The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. oe drown. Then I felt the coil grow a little looser, and with one desperate struggle I tore away and came to the top. The first thing I saw was the light away up on the island, and I shouted for help as loud asI could. I was terribly afraid you would not hear me, and all the time I was growing weaker and weaker, and the current was dragging me farther and farther away. ‘Then I saw vour torch almost beside me, and that is all I remember. I would have gone to the bottom in another minute, I know. It was horrible, Chutney. It makes me faint to think of it,’’ and Melton-closed his eyes with a little shudder. There were tears in the eyes of all as they listened to this marvelous story of his escape, and a sterner realization came to them of the unknown and unseen dangers that encompassed them. Further sleep was out of the question, and yet they could not well leave the island until Melton’s clothes were partially dry. ‘ Suppose we try some fishing,’’ suggested Guy. ‘‘I have lines, and we can bait the hooks with bits of dried meat.’’ ‘“That would be an agreeable change in our bill of fare,’’ said the colonel: ‘‘T second the motion.’’ ‘Gentlemen, I beg of you, don’t harass my feelings by talking of fish,’’ protested Sir Arthur, who was gradually recovering from his severe fright. ‘““It makes me think of white bait dinners at Greenwich. I dined there two days before I sailed for Africa.’’ ‘“And you will dine there again, many a time,’’ replied the colonel. ‘“Only keep up your spirits, Ashby.’’ ‘‘I hope so, I’m sure,’’ groaned Sir Arthur, with a dismal shake of the head that. belied his words. Meanwhile Guy had been preparing the lines, and handing one to the Greek, they cast them in the eddy below the island. In less than five minutes Guy landed a trumpet, a fish of a deep purple color, a foot in length. Canaris hauled one out at the same time, and within an hour they had caught more than a dozen, all of the same species and of about the same length. “We'll take them along with us,’’ said Guy. ‘‘ We may find driftwood enough to build a fire and cook them.’’ 7 ‘‘ And if we don’t find any,’’ cried Canaris, ‘‘ we can cook them by hold- ing them in the flame of the torch.’’ CHAPTER XXIV.—Srir ARTHUR WAKES AT THE RiGHT Time. Av this point Forbes positively insisted on getting up, and in spite of the slight dampness that still lingered about his clothes he pulled them on and announced himself ready to start. All were glad to leave the spot which was connected with such a horrible event, and soon the island was far in the rear. The second stage of the journey was monotonous and uneventful. <A few slight rapids were encountered, but for the most part the river was swift and smooth. The character of the shores now began to change, and instead of the (S@) ConmiclbooolK<