The River of Darkness Part 21

"It was a diabolical outrage," interrupted Sir Arthur. "The whole civilized world will shudder when it knows that the governor of Zaila was fed on tainted meat and spoiled rice, and very little of that, too.

If England fails to resent this outrage, I'll cast off my allegiance to the crown, sir, and become a citizen of some other country. I will, by Jove!"

Sir Arthur might have gone on indefinitely with the tale of his grievances, but Guy cut him short by calling general attention to their present grave situation.

The supply of provisions was at once overhauled, and the inspection proved very satisfactory.

Six large bags had been loaded on the camels. Two of these held jerked beef, probably buffalo or deer meat, one contained rice, another a peculiar kind of hard cakes made from native corn, and the two remaining were filled to the top with dates and figs.

"We are a.s.sured of food for some time to come," said Guy; "that is one consolation. I wish I could feel as certain of light. We have two lamps, and to supply these two big flasks of palm oil, not nearly enough, however, to last us on a long journey. When that is gone, I don't know what we shall do."

"When we stop, for rest we shall have to do without light," suggested Melton. "If we find any places to stop," he added.

"It's beastly chilly in here," observed Sir Arthur, with a s.h.i.+ver. "Two days in a hole like this will give us all rheumatism."

"Ah," said Melton, "but I have provided for that. See, here are the trappings from the camels which I brought in while waiting for you." And he held up one by one half a dozen richly embroidered rugs and skins, which had belonged to the leaders of the Abyssinians.

This pleasing discovery put them all in better spirits, and it was presently supplemented by another, which went far to remove the most formidable obstacle to their journey, for while the canoes were being examined Guy found in a far corner of the cavern a great pile of torches, made from some highly resinous wood. These had evidently belonged to the natives who formerly dwelt here, and were used by them instead of lamps on their journeys to the coast. They were fifty or sixty in number.

"This is a fortunate discovery," said Guy. "With these and the lamps we may have sufficient light to last out our trip."

"Yes; that removes the last obstacle," rejoined Forbes; "and now I propose that we take some refreshment. We have eaten nothing for nearly two days."

This was true. The excitement had almost banished hunger from their thoughts, but Melton's words roused their dormant appet.i.tes, and, sitting down beside the canoes, they made a hearty meal and washed it down with water from the river, which was quite fresh and cold.

"Well," said Guy, when they had all finished and the provisions were tied up and put aside, "it will do us no good to remain here any longer.

The river, as you all know, is our only salvation, and the sooner we start on our cruise the better. The natives who once dwelt here are reported to have made journeys down this stream in boats. Is it not so, Canaris?"

"Yes," replied the Greek. "I have heard from the Arabs at Harar that it was their annual custom to go down to the coast in large rafts or boats with trading goods, and then return by land."

"But where does this underground river empty?" asked the colonel. "Does anyone know?"

"It is supposed to reach the Juba," replied Guy, "but whether near the mouth of that river or not I cannot say."

"Ah! but that is a very important thing," said the colonel. "I possess some acquaintance with the geography of this part of Africa. Are you aware that the river Juba is nearly eight hundred miles in length?

Its source, which as yet remains undiscovered, lies only a hundred miles or more to our west, and it flows to the southeast. This stream before us appears to head in a southwesterly direction as near as I can judge.

It is possible then that it joins the river Juba at a distance less than two hundred miles from here. In that event our journey does not appear so formidable."

"Pardon me, sir," said Canaris quickly, "but from what I have been able to learn this river reaches the Juba at a point, I have heard stated, midway between Bardera and the coast."

"Bardera!" cried the colonel sharply. "Why, Bardera is only two hundred miles from the sea. According to that, we have a journey before us of nearly eight hundred miles--a journey underground and on unknown waters.

Who can tell what dangers lie before us?"

"We will never get out alive," groaned Sir Arthur. "Never in the world, Carrington. What a blawsted idiot I was to let the government send me to that beastly hole!"

"And is it impossible to escape by land?" asked the colonel, unheeding this interruption.

"You forget that we have destroyed our only communication with the outer world," ventured Forbes. "The river is our sole hope."

