Part 24 (1/2)
”_One canoe is ly
”What, you don't mean it!” exclaione,” said Guy blankly ”No doubt of it Here is thedown to the water That's not the worst of it, though Half our provisions are gone with it, and one lamp and an oil-flask as well”
”By Jove, Chutney, it's that savage who has done this,” cried Melton
”It can be accounted for in no other way We forgot all about the scoundrel's presence in the cavern”
”But how could he have lived all this time without food?”
”I don't know,” answered Melton ”He h These Gallas are tough, wiry fellows and can stand a good deal of hardshi+p”
The circumstances all seemed to confirm Melton's supposition
Unfortunately the fact that this Galla warrior was alsothe cruise of the river had been overlooked, and now, as a result of this negligence they had lost a canoe and half of their supplies
”We have one thing to be thankful for,” said Guy ”If Sir Arthur had not wakened when he did ould undoubtedly have lost all His shout scared the rascal, and he did not wait to make off with the other canoe”
”Yes, here is the mark of a third boat,” announced the colonel, who had been ation on his own account, ”and footprints are visible on the sand The scoundrel must have been here e landed”
”I wanted you to arded You see the result”
”Prepare to start at once,” interrupted Guy sharply ”We must pursue the thief and recover our canoe”
In less than five minutes they embarked and pushed away from the shore
”Put out the torch,” said Guy ”If the rascal sees the light he can get out of our way and ill pass him unperceived”
”But hoe capture him in the dark?” asked Melton
”We ,” was the reply ”We will push ahead quietly and listen at intervals for the stroke of his paddle”
Under these circumstances the recovery of the canoe was very doubtful, but there was plainly no other course, so they proceeded to carry out Guy's plan as carefully as possible
Five paddles were all that remained, one for each of them, and with quick, noiseless strokes theythe canoe headed with the current as far as possible, and pausing at times to listen for any trace of the thief
Thus they journeyed for an hour or an to look very h the Galla had been passed unseen in the darkness
”He could hardly have kept ahead of us for such a distance,” said Forbes ”I'm afraid we have missed him, Chutney”
Guy rated harshly on so out his arainst one of the steep, rocky shores He was about to shove the canoe forcibly aith his paddle when Guy whispered sharply:
”Hold tight to the rock I hear so above us”