"Very well ... seeing that you have set the example."
When he joined Marta, he found that the grotto was quite large and had a sandy floor.
"Oh, I didn't suppose it was so large and comfortable!"
"Good; now follow me."
"Where?"
"How inquisitive you are!... You shall see, man, you shall see for yourself."
She entered further into the cave, which kept growing darker and darker, and Ricardo followed, not taking his eyes from her for fear she should fall or stumble upon some obstacle. After some little time the girl's silhouette vanished in the gloomy depths of the cavern, and Ricardo found himself in real darkness.
"Don't be worried; follow me, and nothing will happen to you. I will be talking all the time, so you can walk in the direction of my voice.... If you want me to give you my hand, I will.... No?... very well, but don't fall far behind.... In a very short time you will begin to descend, but it is a gentle slope.... Do you see?... Don't grumble against the footing.... Still, if one should fall, it would not do much harm.... We shall be in the light soon.... Be careful; turn to the right, for the path here makes a bend.... There, we have light at last!"
A luminous point was, in fact, visible below our young friend's feet a hundred yards distant. Marta's silhouette again emerged from the darkness and stood out against the niggardly light which entered through the aperture.
A long, dull murmur was audible in the cave, hinting at the proximity of the ocean. In a few moments they came out into the light.