The frightened and agonized beasts pranced madly for a second or two and then plunged desperately forward, trampling the amazed guards right and left.
It was over in a moment; a howl from the infuriated chief, a terrific uproar from the vast throng, and then, spurred to greater efforts by the tumult in their ears, the valiant camels thundered out into the desert, heedless of the scattered rifle-fire, the volley of whizzing spears.
With tremendous strides they bore their precious burdens toward safety and freedom, while the silence of the African night was rent by the venomous cries of their bloodthirsty pursuers.
For the moment they were safe, but in that long four mile race that lay ahead many perils might be encountered, and it was even within the realm of possibilities that the fleet-footed Gallas would overtake the heavily-burdened camels.
It was no time for conversation or explanation. A fervent "Thank God!"
burst from Colonel Carrington's lips as he realized that he had fallen into the hands of friends, while Sir Arthur, feebly beginning to comprehend what had happened, ejaculated several times, "Bless my soul,"
as he clung with might and main to the Greek's waist.
Faster and faster they sped over the plain, until the tumult behind them was lost in the muffled tramp of the camels' hoofs. They rode side by side, with arms ready for instant use, but no foe appeared in front or behind, and at last, with a glad cry, Canaris pointed to the distant gleam of the Abyssinian camp.
"We are safe now," exclaimed Guy. "The Gallas feared to pursue us any further lest their anticipated attack on the Abyssinians should be spoiled."
"Yes," replied Canaris, "either that or they have circled round, hoping to cut us off at yonder gap in the mountains where the road breaks through to the coast. And now the rock must be close by. Ha! What does that mean?"
Bang! went a rifle shot directly ahead, and a brief red flash pierced the gloom.
"It is Forbes!" cried Chutney. "He is in danger. Quick, quick, to the rescue."
A loud shout followed closely on the heels of the report, and recognizing Melton's voice, Guy, lost to all sense of prudence, cried aloud:
"Don't give in Forbes; we are coming."
An answering hail came distinctly back, followed immediately by a second shot.
The agony of suspense was brief. A moment later the rock loomed into view, and the panting camels came to a halt before the entrance to the cavern.
"Oh, you've come back safe?" exclaimed Melton coolly, as he came forward with a smoking rifle in his hand. "I've had a brush with a party of Abyssinians. They were hunting their camels, I suppose, and took me by surprise. I dropped one of the rascals, and---- Look out! There they are again."
All dodged to the ground as a shower of spears fell about the rock. With a hollow groan one of the camels dropped heavily over, pierced in the throat by a short spear, and his huge bulk formed a natural barrier before the cavern. Melton's rifle cracked sharply and a howl of pain attested the accuracy of his aim.
"Into the cavern, all of you," cried Guy. "The Abyssinians are coming in force; the firing has attracted them to the spot."
Already a shadowy mass was visible some hundred yards off, and the sound of voices was distinctly heard.
The Greek hastily motioned Sir Arthur and the colonel into the cavern, and hurriedly tossed in the provisions bag by bag.
The enemy were now quite close, and as Canaris stowed away the last bag they came on with a wild rush.
From behind the dead camel Guy and Melton poured in a hot fire that checked their impetuous advance instantly, and before they could rally for another charge, both had bolted into the gloomy hole, and the stone was deftly rolled into place.
CHAPTER XXI.
CUT OFF FROM THE OUTER WORLD.
The lamp was lit instantly, and without a moment's delay Guy led the party at full speed down the corridor until the descent was reached.
"Now hurry down, all of you," he cried. "You have a flask of powder about you, Canaris. Give it to me."
"What are you going to do, Chutney?" asked Melton in alarm.
"Put an end to all pursuit," was the stern reply; and, seizing the flask, he placed it on the ground, and pouring a little powder on a strip of linen torn from the lining of his blouse, he deftly rolled a fuse and inserted one end in the mouth of the flask.
His intentions were apparent. The roof and walls of the passage were of loose earth and stone. A blast would bring them down in an avalanche.
Canaris attempted to expostulate, but Guy drove them all down the slope and applied a match to the fuse.
It was high time, for up the passage shone the gleam of torches. The enemy had effected an entrance.
Guy joined his companions on the shore of the river, and almost instantly a terrific explosion took place. It seemed to rend the earth.
A tremendous crash and rumbling noise followed, and then all was quiet.
The concussion put out the lamp, but as soon as it was lighted again Guy ran up to see the result of his attempt.
No trace of the passageway existed. In its place was a grim wall of earth.
The full significance of what he had done now flashed into Guy's mind and he gazed blankly into the faces of his comrades.
"We are buried alive," said Melton bitterly. "We are as dead to the world as though we were in our coffins."
"We have simply burned our ships behind us, that is all," replied Chutney. "Now for the river and freedom."
They went back and sat down beside the swiftly-flowing water.
"Bless me if I know whether I am on my head or my feet," said Sir Arthur. "What on earth does this mean?"
"It means that these brave fellows have saved us from a fate worse than death," cried the colonel; "that is all I care to know at present."
"I will explain all," said Guy.
He straightway related everything that had happened from the time they were separated on the way to Harar to the discovery of the underground river and the daring plan for the rescue of the prisoners.
The colonel could scarcely repress his astonishment as he listened to the wonderful story, and at its conclusion he embraced his rescuer warmly.
"We owe you our lives," he said fervently. "Never was a braver deed attempted, never was a rescue more marvelously carried out. Ah, I can never repay the debt. A grateful country will reward you, Captain Chutney. England shall know of your heroism."
"Yes, you are right, colonel," put in Sir Arthur, with a touch of his old pomposity; "the government shall know how its representative was delivered from the hands of these impious fiends. But bless me, I don't see that we are so much better off, after all. How are we going to get out of this beastly hole?"
"And what has become of Momba, and Captain Waller, and the Hindoos?"
exclaimed Forbes, who had suddenly recollected the missing members of the party.
"Lost--all lost," replied the colonel sadly. "They were sold to a distant tribe in the interior two days after we arrived at the village.
You see our condition. They have made us work from sunrise to sunset. We fell ill, and, being of use no longer, they deliberately tried to starve us to death. It was horrible, horrible!"