“Yes, here is the mark of a third boat,” announced the colonel, who had been making an investigation on his own account, “and footprints are visible on the sand. The scoundrel must have been here when we landed.”
“I wanted you to make a search,” said Sir Arthur, “but my advice was disregarded. You see the result.”
“Prepare to start at once,” interrupted Guy sharply. “We must pursue the thief and recover our canoe.”
In less than five minutes they embarked and pushed away from the shore.
“Put out the torch,” said Guy. “If the rascal sees the light he can get out of our way and we will pass him unperceived.”
“But how will we capture him in the dark?” asked Melton.
“We must depend on our hearing,” was the reply. “We will push ahead quietly and listen at intervals for the stroke of his paddle.”
Under these circumstances the recovery of the canoe was very doubtful, but there was plainly no other course, so they proceeded to carry out Guy’s plan as carefully as possible.
Five paddles were all that remained, one for each of them, and with quick, noiseless strokes they moved rapidly down the river, keeping the canoe headed with the current as far as possible, and pausing at times to listen for any trace of the thief.
Thus they journeyed for an hour or more, but no sound of any kind reached their ears, and it began to look very much as though the Galla had been passed unseen in the darkness.