ood on the brink of the mysterious underground river.

"We have found it!" exclaimed Canaris exultingly. "The Englishman was
right."

It was impossible to judge of the width of the stream. It might be very
narrow and it might be very broad. The flowing water made not a sound,
and yet the current was swift, for a bit of paper that Melton tossed in
was snatched from sight immediately.

As they gazed on this strange sight with emotions that it would be
impossible to describe, a vague, shadowy object passed down the stream
and vanished in the darkness.

"There goes that fellow," cried Guy. "He has escaped in a canoe," and
hastening up along the shore, waving the lamp in front of him, he
uttered a cry of astonishment that echoed through the cavern and brought
his companions quickly to his side.

Drawn back a few yards from the water lay two long, heavy canoes, and a
sharp furrow in the sand leading to the river's edge showed that a third
canoe had recently stood beside the others. Half a dozen rude paddles
were strewn on the sand. The savage had evidently been in such haste to
escape that the thought of turning the other canoes adrift, and thus
eluding pursuit, never entered his head.

Beyond the canoes, further progress was blocked by masses of earth.

"This was the abode of that strange race of natives," said Guy solemnly,
"and under those stones they have lain buried since the earthquake years
ago."

He turned and led the way down the stream.

Fifteen yards below lay another jutting mass of earth. This was the
extent of the cavern, a beach fifty yards long running back to the
narrow passage and terminated by walls of earth; beyond was darkness and
the river, running none knew where.

Yet the only hope of seeing home and friends, vague and uncertain as it
was, rested with this mysterious, cavernous stream. It might lead to the
coast and safety, but far more likely death and destruction awaited
anyone daring enough to trust himself to its treacherous current.

"The sea is hundreds of miles away," said Guy gloomily, as he sat down
on the sand and placed the lamp carefully beside him. "How are we going
to live through such a journey as that? Even now our last bit of food is
gone, and where shall we get more?"

Canaris pondered a moment before he ventured to reply.

"I see but one plan," he said finally. "At nightfall we must visit the
burned village. The enemy will have gone by then, and we may discover
abando