"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 circumstances. 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 encompassed 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 fishing," 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 harass 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 shores 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 passages 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.
A flat, rocky ledge served for their next resting-place. It extended back ten yards to a steep wall of rock, and here, in a hollow cavity, Canaris found a mass of driftwood that was dry enough to burn.
The fish were cooked rudely over a fire, but without salt they were unpalatable and no one cared to eat them.
The luxury of a camp fire was enjoyed while they slept, and, although no watch was kept, the night--if night it really was--passed without alarm.
Colonel Carrington had managed to retain during his captivity a small note-book and pencil. In this he kept a record of the journey, jotting down each night the incidents of the day's cruise, and a page from this diary will convey to the reader a clear idea of the uneventful manner in which the first week passed away--a week in long-to-be-remembered contrast to the dreadful period that followed.
_Third stage_.--Traveled all day on smooth water. Rocky shores. Camped on an island. Could find no wood and slept in the dark.
_Fourth stage_.--Today we passed rocky islands in great profusion. Once far overhead we saw a single gleam of light shining in from a crevice.
So far our calculation is correct. Day is day, and night is night.
_Fifth stage_.--Nothing important. Ran a few rapids and camped on the right shore on a sandy beach.
_Sixth stage_.--All goes well. We are making many miles a day. The current continues strong. Camped on flat rock in midstream.
_Seventh stage_.--Current still good. River very wide and obstructed with rocks. Narrowly missed an upset several times.
_Eighth stage_.--Traveled rapidly. Camped on a big spit of sand on right shore. Vast cavern behind us. Too sleepy to explore it.
Here the peaceful montony of the colonel's record ended. On this sloping, sandy beach began the first of that string of adventures which to their last moment will send a shudder through those who participated in them.
As the colonel stated, they were so weary from the long day's journey that no investigation was made of the vast cavern that lay behind them.
Guy advanced a few yards with his blazing torch.
"It probably terminates with a rocky wall," he said carelessly: "It's no use looking into it tonight."
Sir Arthur suggested that it would be well to make sure that no danger lurked in its darkness, but Guy handed him the torch and bade him go satisfy himself. He very promptly declined the honor.
A meager supper was eaten, for already the stock of food showed a perceptible diminution, and by common consent Guy began from that time to serve out short rations.
A quantity of driftwood had been brought in the canoes from a previous camping-place, and with this a small fire was built. In its cheerful flickering glow they fell asleep, and an hour later a faint gleam from the charred embers was all that relieved the darkness of the cavern.
When Sir Arthur Ashby turned uneasily on his rugs some time afterward, even this feeble light was gone. The ex-governor was consumed with a burning thirst. He had an undeniable craving for champagne and iced claret, but in the unavoidable absence of these drinks water would have to do.
As he sat up, a faint noise reached his ears from the direction of the canoes, and supposing it to be Canaris, who had performed similar favors for him before, he called out loudly:
"My good fellow, fetch me a drink, will you? I'm deucedly dry."
The noise instantly ceased and was not repeated, though Sir Arthur waited breathlessly for a full minute.
Once he fancied he heard a slight rippling of water, but that, too, ceased at once.
Then Sir Arthur uttered a loud shout, which speedily wakened his companions.
"What's wrong?" cried the colonel anxiously. "Did some one call? I surely heard a noise."