"Saved! Saved! Saved!" he cried aloud. "Thank God! Melton! Canaris! Do you hear? The blessed sunlight is shining around us. Why don't you answer? Why don't you shout for joy?"
But no response came, and the five ghastly figures on the raft remained as stiff and motionless as before.
A swift change passed over Guy's face.
"Merciful heavens!" he cried. "Can it be? All dead!"
He gasped for breath, beating the air with stiffened fingers, and then dropped like a log.
The warm sunlight still played on the raft, and the yellow tide of the river lapped the roughened logs with a soft and musical murmur.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CAPTAIN BECKER LOSES A WAGER.
"No, no, gentlemen. I respectfully beg leave to differ with you. Africa never gives up her white slaves."