finished a long look
at the edge of the cliff, sweeping it with his glass and wondering
whether they could reach the tableland in which the depression stood
like a chasm split in a blue, rocky desert, "Yes," he said sharply,
changing the course of his thoughts, "we must explore the other side of
this great chasm, but let's finish one side first."

He was content to let Chris take the lead, and his friends smilingly
gave way, humouring him, as they called it to themselves, Bourne
good-temperedly taking it all as a matter of course, and feeling in
nowise jealous on behalf of his own son. Wilton had on one occasion
said something about favouritism, but Bourne had only laughed.

"Oh, let the boys alone," he said, "and let them settle the supremacy
between them. That will be all right. Chris is as honest and frank as
the day. You must have seen that."

"Seen what?"

"Why, that the boy's generous at heart. He bullies Ned horribly
sometimes, and then afterwards he seems to repent and behaves like a
lamb, while Ned turns dog."

So it was that in this matter of the exploration Chris led with his
companion, and Griggs followed next, as if he were their henchman, while
the three friends came last.

The ascents were made with spirit till all stood in the chamber at the
back of which the opening led into the side of the square pit, and here,
while the doctor thoughtfully turned over and examined some of the
remains still left, Griggs lit the lanthorn he had brought, and Ned tied
one end of a hide-rope to it, ready for the lowering down, while Chris
had stepped through the hole and stood on the broad ledge at the foot of
the rough projections in the stone wall that acted as steps.

"It must have been awful," he said aloud suddenly, as he stood peering
up through the twilight at the remains of the piled-up stones at the
top.

"What must have been awful?" asked Wilton, stepping out to his side.

"Why, that fight when the Indians climbed up these steps, with the other
people raining down big stones on their heads."

"Think it was so?" said Wilton quietly.

"I feel sure of it. My word! Never mind about them being horribly
savage--how brave they must have been! Why, I felt regularly shaky at
having to get up yonder with no enemy to face."

"Yes, it's an ugly place," said Wilton; "but what about enemies down
below? Can you see anything?"

"No," said Chris, gazing down. "It's as black as black. I say, though,
if