by the water ready for the dive. His bolo was slung
at his side, and in his mouth he carried a smaller knife. One never
knows what one may meet at the bottom of an unknown lake, and Piang
was prepared for any emergency.

At last it was light, at last he could see into the clear
lake. Climbing out on the rocks as far as he could, he let himself
down into the cool water. How he rejoiced at the feel of it and how
easily he slipped along toward the spot where he had watched the
natives the day before!

He looked for signs of rice. Seaweed tricked him; bubbles vanished
and he reached to grasp them. Round and round he swam, and finally
his hands closed over something small and slippery. Breathlessly he
fingered it, and opening his hand as he trod water, he beheld the
mushy rice grains.

Taking a long survey, he assured himself that there was no one in
sight. Yesterday the Moros had not come before noon; and if he worked
quickly, he might discover the secret to-day. Taking a long breath,
Piang dived straight down and, swimming along the bottom, examined
the rocks carefully; but he came back to the surface none the wiser
for his plunge. A puzzled look puckered his face. Tilting his head
to one side, he considered. That was surely rice; it did not grow
here, so it must come from under the water. Again he dived, but this
time he swam nearer the surface and he saw that there was more rice
floating by than he had imagined. It was not coming from the bottom,
it was drifting from the center of the lake!

Excitedly he headed in that direction, swimming under water whenever
he lost the trail of the rice. It was not strange that it only came
to the top in that one spot. There was a strong current that bore it
upward, whirling it in an eddy before it sank to the bottom. Farther,
farther he went, always swimming toward the center of the lake;
and as he went, the rice grew thicker. Eagerly he plunged forward,
keeping his eyes open, watching the rice.

He stopped. What was that dark object resting on the bottom? He
did not know how exhausted he was until he paused for breath; then,
knowing that his next dive would take him far down, he rolled over on
his back and floated quietly. Burning with curiosity, he could hardly
wait to see what was there. Slowly he swam downward. Something warned
him to be more careful, and afterward he was grateful for his caution,
for had he plunged recklessly to the bottom, in all probability in
would have