"Often."
"There is no foul gas at the bottom?"
"Not now, as you may see by the condition of Ambrosio, who has been clear to the bottom."
"Then I am willing to be the first to descend; but first I must know more about you than I do."
"What difference does that make? You will have three friends here with me. They are all armed and I can see they know how to use their weapons. I cannot possibly harm you. I will be the third to descend. I assure you that the descent and the ascent are comparatively easy for athletic young chaps, as the sides of the shaft are very uneven. By the aid of this rope you can come up almost as easily as you would climb a ladder. The adventure is well worth your while."
"And you won't tell us who you are?"
"I have already told you. I am an American soldier of fortune. My name, if that means anything to you, is Francis Strong, and I have assumed this character of a mountebank solely for the purpose of going about the country without being molested. What I hope to do, is of no interest to any one but myself."
It was a straightforward statement and the boys saw no reason to doubt its truthfulness.
"All right, then," exclaimed Billie. "Here goes!"
He grasped the rope and lowered himself over the side. It was as Strong had said and in a very few minutes he found himself at the bottom. He could see nothing except the dim light at the mouth of the shaft.