further relief came to her as
the edge of the plateau was reached, and the Padre set his burden down
at the head of the narrow path which suggested a possible escape to
the creek below.

She threw herself beside her aunt, and heard Buck speaking again to
his friend.

"Stop right here with the women," he said. "I'm goin' around that
lake--seems to me we need to get a peek at it."

Joan understood something of what he feared. She remembered the
weirdness of that suspended lake, and thought with a shudder of the
dreadful earth quakings. So she watched him go with heart well-nigh
breaking.

Buck moved cautiously away into the gloom. He knew the lake shore
well. The evident volcanic origin of it might well answer many
questions and doubts in his mind. Its rugged shore offered almost
painful difficulties with the, now, incessant quakings below. But he
struggled on till he came to the eminence he sought. Here he took up a
position, lying on his stomach so that he had a wide view of the
surface of the wind-swept water.

He remained for a long while watching, watching, and striving to
digest the signs he beheld. They were many, and alarming. But their
full meaning was difficult to his untutored mind.

Here it was that the Padre ultimately found him. He had been gone so
long that the elder man's uneasiness for his safety had sent him in
search.

"What d'you make of it, Buck?" he demanded, as he came up, his
apprehensions finding no place in his manner.

Buck displayed no surprise. He did not even turn his head.

"The fires are hotting. The water's nigh boiling. There's goin' to be
a mighty bust-up."

The Padre looked out across the water.

"There's fire around us, fire above us, and now--fire under us. We've
got to choose which we're going to face, Buck--quick."

The Padre's voice was steady. His feelings were under perfect control.

Buck laughed grimly.

"Ther's fire we know, an' fire we don't. Guess we best take the fire
we know."

They continued to gaze out across the lake in silence after that. Then
the Padre spoke again.

"What about the horses?" he asked.

The question seemed to trouble Buck, for he suddenly caught his
breath. But, in a moment, his answer came with decision.

"Guess they must take their chances," he said. "Same as we have to. I
hate to leave him, but Caesar's got sense."

"Yes."

The Padre's eyes were fixed upon one spot on the surface of the water.
It was quite plain, even in