you are not mistaken. I do not want to leave here or ever see my
home again unless you are with me. I shall live or die with you, for
death with you is preferable to life without you, my cherished, my own
Ariel."

The radiant countenance was illumined by a light such as only the
divine passion can impart. She did not speak, for there are some
emotions of the soul beyond the power of language.

The hunt for the diamonds had taken the lovers to a point almost
opposite the entrance. They observed what they had not noticed during
their absorbing work,--the ledge along which they advanced, steadily
ascended until it carried them to a point half-way to the top of the
mighty dome. Standing there, they could look back on the awful chasms
spread below their feet, the crimsoned walls, sparkling and
scintillating with innumerable gems, with the craggy roof seemingly
almost within their reach.

Looking over the wild, dazzling, unapproachable scene, the American was
considering the practical question of what was next to be done, when
Ariel at his side abruptly seized his arm with an intensity which
startled and caused him to ask,

"What has frightened you, dearest?"

With a gasp, she pointed to the other side of the cavern, where they
had entered this region of enchantment and wonders.

A procession of figures was moving along the ledge, over which they had
just made their way. The intervening objects shut them partly out of
sight, but the heads and shoulders of several were always in view and
they were moving with the utmost haste possible.

The foremost figure was a white man; the next was a dusky giant, and
the third was of fair complexion, while all the others were of the hue
of native Africans.

There could be no mistaking the identity of the leaders: the foremost
was Waggaman, the second, Ziffak, and the third, King Haffgo. Those
who followed were the pick of the Murhapa warriors.

It mattered not whether Ariel was right in her belief that the
existence of the cavern of diamonds was unknown to every one else, or
that some fateful good fortune had directed the party to the entrance.
It was enough that they had found it, and were now pressing forward
along the very ridge on which they had halted, and stood gazing back in
amazement and horror, unable for the moment to divine what could be
done to help themselves.

But Ashman needed but a few seconds to decide his course. He held his
Winchester and revolver an