ubstance, and in another
minute had shot, like an arrow from a bow, through a rift barely wide
enough to afford her passage.

As her stupefied crew slowly realised that a reprieve from death had
been granted at the last moment, they also became aware that they were
in a place of absolute darkness, and, save for the muffled outside roar
of furious seas, of absolute quiet. At the same time they were so
exhausted after their recent prolonged struggle that they found barely
strength to get overboard an anchor. Then, careless of everything
else, they tumbled into their bunks for the rest and sleep they so
sadly needed.

When they next awoke it was broad daylight, and their first move was to
hasten on deck for a view of their surroundings. Their craft lay as
motionless as a painted ship, in the middle of a placid pool black as a
highland tarn. In no place was it more than a pistol shot in width,
and it was enclosed by precipitous cliffs that towered hundreds of feet
above her. The schooner could not have been more happily located by
one possessed of an absolute knowledge of the coast under the most
favourable conditions, and that she should have come there as she had
was nothing short of a miracle.

Filled with thankfulness for their marvellous escape the lads gazed
about them curious to discover by what means they had gained this haven
of refuge. On three sides they could see only the grim fronts of
inaccessible cliffs. On the fourth was a strip of beach and a cleft
through which poured a plume-like waterfall white as a wreath of driven
snow.

"Did we come in that way?" asked Cabot, pointing to this torrent of
silver spray.

"I suppose we must have," rejoined White soberly; "for I can't see any
other opening, and it certainly felt last night as though we were
sailing over the brink of a dozen waterfalls. But let's get breakfast,
for I'm as hungry as a wolf. Then there'll be time enough to find out
how we got in here, as well as how we are to get out again."

After a hearty meal they got the dinghy overboard and started on a tour
of exploration. First they visited the beach and found a rude pathway
leading up beside the waterfall that promised exit from the basin to an
active climber.

"In spite of all the wonderful happenings of last night I don't believe
we came in that way," said Cabot.

"No," laughed White, "the old 'Bee's' wings aren't quite strong enough
for that yet, though there's no saying what s