y in and sending the fragments
showering down.

They watched him intently, seeing that he used the hammer as he used his
ice-axe, so as not to deliver an unnecessary blow.

"Think you will make a way in?" cried Dale, as the guide paused for a
few moments to wipe his brow.

"Oh yes, herr; I should have done by now, only my blows fall weakly
sitting swinging here."

"Is the spike safe? Take care."

"I shall not fall, herr," he replied. "If the spike gave way I should
have time to save myself."

He began hammering again, this time without the chisel, and using the
hammer with so much effect that they could hear the pieces of rock he
chipped off rattling down inside, till at the end of about half an hour
he ceased striking, and began raking out the bits he had broken off.

"I can get through here now, herr," he said. "I'll come down, and you
shall go first."

"No: that is your right, Saxe, as the discoverer; only be careful not to
penetrate far. There may be danger."

As they were speaking Melchior stood once more upon the edge of the
entrance, sending a shovelful or two of the broken stone clattering down
as he untied the knots in the loop, and, taking one end of the rope,
threw it over the spike, made a slip-knot, drew it tight, and then
glided down to where Dale and Saxe were standing.

"There, herr," he said; "you can hold the rope, creep along the ledge,
swing yourself across, and mount easily now."

"Shall I go first?" said the boy, looking at Dale.

"Yes, of course; but we shall be close behind you."

Saxe seized the rope, and, profiting by old experience, went up, swung
himself over on to the projection, and then easily climbed in at the
opening; saw that there was ample room for him to pass, and then he
crept forward cautiously on hands and knees, finding that the floor
sloped downward rapidly toward where all was black darkness.

He stopped short, not caring to go farther, and waited till the
agitation of the rope, which he had let go, told him that Dale was
nearly up. The next minute the figure of the latter darkened the
opening, and he too crept in.

"Well, Saxe: what has Aladdin's cave to show us?"

"Darkness," replied the boy.

"Ah, well; we shall soon dissipitate that," said Dale, as he loosed his
hold of the rope and began to prepare the lanthorn he had brought up.
"Seen any gnomes?"

"Can't see anything," replied Saxe shortly; for it seemed to him that
Dale was smiling at him.