The Argosy — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

342 | THE ARGOSY. which seemed to prove the existence of a sluggish current through the center of the lake. Did this current continue on past the island, and if so, whither did it lead? A solution to these two problems Guy was curious to obtain. It served to occupy his mind, to keep his thoughts from dwelling on the horrible fate that was in store for him. It was more than likely, he told himself, that whirlpools would be found in the center of the lake. Well, drowning would be an easy death compared to the lingering tortures of starvation. CHAPTER XXX.—A STRANGE DISCOVERY. Guy’s explanation of his intentions was received without comment. Presently the colonel said, ‘‘ You forget that we no longer have a canoe, Chutney. We are prisoners on this island.’’ | ‘‘ But we have a raft,’’ replied Guy, ‘‘and a good one, too. It would be much more convenient and comfortable to travel on.’’ ‘“Suppose we try it,’’ said Forbes. ‘‘ Anything to get away from this —aplace? ‘“We can’t get into a worse hole, that’s true,’’ added the colonel. ‘‘I believe you are right about the current, Chutney, though it can only land us on the edge of some whirlpool.’’ Sir Arthur was as eager as the rest to get away. He had passed through so many horrors, he said, that he had become accustomed to them, and it mattered little what the future held in store for him. ‘The raft was dug out from the sand and found to be in perfect condition. It was fastened to- gether with twisted withes of some flexible wood. It was no easy task to get it into the water, but by all working together, and using the guns and paddles as levers, it was finally pushed into the lake and floated lightly on the surface. | The rugs, provisions, and what torches remained were carried on board, and with a final look round the island to see that nothing of importance had been forgotten, they quietly embarked, and Guy, with a shove of the paddle, sent the raft out on the lake. The object of the journey they hardly knew themselves. They were leaving behind them a spot associated with dreaded memories, and that was all they cared to know. ‘*Don’t do that,’’ said Guy, as Canaris picked up a paddle and began to use it vigorously. ‘‘ We must drift entirely with the current.’’ The torch was placed securely in a crevice of the logs, and in a very short time it was proved beyond a doubt that some current did exist. The island faded slowly from view. Still reluctant to face their situation they grouped together and discussed various things. ‘The Greek gave a long account of his curious wanderings and adventures. Guy and Melton spoke of their thrilling experiences in Burma only the previous year, and Colonel Carrington entertained them with the tale of his participation in the bombardment of Alexandria in ’82. So the hours passed on, and still they chatted of the outside world, for- (COMIC OOOLKS (S@)