Part 23 (1/2)

”I can't paddle and hold the torch at the same time,” said Canaris. ”We must be guided by the light on the island.”

And they bent to the paddles with a will, shouting from time to time to encourage the colonel and Sir Arthur. It was even a harder task than they had feared--to force the canoe through that fierce rush of water.

And for a time it seemed as though they were losing instead of gaining.

But at last the distant light grew brighter, and soon their friends could be seen standing on the edge of the island.

Ten minutes' more labor brought the canoe to the small eddy behind the island, and then the colonel hauled it gently upon the sand. They climbed wearily out and bore Melton tenderly up the slope. His clothes were foul and slimy from the serpent's embrace, but he did not seem to be injured.

A few drops of stimulant would have had a good effect, but as this was out of the question they did the next best thing under the circ.u.mstances. His wet clothes were stripped off and wrung out. Then he was wrapped snugly in three or four big rugs and laid in one of the canoes, which was emptied for the purpose. This heroic treatment had a speedy effect, and the patient, much to the relief of all, recovered from his prostration and insisted on sitting up.

”No, I don't think I'm hurt,” he said, in response to Guy's inquiries.

”It was the closest shave I ever had in my life, though. You may imagine how I felt when the monster dragged me into the river. I gave myself up for lost at once. He dived straight down, and then shot through the water like a streak. One coil was still around my body, and hard as I struggled I couldn't tear loose. My ears began to sing, and I knew I would have to drown. Then I felt the coil grow a little looser, and with one desperate struggle I tore away and came to the top. The first thing I saw was the light away up on the island, and I shouted for help as loud as I could. I was terribly afraid you would not hear me, and all the time I was growing weaker and weaker, and the current was dragging me farther and farther away. Then I saw your torch almost beside me, and that is all I remember. I would have gone to the bottom in another minute, I know. It was horrible, Chutney. It makes me faint to think of it,” and Melton closed his eyes with a little shudder.

There were tears in the eyes of all as they listened to the marvelous story of his escape, and a sterner realization came to them of the unknown and unseen dangers that encompa.s.sed them.

Further sleep was out of the question, and yet they could not well leave the island until Melton's clothes were partially dry.

”Suppose we try some fis.h.i.+ng,” suggested Guy. ”I have lines, and we can bait the hooks with bits of dried meat.”

”That would be an agreeable change in our bill of fare,” said the colonel. ”I second the motion.”

”Gentlemen, I beg of you, don't hara.s.s my feelings by talking of fish,”

protested Sir Arthur, who was gradually recovering from his severe fright. ”It makes me think of white-bait dinners at Greenwich. I dined there two days before I sailed for Africa.”

”And you will dine there again, many a time,” replied the colonel.

”Only keep up your spirits, Ashby.”

”I hope so, I'm sure,” groaned Sir Arthur, with a dismal shake of the head that belied his words.

Meanwhile Guy had been preparing the lines, and handing one to the Greek, they cast them in the eddy below the island. In less than five minutes Guy landed a trumpet, a fish of a deep purple color, a foot in length. Canaris hauled one out at the same time, and within an hour they had caught more than a dozen, all of the same species and of about the same length.

”We'll take them along with us,” said Guy. ”We may find driftwood enough to build a fire and cook them.”

”And if we don't find any,” cried Canaris, ”we can cook them by holding them in the flame of the torch.”

CHAPTER XXIV.

SIR ARTHUR WAKES AT THE RIGHT TIME.

At this point Forbes positively insisted on getting up, and, in spite of the slight dampness that still lingered about his clothes, he pulled them on and announced himself ready to start. All were glad to leave the spot which was connected with such a horrible event, and soon the island was far in the rear.

The second stage of the journey was monotonous and uneventful. A few slight rapids were encountered, but for the most part the river was swift and smooth.

The character of the sh.o.r.es now began to change, and instead of the sharp ledges falling sheer to the water, sandy beaches skirted the edge, and from the canoes they could make out gloomy holes and pa.s.sages that pierced the sides of the cavern.

They were strongly tempted at times to stop and explore these unknown mysteries, but the reflection that every moment thus wasted would prolong their stay on this underground stream always checked the impulse.