"Why, where is Eldon Brand?" said another.
"Over there, cutting a staff from the cane-brake," replied the first speaker.
"Ladies and gentlemen," here interposed the guide, striking a stage attitude, "if you want my services you must come right along. It is already too late for the long route; you will have to take the short one."
"All right," agreed the party, rallying their forces, "we'll take the short one, then. Forward, march!"
Down, down they went in pairs along the circuitous stairway to the entrance, where the thick darkness might be felt. With lighted torches they turned from the sunshine and entered upon the pioneer wagon tracks imbedded in the soil for two miles. Hither the early settlers were wont to convey their salt barrels and other stores for safe keeping from the natives.
Laughing, talking, jesting, the merry party went in.
"Jerusalem! What's that?" ejaculated a young fellow, with more vigor than polish, as he fought right and left an unknown foe.
"That? Oh, that's only bats flying around. They don't stay in much further. They'll hit you in the face if you don't look out," explained the guide.
"Yes, I think they will," said the victim, still spluttering and flourishing his handkerchief. "A little more of that sort of thing and I'll turn back now."
They soon reached the avenue that leads to the Side Saddle, where more than one merry lass took a seat for effect. They heard how an explorer named Goren had once stood idly talking and pecking against the wall with a sharp stone when, lo! it broke through. He continued to widen the opening till, upon throwing down a blue light, there stood revealed a perfect dome, exquisitely filagreed. It has been known ever since as Goren's Dome, and a good-sized window, jagging the wall, admits one or two lookers at a time. On their knees they crawled through the Valley of Humility, and out into almost endless space, so varied are the landmarks of this underground miracle. Here is a chamber too vast to be lighted by the torches; there, a defile so narrow as to be passed only in single file. Now they traverse a level valley to emerge at the foot of a mountainous region that must be attacked with alpenstocks and helping hands.