rd. The professor prepared an
elaborate address in pure Greek, and when the visitor entered the
class-room he delivered it in the most eloquent manner.

"'What's that fool talking about?' asked the visitor.

"'Oh,' says young Ormsby, who was sitting near me, 'he's lecturing the
class on 'Political Economy in Ancient Athens.' He'll be through in a
moment and able to receive you.'

"The visitor left the room highly insulted, and the professor, when he
discovered the truth a day or two later, nearly took apoplexy."

As the laughter that greeted this little reminiscence of Sir Arthur's
ceased, Canaris finished his conversation with Bildad.

"It is difficult to converse with him," he reported, "but from what I
can learn he dived from the very embrace of the serpent, and succeeded
in swimming to the other canoe, which he had turned adrift only a
moment or two before. Without paddles or food he floated behind us into
the lake."

"It's a miracle that he escaped the serpents," said the colonel,
"floating about on the lake all the time."

"But how did he know anything about the entrance to the river?"
exclaimed Guy. "Did you ask him that, Canaris?"

"Yes," said the Greek. "He says he discovered it himself a year or two
ago just as the old Englishman must have done."

"Well, it's a lucky thing for Bildad that he ran across us," was Guy's
comment; and Bildad, to judge from his contented expression, seemed
thoroughly to appreciate this fact.

As the river continued swift and smooth, with no signs of danger ahead,
all went to sleep except Canaris and the colonel, who were intrusted
with the care of the raft. Several hours later they were relieved by
Chutney and Forbes, and thus all secured a fair night's rest.

A scanty share of food was doled out for breakfast, as the supply was
getting very low. Some time afterward a faint roar was heard in the
distance, and almost before they could prepare for danger a violent
cross current struck the raft, tossing it about most perilously, and
they caught a glimpse of a furious body of water issuing from a narrow
passageway.

"That was the other channel, the one we should have taken in the first
place," exclaimed Guy. "We are now on the main river again."

"They travel separately for quite a distance," remarked the colonel.
"The lake must be seventy or eighty miles in our rear. We are making
splendid time."

Little did they imagine at that moment how great a change was close at