tell you. Do you know I almost wonder +that you remember my name--you only saw me for a moment that night in +Washington.” + +“Indeed, I am not likely to forget your bravery then,” replied Clara, +“nor what you tried to do for me on the mountain the other night.” + +“Hello, Dick! Hello! Hello! Where are you?” Charley’s welcome voice was +heard shouting, although as yet he had not appeared. + +Dick had paused several times in his conversation to give Charley the +call and he now did so again. + +In a moment they caught sight of a shadow coming along the shore of the +lake and soon Charley, with his clothes as badly saturated as Dick’s, +came hurrying up. + +It was a joyful meeting and the next ten minutes were devoted to +explanations and telling their respective stories. + +Charley’s experience had been just the same as Dick’s, except that he +was swept into the lake and had a hard job getting ashore, as he had +become greatly exhausted. + +“Lucky old P. D. didn’t rise near me or I should have been a goner,” he +said. “Strange you didn’t hear me holler, Dick. I kept it up all the +time.” + +“So did I,” replied Dick, “but we must have been a long way apart at +the beginning. Now, Charley, what is to be done? Here we three are in +this hole and the thing is to get out as quick as ever we can, but for +the life of me I don’t see how we are going to do it without running +into Mudd and his gang.” + +Clara had explained her situation fully by this time. It appeared +that she had been on her way to the mine her father owned in the +neighborhood of the Black Hills, the man Bill Struthers having been +sent down to the railroad to meet her and guide her through the Bad +Lands to the mine. + +Mudd, she declared, was a man whom her father had used in his business, +but had to discharge on account of dishonesty. “He’s a thorough +scoundrel,” Clara went on to say; “he swore to be avenged on father +and this is the way he has taken to do it. He brought me here and sent +Bill in to tell father that the horse ran away with me and was lost. +They expect father will offer a big reward to the man who finds me and +I know they mean to trump up a story about my being captured by Indians +and held for ransom. When they have got all the money they can out of +father I suppose they mean to let me go.” + +They kept on talking thus until Dick called a halt by making the remark +quoted above. + +“I’m blest if I see how we are going to get out,” said Charley. “We +can’t go back up through the boiling pot, that’s certain. Perhaps Miss +Eglinton will tell us how she was brought down into the cave.” + +“Oh, I thought I told you about that!” exclaimed Clara. + +“You certainly didn’t,” answered Dick “I’ve been waiting for a chance +to ask you.” + +“It’s easily explained, but, see here, boys, as we have been thrown +together in this strange way we want to be as good friends as possible. +I’m Clara to all my friends and that’s what you must call me.” + +“I agree to that, providing you return the compliment,” replied Dick. +“Now, don’t you worry. We are going to get out of this trouble and you +are going back to camp with us. Our guide, Doctor Dan, knows every inch +of the Bad Lands and we will start for your father’s mine at once and +won’t leave you until you are safe in his hands.” + +Clara was very grateful and she went on to tell how, after her capture, +Mudd had blindfolded her for a few moments, halting for that purpose in +a rocky glen, as she called it. + +In this condition she had been led down some steps and when the +handkerchief was removed from her eyes she found herself underground, +being hurried along a narrow passage, which finally led them into the +cave, where later the man Tony came, bringing the horses, which seemed +to have come down by another way. + +Later all three of the men rode off and were gone some time, but +Mudd and Tony soon came riding back again. Since then they had been +coming and going, Clara herself being kept a close prisoner until this +morning, when she managed to slip the cords off her hands, and, as none +of the three were in the camp at the time, she made her escape and had +wandered about the cavern until she met Dick. + +“What we have got to do, then,” said Dick, “is to get back to that camp +and see what we can find out about these different ways in and out of +the cave. I wouldn’t wonder a bit, Charley, if Doctor Dan was right +after all and that horse did lead us to the very spot where Clara was +blindfolded. It was just such a place as she describes.” + +“Must we go back there,” said Clara. “I’d rather do almost anything +else. You can’t imagine how I dread being captured by those men again +and you know what Mudd has been to you, Dick.” + +“I don’t, but I wish I did,” replied Dick. “I can’t make the man out +at all. In one breath he threatens to kill me and in the next he is +talking about making me a millionaire. I believe he’s crazy, if you +want to know really what I think.” + +It seemed entirely necessary to go back to the camp, however, so Clara +undertook to guide them to the place. + +From the first Dick felt his doubts about her being able to do it, for +she turned away from the lake after they had advanced along the shore +for a short distance and soon they were in a part of the cavern where +it was so dark that they could scarcely see a foot ahead of them. + +For an hour or more they wandered about. + +For a long time Clara had been very silent, only speaking when one of +the boys directly addressed her. + +At length she stopped short, exclaiming: + +“It is no use, boys. I can’t find the place. We are lost here +underground!” + + + + +CHAPTER XV. MR. MUDD TURNS UP AGAIN. + + +“Now, that’s all right!” exclaimed Dick. “Until you were ready to give +up, Clara, I didn’t want to say a word, but I think I can pilot the way +to the camp.” + +“How, when you have never been there?” asked Clara. “Oh, I feel so +ashamed of myself. I thought I could lead you straight back to it. +Don’t be angry with me, Dick.” + +“As though I could be,” exclaimed Dick. “You have done your best and +now if you give it up let me have my try.” + +“What do you mean to do?” asked Charley. “Upon my word, I’m all turned +around myself.” + +“I’ll show you,” replied Dick. “First we want to get back where we +started out. It’s easy enough to do that.” + +“I couldn’t do it,” said Clara. “I’ll own up that’s what I’ve been +trying to do for the last half hour, but I just seemed to lead you +round and round in a circle.” + +“I’ll fix it,” said Dick, confidently. “Come this way.” + +He started off in directly the opposite direction to that which they +had been following. + +“Oh, I see!” cried Clara. “I understand now. You are going toward the +light.” + +“Exactly,” replied Dick. “The light comes down through that hole in the +roof and the underground river and the lake are right there and that’s +where we have got to look for the trail.” + +“I saw no trail,” said Charley. “I looked for that when we started out.” + +“It’s there and we’ll find it. Doctor Dan has given me some good +pointers on trails. Trust an Indian for that. He’ll find a footprint +where a white man could see nothing. We shall soon be back at the lake +and then I’ll show you how well I’ve learned my lesson.” + +In a short time Dick brought up at the lake and soon found the spot +where he had encountered Clara. + +“Now there you are!” he exclaimed, after bending down and examining the +sand, which was pretty hard to be sure, but still the faint imprint of +Clara’s footsteps could be seen. + +“I’m afraid if you expect to follow my course you will have a hard time +of it,” said Clara. “I was wandering about a long time before I met +you, Dick.” + +“I’m not going to,” replied Dick. “I think I can do it without the +trail. Tell me, was this camp against the wall of the cave?” + +“There were big rocks right back of where we were, if that is what you +mean,” replied Clara. + +“That’s it. How about the lake?” + +“Oh, I saw nothing of the lake until I had been walking around for some +time.” + +“Would you know the place when you first struck it?” + +“I think I should. There was a black rock sticking up out of the water.” + +“Very good! Then we’ll go to the black rock. That’s easy found.” + +“I thought that I could strike right over to the place,” remarked +Clara, as they walked along. “I never had the faintest idea that I was +going to get