“Then Sir Arthur Ashby and Colonel Carrington are close at hand,” exclaimed Guy.
“And Momba,” added Melton fervently. “All may be saved yet.”
“And was it to Oko Sam your comrades were sold as slaves?” cried Canaris. “Why did you not mention his name before? I could have told you this long ago.”
“I never thought of it,” rejoined Guy. “I gave them up as lost forever. Alas! they are probably in the hands of the Abyssinians now.”
“Either that or dead,” said the Greek, “but undoubtedly the former, for Menelek, the Abyssinian king, is fond of white captives, and their lives would be spared if they fell into the hands of the raiding party.”
“And how shall we find out?” demanded Guy. “I will not embark on this river until uncertainty about their fate is removed.”
“When darkness comes we will leave the cavern,” replied Canaris. “It is possible we shall learn something. Until then have patience.”
The hours of tedious waiting were a little relieved by a discovery that Melton made.
In some of the canoes he found a couple of rude bone fishhooks. This seemed pretty fair proof that fish existed in the underground river, and as Guy happened to have a roll of cord, three strong lines were constructed and laid away for possible future use.
When, to the best of their judgments, evening was close at hand, they started back through the passage and reached the entrance shortly before ten o’clock.