ned provisions."

"If we could shoot any game----" began Melton, but Guy interrupted him.

"The fighting has scared everything away from the vicinity," he
remarked.

"Yes, that is true," said the Greek. "The animals have fled to the
mountains, and, besides, Oko Sam and his tribe of Gallas keep the game
well thinned out."

"What did you say?" cried Guy, springing to his feet in excitement. "Is
this Oko Sam's village yonder that the Abyssinians have raided?"

The Greek nodded assent.

"Yes, Oko Sam is the chief."

"Then Sir Arthur Ashby and Colonel Carrington are close at hand,"
exclaimed Guy.

"And Momba," added Melton fervently. "All may be saved yet."

"And was it to Oko Sam your comrades were sold as slaves?" cried
Canaris. "Why did you not mention his name before? I could have told you
this long ago."

"I never thought of it," rejoined Guy. "I gave them up as lost forever.
Alas! they are probably in the hands of the Abyssinians now."

"Either that or dead," said the Greek, "but undoubtedly the former, for
Menelek, the Abyssinian king, is fond of white captives, and their lives
would be spared if they fell into the hands of the raiding party."

"And how shall we find out?" demanded Guy. "I will not embark on this
river until uncertainty about their fate is removed."

"When darkness comes we will leave the cavern," replied Canaris. "It is
possible we shall learn something. Until then have patience."

The hours of tedious waiting were a little relieved by a discovery that
Melton made.

In some of the canoes he found a couple of rude bone fishhooks. This
seemed pretty fair proof that fish existed in the underground river, and
as Guy happened to have a roll of cord, three strong lines were
constructed and laid away for possible future use.

When, to the best of their judgments, evening was close at hand, they
started back through the passage and reached the entrance shortly before
ten o'clock.

Darkness soon came on, and as all seemed quiet they ventured to roll
back the stone and crawl out. Far across the valley a faint glow was
visible against the somber sky, probably from the smoldering embers of
the burned village, while directly north of the cavern, in the vicinity
of the pool of water where the lions had been encountered the previous
night, a number of camp fires were twinkling merrily through the
scattered boulders.

"This is the camp of the Abyssinians," declared Canaris without
hesitation.