aming, the breeze must have blown me well out into the
lake, for when I was roused up by a sharp jerk at my line, I found
myself near its middle, without knowing just how I came there.

"I have no idea what sort of fish had taken my bait,--there are many
enormous ones in the lake,--but it proved far too powerful for me
to manage, and dragged the canoe swiftly through the water, heading
directly for the outlet, yonder."

"Why didn't you let it go free, then?"

"The line was fastened to the prow, and I could not loosen it in time. I
drew my knife,--one of flint, but keen enough to serve,--only to have
it jerked out of my hand and into the water. Then, just as the fish must
have plunged into the suck, I abandoned my canoe, jumping overboard."

"That's just what I was wondering about," declared Waldo, with a
vigorous nod of his head. "Yet we found you--there?"

"Because I am a wretchedly poor swimmer. I managed to reach a drift
which had not yet fairly entered the whirl, but I could do nothing more
towards saving myself. Then--you can guess the rest, gentlemen."

"And the canoe?" demanded Waldo, content only when all points were made
manifest.

"I saw it dragged down the centre of the suck," with an involuntary
shiver. "The fish must have plunged into the underground river, whether
willingly or not I can only surmise. But all the while I was drifting
yonder, around and around, with each circuit drawing closer to the
awful end, I could not help picturing to myself how the canoe must have
plunged down, and down, and--burr-r-r!"

A shuddering shiver which was more eloquent than words; but Waldo was
not yet wholly content, finding an absorbing interest in that particular
subject.

"You call it a river: how do you know it's a river?"

"Of course, I can only guess at the facts, my dear boy," the stranger
made reply, smiling once more, and, with an almost timid gesture,
extending one hairy paw to lightly touch and gently stroke the arm
nearest him.

Bruno turned away abruptly, for that gesture, so simple in itself, yet
so full of pathos to one who bore in mind those long years of solitary
exile, brought a moisture to his big brown eyes of which, boy-like, he
felt ashamed.

Professor Featherwit likewise took note, and with greater presence of
mind came to the rescue, lightly resting a hand upon the stranger's
half-bare shoulder while addressing his words to the youngster.

A tremulous sigh escaped those bearded lips