"Yes, I had forgotten it, it is true," replied the colonel.

"And were the communication now open," exclaimed Guy, "escape would still be hopeless. This river is navigable, and the existence of those canoes proves what I say. I have been in tight places like this before, and if you will trust to my guidance I will do my best to bring you through in safety. If we fail, it shall be through no fault of mine."

CHAPTER XXII.

AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.

Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.

Preparations for the start were begun at once. The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy. Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.

It was decided that Guy should be accompanied by Forbes and Sir Arthur in the first boat, and that Canaris and the colonel should follow in the second. For economy one torch was to be used for illuminating their way, and this Sir Arthur was to hold in the rear of the canoe. Eight paddles had been found in the cavern, thus providing an extra supply in case of possible loss.

It was difficult to believe that the sun was s.h.i.+ning brightly outside.

No ray of light pierced the blackness of the cavern, and the dead silence was unbroken by the first sound, though at that very moment the Gallas and the Abyssinians were probably waging a b.l.o.o.d.y battle almost overhead. Henceforth day and night were one, all trace of time would be lost, and whether any of that imprisoned band would ever see the light of day again or breathe the free, open air, the future alone could tell.

It was a solemn and impressive moment, and Guy's voice had a touch of huskiness in it as he ordered the canoes to be carried to the water.

A last survey of the cavern was made to see that nothing was forgotten, and then all took their places in silence, the canoes swung slowly out from sh.o.r.e, and, caught by the current, shot off into the gloom on the first stage of the most awful journey ever made by Englishmen.

Guy sat slightly in front of the stern, keeping the canoe straight with an occasional touch of the paddle, for the velocity of the current made labor unnecessary, and close behind him was Sir Arthur, holding the flaring torch that lit up the water for a short distance ahead and served to guide the second canoe, which was only a few yards behind.

"If this current continues all the way," observed Forbes, "eight hundred miles will be nothing at all."

"Yes, if no bad rapids are encountered," replied Guy. "There are certainly none very near, or we could hear them plainly."

"I don't think we need fear that very much," called out the colonel from the rear canoe. "The alt.i.tude of this part of Africa is not so high above the sea. The valley overhead is a pretty deep one, and this river is some distance beneath. Moreover, those natives would hardly have made an annual cruise down the river if the channel were very dangerous."

"It was their custom to start at the close of the rainy season," said the Greek, "when the river was high and swollen."

"Don't mention rapids, I beg of you," cried Sir Arthur. "It makes me nervous. I can't stand it at all."

For an hour or more they traveled on in almost unbroken silence. On either side the sh.o.r.e was invisible, and overhead the glare of the torch revealed only black, empty s.p.a.ce. The same intense silence prevailed, not even the faintest murmur of the river being audible.

This peaceful monotony, however, was rudely shattered. A low humming sound was heard in the distance, which rapidly increased in volume, and left no room to doubt that a course of rapids was below. At Guy's suggestion Forbes relieved Sir Arthur of the torch, and scarcely had this change been effected when the current carried them into a swirling ma.s.s of spray.

Both canoes grated and b.u.mped against rocks, and then, before the frightened occupants could realize that it was over, the sullen roar was fading away in the distance, and the smooth current was bearing them rapidly ahead.

This little episode considerably relieved their minds. If no more dangerous water than that lay before them, there was little cause for apprehension. A skilled eye and a strong hand would overcome the difficulty.

Presently, for the first time, rocky walls appeared, now on one side, now on the other, but they fell sheer to the water, and gave no opportunity for landing. The atmosphere of the cavern was pure and fresh, a fact not readily accounted for, since no glimmer of daylight was anywhere visible.

Guy began to grow sleepy, a sensation which was shared by his companions, for it was many hours since they had had any rest. It was impossible to tell how long or how far they had traveled. All pa.s.sage of time was lost, and the periods for eating and sleeping must be regulated by their own feelings. Instinct goes wrong in such cases; yet there was little doubt that the night had come.

A sharp lookout was kept on the sh.o.r.es, but, as the current swept them past the same monotonous ledges without a break, it began to look as though they would be compelled to take turns at sleeping in the bottom of the canoes.