rope was not the only
gift we received. Angry at discovering that we had escaped death in our
plunge into the place, Leith poured forth a stream of blasphemy that
outdid the effort he had made when kicking Holman and me on the
afternoon the youngster had wounded him. He cursed us till the shocked
Professor dragged his two daughters away out of hearing, and there we
found the three when we had gathered up the rope and the food.

"We might as well make a try to explore the place," said Holman. "The
scoundrel says that he will not send down any more food till you accept
his proposals."

"Then we'll never get any," said Edith Herndon quietly. "I pray that God
will show us the way out of this place."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXII

THE WHITE WATERFALL

We found the rope exceedingly useful now that we had decided to explore
the place in search of a way out. It was reasonable to think that the
floor of the cavern would contain innumerable fissures into which we
might fall, and to guard against this we decided to make a life line out
of the thirty yards of manilla we had luckily obtained. Allowing about
five yards of rope between each two persons, I tied it in turn around
the waist of Holman, Barbara, the Professor, Edith, and myself, and
being thus prepared against a precipice in our path, Holman took the
lead and we followed in single file as the tightening of the rope
informed each one that the immediate leader was a safe distance in
front.

"Is there any choice of direction?" asked Holman, pausing after he had
taken half a dozen steps.

"I don't think so," I said. "Unless some one has an intuition regarding
the path to liberty."

"Please let me pick the route," murmured Edith. "I am stretching out my
arm, Mr. Holman; will you come here to me and feel the direction I am
pointing in?"

We clustered round the girl, each one feeling her outstretched arm and
then turning quickly toward the point indicated. I was glad that no one
could see my own face at that moment. It was pathetic to think of any
one choosing a route in that abyss of horror, and the trouble which the
girl took to make sure that Holman would move off in the direction she
pointed brought tears to my eyes.

"I--I might be silly in thinking it," she stammered, "but I believe--oh,
please, Mr. Holman, try and walk in the direction I pointed in!"

"I certainly will try," said the youngster. "If I go wrong, you put me
right, will you? I believe som