rnoon as we were listlessly lolling (half asleep, except the
look-out man) across the thwarts, we suddenly came upon a gorge between
two cliffs that we must have passed before several times unnoticed. At
a certain angle it opened, disclosing a wide sheet of water, extending a
long distance ahead. I put the helm up, and we ran through the passage,
finding it about a boat's length in width and several fathoms deep,
though overhead the cliffs nearly came together in places. Within, the
scene was very beautiful, but not more so than many similar ones we had
previously witnessed. Still, as the place was new to us, our languor was
temporarily dispelled, and we paddled along, taking in every feature of
the shores with keen eyes that let nothing escape. After we had gone
on in this placid manner for maybe an hour, we suddenly came to a
stupendous cliff--that is, for those parts--rising almost sheer from the
water for about a thousand feet. Of itself it would not have arrested
our attention, but at its base was a semicircular opening, like the
mouth of a small tunnel. This looked alluring, so I headed the boat for
it, passing through a deep channel between two reefs which led straight
to the opening. There was ample room for us to enter, as we had lowered
the mast; but just as we were passing through, a heave of the unnoticed
swell lifted us unpleasantly near the crown of this natural arch.
Beneath us, at a great depth, the bottom could be dimly discerned, the
water being of the richest blue conceivable, which the sun, striking
down through, resolved into some most marvellous colour-schemes in the
path of its rays. A delicious sense of coolness, after the fierce heat
outside, saluted us as we entered a vast hall, whose roof rose to a
minimum height of forty feet, but in places could not be seen at all.
A sort of diffused light, weak, but sufficient to reveal the general
contour of the place, existed, let in, I supposed, through some unseen
crevices in the roof or walls. At first, of course, to our eyes fresh
from the fierce glare outside, the place seemed wrapped in impenetrable
gloom, and we dared not stir lest we should run into some hidden
danger. Before many minutes, however, the gloom lightened as our pupils
enlarged, so that, although the light was faint, we could find our way
about with ease. We spoke in low tones, for the echoes were so numerous
and resonant that even a whisper gave back from those massy walls in a
series