lost.” + +“We’ll strike off from the black rock,” said Dick. “When we were +following you we kept going around in a circle, but I think I can +strike a straight line to the wall; after that it will be dead easy, +for all we have got to do is to follow the wall around.” + +They soon reached the black rock and Dick again showed them the trail. + +Still he did not attempt to follow it, but started off rapidly in the +direction which he considered the wall ought to be, and hit it so +accurately that within ten minutes they came up against the rocks. + +“Why, you are a splendid guide!” exclaimed Clara. “Now, what is to be +done?” + +“Which way do you think the camp lies?” asked Dick. + +Clara pointed to the left and Dick promptly started off to the right. + +“I suppose you wonder what I’m doing this for?” he said, “but I happen +to know that you are wrong.” + +“I’m sure I’m right,” said Clara. “How can you know that I am not?” + +“Listen!” replied Dick. + +“I hear something like the pawing of a horse,” said Charley. + +“That’s exactly it. I heard the sound before we came to the wall. It’s +the camp, of course, and what’s more, Martin Mudd or one of his men has +returned.” + +“For mercy’s sake, don’t expose yourself, Dick,” said Clara. “Tell me +what your plan is. I hate to even think of what might happen if you +fell into the hands of Mudd.” + +“Then don’t think of it, for he is already in the hands of Mudd!” spoke +a sneering voice right ahead of them. + +Clara screamed and Dick and Charley hastily drew their revolvers, for +at the same instant two men armed with rifles sprang out from behind a +turn in the rocks, and the foremost man was Mudd. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. MARTIN MUDD MAKES A SERIOUS CHARGE. + + +“Throw up nothing!” shouted Dick Darrell when Martin Mudd called out, +“Throw up your hands!” and he rushed forward, firing two shots as he +went. + +This rather took Mudd & Co. by surprise, as they had not expected +anything of the sort. + +One of the shots went through Mudd’s rusty “tile,” knocking it off his +head. + +“Oh, I’m shot! I’m shot!” he yelled. “Spare my life, boys!” + +Down he fell all in a heap. + +Tony had fired one shot, but, seeing Charley rush up to help Dick, +letting fly with his revolver as he came, the valiant Tony took to his +heels and sprinted off into the depths of the cavern. + +Dick lost no time in making Mudd a prisoner. + +Clara and Charley lent a hand and with a stout cord, which the latter +happened to have in his pocket, they tied the fellow’s hands behind him. + +While this was going on Mudd kept up a dreadful racket, calling out in +one breath that he was shot and the next begging the boys not to shoot +him. + +He made so much noise about it that Dick unfeelingly suggested that he +was not shot at all and told him he had better hold his tongue. + +“Yes I am, too,” growled Mudd. “I know I am. This is a nice way to +treat a man who has been deserted by his friend. Miss Clara, you might +plead my cause, I think. I was always a good friend of your father’s, +as you know very well.” + +“What impudence!” exclaimed Clara. “After the way you have used me, +too!” + +“Don’t see it in that light at all,” returned Mudd. “I haven’t ill used +you. Your father owes me money that I can’t collect. I simply detained +you until I could collect it--that’s all.” + +“If you don’t stop your noise, mister, I’ll put a gag in your mouth!” +cried Dick. “Just stand still, will you, and I’ll soon see where you +are hurt. Charley, pick up his hat. Clara, hold the lantern. We will +straighten this thing out right now.” + +It was Mudd’s own lantern, which he dropped when he fell. Clara +had picked it up and lighted it again and Dick now made a careful +examination of the man, but could find no wound. + +“You are not hurt at all,” declared Dick. + +“One shot went through his hat,” said Charley. + +“It’s a pity it didn’t go through his head,” added Dick. “Now, then, +Mr. Mudd, seeing that you know the way out of this place I’ll thank you +to show it to us, and be quick about it, do you understand?” + +Mudd began to snuffle. + +“I’ll do it,” he drawled. “I do it under protest, because I have to +do it. I’m a man of very sensitive feelings and I don’t like to be +talked rough to like that. I’m like the devil. I’m not as black as I’m +painted. I’ve acted in your interest, Dick Darrell, right along.” + +“So you say,” replied Dick. “I suppose, of course, you were acting for +my interest when you tried to stick a knife into my back in the streets +of Washington. Oh, you’re a bird, you are! Travel on and show us the +way out of here and hold your tongue or I’ll make you--that’s all!” + +Mudd seemed thoroughly cowed. With his hands tied behind him he +shuffled on through the cavern. + +Dick noticed that he kept in a direct line with the lake and seemed to +know just where he was going, which, indeed, proved to be the case, for +in a few moments he paused beside what seemed to be a flight of stone +steps. + +“There’s the way out,” he growled. + +“Why, these are regular stairs!” exclaimed Dick. + +“It’s right,” said Clara. “I was brought down this way.” + +“Of course it’s right,” growled Mudd. “If I may be allowed to speak +now, I would like to say that these steps constitute a most important +archæological discovery and one which should be communicated to the +Smithsonian Institute. Yours truly, Martin Mudd, is the discoverer, so +please mention his name in your report. You might call them the Mudd +stairs, only that would be rather a misnomer, seeing that they are made +of stone.” + +“Upon my word, you are the windiest beggar I ever came across,” said +Dick. “Who built these stairs, anyway?” + +“There you go hurting my feelings again, and without the slightest +reason,” retorted Mudd. “To the best of my knowledge and belief they +were built by some prehistoric tribe of Indians like the cliff dwellers +of the Colorado canyon. Don’t forget to mention my name when you make +your report.” + +“Oh, I’ll mention your name in my report fast enough--don’t you fret,” +replied Dick. “Lead on, Clara. If these steps will take us out of this +hole we don’t want to lose any time.” + +“There’s a big stone to lift at the top of the flight,” said Mudd. “If +you will untie my hands I’ll show you how to work it. You needn’t be +afraid that I’ll run away.” + +But Dick would have none of his assistance, and, as it proved, it was +not needed, for he was easily able to lift the stone himself. + +It seemed to move on two dowels set in sockets cut in the ledge; a very +clever piece of work, which Dick determined to study into later on. + +When they came up into the open air our little party found themselves +at the very point where the horse had stopped, proving Doctor Dan to +have been entirely right in his conclusions. + +They were now free, but with the boat gone it seemed rather a +discouraging situation, for night would soon be upon them and to take +the long walk through the canyon and down the mountain and then up +again on the other trail was not to be thought of at all. + +“Mr. Mudd,” said Dick, turning to their prisoner, “you left a note for +me in that hut over there by the lake?” + +“Ah! So you found it, did you?” replied Mudd. “Well?” + +“You asked me to meet you there alone at midnight and promised some +important disclosures. You will have an opportunity to make them in the +hut very soon, for I’m going to take you there now.” + +“You may take me there if you wish, same as you can take a horse to +water,” growled Mudd. + +“By which I suppose you mean that I shall have the same trouble making +you talk against your will that I would in making the horse drink +unless he chose--is that it?” + +“That is it exactly. Same time, young feller, I’m willing to talk if +I’m paid.” + +“I told you what I’d do,” said Dick. “You put a million dollars in my +hands and I’ll give you a hundred thousand.” + +“Will you give it to me in writing?” asked Mudd, quickly. + +“Yes, I will.” + +“Good enough! Come on to the hut. This is no joke, Dick Darrell. You +have been wronged out of a large fortune and I know it. I could name +the man who did it if I chose and I have a great mind to do it, too.” + +As he spoke Martin Mudd shot a malignant look at Clara, which Dick did +not at all understand just then. + +“Name him,” he said. “Speak out. I mean business; show that you do, +too.” + +They were walking along through the canyon at the time and Mudd kept on +for some moments in silence. + +Suddenly he looked up, exclaiming: + +“Well, I will name him. He is Colonel Tom Eglinton, the father of that +girl!