Thenextday,the7thofMay,HardingandGideonSpilett,leavingNebtopreparebreakfast,climbedProspectHeights,whileHerbertandPencroftascendedbytheriver,torenewtheirstoreofwood.

           Theengineerandthereportersoonreachedthelittlebeachonwhichthedugonghadbeenstranded.Alreadyflocksofbirdshadattackedthemassofflesh,andhadtobedrivenawaywithstones,forCyruswishedtokeepthefatfortheuseofthecolony.Astotheanimal’sfleshitwouldfurnishexcellentfood,forintheislandsoftheMalayArchipelagoandelsewhere,itisespeciallyreservedforthetableofthenativeprinces.ButthatwasNeb’saffair.

           AtthismomentCyrusHardinghadotherthoughts.Hewasmuchinterestedintheincidentofthedaybefore.Hewishedtopenetratethemysteryofthatsubmarinecombat,andtoascertainwhatmonstercouldhavegiventhedugongsostrangeawound.Heremainedattheedgeofthelake,looking,observing;butnothingappearedunderthetranquilwaters,whichsparkledinthefirstraysoftherisingsun.

           Atthebeach,onwhichlaythebodyofthedugong,thewaterwastolerablyshallow,butfromthispointthebottomofthelakeslopedgradually,anditwasprobablethatthedepthwasconsiderableinthecenter.Thelakemightbeconsideredasalargecenterbasin,whichwasfilledbythewaterfromtheRedCreek.

           "Well,Cyrus,"saidthereporter,"thereseemstobenothingsuspiciousinthiswater."

           "No,mydearSpilett,"repliedtheengineer,"andIreallydonotknowhowtoaccountfortheincidentofyesterday."