THE UNDERGROUND RIVER.
A moment of terrible suspense followed the Greek’s announcement. From without could be plainly heard a chorus of angry shouts as the Abyssinians searched for their missing prey.
Then the sounds grew fainter and Canaris said quietly: “They have gone on past the rock. We had better strike a light and see what has become of that black rascal. I cannot understand how he knew anything about this place. It may not be the proper entrance after all.”
One of the bronze lamps was filled with palm oil and lighted, and Guy undertook to lead the way into the depths of the cavern.
The passage was amply large enough to hold two or three men standing up, but it led downward at a very sharp angle. The journey was performed in silence, and after traveling ten or fifteen minutes Guy stopped.
A vast empty space was before him, and at his feet lay a sharp slope of loose earth. Here were seen the tracks of the savage, and without hesitation Guy began the descent, and half crawling, half sliding, reached firm ground a few yards below.
Melton and Canaris were close behind, and together they went up into the vast expanse of the cavern. Under foot was hard, compact sand, and in a moment more the glare of the lamp was reflected on running water, and they stood on the brink of the mysterious underground river.
“We have found it?” exclaimed Canaris exultingly. “The Englishman was right.”
It was impossible to judge of the width of the stream. It might be very narrow and it might be very broad. The flowing water made not a sound, and yet the current was swift, for a bit of paper that Melton tossed in was snatched from sight immediately.
As they gazed on this strange sight with emotions that it would be impossible to describe, a vague, shadowy object passed down the stream and vanished in the darkness.
“There goes that fellow,” cried Guy. “He has escaped in a canoe,” and hastening up along the shore, waving the lamp in front of him, he uttered a cry of astonishment that echoed through the cavern and brought his companions quickly to his side.
Drawn back a few yards from the water lay two long, heavy canoes, and a sharp furrow in the sand leading to the river’s edge showed that a third canoe had recently stood beside the others. Half a dozen rude paddles were strewn on the sand. The savage had evidently been in such haste to escape that the thought of turning the other canoes adrift, and thus eluding pursuit, never entered his head.
Beyond the canoes, further progress was blocked by masses of eaith.
“This was the abode of that strange race of natives,” said Guy solemnly, “and under those stones they have lain buried since the earthquake years ago.”
He turned and led the way down the stream.
Fifteen yards below lay another jutting mass of earth. This was the extent of the cavern, a beach fifty yards long running back to the narrow passage and terminated by walls of earth; beyond was darkness and the river, running none knew where.
Yet the only hope of seeing home and friends, vague and uncertain as it was, rested with this mysterious, cavernous stream. It might lead to the coast and safety, but far more likely death and destruction awaited anyone daring enough to trust himself to its treacherous current.
“The sea is hundreds of miles away,” said Guy gloomily, as he sat down on the sand and placed the lamp carefully beside him. “How are we going to live through such a journey as that? Even now our last bit of food is gone, and where shall we get more?”
Canaris pondered a moment before he ventured to reply.
“I see but one plan,” he said finally. “At nightfall we must visit the burned village. The enemy will have gone by then, and we may discover abandoned provisions.”
“If we could shoot any game——” began Melton, but Guy interrupted him.
“The fighting has scared everything away from the vicinity,” he remarked.
“Yes, that is true,” said the Greek. “The animals have fled to the mountains, and, besides, Oko Sam and his tribe of Gallas keep the game well thinned out.”
“What did you say?” cried Guy, springing to his feet in excitement. “Is this Oko Sam’s village yonder that the Abyssinians have raided?”
The Greek nodded assent.
“Yes, Oko Sam is the chief.”
“Then Sir Arthur Ashby and Colonel Carrington are close at hand,” exclaimed Guy.
“And Momba,” added Melton fervently. “All may be saved yet.”
“And was it to Oko Sam your comrades were sold as slaves?” cried Canaris. “Why did you not mention his name before? I could have told you this long ago.”
“I never thought of it,” rejoined Guy. “I gave them up as lost forever. Alas! they are probably in the hands of the Abyssinians now.”
“Either that or dead,” said the Greek, “but undoubtedly the former, for Menelek, the Abyssinian king, is fond of white captives, and their lives would be spared if they fell into the hands of the raiding party.”
“And how shall we find out?” demanded Guy. “I will not embark on this river until uncertainty about their fate is removed.”
“When darkness comes we will leave the cavern,” replied Canaris. “It is possible we shall learn something. Until then have patience.”
The hours of tedious waiting were a little relieved by a discovery that Melton made.
In some of the canoes he found a couple of rude bone fishhooks. This seemed pretty fair proof that fish existed in the underground river, and as Guy happened to have a roll of cord, three strong lines were constructed and laid away for possible future use.
When, to the best of their judgments, evening was close at hand, they started back through the passage and reached the entrance shortly before ten o’clock.
Darkness soon came on, and as all seemed quiet they ventured to roll back the stone and crawl out. Far across the valley a faint glow was visible against the somber sky, probably from the smoldering embers of the burned village, while directly north of the cavern, in the vicinity of the pool of water where the lions had been encountered the previous night, a number of camp fires were twinkling merrily through the scattered boulders.
“This is the camp of the Abyssinians,” declared Canaris without hesitation. “One of us must spy into it and see if your friends are prisoners; another must go to the village for provisions, and a third man should remain here at the mouth of the cavern.”
This proposed division of the forces did not please Guy and Melton.
“Why must a man remain at the cavern?” demanded Chutney.
“To mark the place in case one of us is pursued and loses his bearings in the darkness,” was the Greek’s calm reply.
Guy saw the advisability of this and made no further objection. After brief discussion it was decided that he should remain on guard, while Canaris visited the village and Forbes reconnoitered the Abyssinian camp. Without any delay they started off on their respective missions, and Guy was left alone.
For a while he paced up and down before the cavern, his rifle in the hollow of his arm, and then sitting down on the round stone he reflected over his perilous situation and the strange train of events that had led up to it. The stars shining down on him from the blackness of the African sky seemed to whisper of his far-away English home and the friends he would probably never see again.
Then he thought of his comrades in India and the expedition he had so fondly hoped to join, that even now was fighting its way through the hills of Chittagong. His reverie was broken by a sharp “hist!” and Forbes glided swiftly out of the gloom.
“No, they have not been captured,” he whispered in response to Guy’s eager inquiries. “I was around the camp on all sides. The Abyssinians have secured some Galla prisoners, and among them the chief himself, Oko Sam, but none of our friends are there. I am terribly afraid they have been massacred, Chutney.”
“We will know when the Greek returns,” replied Guy, who did not care to admit his belief that Melton was right.
They sat down together by the rock and conversed in low tones. An hour passed and then another.
“Canaris should be here by this time,” said Guy uneasily. “Can anything have happened to him, I wonder?”
Almost as he spoke a muffled trampling sound was heard, two huge objects loomed out of the darkness ahead, and as Guy’s hand trembled on the trigger of his rifle the Greek’s familiar voice uttered a low exclamation and he advanced slowly, leading two big camels loaded down with trappings.
“Well by Jove——” began Guy, but Canaris checked him instantly.
“Not so loud. I picked up these animals only a quarter of a mile back. They have strayed away from the Abyssinian camp.”
“But tell me, what have you discovered?” exclaimed Guy. “And you have brought no food. Must we starve, then?”