ing-iron was torn violently from the rocks. One of
its hooks caught in my belt, while Walker was knocked down by the
flying cable. I was entangled by the iron and the rope and dragged
forward--

The "Terror," driven by all the power of her engines, made a single
bound and darted out across Black Rock Creek.

Chapter 13

ON BOARD THE TERROR

When I came to my senses it was daylight. A half light pierced the
thick glass port-hole of the narrow cabin wherein someone had placed
me--how many hours ago, I could not say! Yet it seemed to me
by the slanting rays, that the sun could not be very far
above the horizon.

I was resting in a narrow bunk with coverings over me. My clothes,
hanging in a corner, had been dried. My belt, torn in half by the
hook of the iron, lay on the floor.

I felt no wound nor injury, only a little weakness. If I had lost
consciousness, I was sure it had not been from a blow. My head must
have been drawn beneath the water, when I was tangled in the cable. I
should have been suffocated, if someone had not dragged me from the
lake.

Now, was I on board the "Terror?" And was I alone with the Captain
and his two men? This seemed probable, almost certain. The whole
scene of our encounter rose before my eyes, Hart lying wounded upon
the bank; Wells firing shot after shot, Walker hurled down at the
instant when the grappling hook caught my belt! And my companions? On
their side, must not they think that I had perished in the waters of
Lake Erie?

Where was the "Terror" now, and how was it navigating? Was it moving
as an automobile? Speeding across the roads of some neighboring
State? If so, and if I had been unconscious for many hours, the
machine with its tremendous powers must be already far away. Or, on
the other hand, were we, as a submarine, following some course
beneath the lake?

No, the "Terror" was moving upon some broad liquid surface. The
sunlight, penetrating my cabin, showed that the window was not
submerged. On the other hand, I felt none of the jolting that the
automobile must have suffered even on the smoothest highway. Hence
the "Terror" was not traveling upon land.

As to deciding whether she was still traversing Lake Erie, that was
another matter. Had not the Captain reascended the Detroit River, and
entered Lake Huron, or even Lake Superior beyond? It was difficult to
say.

At any rate I decided to go up on deck. From there I might be able to
judge. Dragging myse