The Argosy — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

344 THE ARGOSY. As he stuck it in the crevice the glare suddenly revealed a wall of rock a few yards distant, and in a very short time the raft struck the shore with a harsh rattle that proved the impulse of the current beyond a doubt. The concussion failed to rouse the sleepers, and Guy was hesitating whether he ought to do so or not when a faint sound came indistinctly to his ear. At first he could scarcely believe the evidence of his own senses. He fancied it must be a delusion, a buzzing in his ears. ‘The strangest part of it was that the sound actually resembled running water. He listened a while longer, and then quietly woke the Greek, who sat up,. rubbing his eyes. ‘‘ Canaris,’’ he whispered, ‘‘do you hear anything? ”’ An interval of silence followed, inexpressibly painful to Guy, and then the Greek cried excitedly, ‘‘ Yes, I hear running water. It comes from the other side of the cliff.’’ ‘Then I am not mistaken,’’ was Guy’s joyful exclamation. ‘‘ We both hear it. It can be no delusion.”’ Then his heart sank as he thought of the wall of rock before them. ‘Tt is the outlet of the river,’’ he said bitterly, ‘‘only a few yards dis- tant, and it might as well be a thousand miles.’’ Remembering what Sir Arthur had told them, he looked anxiously at the surface of the lake, but the water was calm and quiet, and the raft hung motionless. ‘The outlet is far beneath the surface,’’ said Canaris. ‘‘ You can tell that by the sound. If it were near the top we would be instantly sucked under.’’ | Impelled by an irresistible impulse Guy seized the torch and held it above his head. “Look! Look!’’ he cried, in a voice that trembled with excitement. ‘The cliff slants at an angle. There are crevices to hold one’s hands and feet. Make no noise, Canaris; don’t wake the rest, but help me to reach that ledge yonder and I will see wllae this leads.’’ The cliff slanted indeed, but at an almost imperceptible angle. The raft tilted slightly as Canaris pushed Guy up the face of the rock, but the latter succeeded in reaching a small ledge six. feet above the water. ‘All right,’’ he whispered. ‘‘I can see plenty of places to catch hold of beyond me. Now fasten a torch to one of the paddles, Canaris, and hold it as high as you can.’’ This was aclever suggestion. ‘The Greek fortunately had a bit of cord about him, and in a moment the torch was throwing a dull light far up the rugged slope of the rock. } Guy continued to climb higher and higher, keeping a cool head in spite of his excitement, and testing well each crevice or projecting ledge before trusting his weight to it, and at last, with a throb of joy that nearly took his strength away, he pulled himself out upon the flat summit of the rock. Seventy feet below him was the raft and its occupants, glowing in the torchlight. Guy crawled forward on his hands and knees, and soon reached Eomichook (E@)