unded by all the luxuries of life. On the other hand,
when exposed to evil smelling odors, they dreamed of miseries, and of
trouble and disgrace.

It was understood that the different expeditions were to report at the
camp at midday, and that in the event of any accident, or other mishap,
the firing of the guns would be sufficient warning to the party at the
camp and to those who were searching.

George had with him two of his own "boys," and two of the natives, and
Harry was also accompanied by several of his particular favorites.
Harry, with his party, was the energetic one, as he was exceedingly wiry
and a good walker. He did not intend to permit the others to encroach on
any of his territory.

Not a vestige of anything was found which even so much as pointed to a
cave or to the sign of human occupancy in that section. George, on the
other hand, was more fortunate. In his area the shelving rocks were
more numerous, and he also knew that the rocks were limestone, and that
caves were more likely to exist in limestone formation than in trap
rock, or either in granite or sandstone formations.

He was, therefore, fully prepared, when, in the early part of his
investigation, to find, what appeared to be entrances, but in all cases
they were blind leads,--that is they led in for short distances only,
many of them being mere cleavages of the rocks.

The real cave is the one where the limestone is eaten out by the erosive
action of the water attacking the calcium of the rock. Furthermore, he
felt that he must go down nearer sea level to be assured of success, and
he acted on that impulse.

CHAPTER XIV

A WHITE PARALYTIC IN THE CONVICT COLONY

It would be useless to recount the experiences of all of the parties.
They had four hours of search before them. This would, at least, give
some idea as to the nature of the mountain, and enable John to decide
whether it would be wise to give that project further consideration.

At midday the parties began to appear, first Harry, then Sutoto,
followed by John, and finally George. The latter was the only one who
was smiling. The three early parties had no news to impart.

"What have you found?" were the hailing words of George, as he
approached.

"Nothing! nothing!" were the answers.

"It takes me to bring home the goods," he remarked, and Harry laughed in
derision.

"No; but I mean it," he continued. "I have captured a modern, good-sized
cave, and it is now await