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. CAUGHT NAPPING. + + +“It is false!” cried Clara. “How dare you accuse my father of crime?” + +“It’s true,” persisted Mudd; “and now that the cat is out of the bag, +I’m going to tell the whole story, so that Dick Darrell can see what +sort of cattle he is dealing with when he comes to deal with old Tom +Eglinton and his brood.” + +“Hold your tongue or I’ll pull it out for you!” exclaimed Dick; “you +have no right to insult this young lady so. Never mind him, Clara. We +know what he is. Don’t pay the least attention to him. He is talking +the same way he got shot--through his hat.” + +“Oh, all right, then,” retorted Mudd. “I’ll hold my tongue. Stick +to your friends, the Eglintons, young feller, only let me tell you +one thing, it was old Tom Eglinton who hired me to kill you--that’s +straight.” + +It was a most awkward situation for Dick. + +Poor Clara was terribly overcome by the charge brought against her +father, and it took all Dick’s tact and shrewdness to put her at her +ease again. + +Charley took it all in and said but little, reserving his comments +until they had reached the hut and disposed of their prisoner. + +The sun was now sinking behind the hills and night coming on. + +Dick scanned the opposite shore of the lake through his glass, but +could see nothing of Doctor Dan. + +Things at the hut were exactly as they had left them, and as there was +no possibility of leaving it before morning, Dick proceeded to make his +arrangements accordingly. + +Mudd was put in the loft and his feet tied as well as his hands. + +The wily schemer made a vigorous protest against it all, but Dick would +not listen to him, and he closed the trapdoor, which communicated with +the loft, and left him to himself. + +As Clara was very much fatigued, Dick suggested that she take +possession of one of the bunks in the lower room and lie down, which +she did shortly after dark. + +As for the boys themselves, they had no other idea than to stand guard +until morning. + +The night was just perfect; the air soft and balmy and every star +seemed to be out for business. + +Arm in arm, Dick and Charley walked up and down the shore in front of +the hut discussing the singular adventures which had befallen them, but +it remained for Charley to bring the conversation back to Martin Mudd. + +“You don’t say much about that wild talk he made, Dick,” Charley began. +“Don’t take any stock in it, I suppose?” + +“Why, of course not,” laughed Dick. “It’s mere bluff.” + +“I don’t feel so sure about that,” said Charley, musingly. “I believe +that there is something under it all.” + +“Guess not,” replied Dick, carelessly. “The mean wretch! He wanted to +make poor Clara feel bad, that’s all. To-morrow, just as soon as it is +light, we must all start down the mountain and get around to the other +side of the lake. Doctor Dan shall decide whether we go back to Node +Ranch with our prisoner or not, but I think it’s the best thing we can +do.” + +“Suppose we build a big fire and let the Doctor know we are here?” +suggested Charley. + +“Yes, and let that scoundrel Tony know, too, and perhaps half a dozen +others. No, thank you. I don’t care about that. We’ll let well enough +alone.” + +For a few moments the boys continued to pace the shore in silence and +then Charley broke out again. + +“I can’t get away from it, Dick,” he said. “I think you ought to listen +to what Mudd has to tell.” + +“Oh, I’ll listen all right,” replied Dick. “Trouble is he won’t talk +now.” + +“No; you’ve got him mad. Say, Dick, you never told me much about your +folks. I know your father and mother are both dead, but----” + +“But you still persist in thinking that I may turn out to be a +millionaire. No, Charley, I’m just nobody. My father was a mining +engineer and poor as a church mouse. He used to operate out in this +section, but he never made much more than a living. When I was about +ten years old he was killed in a fight in Cheyenne and my mother died +soon afterward. She always claimed that father owned mining lands out +West, but she had no papers to prove it, so I guess there was nothing +in it after all.” + +“Now there you are!” cried Charley. “Who knows but what Mudd might have +been acquainted with your father?” + +“Might be so, of course, but, come. We have gone too far away from the +hut. Let’s get back. We mustn’t do it again.” + +“Let’s go ahead to the Boiling Pot; it’s only a few steps further. +Hark! Don’t you hear? It has got down to business again.” + +The surging of the waters over at the pot could be distinctly heard +as the boys drew nearer and when they reached the point on the shore +opposite to it the noise seemed louder than when they had heard it +before. + +Charley bent over the edge of the bank watching the movement of the +water intently. + +Just then the same familiar bellow was heard out on the lake and the +Plesiosaurus rose to the surface at a considerable distance from shore. + +“By gracious, old P. D. again!” shouted Charley. + +Dick turned to look, when all at once there was a splash and Charley +went headlong into the lake, pushed by a man who had stolen noiselessly +up behind them, while Dick was seized by two others and swung violently +around. + +“Throw him after the other one!” cried one of the men. “Let ’em both go +down into the pot!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. OLD P. D. LOOKS DOWN OVER THE ROCKS. + + +Charley was floundering around in the whirl of waters, struggling for +dear life to prevent being dragged down into the boiling pot. + +Dick was engaged in a struggle of another sort. He was making it +decidedly hot for the men who had tackled him, kicking and turning and +twisting. They tried hard to throw him over the edge of the bank and +might have succeeded if another man had not come running out of the +mouth of the canyon, shouting: + +“No, no! Don’t pitch him in! Let the other go to thunder, but I want +this one, as I told you before.” + +It was Tony. As Dick recognized him he was suddenly stretched upon the +ground by a stunning blow between the eyes that one of his captors +found a chance to get in. + +It nearly knocked the breath out of his body and his wits went with it +for the moment. + +When he came to himself again Tony had him by the collar and was +lifting him up, while three tough-looking specimens stood around ready +to help. + +The Boiling Pot had stopped boiling now and Charley was nowhere to be +seen. + +“Say, Dick Darrell, brace up! Pull yourself together!” cried Tony. +“Where’s Mudd and the gal?” + +“Find out,” panted Dick. “I’m not telling. What have you done with my +friend?” + +“Oh, he’s gone back in the cave all right, I reckon,” chuckled Tony. +“You’re a slick fighter, you are. See the black eye you have given my +friend here? Never mind, though, you’ll be paid up for this.” + +Dick was silent. There was no chance for any further struggles, for +his hands had been tied behind him and he knew by the feeling that his +revolver had been taken away. + +“I guess Mudd is up to the hut all right, and the gal, too,” said Tony. +“Hustle him along, boys. I’ll go ahead and make sure.” + +Tony ran on and by the time Dick reached the hut Martin Mudd came out +to meet him, with Tony by his side. + +“Yes, that’s the right boy,” he said, glancing at Dick. “I knew you +wouldn’t desert me, Tony. I shan’t forget this.” + +“Well, you see I fell in with these here friends of mine,” said Tony. +“Old cow punchers, every one on ’em. I was going down to Node Ranch for +help, but thought I might as well come back and help you out when I met +them.” + +“Help me out still further by giving me a chance to talk to this boy,” +said Mudd. “I’ve got something very important to say to him. With the +girl stowed away in my place up in the loft the hut gives me just my +chance.” + +“And you want us to stay out--is that the idea?” asked Tony. + +“Why, yes.” + +“The boys won’t never consent to it while the whisky jug is inside, as +they happen to know it is.” + +“Go in and get the jug and help yourselves. Here’s the key to the +locker,” replied Mudd, thrusting his hand into his pocket, adding: + +“No, by Jove, it isn’t, either. I