we saw a wide
stream flowing between lava walls, the lofty top of these meeting far
above our heads, and supporting long crystal prisms of a yellowish hue,
which hung down in thousands.

The woman who was appointed to guide us pointed to where the native boat
had been placed, and into it we leapt, eager to see the treasure taken
from the lost galleon. Although there were two pairs of oars of peeled
wood ready to hand, we had no occasion to use them, for the underground
river carried us along with its steady current. We each held aloft a
blazing torch, which the female warrior had thrust into our hands before
she took her seat in the prow of the boat, where she sat facing us.

For more than an hour we passed on, watching the shifting lights of that
wonderful scene, and the grey mist that stole upwards from the hot
spring down which our little craft was floating fast.

At last we saw several narrow channels into which the stream was divided
by its rocky bed, and down one of these we passed in devious turns until
our new-found guide rose again in the boat and pointed to a jagged
fissure which faced us. Denviers seized a pair of the rude oars and
pulled the boat towards it, then leaping out he secured our frail
conveyance, after which the woman handed to him a fresh torch, and we
all advanced into the cave before us, vaguely wondering what treasure
would be revealed to us.

All doubts as to the truth of the wreck of the richly-laden galleon off
the coast about which Hassan had told us vanished as soon as ever we
entered there. The various things which had formed the cargo of the
vessel lay strewed in confused heaps about us. There were wedges of gold
and bars of silver, discoloured by the fumes from the crater and the
mists from the hot stream, while Spanish muskets, strange-looking
pistols, and swords with richly-chased handles, and rust-incrusted
barrels and blades lay about in piles. Among these weapons I observed a
pair of pistols with gems studding their handles, and thrust them into
my sash, besides a splendid sword, which proved very serviceable when
polished up, especially as my own defensive arms had been taken away.

Hassan and Denviers followed my example, and then the latter remarked:--

"We may as well make the most of Wimpai's permission to enrich
ourselves," and he raised several wedges of gold, which he proceeded to
carry towards the entrance of the cave. Hassan and I assisted to load
the boat, then we