“Moreover, it was less warm around them than usual.
“Tom lit a torch, and they landed. Yes, there was the water lapping up and receding again.
“‘Can you give us more light?’ said my grand-dad.
“‘We may burn the centre canoe,’ replied Tom, undoing it as he spoke, while his companion held the torch on high. There are no more provisions except enough for once and a few pounds of tallow.
“The canoe was broken up and set fire to. The flames leapt up, and lo! in front of them was the end of the mysterious river, a black and solid rock, beneath which no man or boat could penetrate.
“Tom looked at my grand-dad, and grand-dad looked at him.
“‘Lost! Imprisoned! The end has come!’
“These were the words they uttered.
“‘Let us eat our last meal, then,’ said Tom.