CHAPTER XXVI.
THE ISLE OF SKELETONS.
Believing that some terrible danger threatened, Forbes was in readinessto push the canoe back into the lake, but Guy stopped him with a wave ofthe hand.
"I'll be all right in a moment. My nerves went back on me; that's all."
He glanced toward the shore with a shudder, and then filled the palm ofhis hand with water and drank it.
"Come on," he said bravely; "don't be alarmed. It's nothing that canharm us."
His companions followed him timidly up the sandy slope. The torch threwa bright light on the scene, and every one of them shuddered as Guystopped and pointed before him.
On a flat, rocky plateau, three or four feet above the level of thelake, lay a gleaming mass of bones, all dried and whitened by age.
"Human skeletons, by gracious!" burst from the colonel, and it was easyto see that he spoke the truth.
Human skeletons they were, but instead of being joined together, skulls,arms, and legs lay scattered about in awful confusion.
"This is horrible," said Forbes. "Who were these unfortunates, and whatcould have caused such mutilation?"
Guy advanced to the center of the plateau, flashing the torch aroundhim, and turning to his companions, he cried: "This is an island; thereis water all around it."
"Look here," exclaimed Canaris eagerly; "here lies a raft of logs, halfburied in the sand."
This new discovery promised some light on the mystery, and they crowdedhastily around the Greek, who was bending over the rude structure.
It lay half way up the beach, and over the lower extremities of the logsa thick layer of sand had been washed. Close by were half a dozen coarsesacks, which proved on inspection to contain skins of leopards andtigers, bright colored feathers, coffee, and aromatic gums. All were infairly good condition.
"Here is something else," cried Forbes. "Arms, by Jove! Spears and axes,torches and paddles. Well, by gracious, what does this mean?"
An inkling of the truth flashed upon them simultaneously, and theystared at each other in frightened silence.
"This was the last load of natives to go down the river," said Canarisquietly. "Here is their raft, their trading goods. Yonder lie theirbones. Their journey ended here."
"And why did it end here?" demanded the colonel.
"Yes, why?" echoed Chutney, and then no one spoke for a full minute.
"What was to prevent them from continuing on their way?" resumed thecolonel finally. "They had a raft and paddles; the water was all aroundthem. What caused their death?"
"Starvation," suggested the Greek.
"It was not starvation that killed them," exclaimed Guy, who had turnedback to the center of the island. "Here is a bag of dates and dried meatall shriveled and moldy. They met their death in some horribly suddenfashion, that is certain. How do you account for their skeletons beingtorn apart and the bones flung together? Could starvation do that?"
"It was serpents," said the Greek; and that brief sentence made theirblood run cold.
"Yes," continued Canaris, observing the doubt in their faces; "they musthave been surprised in the night and crushed to death. That alone canaccount for their broken bones. But, remember, all this was thirty yearsago or more."
"Yes, you are right, Canaris," said Chutney. "I believe, upon my word,what you say is true. The monstrous serpents of the cavern devouredthem."
Sir Arthur beat a rapid retreat to the canoe, and the rest were not slowin following his example.
"Let us get away from this horrible spot as quickly as possible," saidthe colonel; "and, besides, we are losing precious time on this lake. Wemust seek the outlet at once and resume the journey."
They paddled gladly away from the Isle of Skeletons, as the colonelinsisted on naming it, and steered as straight a course as possible.
Under the pressure of four paddles the canoe maintained a rapid speed,but in spite of this it was fully an hour, and probably much more,before they found the shore of the lake. They rested a little whilebeside the perpendicular wall of rock, uncertain which way to turn.
"It won't make much difference," said Guy; "either course must bring usto the outlet. Suppose we try the right."
This proposition met with favor, and off they started once more, takingcare to keep the shore constantly in sight, lest they should lose theirbearings again.
In less than half an hour the sound of running water was heard in thedistance, and they paddled faster than ever in their intense longing toescape from the lake.