must have left it in the pocket of my +other coat. Come on in and we’ll all have a drink.” + +“But what about the boy?” asked Tony. + +“Oh, tumble him over on the ground. He can’t get up with his hands +tied.” + +“Yes he can, too.” + +“Then tie his feet into the bargain and make sure. We won’t be gone ten +minutes anyhow.” + +And this was just the way they served poor Dick. + +Tied hand and foot, he lay there on the shore of the lake filled with +anxiety for his friends and forced to listen to the drunken songs and +wild shouts of Mudd and his crew inside the hut. + +The proposed ten minutes had lengthened into an hour and still no one +came out of the hut. + +Mudd seemed to have forgotten all about his proposed talk with Dick, +until at last the door of the hut flew open and he came staggering +along with his rusty old plug tilted back on his head and his necktie +twisted around under his chin. + +“Hello, Dick--Dick Darrell,” he said, thickly. “Are you there?” + +“Can’t you see me?” replied Dick. “You could if you weren’t drunk.” + +“Don’t sass me, boy, for it won’t pay you,” replied Mudd, staggering up +to Dick and sitting down upon the ground beside him. + +His back was now against a pile of rocks, which at this point cropped +out upon the shore. + +“Let me free, Mudd,” said Dick. “Come, now, no use in us two +quarreling. Let me free.” + +“Not a bit of use in our quarreling,” hiccoughed Mudd, “but I won’t set +you free yet. Say, Dick Darrell, here’s the--here’s the--hic--the whole +business in a clam shell. Clara’s father robbed your father of the big +Gold Queen mine up in the Black Hills and hired a man to do your father +up and he did.” + +“Do you know this,” cried Dick. “You are pretty drunk, Mudd; do you +feel sure you are speaking the truth?” + +“Sure!” cried Mudd. “Why, of course, I’m sure! Hain’t I the--well, +never mind. I was paid $5,000 to do you up all right, though, and Tom +Eglinton is the man who paid the plunks. Burn him! He’s no good. That +Gold Queen mine belongs to you, young feller, and it’s worth more’n +a million, by Jove! Sign that air paper ’bout the hundred thousand +dollars and I’ll give you evidence against Tom Eglinton what will hold +good in any court--oh, great snakes, what’s this?” + +Dick was scarcely listening now--he was staring up at the rocks above +Martin Mudd’s head. + +Over the edge of the rocks a monstrous head had just been thrust--it +was the head of a Plesiosaurus--it dropped down and knocked off the +battered plug. + +Mudd looked up and sprang to his feet with a frightened yell. + +“Got ’em again!” he bellowed loud enough to rival old P. D. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. DICK IMPROVES HIS OPPORTUNITIES. + + +Shouting for help from the hut, Martin Mudd ran toward it and +disappeared inside. + +But Dick was in no situation to defend himself from the monster, +unfortunately. + +All he could do was to lie there and look, but, truth told, he was not +much scared and rather anticipated what happened next. + +There was something wrong in the make-up of old P. D.’s head this time. + +In the first place the big, staring eyes were missing and in their +stead were simply two empty sockets. + +If this, indeed, was a living Plesiosaurus it was a blind one, and, +moreover, the scaly skin had a dried up, leathery appearance and the +head fell down over the rocks after Martin Mudd ran away and just hung +there limply. + +“A fake! A dead one!” flashed over Dick, and he added to himself: “This +is some of Doctor Dan’s work.” + +And so it was. As Martin Mudd fled from the monster Doctor Dan came +crawling out from behind the rocks, carrying a long stick in his hand. + +“Hush, boy! Don’t say a word!” he whispered. “I’ll have you free in +just one minute. Ha! Ha! Ha! How he did run!” + +The Indian was shaking all over with suppressed laughter, as he cut the +cords which held Dick a prisoner. + +“Good for you, doctor!” cried Dick, springing up. “What have you been +doing; killing old P. D.?” + +“Not at all. That one is dead and it is only a fragment,” replied the +Indian. He seized the dangling head and pulled and two or three yards +of neck came whipping over the rocks and that was all there was to old +P. D. + +It was all dried up and looked decidedly aged. + +“I ran this stick in under the jaw and just shook the head at him,” +chuckled Doctor Dan. “Didn’t it scare him, though? Ha! Ha! Ha! Where +is Charley, Dick? What in the world have you been about to let those +fellows capture you? Oh, don’t be afraid of them. They are all dead +drunk and asleep in the hut there but that man and he is such a coward +that--ha--here he comes now.” + +Mudd stepped out of the hut at that moment. + +His jaw dropped when he saw Dick free and Doctor Dan with him. + +Evidently Martin Mudd believed in the old adage that “he who fights and +runs away may live to fight another day,” for he ran off up the lake +shore as fast as his condition would allow. + +Doctor Dan gave chase and fired two or three shots after him, but he +did not catch the man and actually did not try. + +Mudd disappeared among the rocks which lined the shore, and the Indian +soon returned and joined Dick in front of the hut. + +Dick was listening at the door and he held up his finger as Doctor Dan +approached. + +“There’s one of them moving about inside there,” he whispered. “Keep +still.” + +“Let ’em move,” said Doctor Dan. “Who are they, anyway? I looked in +through the window and saw a lot of fellows lying about drunk in there, +but they are all strangers to me. Say, where’s Charley, Dick?” + +“Dead, I’m afraid,” replied Dick, hoarsely. “Help me, doctor! That +young lady I told you about is a prisoner in there. I’ll explain later, +but we must settle with these fellows first.” + +“I’ll soon settle ’em,” chuckled Doctor Dan. “I’ll send them after your +friend Mudd.” + +He ran back to the rocks and soon returned dragging the head of the +Plesiosaurus after him, but it was not needed. All was quiet inside the +hut now and when Dick ventured to open the door softly they were all +sound asleep. + +Tony lay in the bunk, but the others were stretched out upon the floor. + +“Keep your eye on ’em, doctor,” whispered Dick, and he made for the +loft ladder. + +In a few moments Clara came down the ladder and Dick quickly followed +her. + +Doctor Dan took off his hat politely and Dick introduced Clara when +they got outside. + +“Most happy to make your acquaintance, miss,” said the guide. “I have +met your father. Once I had trouble with him. He got angry with me when +I was guiding a party of prospectors among the Black Hills and tried to +kill me. He shot at me twice, but I escaped. I only mention this so you +may know just who I am.” + +Dick was greatly troubled. Clara turned red and pale again as she took +Dick’s arm. + +“Doctor Dan,” she said, very quietly, “I know my father is a hard man. +I can only say that I am sorry that--that----” + +“Say nothing,” broke in Doctor Dan. “I am an Indian, but I bear no +malice toward you, miss. As for your father----” + +“Don’t doctor! Please don’t for my sake!” pleaded Dick. + +“Well, I’d do a good deal for your sake, young fellow,” said Doctor +Dan. “I’m dumb. Come on. We want to get away from here.” + +“Not without old P. D.’s head,” said Dick. “It is most valuable to me. +I shall ship it to Washington at the earliest opportunity. I’ll carry +it if it is too heavy for you.” + +“Heavy! Nonsense! What am I here for?” replied Doctor Dan. He picked +up the head, which, with the neck, must have weighed at least forty +pounds, and walked off down the shore, leaving Dick and Clara to follow +as they pleased. + +“I’m afraid of that man,” said Clara. “Oh, Dick, it is terrible to hear +my father spoken of so, and yet----” + +Clara paused. Dick said nothing. He was beginning to think that Mr. +Eglinton must be a pretty bad man. + +“And yet,” continued Clara, after a moment, “I am afraid my father is +not a very good man. Oh, Dick, I hate to say it, but after what you +have done for me I ought to tell you--to warn you. Martin Mudd has had +dealings with my father. On that very night when he tried to kill you +in Washington he had just left our house and--and--Dick, do look out +for yourself. Don’t go with me to the Gold Queen mine on any account.” + +“I’m not afraid,” replied Dick, “but I am going to do just as you say, +Clara.” + +“If my father has robbed you of what rightfully belongs to you he shall +make it good!” cried Clara, her eyes flashing. “Leave it to me, Dick. I +am the only one in the world who has any influence with him.” + +“If he had robbed me of a million and it was going to do you harm to +try to get it back again I would not make a move,” whispered Dick. + +Clara turned away, her face suffused with blushes. + +Arm in arm they walked along the shore. + +Had Dick fallen in love? + +Certainly it began to look very much that way. