By the time she reached them it was much darker than when they had arrived, but she could see that the lake had gone.

That was enough.
"What do you suppose it means ?" she said presently.

"Are we over some awful subterranean cavern in which things sink out of sight in an instant ?" "It is absolutely unaccountable," said the captain.

"But we must go back to Mrs.Cliff.I hear her calling.

And if Maka has come to his senses, perhaps he can tell us something." But Maka had very little to tell.