stream that scarcely an echo
of its noise assailed our ears even in the silence of the night, when
suddenly we came to the end of our path. The rocky shelf was so narrow
the very conception of turning about smote me with terror. Directly in
front, extending to the very edge, stretched a solid wall of rock. My
eyes sank to the shelf on which I stood. Lying close against the sheer
cliff was the root of a tree, its trunk, perhaps a foot or more in
diameter, stretching over the abyss, whose depth I durst not guess. I
stooped cautiously, my heart throbbing, and ran my fingers along the
bark.

"Oak," I announced soberly, "and feels solid and strong. No doubt
those Indians must cross here, but it is a bridge to rack the nerves."

"Will you adventure the passage?" questioned Cairnes, striving to peer
across my shoulder. "As for me I would rather attempt the Red Sea."

"Odds, man, the choice is not given. 'T is either turn and go back, or
foot the tree; of the two the attempt at turning would addle me worse."

I leaned out over the edge as far as I dared, clinging desperately to
the root, and gazed down. It was like peering into the mouth of a
great well. Then I nerved myself for the ordeal, and the next moment
was fairly launched over the abyss, hanging on grimly to the log, my
brain reeling as if with drunkenness. Yet I kept moving inch by inch,
for there was now no stopping, and soon felt solid rock once more
beneath my groping feet. With prayer on lips I crouched, sick and
dizzy, close in against the wall, watching Cairnes where he followed
along the same perilous path.

CHAPTER XXXII

CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN

The rock shelf we followed became gradually somewhat wider, so I moved
forward with greater freedom. The path continued to ascend, winding
unevenly along the precipitous face of the cliff, until we must have
climbed nearly to the summit of the mighty bluff. But the overhanging
crest rendered it impossible for us to do more than guess the
situation. We were but ants clinging to a wall and unable to see more
than a few yards ahead. Finally we attained a point where the cliff
bulged outward in a wide curve, not unlike the rounded bow of a ship,
and were compelled to move with renewed caution along the narrowed
shelf, which was seemingly unsupported. Creeping fearfully forward on
hands and knees around the sharp corner I found myself before the
yawning entrance to a cavern. I realized that