But when he reached the camp Charley was nowhere visible. Dick looked into the tent, and, not finding him there, set up a shout, a private cry of their own, which ought to have been answered by a different shout. It was just a little signal between the boys agreed upon before they started for the Bad Lands. Much to Dick’s relief, the answer came promptly from around the point of rocks beyond the camp. “Hello, Charley, are you there?” shouted Dick. “Yes. Come around here, Dick.” Dick started on the run; as soon as he turned the point of rocks he saw, to his surprise, that Charley had pulled off his clothes and was swimming around in the lake. Evidently he had got over his “mad,” for he called out: “Hey, Dick, this is bully. The water is just splendid. Come on and have a swim.” “Come out of there! Come out at once!” cried Dick. “Good heavens, suppose the Plesiosaurus catches you! Charley, you must be crazy to do such a thing.” “Oh, it’s all right,” replied Charley, turning on his back and kicking up the water. “I was just dying for a bath and I made up my mind I’d have one anyhow. When I get mad I always want to get in the water and cool down. That’s me. Come on and try it, Dick.” Dick was strongly tempted. He stood looking at Charley for a moment and then, throwing aside his coat, began to take off his boots. “I’m sorry I spoke so rough to you, Charley,” he called out. “I won’t do it again.” “Oh, that’s all right. I ought not to have fired, of course, but you see I was excited and--oh, thunder! What’s this?” The water all around Charley suddenly began boiling like a pot. “Quick! Quick! Strike in for the shore!” yelled Dick. At the same instant the Plesiosaurus rose to the surface of the lake right behind Charley. First the huge snake-like head was lifted up high in the air, the sinuous neck, which seemed to be at least ten feet long, turning and twisting horribly. Then the enormous body came into view, long, rounding and black and extending back twenty feet or more from the base of the neck. “Oh, Dick! Help!” yelled Charley, swimming with all his might for the shore. At the same instant the strange creature craned its neck forward and made a quick dart for the boy. Dick flung up his rifle and fired straight at the monster’s head. [Illustration: “OH, DICK! HELP!” YELLED CHARLEY, SWIMMING WITH ALL HIS MIGHT FOR THE SHORE. AT THE SAME INSTANT THE STRANGE CREATURE CRANED ITS NECK FORWARD AND MADE A QUICK DART FOR THE BOY. DICK FLUNG UP HIS RIFLE AND FIRED STRAIGHT AT THE MONSTER’S HEAD. Inset: DICK CAPTURED BY THE MONSTER.] CHAPTER V. THE DREAM THAT CAME TRUE. It was a frightful moment for Dick, and worse, of course, for poor Charley, who barely escaped being caught in the awful jaws of the Plesiosaurus. Dick’s shot saved his friend, however.