hall
find it is another gold city when we come to search. I'll go down."

"It is too risky, man. Suppose you slipped?"

"Ah, that would be awkward; and you'd have to go miles away to look for
the hole where I came out," said Griggs, laughing; "but I'm not going to
run any risks of that sort. I've too much liking for old Griggs, as
young Chris here calls me. Oh, it's easy enough, sir. I'll take down
one of the barrels with some of the lariats knotted together and one end
made fast round my chest. Then if I slip you can haul me up."

"I hardly like letting you go," said the doctor, speaking dubiously.

"It'll be easy enough," said the American coolly. "I'll do it."

They went back to where the mules were grazing, distributed the contents
of one barrel amongst them, and then brought the empty vessel up to the
edge of the gap, where Griggs set busily to work knotting the hide-ropes
they had with them tightly together, after which a bundle of dry
pine-boughs was lit, after being bound together with a bit of chain
attached to the end of the lariats.

The wood was soon blazing brightly, and it was then lowered down, to
keep on touching at the side of what proved to be a sharp slope, but
only to be shaken clear again and go on lighting up the sloping,
cave-like place, till as the watchers peered down they suddenly caught
sight of the reflection of the ruddy, smoky light, and upon the blazing
faggot descending another few feet after lodging once more, they could
see the rushing water tearing along, to pass right beneath where the
observers stood.

By this time the faggot was burning rapidly away, and fiery brands began
to drop, to fall with a hiss into the underground torrent, some to
become extinct on the moment, while others glided out of sight on the
surface, giving a good idea of the extent of the place.

"There," said Griggs coolly, "it's all right, you see, sir. We'll have
two ropes, one for the barrels and one for a life-line. I shall take
one of the lanthorns down with me. Say, young Chris, I hope we shan't
have made the water taste of burnt wood and turpentine."

"There's no fear of that," said the doctor; "all that water will be far
away before you reach the surface. Are you making those knots sure?"

"You may trust me, sir," said Griggs, coolly enough. "Why, what a fuss
we're making about going twenty feet down at the end of a rope. I
believe I could creep down those stones easy enough without.