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. THE SLEEPING PLESIOSAURUS. + + +It was not until Dick and Clara had reached the Boiling Pot that the +girl spoke again. + +“Where is Charley?” she asked. “Why isn’t he here?” + +Then Dick called a halt and told the whole story. + +Doctor Dan had been waiting for them and he listened with close +attention. + +“It’s a bad business,” he said. “In all probability Charley has been +sucked down into that underground river again, but as he went down once +and escaped, he may have escaped a second time. Anyhow, let us hope so. +Now, Dick, don’t you want to know how I came to be here, and where I +got the head that scared your friend Mudd so?” + +“Indeed I do,” replied Dick, “and I want you to understand that I don’t +give up hope about Charley at all, but one thing is certain, we have +got to go down into the cavern and see if we can find him.” + +“Sure,” said Doctor Dan, “and we will find him. Now listen to me. There +seem to be many ways into that cavern. I’ve been there. I found the +Plesiosaurus’ head there. I came upon an opening in the rocks away over +on the other side of the lake, near our camp, and, following it up, it +took me into the cavern. I came out the same way you did. I crossed the +underground river and, what is more, I struck your trail. I can take +you back to camp the same way and we can hunt for Charley as we go.” + +This seemed to be entirely the correct scheme and Dick and Doctor Dan +lost no time in carrying it out. + +The only objection Dick made was that they would have to work in the +dark, but this Doctor Dan soon disposed of by producing a lantern, +which he had brought along with him and hidden among the rocks in the +canyon. + +Then they hurried on to the stone steps and were soon down in the +cavern once more. + +Armed with the lantern, Doctor Dan went ahead and had no difficulty in +following his own trail, for the floor of the cavern was composed of +soft sand and the guide’s footsteps plainly showed. + +Now we have said but little about Dick’s anxiety for Charley, because +there has been so much to tell, but it was of the keenest kind. + +As they walked along by the side of the underground river Dick kept +shouting Charley’s name, as he had done before, hoping to get an +answer, and before they had gone any great distance sure enough he did. + +Of course this threw the whole party into a great state of excitement +and they hurried forward and soon came upon Charley, who was running +toward them along the river bank. + +“It’s all right, Dick!” he shouted. “I came down as easy as you please. +No trouble about the Boiling Pot once you know how to handle yourself +in it. Hello, doctor. How in the world did you get over this side of +the lake? Oh, Dick, I’ve got such news to tell!” + +Charley was so excited that he could hardly wait until Dick had told +what happened at the hut, although he insisted upon hearing it all +before he would explain. + +“We have got to look sharp or that scoundrel Mudd will finish us up +sooner or later,” he exclaimed. “Now, then, Dick, what do you suppose I +have found?” + +“Give it up, but I wish you would tell,” replied Dick. “Out with it! We +are all dying to hear.” + +“Old P. D. asleep!” + +“What!” + +“Old P. D. asleep, I tell you. Oh, I mean it! This cave is a wonderful +place. You haven’t seen half of it yet, nor I, either, for that matter. +You see I landed on the other side of the river this time and I had +to swim across, but before I did it I browsed around there a bit and +made my discovery. I was working down to the steps when I met you. Keep +the lantern down lower, doctor, so that I may follow my trail. There, +that’s right. Dick, I believe we can catch old P. D. after all and hold +him till we can get Prof. Poynter up here.” + +“It would be a big triumph if we could,” said Dick. “But I am waiting +to have you tell me more about it, Charley. How did you make all these +discoveries in the dark?” + +“Why, it wasn’t done in the dark,” replied Charley. “I found a lantern +here. It went out a few moments ago for want of oil, so I left it +behind me. Oh, I haven’t told you all I have discovered yet.” + +“Let’s have the rest of it then,” said Doctor Dan. “Hello! Here’s your +lantern now.” + +There it stood on the sand, close to the river bank. Charley ran ahead +and picked it up. “Here’s where I crossed. It’s only knee deep--all +stones in the channel. We have got to get over, but what will Clara do?” + +“In a case like this if it is only knee deep I guess I can manage it,” +said Clara. “I’m not afraid of getting my feet wet, Charley, when you +are wet to the skin from head to foot.” + +“Wait,” said Doctor Dan; “let me go over first and see.” + +He pulled off his shoes and stockings, rolled up his trousers and waded +across, but Charley plunged right in and crossed, for he could not have +been wetter than he already was. + +“I can carry you across, miss, if you will let me,” called Doctor Dan, +as he started back. “Don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you even if I +am an Indian and your father is my enemy.” + +“Go, Clara. It will please him,” whispered Dick. + +“Certainly I will let you,” replied Clara, and Doctor Dan stooped down, +gathered the girl’s skirts together about her ankles, then lifted her +up and carried her across the stream as easily as though she had been a +baby. + +Dick hastily followed and they had no sooner joined Charley on the +other side than he picked up the lantern and hurried forward away from +the river so fast that they could hardly keep up with him. + +“We are right there now!” he called out. “Come on! Come on!” + +To their surprise a few moments later they emerged from the cavern and +found themselves standing under the stars. + +“Hello!” cried Doctor Dan; “this beats me. I had no idea of anything +like this.” + +It was a most peculiar spot. Before them lay a broad pool of water, +perhaps a hundred yards across, beyond which was a low ridge of rocks, +and over this they could look off upon the Bad Lands for miles and +miles. + +“There you are!” cried Charley, pointing down into the pool. “He lies +just as I left him--old P. D. asleep!” + +Sure enough, at the bottom of the pool, with its head tucked in under +its huge body, lay a specimen of the strange prehistoric monster which +Dick and Charley had come up into the Bad Lands to find. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. LASSOING OLD P. D. + + +“Is it asleep or is it dead?” asked Clara, after they had watched the +Plesiosaurus for several moments in silence. + +“Asleep,” said Charley, decidedly. “It moved twice while I was watching +it. Now, Dick, this is only part of my discovery. I----” + +“Yes, and I can tell you the rest,” said Dick, pointing over toward the +rocky ridge beyond the pool. “We are not the first ones who have been +here.” + +“Indeed we are not,” replied Charley. “You see?” + +There was a rude hut near the ridge and lying on the ground outside +were two huge coils of rope, one almost as big round as a steamer’s +hawser. + +Charley led the way around the pool and when they got to the hut Dick +saw that a stout post ten feet high had been driven into the ground +with big notches cut into it. In the hut were axes, crowbars and other +tools; also a great roll of canvas and various other things. Charley +explained that he found the lantern here. + +“Looks to me as though some one had brought all these things here for +the express purpose of capturing old P. D.,” said Dick, “but they have +been here a long while, Charley.” + +“For several years,” said Doctor Dan. “Strange that I never heard of +this and I thought I knew the Bad Lands pretty well, too.” + +“Some one has tried it,” said Charley; “probably the pool is a regular +hangout for this particular Plesiosaurus. There must be some connection +with the underground river and the lake. I believe the scheme was