hest
abundance. Lance accordingly began to look around him for indications
of the direction in which he ought to search.

About ten feet up the face of the rock-wall he saw what appeared to be a
fissure in the stone; and, thinking it possible that an examination of
this fissure might aid him, he, with some difficulty managed to scramble
up to it. When he reached the spot he found, however, instead of a mere
fissure or crack in the rock, as he had imagined, a wide projecting
shoulder of the reef which artfully masked a low narrow recess.
Penetrating into this recess, Lance found that, after he had proceeded
two or three yards, the walls widened out, and the whole place had the
appearance of being the entrance to a subterranean cavern.

Thinking that, if such were indeed the case, the discovery might prove
of great value, as affording the party a perfectly secure place of
refuge in case of necessity, he emerged once more, and, discovering from
his more elevated stand-point an easy means of descent, hastened down to
Blanche, and, informing her of his discovery, requested her to sit down
and rest whilst he completed his explorations. He then looked about him
for something to serve the purpose of a torch, and at length found a
fragment of dry wood, which on being ignited promised to burn steadily
enough for his purpose. Armed with this he was about to reascend the
face of the rock when Blanche begged that she might be allowed to
accompany him, as she was sure she would feel lonely sitting out there
by herself. Lance accordingly gave her his hand, and without any very
great difficulty managed to get her safely up on the narrow platform in
front of the opening.

Relighting his torch, which he had extinguished after satisfying himself
that it would burn properly, Lance led the way into the cleft; holding
his brand well before him and as high as possible, and giving his
disengaged hand to Blanche, who suffered from the disadvantage of being
in total darkness, her lover's bulky form almost entirely filling up the
narrow passage they were traversing, and completely eclipsing the light.
Soon, however, they found the walls receding from them on either side,
the roof rising at the same time; and when they had penetrated some
fifty or sixty yards they were able to walk side by side. It was a
curious place in which they found themselves. The rocky walls, which
met overhead like an arch, were composed entirely of auriferous qua