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.