The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

522 ~, THE ARGOSY. ‘‘ It’s a miracle that he escaped the serpents,’’ said the colonel, ‘‘ floating about on the lake all the time.’’ ‘‘ But how did he know anything about the entrance to the river?”’ exclaimed Guy. ‘‘ Did you ask him that, Canaris?”’ Yes,’’ said the Greek. ‘‘ He says he discovered it himself a year or two ago just as an old Englishman must have done.’’ ‘‘ Well, it’s a lucky thing for Bildad that he ran across us,’’ was Guy’s comment ; and Bildad, to judge from his contented expression, seemed to appreciate this fact thoroughly. As the river continued on swift and smooth, with uo signs of danger ahead, all went asleep except Canaris and the colonel, who were interested in the care of the raft. Several hours later they were relieved by Chutney and Forbes, and thus all secured a fair night’s rest. A scanty share of food was doled out for breakfast, as the supply was getting very low. Some time afterward a faint roar was heard in the dis- tance, and almost before they could prepare for danger a violent cross cur- rent struck the raft, tossing it about most perilously, and they caught a glimpse of a furious body of water issuing from a narrow passageway. ‘“ That was the other channel, the one we should have taken in the first place,’’ exclaimed Guy. ‘‘ We are now on the main river again.” ‘‘ They travel separately for quite a distance,’’ remarked the colonel. ‘‘'The lake must be seventy or eighty miles in our rear. We are making splendid time.’’ Little did they imagine at that moment how great a change was close at hand. ‘The river glided smoothly between its massive walls with scarce a murmur. An hour later Forbes held up a warning finger. An ominous sound was heard far below that increased in volume with every second. ‘‘ Cling to the raft for your lives,’’? shouted Chutney. The first words were audible ; the last were drowned in the mighty roar of the water, so sudden was its approach. By the torchlight they saw for an instant the billows of tossing spray. ‘Then the raft plunged madly like a thing of life, a gteat wave broke over it with stunning force, and all was darkness. None could remember clearly what happened after that. Plunging over the crests of enormous waves, whirling round and round in dizzy revolu- tions, drenched by icy showers of spray, grinding and crashing on countless rocks, the raft went on its way through that awful stretch of rapids, holding together by nothing short of a miracle. A full hour it lasted, though it must have seemed like days to the wretched voyagers. Then the wild pitching and tossing subsided, the crash of the’ furious water grew fainter and fainter, and all was calm and peaceful as before. —_—_——. CHAPTER XXXIV.—MorRE MISERY. PERCEIVING that the danger was over, Guy ventured to sit up. His clothes were dripping wet, but fortunately he kept his matches in a tin box, (© Ccomicoooks