Seizing another spear Guy circled to one side, and boldly approaching the trembling coils, with one terrific blow he planted his weapon into the serpent's body so deeply that the spear pinned the monster firmly to the ground.
A cry of horror burst from his companions as the huge head swung round with awful quickness, but it missed Guy by barely an inch as he sprang aside.
The serpent's contortions were now frightful to see, as he squirmed and twisted to tear loose from the weapon. "Now let him have it," cried Guy; and in an instant the remaining spears, half a dozen in number, were driven deeply into the venomous coils.
The struggle was now at its crisis. With axes in hand they were dodging about the writhing monster, seeking a chance to reach the head, when an awful shriek echoed through the cavern, apparently from some distance out on the lake, and then the Greek's voice was raised in a loud and urgent appeal for help. What new disaster threatened?
CHAPTER XXIX.
GUY SAVES SIR ARTHUR.
This new alarm, coming just at the uncertain period of their struggle, was quite enough to strike despair to the hearts of all.
"That was Sir Arthur's voice we heard first," exclaimed Forbes. "And it is Canaris who is shouting for help. What are we going to do about it?"
"Tell him to hold out for a moment," cried Guy. "I'll wind up this affair pretty quick."
Raising the axe, he made a sudden dart forward and buried the blade deep in the serpent's head. It was a clever stroke and so forcible that the axe was jerked from his hand.