Roxton is looking for the materials for a crossbow to bag a T-Rex, but when one actually interrupts him in his labors, he runs in the direction opposite his fellow travelers to keep them safe. He winds up falling into a hole that suddenly opens up. When the rest of the group search for him, they also fall into the hole, which turns out to be a whirlpool. It sucks them all under the water, and they emerge in a lake. They quickly find out that in this part of the plateau, the dominant species are lizard-like men, descendants of dinosaurs, and the humans are subservient to them. There is an ancient Roman structure to this civilization, including gladiator-type battles. While Marguerite and Veronica are forced to change into silky gowns for the entertainment of Tribune, the lizard-people's leader, Roxton is chosen to fight another human prisoner. The slaves and travelers rebel, and overthrow the lizard-men's intolerable rule, but not without loss ~ Roxton's opponent's sister ~ a rebel leader.