re far below.

"Quick's the word!" said the young man to himself, and stepping boldly
in he seized hold of the serpent's tail with both hands, and at his
touch galvanised it into life, for it gave a violent jerk, which dragged
him off his feet. At the same moment, the loose blocks of stone beneath
him gave way, and to the horror of his companions, there was a rustling
sound as of an avalanche being set in motion, Oliver uttered a loud cry
as he disappeared; then came a hollow booming roar, a whispering echo,
and all was still.

CHAPTER FIVE.

LANE'S ESCAPE.

"Lane!" shouted Panton, hurrying forward toward where his friend had
disappeared.

"Mind! take care!" yelled Drew. "Here, you Smith, run back to the ship
for ropes and help."

"And leave him like that, sir?" cried the sailor. "Not me; I'm a-going
after him, that's my job now."

The man stepped quickly forward to where Panton had paused, holding on
by a mass of lava, and peering into the huge rift.

"Hold on a moment, sir," cried the man, who had now set aside his dread
of the serpents, and placing his hand to his mouth, he sent forth a
tremendous "Mr Lane, ahoy!"

His voice echoed right away into the depths, and set some fragments of
stone falling with a low whispering sound but there was no reply.

"Mind!" cried Panton, excitedly, and seizing the sailor's arm, he jerked
him away so roughly, that the man caught his heel and fell backwards
over and over among the stones and creeping growth at the mouth of the
rift, while Panton himself beat a rapid retreat.

"I see him," grumbled Smith, "but I warn't going to him now," and he
rose to his knees, as the wounded serpent so rudely seized by Oliver
Lane glided by him, hissing loudly; "I say, never mind that thing now,
gents. Come and help Mr Lane."

A couple of reports came close upon his words, for Drew had fired at the
escaping serpent, which now writhed in amongst the bushes, evidently in
its death throes.

"Why, here's t'other bit under me," said Smith, as he rose to his feet
and looked down at where, half hidden, the other serpent had crawled
back to its lair to die. In fact the man had fallen upon it, and its
soft body had saved him from a severe contusion.

But somehow the horror of the reptile was gone in one far greater, and,
trembling with eager excitement, Smith began to make his way cautiously
inward again, stepping carefully on till a stone gave way, and fell
rattling down what was