This was enough to send Jack and Mark off on a run up the bank, and did they stop until they heard Andy’s voice hailing them.

“What’s the matter, boys?”

“Come here!  Quick!” answered Jack.

The fish-animal had halted and seemed to be taking an observation.  To do this, as it could not turn its neck, it had to shift its whole body.  Old Andy came up on the run, his gun held in readiness.

“Where is it?” he asked, and the boys pointed silently.

The hunter could not repress a start of astonishment as he saw the strange creature.  But he did not hesitate a second.  There was a crack of the rifle, and the thing, whatever it was, toppled over, dead.

Andy hurried up to it, to get a closer view.

“Well, this is the limit!” he exclaimed.  “First we have grasshoppers that can roll peaches as big as hogsheads, and now we come across fish that walk.  I wonder what we will see next.”

“I don’t want to go fishing in this lake any more,” spoke Jack, as he looked at the repulsive creature.  “I never want to eat fish any more.”

“Same here,” agreed Mark, and old Andy was of the opinion that the thing killed would not make a wholesome dish for the table.

“There don’t seem to be any game in this section,” he remarked.  “Not a sign could I see, nor have I since we have been here, unless you count those grasshoppers.  But the fruit is good, I’ll say that.”

“Come on, we’d better be getting back,” Mark said, as he noticed it was getting dark.  “I’m hungry.”

CHAPTER XXII

 The snake-tree

They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found, the day before.  Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moon-beams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.

As the machinery of the Mermaid was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.  The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.

Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.  After seeing that the ship was in readiness for a quick start, the professor suggested they take a walk around and see what sort of country they might be in now.

They tramped on for several miles, meeting with no adventures, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary.  It was a pleasant day, just warm enough to be comfortable, and a little wind was blowing through the trees.

“It would be almost like home if it wasn’t for the strange lights, and the memory of the queer things here,” said Jack.  “I feel fine.  Let’s see if you can hit that dead tree over there, Mark.”