to +make a slip noose, drop it around old P. D.’s neck and tie him up to +the post here until such time as some means could be found of getting +him out.” + +“It would never work,” said Doctor Dan. + +“I’m not so sure,” said Dick. “We might succeed in tying him, anyway, +and keeping him here in the pool till we could get help.” + +“Let’s try it, Dick,” said Charley, eagerly. “I go in for it.” + +“I think it might be done,” said Clara. “What a strange looking +creature it is to be sure! Anyone could make their fortune by +exhibiting it in the States.” + +“It will never be exhibited if we succeed in snaring it,” said Dick. +“It belongs to the Smithsonian the moment it comes into our hands.” + +“What do you say, doctor?” he added. “Shall we try it on?” + +“I’m at your service, boys,” replied the Indian. “I can throw a lasso +as well as any man alive and I think I ought to be able to drop a noose +around that fellow’s neck, but, before we begin I think we had better +see how we are going to get out of here. I want to take a look over +these rocks.” + +“There’s a trail down the mountain--pretty steep, but still a trail,” +declared Charley. + +One glance showed them that he was right. The trail was indeed steep +and it had a strangely smooth and worn appearance, especially at a +point where there was a break in the rocks and where it seemed to begin. + +“Oh, he’s lifting up his head!” cried Clara. “He’s waking up!” + +The Plesiosaurus perhaps had been disturbed by the loud talking. Slowly +the great head came up through the water, rose above the surface and +surveyed the party with its huge eyes in a fashion which seemed to show +a decided bump of curiosity. + +Suddenly its mouth opened and the monster let out one mighty bellow +which made the rocks around fairly ring. + +Clara screamed in terror, but old P. D. drew his head down in a +dignified way and tucked it under his body again. + +“I could have lassoed him then!” cried Doctor Dan. “Pity we didn’t have +the rope ready.” + +“We’ll get it ready right away,” said Dick, “for he may take a notion +to have another look at us any moment. I wonder if this post will hold.” + +“It’s pretty firm,” said Doctor Dan, trying it. “I feel more worried +about the rope. Lay hold here, boys, we will unwind it and tie one end +to the post. Leave the knots to me. I’ll fix them so that two P. D.’s +could not unloose them, but I don’t want to guarantee that the rope +won’t break.” + +It took half an hour of good hard work to get everything in readiness +and during all that time old P. D. had never moved. + +As there would be no chance to lasso him until he did, Dick and Charley +undertook to stir the monster up by throwing big stones into the pool. + +Meanwhile Clara had taken her place at the top of the ridge behind the +hut, rather a dangerous spot, too, for behind her there was a sheer +descent down over the cliffs of several hundred feet to a narrow ledge +below. + +“Give him another, Dick,” cried Charley. “I’m sure my last one hit him, +but he never budged.” + +Dick let another stone fly and with such good effect that it struck the +Plesiosaurus square on the back. + +Immediately the monster threw up its head and the water began to boil. + +Up came the long neck and the head was thrust angrily out of the pool. + +Doctor Dan, with a peculiar cry, flung his huge lasso and it dropped +down over the monster’s head. + +“Pull! Pull!” shouted the Indian. “We have got him if we can only hold +him!” + +Dick and Charley were at the other end of the rope and they pulled with +all their strength, old P. D. giving out his frightful cry as the rope +tightened about his neck. + +Suddenly his whole huge body rose to the surface and he darted forward +toward the shore. + +The rope flew taut and snapped short off close to the post with a +suddenness and a force which threw down Dick, Charley and Doctor Dan. + +Clara screamed and once more the Plesiosaurus gave its dreadful bellow. + +Its huge webbed feet were on the shore now and it darted its head, with +open jaws, straight down toward Doctor Dan, who was trying to regain +his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. MUDD ON TOP AGAIN. + + +Dick and Charley fully realized Dr. Dan’s danger, but what could they +do? + +The dangerous attempt to snare the Plesiosaurus had not only been a +complete failure, but a fearful mistake, for a few seconds later it +looked as if Dr. Dan was doomed. + +The Plesiosaurus caught him just as it had caught Dick. + +It did not bite the Indian, nor even seize him in its terrible jaws, as +one might have expected, but with lightning quickness it ran its head +under Dr. Dan, and the next Dick and Charley knew it had him twisted +in a fold of its long neck, and went waddling off toward the steep, +slippery trail down the mountain. + +“Fire at him, boys! Fire! Save me if you can!” shouted the unfortunate +guide. + +Until then the boys had just stood there dumb with the horror of the +situation. + +How could they fire? + +Dick’s revolver had been taken from him by Martin Mudd. Charley had +lost his coming down through the Boiling Pot. Dr. Dan himself was the +only man who was armed. + +“Work yourself out! I did!” yelled Dick. “Can’t fire! Got no revolver! +I won’t desert you, though! I’ll follow on!” + +The Plesiosaurus had now disappeared down the trail. + +It went sliding down over the slippery rocks, and now the boys were +able to understand what made it so smooth. Probably this had been the +monster’s path for years. + +“Oh, it’s terrible! Terrible!” cried Clara. “Oh, Dick! Can nothing be +done to save that man?” + +“There’s his rifle now, standing against the hut!” cried Charley. “Why +didn’t we think of it before?” + +Dick made a rush for the rifle, and sprang to the head of the trail. + +“It will do no good, anyhow, but here goes!” he cried. + +He fired, but with no result, just as he had anticipated. + +The bullet struck the monster on its scaly back and glanced off as if +it had been fired against boiler plate. + +Down the steep slope the Plesiosaurus went sliding. + +Dr. Dan’s cries grew fainter. All gave the faithful guide up for lost. + +“It’s no use!” groaned Dick. “I must go after him, though. I said I +would, and so I will!” + +“Oh, Dick, don’t go! Don’t go!” pleaded Clara. + +“For gracious sake don’t try it!” shouted Charley. “It’s all your life +is worth, Dick!” + +But Dick had already started, and there was no such thing as holding +him back. + +And yet if he had only known it, there was a safe and easy way down +over those cliffs not ten yards distant from the hut. + +But the way Dick had taken was not only very difficult, but highly +dangerous. It was frightfully steep, too, with scarce a foothold, and +as smooth as glass. + +Down this terrible incline the Plesiosaurus slid easily enough, and no +doubt it had come up the same way many times, its queer webbed feet +acting as suckers like the feet of a fly. + +But Dick possessed no such power. + +He could only crouch down “on his hunkies,” as the boys say, and go +sliding along after old P. D. + +What if he should overtake the monster and run into him? he could not +help thinking; but there was no such danger, for old P. D. went faster +than he could go by far, and yet to Dick it seemed as though he was +sliding down with lightning speed. + +When he reached the level ridge below he struck it with such force that +he went over on his face, hitting his head and knocking the wits out of +him for the moment. + +The next he knew he was scrambling up trying to save himself from +slipping over the edge of another precipice, the ground slipping away +under his feet. + +Dick drew back in horror just in time to save himself. + +Springing aside on the firmer ground, he found himself looking down +into a deep, narrow valley inclosed on all sides. + +There was a lake at the bottom of this valley, and Dick saw old P. D. +in the act of slipping into it. + +The monster threw up its head as the big body sank beneath the water, +and gave one parting bellow, and after that Dick saw him no more, +nor did he think of him, for there lying upon the ground at no great +distance away was Dr. Dan. + +Dick ran to the guide and tried to raise him up. + +The unfortunate man seemed to be entirely unconscious, and yet there +was no sign of any wound upon him. + +Dick began to think that it was pretty well demonstrated that the +Plesiosaurus did