er.

"That I can't say," replied Oliver; "deep enough if you could look
straight down. Here, Smith, let's have the ladder. Will it reach?"

The two men came up with the light ladder and pushed it across to find
that it was long enough to act as a bridge with a couple of feet to
spare.

"But it looks too risky," said Drew, while the two sailors glanced at
each other and scratched their heads as they wondered whether one of
them would be sent forward to try the ladder's strength.

"Yes, it looks risky," said Oliver, coolly, "but we have to do it."

"No, no," said Panton warmly, "it is too bad. I was disposed to chaff
you, Lane, because you threw the hatchet a little about your adventures.
It would be madness to cross that horrible rift."

"Hear, hear," said Smith, in an undertone.

"As aforesaid," said Wriggs.

"We're going across there," said Lane, coolly. "It's the nearest way up
and only needs care."

"But, oh! poof!" exclaimed Drew, "you can smell a horrible reek coming
up."

"Yes, that's what we keep getting puffs of as we climb. Give me the end
of that coil of line, Smith."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Will it bear me?"

"Half a dozen o' your sort, sir. It's quite noo."

"Good," said Oliver, securing the end tightly about his chest.

"Then you're going to venture?" said Panton.

"Of course, and you're all coming, too. But you'll hold the line and if
the ladder breaks or I slip off, you'll hang on and drag me out?"

"Of course. But--"

"Never mind the buts," said Oliver, smiling, and just then, piqued by
his companion's banter, he would have crossed had the danger been far
greater.

"I say," cried Drew, "won't the sides crumble in from under the ladder?"

"Not likely," said Oliver, coolly; "there's a little ash at the edges,
but just below it is solid lava rock."

"Yes, that's so; and this is a huge crack formed in the cooling," said
Panton.

"Ready!" cried Oliver. "Hold the rope so that there is no drag upon me,
but be ready to tighten."

No one spoke, and Oliver walked to the ladder, placed one foot upon a
round, leaned forward, and looked down.

"You can see here," he said, without turning his head, "it goes down
till all is black darkness. Now then, let the rope slide through your
finger. Ready?"

"Yes, all right."

Then, to the horror of all, instead of going down upon hands and knees,
and crawling across, Oliver stepped boldly on upright from round to
round, till he reached t