The Diving-Bell

           TothisunexpectedrevelationDickSandcouldnotreply.Besides,Mrs.WeldonhadgonebackatoncetoherplacebesidelittleJack.Sheevidentlydidnotwishtosayanymoreaboutit,andtheyoungnovicehadnotthecouragetodetainher.

           ThusMrs.Weldonknewwhattobelieve.Thevariousincidents,ofthewayhadenlightenedheralso,andperhaps,too,thatword,"Africa!"sounluckilypronouncedthenightbeforebyCousinBenedict.

           "Mrs.Weldonknowseverything,"repeatedDickSandtohimself."Well,perhapsitisbetterso.Thebravewomandoesnotdespair.Ishallnotdespaireither."

           DickSandnowlongedfordaytoreturn,thathemightexplorethesurroundingsofthistermitevillage.HemustfindatributaryoftheAtlanticwitharapidcoursetotransportallhislittletroop.Hehadapresentimentthatthiswatercoursecouldnotbefardistant.Aboveall,theymustavoidanencounterwiththenatives,perhapsalreadysentinpursuitofthemunderHarris’sandNegoro’sdirection.

           Butitwasnotdayyet.Nolightmadeitswayintotheconethroughthelowerorifice.Rumblings,renderedlowbythethicknessofthewalls,indicatedthatthestormstillraged.Listening,DickSandalsoheardtherainfallingwithviolenceatthebaseoftheant-hill.Asthelargedropsnolongerstruckahardsoil,hemustconcludethatthewholeplainwasinundated.

           Itmusthavebeenabouteleveno’clock.DickSandthenfeltthatakindoftorpor,ifnotatruesleep,wasgoingtoovercomehim.Itwould,however,berest.