"This is a fortunate discovery," said Guy. "With these and the lamps we may have sufficient light to last out our trip." "Yes; that removes the last obstacle," rejoined Forbes; "and now I propose that we take some refreshment. We have eaten nothing for nearly two days." This was true. The excitement had almost banished hunger from their thoughts, but Melton's words roused their dormant appetites, and, sitting down beside the canoes, they made a hearty meal and washed it down with water from the river, which was quite fresh and cold. "Well," said Guy, when they had all finished and the provisions were tied up and put aside, "it will do us no good to remain here any longer. The river, as you all know, is our only salvation, and the sooner we start on our cruise the better. The natives who once dwelt here are reported to have made journeys down this stream in boats. Is it not so, Canaris?" "Yes," replied the Greek. "I have heard from the Arabs at Harar that it was their annual custom to go down to the coast in large rafts or boats with trading goods, and then return by land." "But where does this underground river empty?" asked the colonel. "Does anyone know?" "It is supposed to reach the Juba," replied Guy, "but whether near the mouth of that river or not I cannot say." "Ah! but that is a very important thing," said the colonel. "I possess some acquaintance with the geography of this part of Africa. Are you aware that the river Juba is nearly eight hundred miles in length? Its source, which as yet remains undiscovered, lies only a hundred miles or more to our west, and it flows to the southeast. This stream before us appears to head in a southwesterly direction as near as I can judge. It is possible then that it joins the river Juba at a distance less than two hundred miles from here. In that event our journey does not appear so formidable." "Pardon me, sir," said Canaris quickly, "but from what I have been able to learn this river reaches the Juba at a point, I have heard stated, midway between Bardera and the coast." "Bardera!" cried the colonel sharply. "Why, Bardera is only two hundred miles from the sea. According to that, we have a journey before us of nearly eight hundred miles--a journey underground and on unknown waters. Who can tell what dangers lie before us?" "We will never get out alive," groaned Sir Arthur. "Never in the world, Carrington. What a blawsted idiot I was to let the government send me to that beastly hole!" "And is it impossible to escape by land?" asked the colonel, unheeding this interruption. "You forget that we have destroyed our only communication with the outer world," ventured Forbes. "The river is our sole hope." "Yes, I had forgotten it, it is true," replied the colonel.