aken the rest as quickly as
possible, and send some one up with a torch. I forgot to bring one with
me."

CHAPTER XXXI.

A TERRIBLE BLUNDER.

From his gloomy perch on top of the rock Guy could see all that happened
plainly.

Canaris woke his companions as speedily as possible. Their astonishment
at finding Guy missing was very great, and at first they seemed scarcely
able to comprehend the Greek's explanation.

Then they glanced eagerly overhead; and hailed Guy with shouts of joy.

"Here, hoist me up," cried the colonel. "I'll take him up the torch."

"No, I'll go!" exclaimed Forbes. "I'm a pretty expert climber, colonel,
and won't run any risk."

"Bless me!" ejaculated Sir Arthur. "Did that young man Chutney walk up
the face of that wall? Why, he's a freak."

Canaris solved the matter by picking up one of the leathern bags and
tearing it open.

"Look!" he shouted up to Guy. "It was fortunate we kept these. Here are
the ropes and hooks by which we scaled the walls of Harar."

"Hurrah!" cried Chutney. "Just the thing! I had forgotten about them."

"Now," continued the Greek, "both of you can go up the rock and I will
remain here with Sir Arthur."

He dragged out the four ropes, spliced two of them together to make the
required length, and then, giving the end to Forbes to hold, he threw
the iron hook skillfully toward Guy. It landed on top of the cliff, and
Guy fastened it securely to a crevice.

"Now you can come up," he shouted down.

Placing a torch in each pocket, Forbes began the ascent, and speedily
reached the top. The colonel followed with equal dexterity.

"All right?" called the Greek.

"Yes," replied Chutney; "all right. We will return as soon as possible.
If anything happens fire your gun."

Guy lit a torch, and the glare revealed only the narrow ledge on which
they stood. Beneath and overhead was empty space.

They paused a moment to listen to the sound of the running water.

"It is far beneath us," said the colonel; "possibly a hundred feet, but
it is the outlet of the lake, I am sure. Upon my word, Chutney, I
believe we will get out of this scrape yet."

"Come on," said Guy briefly; and he led the way along the narrow path.

They traveled in silence for five minutes, until the light from the raft
had nearly vanished, and then Guy halted suddenly. A wall of rock,
steep and smooth, prevented further advance.

"Come, let us go back," he said; they retraced their steps unti