time these sounds ceased to be heard; the Indians no doubt
thinking that sufficient of the inflammatory matter had been cast in to
cause their complete destruction. If inside the cavern, they must by
this time be stifled--asphyxiated--dead.

So must have reasoned the red-skinned fumigators; for after a while they
desisted from their hellish task. But, as if to make assurance doubly
sure, before taking departure from the spot, they performed another act
indicative of an equally merciless intention.

During the short period of silence their victims could not tell what
they were about. They only knew, by occasional sounds reaching them
from above, that there was some change in the performance; but what it
was they could not even shape a conjecture.

The interregnum at length ended with a loud rumbling noise, that was
itself suddenly terminated by a grand crash, as if a portion of the
impending cliff had become detached, and fallen down upon the platform.

Then succeeded a silence, unbroken by the slightest sound. No longer
was heard either noise or voice--not the murmur of one.

It was a silence that resembled death; as if the vindictive savages had
one and all met a deserved doom by being crushed under the falling
cliff.

For some time after hearing this mysterious noise, which had caused the
rock to tremble around them, the two men remained motionless within
their place of concealment.

At length Wilder cautiously and deliberately pushed aside the curtain.
At first only a small portion of it--a corner, so as to make sure about
the smoke.

It still oozed in, but not so voluminously as at first. It had
evidently become attenuated, and was growing thinner. It appeared also
to be ascending with rapidity, as up the funnel of a chimney having a
good draught. For this reason it was carried past the mouth of the
grotto without much of it drifting in, and they saw that they could soon
safely withdraw the curtain. It was a welcome relaxation from the
irksome task that had been so long imposed upon them, and the coat was
at length permitted to drop down upon the ledge.

Although there were no longer any sounds heard, or other signs to
indicate the presence of the Indians, the fugitives did not feel sure of
their having gone; and it was some time before they made any attempt to
reascend the shaft. Some of the pursuers might still be lurking near,
or straying within sight. They had so far escaped death, as if by a