r, perseverance overcame all difficulties,
and we cut a narrow path through the thick belt which surrounded the
mountain. We then found ourselves beneath a lofty cliff, which, we
concluded, formed one side of the lake, and circling round it, we
reached what we at once guessed was the lower lake, where the cliffs
were of less height and far more broken. Emily and Grace sat down on
the top, while the rest of us began to make a path by which we might
descend to the level of the water. It was not a very easy task.
Sometimes Dick Tarbox, who led the way, had to be lowered down by a rope
to a ledge below us, cutting away the shrubs which impeded his progress,
leaving only certain stumps in the rock which would assist those who
followed. In some places he had to clear away the grass and earth to
allow of a firm footing; in others, he drove in pieces of bamboo, to
serve as supports to the hands or feet in our descent. At last he
reached the beach, and we all eagerly followed him. The lower lake was
very curious and beautiful, but we had an idea, from the glimpse we had
had of the inner one, that that was still more so.

"The young ladies would be disappointed at not seeing this!" exclaimed
Oliver; "and I am sure that they would be able to come down. May I go
up and fetch them?"

"We must go and lend them a hand, though," said Dick Tarbox, beginning
to ascend.

I also went, while the rest of the party proceeded some way along the
beach towards the upper lake. We found the ascent far more easy than we
expected--indeed, it seemed as if the girls would have no great
difficulty in coming down. As we neared the top we heard them cry out,
and saw them standing by in an attitude of terror, looking towards the
jungle on the outer side of the lake.

"Oh, come, come!" exclaimed Emily. "We saw a savage just now peering
among the trees! There he is! there he is! even now looking at us!"

We hurried to their side. "Savage he is, miss," said Dick Tarbox; "but
he is not a human savage, I think. He is one of those big man-apes I
have heard tell of, though I never yet set eyes on one. I don't think,
however, he will venture up to where we are."

I looked in the direction the girls were pointing, and there I saw a
large orang-outan some fifty feet below us. He kept dauntlessly gazing
up at us, as if doubting whether he should venture to approach. He was
a big hairy monster, with a black coat and a light-coloured face, with