“We will make up for lost time by rapid traveling, then,” said Forbes.
“Ah, you think so?” cried Sir Arthur. “Bless me, I hope we will. I have an engagement to dine with Lord Balsover at the Hotel Bombay at Aden on the 10th at six o’clock in the evening. He touches there on his way to India, and I can’t disappoint him, you know.”
“Drop him a few lines, Ashby, and postpone the engagement a couple of weeks,” remarked the colonel dryly.
“Bless me! Can I do that?” ejaculated Sir Arthur.
The laugh that followed was cut short by Guy’s short, decisive voice: “Get ready, it’s time to start.”
The raft lay partly in the water, and with a hearty shove from all it was pushed clear of the shore. Forbes and Canaris held it while it tossed up an down in the swirling eddies.
“Get on board,” directed Guy, setting the example himself, and assisting Bildad.
Forbes remained on shore, holding the corner of the raft till all had passed on board. It trembled fiercely in his grasp, as though eager to be off on the journey.
Far overhead the abandoned torch was glowing dimly on the summit of the cliff, a patch of brightness that made the gloom round about all the blacker by contrast. For the first time a sudden realization of the unknown perils that lay before them flashed into the minds of the little party.
“Let go, Forbes,” said Guy in a firm voice.