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The colonel and Forbes faced Guy calmly. Canaris looked up with a shudder and then dropped his head again. Sir Arthur lay among the rugs as though asleep. At that instant the canoe struck some obstacle with a slight tremor and stopped. The colonel with a slight gesture pointed to the right, and there before them lay the Isle of Skeletons.
For a full minute the two noble beasts stood like bits of statuary, not a muscle quivering, their tails slowly waving to and fro. Then with a couple of bounds they vanished in the high grass. "The siege is raised," exclaimed Guy, breathing a low sigh of relief. "Hush," replied Canaris, "not a sound, not a whisper for your lives. Down, down, crouch low; throw yourselves flat!"
At last the Greek said quietly: "You are truly unfortunate. Tell me how you came here. I know that Zaila has fallen into the possession of Rao Khan's emissaries. I know nothing else." Guy briefly told the tale, and Canaris listened quietly. "Fools!" he said. "The English will be in Zaila again in a month." "And you?" rejoined Guy. "What brought you to Harar?"
The Greek's right hand shot out from his bosom clasping some glittering object. It struck the astonished guard on the forehead with a sharp click that echoed across the courtyard, and without a sound he dropped on his knees and then rolled over on the stone pavement. Canaris waved his hand, and then the two captives dashed breathlessly across the courtyard.
With their eyes glued against the cracks of the door Guy and Melton waited in terrible suspense. A short conversation ensued. Canaris turned and pointed toward the prison. The guard replied with many gestures, and finally in his eagerness placed his rifle against the wall. What followed was so swift and dexterous that it seemed like a dream.
The fellow uttered one cry, and then, as his head struck the edge of the door in falling his struggles lessened, and with no trouble at all he was gagged and bound. Canaris tore the ammunition from their belts, handed Guy and Melton their rifles, and then, blowing out the lamp, he pushed them into the corridor and bolted the door. "Two heads will be off in the morning," he remarked grimly.
The leader refused to act without the sanction of Oko Sam, and a delay would be fatal. "Insist on it," whispered Canaris hurriedly; "it is our only chance." "Tell your master we cannot wait," replied Guy, in well feigned anger. "Every moment is precious, and we must hasten back to Makar Makalo.
The wisdom of the route chosen by Canaris was now apparent, for this labyrinth of paths, which wove an intricate network through the stalls, offered just the opportunity they wanted; and, following the Greek's guidance, they twisted in and out in a tortuous line that gradually brought them toward the opposite side of the market.
Guy and Canaris remained calm and motionless on their camels, haughtily scanning the sea of threatening black faces that hemmed them in on all sides. Their only ground for hope rested in the fear which Makar Makalo, by his summary dealings with these tribes, had inspired in them.
Suddenly Melton rose on one elbow and cried excitedly: "Go, go, I tell you." Guy shook his head. "No," he said decidedly. "I shall remain." "You are throwing your lives away," said Melton bitterly. "Here, help me up. I will make another effort." In an instant Guy and Canaris had gladly pulled him to his feet, and off they went again as rapidly as possible. All was quiet around them.
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