n convulsions of agony, and, before the eyes of
his horrified companions, Melton was pinned to the ground.

He struggled to his knees, fighting desperately to loosen the tightening
coils, and uttering heartrending appeals for help.

Then, with a mighty hiss, the serpent flapped wildly toward the water,
dragging his victim with him, and with a terrific splash and a
resounding slap of the great tail on the moist sand, both disappeared in
the gloom.

With a terrible cry Guy ran to the water's edge and shouted again and
again.

No response came back. The black river flowed as smoothly and calmly as
before.

"Lost! Lost!" he cried hoarsely, and staggering backward he fell heavily
on the sand.

The colonel ran to his assistance, and at that moment a single cry came
distinctly from a point below the island.

"Listen!" exclaimed Canaris. "What is that?"

"Help! Help!" rang mournfully through the recesses of the cavern.

It was Melton's voice surely, and the familiar tones reached Guy's ears
and brought him to his feet in an instant.

"It's Forbes!" he shouted wildly. "The canoe, quick," and snatching the
heavy craft, he fairly threw it into the river and sprang in.

Canaris leaped after him, and seizing paddles they drove the canoe
swiftly toward the distant sound.

"We are coming, Melton; we are coming," cried Guy. "We'll save you yet."

In their haste the lighted torch had been left behind, but fortunately
the Greek had matches, and in an instant another torch was lit and
flaring cheerfully over the water.

"This way, Chutney," came a feeble voice below them. "Hurry up. I'm
nearly exhausted."

A few rapid strokes of the paddle brought them within sight of a
struggling object on the surface of the water, and as the canoe ran
skilfully alongside, Guy dropped his paddle, and, leaning out, seized
the drowning man by the collar. With almost superhuman strength he
dragged him into the canoe without assistance.

"Thank God!" he cried, "he's safe. Speak to me, Forbes. Are you hurt?"

But Melton lay white and helpless in the bottom of the boat, too
exhausted to reply.

"He's all right," said Canaris. "Don't make him talk. Take your paddle,
Chutney. We'll have a struggle to make the island."

The Greek was right. Far above them shone the flickering torch, and the
current was bearing them further away.

"I can't paddle and hold the torch at the same time," said Canaris. "We
must be guided by the light on the is