"Shall we go over there or investigate this hole?"
"They must have seen something by the start they got; perhaps we had better go there first."
Accompanied by the two natives, who led the way by a path known to them, they made for the shattered cliff which they had hoped never to see again. As they approached it an awful odour, evidently stealing through the cracks from the bodies rotting beneath the collapsed roof, made itself disagreeably evident. The blacks kept on talking to one another, as though discussing what they now saw for the first time. Arrived at the place, the white men mounted on the piled-up debris, and both together shouted with the full strength of their lungs. To their delight a distinct answer was heard from beneath their feet, evidently no echo.
"It's Charlie's voice!" cried Morton delightedly. "Where are you?" he yelled.
"Here!" came the voice, right under their feet.
"In the old cave?" asked Morton.
"No, but close to it; there's a vile smell here."
"How did you get there?"
"Came underground. Do you think you can get us out here, or must we go back again to the crater?"
"The blacks saw your light, so there must be a big gap somewhere. Have a good look round, it's sunrise now."