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.
The colonel dragged him hastily back, but the danger was over. The monster was thrashing the blood-stained sand in his death agonies, powerless to do further harm.
Canaris was still calling for help, and, leaving their dying antagonist, the others plunged across the island. The Greek was running up and down the strip of sand, and far out on the lake the canoe was visible in the radius of light, with Sir Arthur standing erect in the bow.
“He won’t take the paddle!” exclaimed Canaris. “He says there is something splashing in the lake beyond him. He’s a dead man if he doesn’t get back to the island.”