Part 24 (1/2)

”I want a drink, that's all,” said Sir Arthur. ”I heard someone down at the canoes and supposed it was Canaris. Was it you, Carrington?”

”No, certainly not,” exclaimed the colonel, now thoroughly awake.

”Here, Chutney, Forbes, pa.s.s me a match, quick. I have none about me.”

They were all on their feet instantly, and Guy lost no time in lighting the torch which he kept always by his side.

Holding it over his head he led the way to the sh.o.r.e, and the first brief glance showed only too plainly what was the matter.

”_One canoe is missing!_” he cried despairingly.

”What, you don't mean it!” exclaimed Forbes. ”How can that be possible?”

”It's gone,” said Guy blankly. ”No doubt of it. Here is the mark of the keel leading down 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 must have managed it in some way, though. These Gallas are tough, wiry fellows and can stand a good deal of hards.h.i.+p.”

The circ.u.mstances all seemed to confirm Melton's supposition.

Unfortunately the fact that this Galla warrior was also making the 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 we would 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 making an investigation on his own account, ”and footprints are visible on the sand. The scoundrel must have been here when we landed.”

”I wanted you to make a search,” said Sir Arthur, ”but my advice was disregarded. 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 sh.o.r.e.

”Put out the torch,” said Guy. ”If the rascal sees the light he can get out of our way and we will pa.s.s him unperceived.”

”But how will we capture him in the dark?” asked Melton.

”We must depend on our hearing,” was the reply. ”We will push ahead quietly and listen at intervals for the stroke of his paddle.”

Under these circ.u.mstances 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 they moved rapidly down the river, keeping the 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 more, but no sound of any kind reached their ears, and it began to look very much as though the Galla had been pa.s.sed 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.”