ted our Indians not
to forsake him, but to guide him out of the place. We therefore took
compassion upon his state of mind, and allowed the Indian to guide
him out; but as soon as the latter returned, and having ascertained
during his absence that neither the rocky fragment nor the column had
stirred, but which had been the momentary cause of our alarm, we put
our project into execution, and like serpents, one after the other,
we crawled into the dangerous opening, which was scarcely large enough
for our passing through. We soon ceased thinking of our past dangers,
nor did our present imprudence much pre-occupy our minds, all our
attention being entirely absorbed by what presented itself to our
ravished eyes. Here we were in the midst of a saloon wearing a most
fairy aspect, and, by the light of our torches, the vault, the floor,
and the wall were shining and dazzling, as if they had been covered
over with the most admirably transparent rock-crystal. Even in some
places did the hand of man seem to have presided over the ornamenting
of this enchanted palace. Numberless stalactites and stalagmites, as
pellucid as the limpid stream that has just been seized by the frost,
assumed here and there the most fantastic forms and shapes--they
represented brilliant draperies, rows of columns, lustres, and
chandeliers. At one end, close to the wall, was to be seen an altar,
with steps leading up to it, and which seemed to be in expectation
of the priest to celebrate divine service. It would be impossible
for my pen to describe everything that transported us with joy, and
drew forth our admiration; we really imagined ourselves to be in one
of the Arabian Nights' palaces, and the Indians themselves were far
from guessing the one-half of the wonders we had just discovered.

Having left this dazzling palace, we continued our underground ramble,
penetrating more and more into the bowels of the earth, following
step by step a winding labyrinth, but which for a whole half-league
offered nothing remarkable to our view, except now and then the
sight of the very great dangers our undauntable curiosity urged us
on to. In certain parts the vault no longer presented the aspect
of being as solid as stone, earth alone seemed to be its component
parts; and here and there, recent proofs of falling-in showed us that
still more considerable ones might take place, and cut off from us
all means of retreat. Nevertheless we pushed on still, far beyond
ou