The only thing was to stay and see it through.
I confronted myself with the reflection that Dicky's experiments so rarely succeeded, that in all probability the pistol still lay safe under four feet of water.

If not-- "Hooray!" exclaimed Dicky, as we came in sight of the place; "it's done the trick this time.

See, Tom!" I did see.

In place of the water I left there in the morning was a large empty basin of mud, with a few large puddles of water lying at the bottom, and a few hillocks of mud denoting the places which had once been shallows.
My quick eye hurriedly took in the dismal landscape.

For a moment my spirits rose, for I could nowhere discern the compromising object I dreaded to see.