n a moment and held it ready for use, expecting something

o Bayazid, demanding to kn

mint!" advised Buckhart. "

ed about, rocking

intended for a joke, just to frighten us, and it may be intended for somet

ed Professor Gunn. "Pup-pup-perhaps they always pup-pup-put out the tut-tut-t

directed Dic

guide, but ther

yaz

echoed hollowly in the unse

lame fool answer?"

ng my revolver ready for use, and I'll shoot, if

breaking off. Three matches were used before one burned. The light flared up, Buckhart holding it above his

alone in

guide, had

in a half-crouching position, peering over the head of Buc

gone!" gas

y were buried in darkness which seeme

and husky, but which Dick recognized as that of the

of trickery of some sort," answe

this awful buried lake!" came from the professor, in so

ect?" questioned Brad, in a pu

That agent of the secret police suspected us of someth

uttered Dick. "How could th

pard," said the Texan. "Ke

k. "We placed them in the bottom of the

exan was heard feeling about the bottom

. I'll have to use another match. Th

ch was discovered. When they realized that the extinguished torches were gone they sat up and looked into one an

ments silen

ame down to them from the great city overhead. The stillness was appa

y Dick

atches have

four or

ow about you, profe

as the despa

Buckhar

dog who deserted us in this fix! I'd certain

" said Dick. "If his object is robbery, sure

"Mebbe when he thinks we're so frightened that we'll be glad to cough up

gested the professor. Then he li

ed the cry three t

r a distant ans

we heard was an

t, and then listened to the mocking echoes which fled

that we are doomed! We'll never leave this place

away in the darkness they seemed to hear an answer t

ng, clear voice all hushed

then out of the black distance

d!" exclaimed the Texan.

n the hail that followed. T

ion from which the answering cries seemed to come. Occasionally they

s and knew they were drawing nearer to the unk

light showed amid the p

pard," observed Buckhart. "I

own above his head. Apparently his match was seen, for the voic

gers, for they soon heard enough to satisfy them that at least two pe

woman!" as

is voice,

are

ericans. W

American

e yo' do

-deserted by

ow many of yo

How many

age! Somebody shall pay the penalty fo' it! I

of Natchez, Mississ

ut yo', suh-why, is it

y Dick Merriwell and Brad Buckhart.

excruciating experience, the faintest remembrance of which will forever seem like a fearful nightm

"but, unfortunately, like yourselves, we do not

he lake in company with a guide, who had vanished in a mysterious and unaccountable manner. They fancied they had been afloat for days on

usual manner of treati

a few minutes ago. We had been saving it. I am afraid we

sor Gunn, major," said the woman from Boston. "He warned us to leave Constant

ng of Aziz Achm

hat he cal

n him since the mo

e has followed us and watched us wherever we went. We couldn't make a move that h

s Ketchum, "that we had obe

nce in his voice, "I must confess, madam, that I believe

n when, in the pall of darkne

at once? Do you, one and all, swear by your

on a clear and sunny day. The woman gave a little scream, the major uttered a smothered oath,

d, therefore, the woman from Boston is not wanted. In the other boat are the old man and the boys against whom the secret police have been warne

seen all of Turkey I care to see, and I'll give you my pledge

ll go!" promise

aid Major Fitts, "I

ear

e willing en

er boat, containing four persons, three of whom were guides. The fourth was Aziz Achmet. One of the guides was Bayazid, who grinned at the prof

dignified silence as his companions slo

fessor Gunn has given his pledge, and we shall stand by it. There is one thing, however, th

irst he seemed disinclined to answer, but

lar. I was in this boat, with these other guides, and I gave him a signal that he understood. Immediately he extinguished the torch. Th

Dick. "It was al

growled