Part 26 (2/2)

Chutney and the colonel stretched thes and Melton paddled slowly forward, while Canaris held the torch from the stern

Hours passed, and still they continued to follow the rocky shore amid silence, broken only by the swish of the paddle, for neither Forbes nor Canaris cared to converse

Wrapped in their own glooil over their sleeping companions

An intense desire for sleep now laid hold on Melton, and with great reluctance he woke Guy and the colonel It required a dash of cold water to bring them to their senses

”Are we still on this horrible lake?” exclai have we been asleep?”

”Several hours at least,” replied Melton

”Several hours? Whew! What a lake this is! We must surely be near the outlet now But you are sleepy and worn out, Melton, and so is Canaris

Look, he can hardly keep his eyes open Go lie down, both of you The colonel and I will see to the canoe, and you ake up twenty miles down the river”

Melton handed over his paddle to Guy, and the colonel relieved the Greek of the torch

Canaris was asleep als to ladly, ”I can hear water running I'm sure of it Do you hear it, too, colonel?”

”Yes,” said the colonel, after a pause ”I do hear so the outlet of the lake, no doubt of it”

Melton's drowsiness vanished, and he sprang up

”It would be advisable to waken Canaris and Sir Arthur,” suggested the colonel ”No one ought to sleep at a tiht touch woke the Greek, but it required a severe shaking to rouse Sir Arthur

”Waiter, a deviled kidney and a pint of Pommery Sec,” he cried drowsily, as Chutney pulled hiroaned dis at Gatti's Why didn't you let me sleep?”

CHAPTER XXVII

ALL HOPE VANISHES

”We are approaching the outlet of the lake, Sir Arthur,” said Guy ”It is better that all should be awake in case we encounter bad water”

”Yes, yes; very true You want me to hold the torch, I suppose Gad!