not feed on human flesh. The monster had just squeezed +the life out of poor Dr. Dan and dropped him before it started on its +second descent, that was all. + +Dick threw down the rifle and raised the Indian’s head, calling his +name again and again; but Dr. Dan showed no sign of life. + +“Oh, he’s dead! He’s dead!” cried Dick. “What shall I do?” + +“Do drop him!” said a sneering voice behind him. “His name is Mud, and +so is mine, and so is yours, too, Dick Darrell, unless you and I can +come to terms.” + +There he was! + +The same old Martin Mudd, and there stood Tony beside him grinning. + +Both held revolvers, and both covered Dick as the boy slowly rose to +his feet to face his enemies once more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. IS THIS STRANGE STORY TRUE? + + +It was decidedly despairing. + +Moreover, Dick was intensely puzzled to understand how Mudd and Tony +came to be there. + +The fact was Dick still had a lot to learn about the twists and turns +of this mysterious mountain. + +As a matter of fact he was now on the trail leading over into the Black +Hills, and not far from the spot where the attack had been made on +Clara, and, if he had but known it, he was also at no great distance +from the hut at the head of Izard Lake. There was a path known to Mudd +and his friends leading down from the hut to the trail of which Dick +had no knowledge at all. + +Both men had sobered up a bit now, and were fully able to take care +of themselves and of Dick, too, as they soon demonstrated, for they +pounced upon the boy, and, each catching him by an arm, hurried him +along the trail. + +“Well met, my noble young scientist!” said Mudd, sneeringly. “We had +given up all hope of finding you. Where are your friends, Master +Charles Nicholson and Miss Clara Eglinton, just at the present time?” + +“Find out,” retorted Dick. “I shall tell you nothing, Mr. Mudd; so you +may as well hold your tongue.” + +“Civil, upon my word,” sneered Mudd. “Did you ever hear such +gentlemanly language, Tony? Ha! Ha! It takes these young Washington +sprigs to come out here in the wild and woolly West and show us how to +do it. I take it from the way you put it that they did not make a meal +for that long-necked what-you-may-call-him, as I at first supposed.” + +“Mr. Mudd,” said Dick, with all the calmness he could assume, “I want +nothing to do with you. You have captured me again, and I can’t help +it, but if you expect to make anything out of me, let me tell you right +now, you are going to get left.” + +“Indeed!” exclaimed Mudd. “My lord puts it plain. But then, you see, my +lord does not understand the situation. Now, then, here we are. Tony, +you go ahead and see if the boss is coming. Blow the whistle as soon as +you catch sight of him to give me warning. I want to have my trump card +all ready to play, and that same trump card is this boy.” + +“Don’t forget to play a trump card for me, boss,” growled Tony. “I +don’t want to kick none, and I hain’t a-kicking, but it does seem to me +of late that in all this business you are only figuring on lining your +own pockets and leaving me out in the cold.” + +“Rats! Rubbish! Get along with you!” roared Mudd, with a fierce display +of drunken anger. + +Tony hurried on up the trail and never said a word, while Mudd motioned +Dick into a small cave which opened in under the cliff. + +Not for one instant had he failed to keep Dick covered, and to have +attempted to escape from him would have surely meant death. + +“Now, sit down there, boy, and listen to me,” said Mudd, pointing to a +big flat stone; “and before I begin to talk I’ll tell you one thing. I +am going to shoot you dead at the first move you make toward escaping; +do you understand?” + +“I do,” replied Dick. “I’m badly shaken up, Mr. Mudd. I am going to sit +still here for a while. You might just as well put your revolver up. I +shan’t attempt to escape.” + +“Come, now, that’s sensible.” + +“I try to be sensible at all times.” + +“So do I, boy. I am going to be sensible now. I’m going to try to come +to terms with you once for all. If I fail now, I shall never try again, +and you will probably be shot by the order of Colonel Tom Eglinton, +whom I expect here in twenty minutes’ time.” + +Dick was silent. He did not know whether to believe this or not. He did +not know what to say, so he said nothing at all. + +“I see you don’t believe me,” continued Mudd; “but it is true, just the +same. I have sent for Eglinton, and he is coming down here to ransom +his daughter. Perhaps you wonder how I dare to meet him alone, and if +you do, look behind you. Ha! Ha! We were all drunk a while ago, but +we are all sober enough to attend to business now. You ought to have +finished up your work at the hut, young fellow. You and your friend, +Doctor Dan.” + +There they sat in the back of the cave, the same old gang. + +Each man had his rifle lying across his knees; they were silent and +motionless, but Dick saw that they were ready for business just the +same. + +“Now, what do you think of that?” demanded Mudd. “Am I up and dressed +or am I asleep? Answer me that, boy.” + +“Oh, what’s the use bothering to answer you?” retorted Dick. “You have +got the big end of the stick, that’s all there is about it--go ahead.” + +“Very well, then,” said Mudd, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Dick +Darrell, listen to me. You are the true owner of the Gold Queen mine. +The claim was located by your father. It adjoins one which was worked +out belonging to Colonel Tom Eglinton, and he made up his mind to +join the two properties together, and when old Tom Eglinton once sets +his heart on accomplishing a certain object I want you to understand, +something has got to give.” + +“All this is old business,” said Dick, as Mudd paused for breath. “Tell +me something new.” + +“That’s what I will. Tom Eglinton tried to buy your father out, but he +wouldn’t sell. Then he hired a man to pick a quarrel with him and shoot +him, which was done. Oh, you needn’t glare at me, Dick Darrell. It’s +true. I’ve got the papers about me to prove it. I have papers which +prove the mine his. I’ve got Colonel Tom’s letters to me offering me +money to kill you. There! What do you think of that?” + +“Want to know?” demanded Dick. + +“Yes, I do.” + +“Well, then, I think you are the man who killed my father and----” + +“Oh, Dick! Dick!” + +It was Clara! + +Calling out Dick’s name she rushed into the cave, and, without the +slightest ceremony, threw her arms about his neck, calling out: + +“Oh, Dick, I am so glad you are alive!” + +“Cool, upon my word!” cried Mudd. “By thunder, here comes the other +one, too! What manners these city folks have!” + +In rushed Charley, but he halted at the sight of Mudd and the men at +the back of the cave. + +“Stand there!” cried Mudd, throwing up his revolver. “You are all my +prisoners, every one of you! Stand there where you are, or----” + +A sharp whistle sounded further up the trail. + +Was Clara’s father coming? + +Dick thought so as he gently disengaged the girl’s arms from about his +neck. + +It was rather an awkward time to be introduced to Colonel Tom Eglinton, +the millionaire mine owner of the Black Hills. