Canaris found a mass of driftwood that was dry enough to burn.

The fish were cooked rudely over a fire, but without salt they were
unpalatable and no one cared to eat them.

The luxury of a camp fire was enjoyed while they slept, and, although no
watch was kept, the night--if night it really was--passed without alarm.

Colonel Carrington had managed to retain during his captivity a small
note-book and pencil. In this he kept a record of the journey, jotting
down each night the incidents of the day's cruise, and a page from this
diary will convey to the reader a clear idea of the uneventful manner in
which the first week passed away--a week in long-to-be-remembered
contrast to the dreadful period that followed.

_Third stage._--Traveled all day on smooth water. Rocky shores. Camped
on an island. Could find no wood and slept in the dark.

_Fourth stage._--Today we passed rocky islands in great profusion. Once
far overhead we saw a single gleam of light shining in from a crevice.
So far our calculation is correct. Day is day, and night is night.

_Fifth stage._--Nothing important. Ran a few rapids and camped on the
right shore on a sandy beach.

_Sixth stage._--All goes well. We are making many miles a day. The
current continues strong. Camped on flat rock in midstream.

_Seventh stage._--Current still good. River very wide and obstructed
with rocks. Narrowly missed an upset several times.

_Eighth stage._--Traveled rapidly. Camped on a big spit of sand on right
shore. Vast cavern behind us. Too sleepy to explore it.

Here the peaceful monotony of the colonel's record ended. On this
sloping, sandy beach began the first of that string of adventures which
to their last moment will send a shudder through those who participated
in them.

As the colonel stated, they were so weary from the long day's journey
that no investigation was made of the vast cavern that lay behind them.

Guy advanced a few yards with his blazing torch.

"It probably terminates with a rocky wall," he said carelessly: "It's no
use looking into it tonight."

Sir Arthur suggested that it would be well to make sure that no danger
lurked in its darkness, but Guy handed him the torch and bade him go
satisfy himself. He very promptly declined the honor.

A meager supper was eaten, for already the stock of food showed a
perceptible diminution, and by common consent Guy began from that time
to serve out short rations.

A quantity of driftwood h