is what I thought," said Oliver, "but would it be possible to go
on?"

"What, past the falls? Impossible."

"It's that or death," said Oliver, sternly.--"Yes? What is it?"

"I says, would you like me to show 'em the way now, sir?" yelled Wriggs
in his ear, for he had edged up unseen.

"What, down there, man?" said Oliver, with a shudder, as he looked over
into the darkness. "Impossible."

"Which it aren't, sir, for I've done it."

The burning pieces of wood increased in number now, lighting up the huge
cavern weirdly, and the blacks were not a hundred yards away, and
approaching cautiously.

"What do you say, Panton--fight or run that horrible risk and retreat?"

"I'd say fight," replied Panton, with a shudder, "but we should not beat
them off. They'd never dare to follow here. Let's try it. Wriggs got
through, why should not we?"

"Yes, go on," cried Oliver. "You cannot talk to the men, and it's as
well they do not know the danger. Lead on, Wriggs, and Heaven help us
all."

It was as he said, no one but Smith fully realised what the dangers
were, and though they were staggered by the noise and horrors around
them, the men knew that there was a way through, and, following their
comrade's example, they lowered themselves down over the edge of the
rock and dropped, the stream seeming less repellent than the ferocious
enemy.

One by one they dropped down, disappearing directly as if suddenly
snatched away, till only Smith was left with the three friends, and his
action was suggestive, for he held out his hand to each in turn, shook
that placed within it, and then, grasping his gun, lowered himself over
the edge.

The blacks were very near as Drew followed the man's example, and then
Panton shook hands with Oliver.

"Good-bye, or _au revoir_," he cried, and turning, he jumped boldly
forward into the darkness.

A loud yell arose now, for the lights showed Oliver standing on the
brink, and, lowering their spears, a dozen savages rushed at him, but he
stepped off the rock edge, descended quickly for some distance, and then
plunged into the rushing water, which seemed to rise at him, seize him,
and bear him along at a rapidly increasing rate, but with his head above
the surface, and the echoing roar of falling waters striking his ears
with stunning violence. Then he felt himself suddenly shot out as it
were into space, suffocated by the rushing torrent, which poured down
upon him, and faint, bewilde