The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

518 THE ARGOSY. terribly difficult task. two or three times he swung helpless in mid air, and just when he felt that he could go no farther he was pulled to the top without any effort of his own, and fell over from sheer exhaustion. He was all right in a moment or two and, hauling up the rope, they hurried back to the raft. an Canaris and Sir Arthur hailed them gladly. It was the work of a moment to attach the hook to the top of the ledge, and one by one they slid down to the raft. Here a startling surprise awaited them. Among the rugs lay a dark skinned savage, half naked and frightfully emaciated, while on the end of the raft rested a canoe much worn and battered. ‘What on earth does this mean?’’ exclaimed Chutney. ‘‘ Where did you get that fellow? Is he dead?” ‘No, he lives,’’ replied Canaris. ‘‘I hearda strange cry out on the lake. That was the time I fired my rifle. Then I saw this canoe drifting towards the raft, and when it came near enough for me to catch hold of I found this poor fellow lying in the bottom. Nothing else was in the canoe, not even a paddle. Just before you came I was talking to him. I know a little of the lancuave, and he managed to tell me that he belongs to Oko Sam’s tribe of Gallas. His name is Bildad, and he is the same native who was pursued into the cavern by the Abyssinians.’’ ‘“ But how did he get away from the serpent ?’’ asked Forbes. ‘‘I don’t know,”’ replied Canaris. ‘‘ When he gets a little stronger I will find out. I gave him some food and he devoured it like a wild beast. He was terribly afraid we would kill him, and I could hardly make him believe otherwise. ’’ ‘““And what have you discovered?’’ exclaimed Sir Arthur, who was bursting with impatience. ‘‘ Must we die in this horrible place or is there hope of escape ?’”’ Chutney hurriedly related their adventures and the great discovery that had been made. ‘“'Yes,’’ he concluded fervently, ‘‘ we have every reason to hope. If all goes well we shall resume our journey down the river in a few hours.”? ‘‘ Chutney,’’ cried: the colonel solemnly, ‘‘I fear you are deceiving us and yourself with false hopes. ‘The outlet on the lake is found, it is true, and by means of this rope we can reach it, but how are we to travel on down the river? Can you carry this raft over the cliff yonder?” ‘“Yes,’’ said Guy, with a confident smile. ‘‘I can take the raft over the rocks. It shall be taken apart, and one by one the logs shall be hauled to the top of the cliff, and let down on the other side. To put it together again will prove no difficult matter.’’= | ‘‘A splendid plan, Chutney,’’ cried the colonel. ‘‘I retract what I said. And how about the canoe? Can we take that along also? ”’ ‘Yes,’ answered Guy, ‘‘ we will take it with us on the raft. It may prove of use; but the raft, I think, will be safer for us to travel on. And now let us set about the task without losing any time. ‘The transportation of the raft will be a difficult and arduous undertaking.” Cconmiclookxs CO