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION. + + +“Wake up there, you drunken brutes! Wake up there, and help me guard +these boys and this girl!” + +Martin Mudd was in a furious rage. + +His crack guards were all sound asleep again. + +They had brought what was left of the whisky along with them, and it +had done its work. + +The consequence was that Mudd, who did not dare to move to shake them +up, was rather at his wit’s ends to know what to do. + +There he stood with a cocked revolver in each hand. + +One covered Charley and the other covered Dick. + +Clara was screaming out for him not to shoot, and Mudd himself was +roaring lustily to his drunken companions, who never even stirred. + +Now, if anyone thinks that Dick Darrell and Charley Nicholson were the +sort to let such a situation as this last long, they are very greatly +mistaken. + +In far less time than it has taken to describe said situation the boys +brought it to an end. + +Both made a rush for Mudd, utterly ignoring the revolvers. + +Mudd fired. + +The next instant Dick had him by the throat and had wrenched one +revolver away, Mudd losing his hold on the other in the struggle which +followed, and it fell to the ground. + +“Give me those papers! Throw them down, or I’ll fire!” shouted Dick, +covering the scoundrel. “I believe on my soul you are the man who +killed my father, and----” + +“Hold on! Hold on! I’ll do it!” yelled Mudd, in terror. + +He thrust his hand into the pocket of his coat, and, drawing out a flat +package done up in greasy brown paper, threw it to the ground. + +“Oh, Dick, look at Charley! He’s shot!” screamed Clara at the same +instant. + +Dick foolishly turned his head in answer to this startling cry. + +Poor Charley’s face was as white as a sheet; he was slowly sinking down. + +Clara sprang to help him, but she was too late; he fell all in a heap, +and at the same moment Mudd closed on Dick again. + +He got his arm about the boy’s neck, the revolver fell to the ground, +but Mudd never stopped to pick it up. He dragged Dick out of the +cave--dragged him toward the edge of the precipice on the opposite side +of the trail. + +“Burn you, Dick Darrell!” he hissed. “You have gone a step too far this +time. I did kill your father, and I’ll kill you!” + +Bang! Bang! + +Two shots suddenly rang out along the trail. + +It was Doctor Dan. + +He was bare-headed and his long hair was flying in the wind. + +Two shots from his rifle went whizzing past Dick and Mudd. + +They were not aimed to hit, as Doctor Dan explained afterward. He did +not dare to, for fear of hitting Dick. + +But Martin Mudd, coward that he was, had no notion of facing the Indian. + +He struggled to free himself, and Dick let him go. + +“Hold him!” cried Doctor Dan. “Don’t let him escape, Dick, or our +troubles will never end!” + +It was too late. + +Mudd was on the run already. + +In his half dazed condition from the whisky he had aboard his steps +were somewhat uncertain as he went dashing along the trail. + +Suddenly he staggered perilously near the edge of the precipice; the +disintegrated rock was not able to bear his weight, and it gave way +beneath him. + +Throwing up his hands with a frightful yell, Martin Mudd went rolling +down into the valley. + +With bated breath Dick and Doctor Dan watched him. The end came when +with a splash which they could just hear the wretched man dropped into +the lake. + +Doubtless he was dead before he struck the water, for he never rose +again. + +“Oh, Doctor! You have saved my life! But poor Charley is a goner!” +gasped Dick. “Come--come!” + +A horse was pounding furiously down the trail. + +“Let’s hope for the best,” replied Doctor Dan. “You thought I was gone, +but I was only winded from the terrible pressure of that brute. I knew +when you bent over me, Dick, but I couldn’t speak, and--hello! Here’s +another one of them. Hold on there! Hold on!” + +It was Tony. Down the trail he came dashing furiously. + +“Hold up!” he cried. “Don’t shoot. I saw Mudd go down from the heights +above here. I’m out of it. There’s a big force coming from the Gold +Queen!” + + * * * * * + +Two weeks later Dick Darrell stepped off of a Pullman car at the B. & +O. depot in the city of Washington. + +Leaning upon his shoulder was a young man looking pale and interesting, +who had evidently been very sick--our old friend Charley, of course. + +Behind him came a tall, handsome Indian dressed in ordinary clothes. + +Here was our party home again from the Bad Lands, and as their +adventures were now all over, we must bring our story to a speedy +conclusion. + +The arrival of the party from the Gold Queen was the work of Bill +Struthers, the treacherous guide, who changed his mind upon arriving +at the mine and made a clean breast of the whole affair to Colonel +Eglinton, who immediately organized a force to go to his daughter’s +relief. + +They were too late to deal with Martin Mudd, for the man had gone to +his long account and no effort was even made to find his body. As for +the rest, drunken men are easily captured--there was no resistance made +at the cave. + +Charley was badly wounded, but Doctor Dan extracted the bullet which +had entered his side, and the boy was able to hobble back to camp. + +The next day with Dick and Doctor Dan he rode to Node ranch, where he +lay very ill for a week, but after that began to mend. + +Now, so far, we have not said a word about Clara, for that involves an +explanation of a painful shock which came to the poor girl. + +Colonel Eglinton was not with his men, and for a very good reason. + +Just as the party was starting out from the Gold Queen mine Colonel +Eglinton fell off his horse and never spoke again. + +He was dead--dead of heart disease which had long threatened him, and +it was Clara’s sad task to take his body on to Washington for burial. + +Dick met her at Node ranch and rendered her every assistance in his +power. He wanted to go East with her, but she would no more hear to his +leaving Charley then than she would when Dick wanted to go with her to +the mine when Tony first communicated his sad news. + +When Charley was able to be moved Doctor Dan concluded to go with the +boys, and the day following their arrival Dick went to the Smithsonian +with the guide and made his report. + +Unfortunately, however, they had nothing to show to prove the existence +of old P. D., for even the head of the Plesiosaurus which Doctor Dan +had found in the underground cavern had been left behind. + +Professor Poynter was greatly excited at the report Dick rendered, and +we may as well tell the end of the monster business right here. + +A new expedition was promptly dispatched to the Bad Lands, with Dick +and Doctor Dan in command. + +But disappointment awaited them. Something had happened in Dick’s +absence. Probably it was an earthquake, but he never knew. + +At all events, great masses of rock had fallen down upon the trail, +rendering it entirely impassable, and when they tried to get up to +Izard Lake by way of the cavern the same state of affairs was found to +exist there. + +Even the Gold Queen’s trail was cut off and from that day to this no +one has ever been able to reach Izard Lake, and access to the mine is +had by another way. + +Doctor Dan is still working on the problem, and some day he may find a +way. When he does the world will doubtless be astonished to find that +the prehistoric monster known as the Plesiosaurus still exists. + +A few words more and our story is done. + +Those papers! + +Dick pocketed them when he returned to the cave. + +Later he studied them carefully. Later still he showed them to a +prominent lawyer in Washington. A week after that the lawyer rendered +his report. + +“You are unquestionably the owner of the Gold Queen mine,” he said. +“I’ll take up your case for you. Nine-tenths of the stock is held by +Tom Eglinton’s estate, and his daughter is the sole heir. The mine is +yours, young man, and we are sure to win.” + +“Thank you,” replied Dick. “Send me your bill and I’ll pay it. There +will be no case.” + +He took the papers and threw them into the open grate fire before the +lawyer could stay his hand. + +“You’re a fool, boy!” cried the lawyer, angrily. + +“Am I?” replied Dick. “Well, I think not.” + +“But----” + +“Wait, sir. Let me tell you a secret,” said Dick. “You say Clara +Eglinton is the sole heir?” + +“She certainly is, under the will.” + +“Very well. I am engaged to be married to Miss Clara Eglinton, and she +must never know that her father----” + +“Oh, well,” interrupted the lawyer, “that’s another matter. It will be +all in the family. I take it back, young man--you are not a fool.” + +And Dick quite agrees with him now. + +To-day Dick is actively engaged in the mining business. + +So is Charley--he is superintendent at the Gold Queen. + +Dick was married to Clara two years ago, and, of course, he’s given up +monster hunting since he went into the mining business. + +As for the Smithsonian, they will have to get someone else to look +after old P. D., if ever the way is open, for they cannot get DICK AND +DR. DAN. + +[THE END.] + + * * * * * + +Transcriber’s Notes: + +Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are +mentioned. + +Punctuation has been made consistent. + +Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in +the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have +been corrected. + +The following changes were made: + +p. 25: said added (here,” said Dick,) + +p. 35: Charley changed to Dick (replied Dick. “Trouble) + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 68698 *** |