ready with a match," whispered Guy. "When the canoe comes opposite,
light the torch and I will cover the fellow with my rifle."

The sound grew louder and plainer, and Melton's finger was already
trembling on the match when a terrific splash echoed over the water,
followed instantly by a most awful and heartrending wail of agony, that
caused every one to shudder from head to foot.

Perfect silence ensued, and the dip of the paddle was no longer heard.
With nervous haste Forbes lit the torch, and the sudden light revealed
an empty canoe floating bottom up a few yards out in the stream.

They paddled quickly alongside, and leaning over Guy turned the drifting
boat right side up.

It was empty, of course. The contents had gone to the bottom, and near
the center the frail sides, seen plainly in the torchlight, were
actually crushed inward like a shattered egg-shell.

Where was the occupant of a moment before? What tremendous force had
wrought this havoc?

The current carried them on and on, but no one spoke; no one dared utter
the thoughts that were in his mind.

At last Guy said in faltering tones, "Nothing but a serpent could have
inflicted that injury to the canoe."

"That was the meaning of the splash," replied Melton. "The huge coils
must have been thrown around it. The poor fellow had only time for one
cry when he was dragged out."

"Then the serpent must have been following us down the river," cried the
colonel. "I supposed he was dead after that bullet lodged in his neck."

"_That_ serpent is dead," said Forbes solemnly, "or I should never have
escaped from his coils. This is another serpent. The river must be the
abode of many like them."

This alarming statement was unfortunately only too likely to be true.
Sir Arthur was terribly distressed, and prophesied a speedy reappearance
of the monster and a fate similar to that of the poor savage in store
for them all.

His anxiety was shared by his companions, though not expressed as
openly, and all possible haste was made to get away from the horrible
spot.

A brief search was carried on in hopes of finding the lost provision
bags, but, with the exception of a single floating paddle, nothing was
picked up. The bags must have sunk with the lamp and oil-flask.

Nothing was seen of the other canoe--the one originally taken by the
savage--and they came to the conclusion that it had been purposely
abandoned farther up the river.

The balance of that day t