"Nothing," said John Hart.

"You have explored both banks of the Creek?"

"Yes," responded Nab Walker, "as far as the shallow water above; and
we have not seen even a vestige of the things which Mr. Wells saw
laid on the shore."

"Let us wait awhile," said I, unable to resolve upon a return to the
woods.

At that moment our attention was caught by a sudden agitation of the
waters, which swelled upward at the foot of the rocks.

"It is like the swell from a vessel," said Wells.

"Yes," said I, instinctively lowering my voice. "What has caused it?
The wind has completely died out. Does it come from something on the
surface of the lake?"

"Or from something underneath," said Wells, bending forward, the
better to determine.

The commotion certainly seemed as if caused by some boat, whether
from beneath the water, or approaching the creek from outside upon
the lake.

Silent, motionless, we strained eyes and ears to pierce the profound
obscurity. The faint noise of the waves of the lake lapping on the
shore beyond the creek, came to us distinctly through the night. John