Part 28 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A DESPERATE FIGHT.

The colonel rose, and going down to the canoe helped himself to a handful of crackers and some figs. He came back to his seat and began to munch them very contentedly.

”The most merciful thing we could do would be to cast our provisions into the lake,” he said finally. ”It would cut short the agony of waiting, but I don't suppose you would look at it in that way.”

”No, no; don't do that,” cried Chutney. ”Who knows what may happen yet?”

”Ah! there you are again,” said the colonel; ”still clinging to hope of life; still unable to realize the truth. You are only making it so much the harder for yourself.”

”But there is surely some outlet to this vast body of water?” said Melton.

”Yes,” was the colonel's reply. ”Undoubtedly, but it must be at the bottom of the lake; it certainly is not on the surface. Do you suppose those poor savages would have perished here if an outlet had existed?

They, too, must have been carried by accident into the wrong channel, and no doubt they circ.u.mnavigated the lake, as we have done. Realizing that they were lost, they either slew themselves to end their sufferings or they fell victims to the serpents without much resistance.”

While Melton and the colonel were carrying on this conversation, Guy rose and went down to the water, with the intention of gathering some food, for he, too, was hungry.

The canoe was pulled partly on sh.o.r.e, and as it leaked a little the water had all collected in the stern, where Sir Arthur still lay in merciful sleep, thus wetting the rugs.

Guy noticed this, and with a view to making the sleeper more comfortable, he slid the canoe down until it lay flat in the water. It still retained a slight hold of an inch or two on the sand.

A sudden cry from the Greek brought him back in a hurry to the top of the island.

His companions were staring out on the lake, and Canaris was pointing with a trembling hand at some unseen object.

”What is the matter?” cried Guy. ”What do you see?”

”Hush,” said the colonel, holding up a warning finger. ”Something is moving out on the lake. Do you hear it splas.h.i.+ng in the water?”

As yet nothing could be seen, but the noise was very plain and distinct, a steady swis.h.!.+ swis.h.!.+ not unlike the beating of a little steamer.

A chilling fear grew on them as they listened to this strange, mysterious sound.

”Whatever it is, it is moving in a circle round the island,” said Guy, ”and keeping an equal distance from the sh.o.r.e.”

”You are right, Chutney,” said the colonel, after a pause. ”The sound was on our left a moment ago. Now it is on our right.”

The Greek was correct. The surface of the lake was violently agitated, though not a breath of air was stirring, and a steady flow of ripples was breaking on the sandy beach like tiny ocean waves.

The unknown navigator, whatever it was, had nearly completed the circuit of the island now, and was very near the spot where they had first heard it.

”It must be a serpent,” cried Guy. ”Heaven grant that it doesn't approach the island.”

He hurriedly picked up the torch and ran with it to the sh.o.r.e. The radius of light thus thrown over the water illumined a s.p.a.ce twenty yards ahead, and revealed a long, dark object moving in graceful undulations over the surface. It was beyond doubt a huge serpent, and, as though angered by the light, the monster suddenly changed its course, and with a terrific splash headed directly for the sh.o.r.e. The huge head was in plain view, and the eyes flashed back fire from the reflected glare of the torch.

For an instant all seemed paralyzed with horror, and no one moved.