dvance of the
monster. Fortunately the spears and axes were of hard iron and fitted
with strong handles which the long storage in the cavern seemed to have
toughened.

Meanwhile the air echoed with the Greek's loud cries, but at that moment
none thought of Sir Arthur or of the canoe, for the serpent was within
half a dozen yards of the island and his great body was undulating
through the water for thirty feet behind him.

"Keep cool," said Chutney. "Aim well for the head and make every stroke
tell."

The sight of the glaring eyes and the blood-red fangs was enough to
appall the stoutest heart. They shrank back in uncontrollable fear, as
the long neck rose four feet in air and the body sank under the water.

The monster uttered an angry hiss, but before he could spring Forbes
cast a spear with all his might and the sharp point pierced the
serpent's body a foot below the head.

"Back for your lives," he cried, and as they darted up the island the
monster uttered a fearful sound, part hiss, part bellow, and flung half
his length in contortions on the sand.

Guy sprang forward and launched another spear that entered the slimy
body near the center, but neither wound was mortal and the great serpent
came on unchecked.

In one respect they had the advantage of him, as Guy accidentally
discovered, for the wicked eyes blinked in the torchlight and the
monster's actions showed that his powers of sight were limited to
darkness.

He was wonderfully quick and agile, however, for a sudden convulsive
leap carried him almost to the feet of his antagonists, and again they
scattered in alarm.

The serpent's whole body was now on shore, with the exception of the
tail, which was lashing the water to a milky foam.

Seizing another spear Guy circled to one side, and boldly approaching
the trembling coils, with one terrific blow he planted his weapon into
the serpent's body so deeply that the spear pinned the monster firmly to
the ground.

A cry of horror burst from his companions as the huge head swung round
with awful quickness, but it missed Guy by barely an inch as he sprang
aside.

The serpent's contortions were now frightful to see, as he squirmed and
twisted to tear loose from the weapon. "Now let him have it," cried Guy;
and in an instant the remaining spears, half a dozen in number, were
driven deeply into the venomous coils.

The struggle was now at its crisis. With axes in hand they were dodging
about the writhin