Part 22 (1/2)

They ate sparingly of crackers and dates, for Guy had assue of the commissary department and dispensed supplies with no liberal hand, the wisdoed by all

The torch had been stuck end up in the sand, and its cheerful glow threw a radiance over all the little island and caused the silvery white sand to sparkle brilliantly

They stretched thes near the center of the island, and as soon as they were arranged couished the torch and hunted his place in the darkness

No thought of fear entered their mind On all sides was the deep and rapid river Whence could an enemy come? In fiveprofoundly, drea quarters in the residence at Zaila, from which he had been so rudely ousted a few short weeks before

Guy was drea, too, but far different were the visions that coursed through his brain For the twentieth tiain his awful experiences of the previous year Once more he was a prisoner in the rajah's fortress, and Nana Sahib's cannons were awaiting their victi led out to die in the midst of his companions, the fiendish faces all about hihted torches Now they were binding hi his back----

Then he woke and sat up, tre in beads on his forehead Thank God it was only a dream The rajah's fortress was thousands of miles away

Suddenly a faint sound reached his ear, so indistinct that he could hardly be sure he heard anything at all He listened a moment, but it was not repeated

”Soiving the ain

But as soon as his head touched the sand the sound was repeated, and this ti noise, with an occasional low splash that seemed to come from the water

It was caused by none of his co noise seeht

Guy was a bravefrom the recent dream, this new alarm was too much, and he felt a cold chill run down his spine

Giving Forbes, as next hi ahand across the front of his trousers

It struck fire instantly, and as the sudden flare lit up the whole extent of the island the ers and he started back with a cry of horror that echoed horribly through the gloomy recesses of the cavern

CHAPTER XXIII

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE

Guy had presence of nite the torch, which was fortunately within reach of his hand, and as his companions, roused fro excitedly to their feet, the flaaze a monstrous serpent coiled half on land, half in the water, at the edge of the island

The flat, ugly head, with its wicked eyes, was darting angrily to and fro, and the body was as thick as aabove the knee

”Great Caesar, it's a sea-serpent!” cried Forbes, roan, dropped down on his knees and had to be dragged forcibly away by the colonel

The glare of the torch seeer the monster, for it advanced a yard or more up the island, and spattered the water furiously with its great tail

A general rush was made for the canoes, and it would have been no difficult matter to have slipped quickly away and left the hideous monster in undisputed possession of the island

Unluckily Forbes was bent on resistance He seized his rifle, made sure that it was ready for use, and started forward just as Guy hurried to his assistance

”Cos worse if you wound it”