Louder and louder grew the roar of the water, until they seemed to bealmost upon it, and just when they were preparing for a dash into therapids Chutney rose in the canoe with a cry of surprise, and thetorchlight showed plainly a fierce body of water running, not out of,but into the lake.
They had come back to the starting point. It was here they had enteredthe lake, and now all must be done over again.
"Back water," cried the colonel. "Don't get into the current. It maysweep us out and we shall lose our bearings. Turn the canoe and we willgo back the way we came."
There was no help for it. It only remained to atone for the lost time bypaddling as rapidly as possible.
With difficulty the canoe was snatched from the influx of the currentand headed this time to the left.
"It will be a lengthy paddle," said Guy. "The lake is by no means asmall one."
"I'm hungry," exclaimed Sir Arthur. "Isn't it about time for lunch?"
"Your suggestion is eminently proper, Sir Arthur," declared the colonel."On a full stomach we shall travel faster, Chauncey. Do you concur withour views?"
Guy evidently did, for a supply of dates and crackers was forthwithproduced, and while they were eating the canoe was permitted to remainstationary.
They started away in somewhat better spirits, Chutney in the bow keepinga sharp watch for danger ahead, while Sir Arthur held his torch from thestern, lighting the water for some yards around.
The dreary monotony of the journey was most trying. The shore presentedan unbroken perpendicular wall of stone falling sheer to the water, dampand slimy with drippings, while overhead was empty space, a dome of vastheight, to judge from the echo of their voices.
They paddled on and on, pausing occasionally to rest their weary arms,then dashing away with more vigor than ever. Not for an instant did theylose sight of the shore. It was their only guide. At last Sir Arthur'sarm dropped feebly, and it was seen that he was half asleep. Canaristook the torch from his hand, and sinking into the bottom of the canoe,the ex-governor fell instantly into a deep slumber.
"I'm actually getting drowsy myself," confessed the colonel. "It must benight. Surely we ought to be halfway round the lake by this time."
Guy admitted that he, too, was beginning to grow sleepy, and as Forbesand Canaris alone professed to be as fresh as ever, it was decided thatthey should navigate the canoe for a time and allow the others anopportunity to rest.
Chutney and the colonel stretched themselves on the rugs and Meltonpaddled slowly forward, while Canaris held the torch from the stern.
Hours passed, and still they continued to follow the rocky shore amidsilence, broken only by the swish of the paddle, for neither Forbes norCanaris cared to converse.
Wrapped in their own gloomy reflections they crouched in the stern,keeping silent vigil over their sleeping companions.
An intense desire for sleep now laid hold on Melton, and with greatreluctance he woke Guy and the colonel. It required a dash of cold waterto bring them to their senses.
"Are we still on this horrible lake?" exclaimed Chutney. "How long havewe been asleep?"
"Several hours at least," replied Melton.
"Several hours? Whew! What a lake this is! We must surely be near theoutlet now. But you are sleepy and worn out, Melton, and so is Canaris.Look, he can hardly keep his eyes open. Go lie down, both of you. Thecolonel and I will see to the canoe, and you will wake up twenty milesdown the river."
Melton handed o
ver his paddle to Guy, and the colonel relieved the Greekof the torch.
Canaris was asleep almost instantly, and Melton was just arranging therugs to make himself a comfortable spot, when Chutney cried gladly, "Ican hear water running. I'm sure of it. Do you hear it, too, colonel?"
"Yes," said the colonel, after a pause. "I do hear something, that's afact. We are approaching the outlet of the lake, no doubt of it."
Melton's drowsiness vanished, and he sprang up.
"It would be advisable to waken Canaris and Sir Arthur," suggested thecolonel. "No one ought to sleep at a time like this. All hands may beneeded."
A slight touch woke the Greek, but it required a severe shaking to rouseSir Arthur.
"Waiter, a deviled kidney and a pint of Pommery Sec," he cried drowsily,as Chutney pulled him to a sitting position. And then opening his eyeshe groaned dismally, "Bless me, I thought I was dining at Gatti's. Whydidn't you let me sleep?"