With some difficulty Guy lit a fresh torch, and its light revealed a strange condition of things. No shore was visible on either side, and overhead was empty space instead of the low lying roof that always met their gaze. "We are no longer moving," cried the colonel in astonishment. "Impossible!" exclaimed Guy, but on putting his hand in the water all doubt was instantly removed. The canoe was stationary. They paddled on to the right, to the left, in every direction, but the dark water lay calm and sluggish on all sides. "We are on a lake," said Guy. "There is no doubt of it; a vast underground lake." "There must be an outlet on the other side, though," replied Melton. "All we need do is to paddle across and find it." "But which is the proper side?" said Canaris. "Are we headed straight now?" "By Jove, I don't believe we are," replied Guy. "I'm afraid we are completely mixed up. We will paddle until we reach the shore, and then follow it till we come to the outlet." "Yes, that will do very well," said the colonel. "The lake cannot be so very large. I wish we had time to complete a survey of it. I should like to make a report to the Royal Geographical Society." "I wish the honorable members of the R. G. S. could change places with us," said Sir Arthur, with a groan. "I have no doubt some of those lunatics would enjoy this beastly hole. There is no accounting for taste, Carrington." The colonel made no reply. He was keeping stroke with Chutney's paddle, sharing with him the outlook ahead. The minutes passed on, but still no signs of any shore. "It's a pretty fair-sized lake after all," said Guy. "And we are the first white men to navigate its waters," remarked the colonel solemnly. "This is a wonderful discovery. Our fame as great explorers will be assured if we ever get back to England." "Land ahead!" shouted Guy suddenly, and snatching the torch from Sir Arthur, he stood erect as the canoe shot gently toward a dim object that rose from the gloom twenty yards distant. Amid breathless silence the keel nicked the sandy beach and Guy sprang out. One brief second he held the flaming torch aloft. Then he turned and tottered with trembling limbs towards the canoe. He tried to speak, but no words came, and his face was pallid and horror-stricken. CHAPTER XXVI. THE ISLE OF SKELETONS. Believing that some terrible danger threatened, Forbes was in readiness to push the canoe back into the lake, but Guy stopped him with a wave of the hand. "I'll be all right in a moment. My nerves went back on me; that's all." He glanced toward the shore with a shudder, and then filled the palm of his hand with water and drank it. "Come on," he said bravely; "don't be alarmed. It's nothing that can harm us." His companions followed him timidly up the sandy slope. The torch threw a bright light on the scene, and every one of them shuddered as Guy stopped and pointed before him.