nd Ariel, the beloved daughter of the ruler, had
been seen in full flight toward the enchanted lake in the company of
the execrated white man, Ashman. Pursuit was to be organized at once,
and, though Ziffak was to take part, yet the chosen warriors were to be
led by the king in person.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

The tunnel through which Ashman propelled the canoe containing himself
and Ariel, was more than a hundred yards in length. It was only for
the smallest distance that the craft was in darkness, when the water
began to reflect light and reveal its outlines.

A few minutes later the tunnel was passed, and they debouched into an
expansion of the enchanted lake. The second division was similar to
the other and almost as large, but its appearance was tenfold more
wonderful.

The sheet of water may be said to have been divided into two nearly
equal parts by the narrow tunnel running under the mass of rocks
described. One division was in the outer air, after the usual fashion
of lakes, while the other was wholly underground.

The interior lake was nearly circular in shape, with an arching roof
hundreds of feet high. It was surrounded by towering crags, and
volcanic masses of stone, which gave it an appearance different from
anything on which Fred Ashman had ever looked. Nothing grander,
wilder, more picturesque or romantic can be conceived. It was a scene
which an explorer could stand for hours and contemplate in rapt
admiration.

But the most amazing feature of this underground lake was the way in
which it was illuminated, so that every portion stood out in as bold
relief as if under the flaming sun of mid-day.

At the western side, the shore, as was the case in nearly all other
directions, was a mass of jagged rocks, piled upon each other in the
wildest confusion. Beyond these rocks, was a vast chasm above the
level of the lake, and extending right and left for a distance of fifty
rods. This huge chasm was one mass of crimson light, whose rays
pierced every nook and cranny on every side of the lake.

The eye gazing in that direction saw something similar to that which
greets the traveller in the far north, when viewing the play of the
aurora borealis in the horizon, or when the red sun is rising from its
ocean bed.

This enormous opening was so surcharged with light that Ashman, after
contemplating it but a minute or two, did not need to ask its source.
Beyond the area of illu