“Why, you don’t believe it, do you, old fellow? Has the beautiful queen told you the same thing?”
“She did tell me the same story, and I am not prepared to say whether I believe it or not.”
At this juncture their conductors signified that they were going to leave the pool in the strangely lighted cavern, and the conversation ended for the time.
“We will now show you the devil’s kingdom, which is one of the most wonderful sights to be seen in this land,” observed Jones, as they entered the passage again.
It was here that De Amilo came to a halt. Turning to those who were following him, he said:
“Is there anybody among you who desires to live forever? If so, bathe in the pool beneath the spray of the fountain.”
But all hands, even to Jones, shook their heads, and they went on their way, the Spaniard leading them in silence.
When they arrived at the point where the four passages met, they again came to a halt.
A moment later they started through the mouth of one of these, and presently found themselves going down a sort of winding stairs.
Down, down they went for many feet, and then they came to a vast, shell-like cavern of what appeared to be almost unlimited size.