el. "The lake cannot be so
very large. I wish we had time to complete a survey of it. I should like
to make a report to the Royal Geographical Society."

"I wish the honorable members of the R. G. S. could change places with
us," said Sir Arthur, with a groan. "I have no doubt some of those
lunatics would enjoy this beastly hole. There is no accounting for
taste, Carrington."

The colonel made no reply. He was keeping stroke with Chutney's paddle,
sharing with him the outlook ahead. The minutes passed on, but still no
signs of any shore.

"It's a pretty fair-sized lake after all," said Guy.

"And we are the first white men to navigate its waters," remarked the
colonel solemnly. "This is a wonderful discovery. Our fame as great
explorers will be assured if we ever get back to England."

"Land ahead!" shouted Guy suddenly, and snatching the torch from Sir
Arthur, he stood erect as the canoe shot gently toward a dim object that
rose from the gloom twenty yards distant. Amid breathless silence the
keel nicked the sandy beach and Guy sprang out.

One brief second he held the flaming torch aloft.

Then he turned and tottered with trembling limbs towards the canoe. He
tried to speak, but no words came, and his face was pallid and
horror-stricken.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ISLE OF SKELETONS.

Believing that some terrible danger threatened, Forbes was in readiness
to push the canoe back into the lake, but Guy stopped him with a wave of
the hand.

"I'll be all right in a moment. My nerves went back on me; that's all."

He glanced toward the shore with a shudder, and then filled the palm of
his hand with water and drank it.

"Come on," he said bravely; "don't be alarmed. It's nothing that can
harm us."

His companions followed him timidly up the sandy slope. The torch threw
a bright light on the scene, and every one of them shuddered as Guy
stopped and pointed before him.

On a flat, rocky plateau, three or four feet above the level of the
lake, lay a gleaming mass of bones, all dried and whitened by age.

"Human skeletons, by gracious!" burst from the colonel, and it was easy
to see that he spoke the truth.

Human skeletons they were, but instead of being joined together, skulls,
arms, and legs lay scattered about in awful confusion.

"This is horrible," said Forbes. "Who were these unfortunates, and what
could have caused such mutilation?"

Guy advanced to the center of the plateau, flashing the torch