proceeded they passed groups of
stalagmitic cones of all shapes and sizes. Some like the smallest
icicles, others rising six feet in height from the ground, as thick as a
human figure, the whole shining and glittering as the light of the
torches fell upon them, and standing out in bold relief against the dark
background formed by the brown wall of the cavern.

Returning to the central hall, they made their way up the eastern
branch, which is much larger than the one they had just visited, the
main stream flowing through it. As they pulled up, the increasing roar
of waters announced a large waterfall. They found that enormous masses
of stone, falling from the roof, had narrowed the bed of the river to
about fifteen feet, over which the water shot in a broad sheet, fully
ten feet in height. The effect as it rushed over the jet-black rocks,
casting up flakes of milky white foam, when illuminated by the torches,
was very beautiful.

Having hauled up the boat over the rugged mound, they again embarked,
encountering a couple of reefs. They then proceeded on between steep
walls with a free navigation, for upwards of four miles. In many places
the roof was adorned with draperies formed of snow-white stalactites,
but generally the black walls alone appeared. In some parts the roof
descended so low that they were compelled to lie down, and shove the
boat along by holding to the roof above their heads, until at length
they found that they could proceed no further.

Of the world beneath the surface some of the most beautiful scenes are
presented by the ice-caves of France and Switzerland. One of the most
curious is the glaciere "Grace Dieu," near Besancon. In the centre of
the cave rose three stalagmites of ice. The central mass was 66.5 feet
in circumference. Some distance above the ice-floor on the right was a
small fir-tree, which had been fixed in the ground, and had become
completely covered so that the tree itself had disappeared, its crystal
incrustation showing every elegance of variety in form. From each twig
of the different boughs, complicated groups of icicles streamed down.
The mass to the left, however, was the grandest and most beautiful. It
consisted of two vast heads, with several others of less height
resembling a group of lions' heads bending down, richly decked with icy
manes, huge masses measuring 76.5 feet in circumference. On looking at
this column from the side opposite the entrance to the c