The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS.* A record of some marvelous experiences in the Dark Continent—Why a water journey beneath the earth’s surface was undertaken at frightful risks—A voyage on a raft along an unknown course and without the possibility of retreat. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED, Guy CHUTNEY, an officer in the British army, on his way back to service in India, is asked to stop off at Aden and take important despatches to Sir Arthur Ashby, governor of Zaila, on the African coast. En route the steamer touches at Berbera, where Chutney meets an old friend, Melton Forbes, foreign correspondent of an English newspaper. Suspecting that there is treachery in the wind, Forbes sends his native servant Momba through the town to investigate, who soon after returns pursued by a mob of Somali warriors. It appears that Manuel Torres, a Portuguese fellow passenger of Guy onthe Aden steamer, has brought rifles to Makar Makalo, who is in- stituting rebellion against the English on behalf of Rao Khan, Emir of Harar. Melton, with his servant, accompanies Guy to Zaila; their report carries consternation to the breast of the governor and Colonel Carrington, who is with him. The Arabs are already swarming about the place, the Englishmen are all made prisoners, and doomed by Makar Makaio to be sent as slaves to the Somalis of the Galla country. During the journey the prisoners are separated, Guy and Melton being carried by the Arabs to Harar, where the Emir is forced to promise the people that they shall be sent to the block in four days’ time, Meantime they are waited upon in their cell (Melton having been wounded) by Canaris, a Greek, who has been a captive ofthe Emir for two years. He shows them a document given him by an aged Englishman, who had died in the prison, and which tells of an underground river in the neighborhood which promises them all escape. On an appointed night they overpower the guards and start. They finally reach the entrance to the underground river ; but their provisions have been ex- hausted and they know not what to do until, in one of their night exploring ‘trips, they capture two stray camels, which inspires Chutney with an idea. Disguised as Portuguese, he and Canaris ride in among the Gallas, declare that they have been sent from Zaila by Makar Makalo, who is hard pressed by the British, and that the latter will only withdraw on condition that the governor of the town and his friends, who have been~Sold into slavery, be delivered up to these messengers. The plan is suecessful, and with Sir Arthur and Colonel Carrington they escape to the mouth of the cavern. They find two canoes on this river of darkness, and em- barking in them, follow the current. After a journey of several days, they find themselves on a great underground lake, which appears to have no outlet. They are attacked by huge serpents and their canoes are destroyed. But onan island strewn with skeletons they find a taft, and embark on this in the forlorn hope of going wherever the current will take them. They drift against the rocky side of the lake, and Chutney hears the sound of running water just beyond the rocky wall. He and Forbes scale the heights, and with the ropes and hooks which they had used in Harar, are let down on the other side by Carrington till they find the tiver which is to lead them to safety. But despair comes swiftly on the heels of hope when Chutney suddenly realizes that he has made a fatal blunder, and demands of Forbes how they are to get the rope up the seventy feet stretch from the ledge to the summit of the cliff. CHAPTER XXXII.—Goop By To THE LAKE. \ | ELTON dropped the rope and staggered back from the cliff, his face deadly pale. ‘“Yes,’’ he said hoarsely, ‘‘ you—you are right, Chutney. How could *This story began in the May issue of THE ARGOSY. The five back numbers will be mailed to any address on receipt of 50’cents. Cconmicloookxs Conn