“You are right, Chutney,” said the colonel, after a pause. “The sound was on our left a moment ago. Now it is on our right.”
The Greek was correct. The surface of the lake was violently agitated, though not a breath of air was stirring, and a steady flow of ripples was breaking on the sandy beach like tiny ocean waves.
The unknown navigator, whatever it was, had nearly completed the circuit of the island now, and was very near the spot where they had first heard it.
“It must be a serpent,” cried Guy. “Heaven grant that it doesn’t approach the island.”
He hurriedly picked up the torch and ran with it to the shore. The radius of light thus thrown over the water illumined a space twenty yards ahead, and revealed a long, dark object moving in graceful undulations over the surface. It was beyond doubt a huge serpent, and, as though angered by the light, the monster suddenly changed its course, and with a terrific splash headed directly for the shore. The huge head was in plain view, and the eyes flashed back fire from the reflected glare of the torch.
For an instant all seemed paralyzed with horror, and no one moved.
Chutney was the first to recover himself.
“We must kill him before he reaches the island,” he cried, staggering back a pace or two. “Get the guns. Quick! quick! or it will be too late!”
He turned to flee across the island toward the canoe, but as he gained the ridge a cry of horror broke from his lips, and as his companions hurriedly reached the spot a single glance showed them what was the matter.
The canoe was no longer on the shore. The swell caused by the approach of the serpent had washed it from its slight support, and now it was twenty yards distant, and drifting farther and farther away with every second.