e a rope
ladder more than fifty feet in length. Lowering it into the
shaft, it seemed to reach to the bottom and Billie started to go
down, but Strong prevented him.

"I shall go first," he said. "If there is any danger from
poisonous gas, or from reptiles, I shall take the risk. You boys
have parents and homes. I have no one. If I should suffer any
mishap, do not attempt to rescue me. It would not be worth
while."

"Nothing will happen," declared Adrian. "I have a hunch and my
hunches are usually right."

The rope having been properly fastened and warded off the side by
an ingenious arrangement of several large rocks, Strong began his
descent. In his left hand he carried a flaming torch and Donald
leaned over the edge, looking down, with rifle sighted, to fire
upon any reptile which might be brought to light by the torch's
ruddy glare.

Step by step Strong went down, stopping every now and then to
hold his torch below him, if perchance it might come into contact
with fire damp or any other noxious gas.

He had descended at least three-fourths of the way, when, as he
swung his torch below, he uttered a cry that was almost a shriek
and the torch fell from his hand.

At the same instant Donald gave vent to a loud exclamation and
his rifle cracked.

"Hold on," he cried as he arose from the ground, "as you value
your life, don't lose your hold."

"What is it?" asked the others in one voice.

"Snakes! Dozens of them," replied Donald. "Climb up, Strong, as
fast as you can."

"All right," came a feeble reply, followed almost immediately by
a louder call of "Help!"

"Hold fast," called Donald. "I'm coming."

But before he could turn to step down the ladder, a chattering
figure sprang past him and shot down the rope.

It was the ape. He had heard his master's call and had gone to
his assistance.

A moment later came a joyful cry that told as plainly as words
that Ambrosio had reached his master in time.

"Are you all right now?" called Donald.

"Yes. I'll be up in a minute. Good old boy," the last remark
evidently addressed to the ape.

When Strong's head appeared above the edge of the shaft a couple
of minutes later he was as pale as a ghost and when he at length
came into the full light of the torches, it was seen that his
hair was as white as snow. The fright had completely changed its
color.

"Let's get out of here," he gasped as soon as he was helped to
his feet. "I wouldn't go down into that pl