The path Dell selected was not nearly so rough a one as that which they had followed to Squaw Rock from the defile, but they had now the growing darkness to contend with, and this hampered their progress. Climbing ascents and sliding down descents, threading tortuous valleys, and traversing the scarps of sharp ridges, they pursued their way steadily. Buffalo Bill experienced considerable discomfort from the ropes with which the two led horses were secured to his saddle. One of these ropes passed on either side of him, and when the led horses came close together he was caught between the tethers; and occasionally, when the led horses swerved to one side, he was all but thrown from Bear Paw’s back. He could do nothing else, however, but bear with the discomfort. After two hours of saddle-work, the moon came up over the hills, round and bright. The landscape came out distinctly under its brilliant beams. “How much farther, Dell?” called the scout. “We’re almost there,” the girl answered. “This valley, through which we are now traveling, runs down to the shore of the lake.” The valley referred to by Dell was broad and shallow, and it became broader and more shallow as they followed it, finally giving way to the flat desert, which sloped in front of them to the edge of a level of bubbling sand. “There’s the lake,” said Dell. “Where’s the island?” “It’s off to the right, about forty feet from the shore.” “It’s a quicksand lake, is it?” “Exactly so, Buffalo Bill, and true in every particular to its name. It is oblong in shape, and measures two hundred yards across its narrowest, and three hundred yards across its widest, part.” “There’s no reef of solid ground between the shore and the island?” “Absolutely none. One step off shore and a person would go into the sands up to his waist. To get out, when once entrapped in the sand, would be an utter impossibility. The sand sucks a person down and down, until he is smothered and buried. Quicksand Lake not only takes a man’s life, but also furnishes him with a grave.” “The men we are looking for must have some way of crossing back and forth,” observed the scout. “Then they must have some sort of a drawbridge,” commented the girl, “for the sands could not be crossed unless a person had something to walk on.” “You and Cayuse stay here and take care of the prisoners and the horses, Dell, while I investigate.” Leaving Bear Paw in charge of Cayuse, Buffalo Bill went down toward the shore of the strange lake, Dell warning him as he went to be careful and not step off the bank. There was some need of this caution, for the scout found that the solid earth merged gradually into the bubbling sand, and that one reckless step might prove a person’s undoing.