“Exactly behind you,” said Scarlett.
Fred made an involuntary movement in the opposite direction, one imitated by Scarlett, with the result that they edged along about a dozen feet before they were stopped by the wall of rock, which sloped away above their heads.
“I wish it wasn’t dark,” said Fred. “Now let’s try how far we can get this way.”
Still holding on tightly by the rope, they moved in a fresh direction, finding the rock upon which they stood made irregular by the heaps of slate and earth which had crumbled down from above; but over this they cautiously made their way for seven or eight yards, when they were again stopped by the sloping wall of rock.
The next investigation suggested itself as being the edge over which Scarlett had stepped, and for the moment they shrank from that, and made their way cautiously back, keeping close to the wall.
“Let’s see how far it goes in that direction,” whispered Scarlett. “I fancy that’s where the light comes from.”
Fred acquiesced, and the little mounds of slate were crossed, and the way followed till they had nearly reached the limit of the line, when, low down before them, they made out a dark, rough-looking edge, black upon the very pale light which struck into the cave.
“Why, that’s the edge of the rough shelf we are standing on,” said Scarlett. “Now, let’s get close to the line there, and look over.”
“Shall we?”
“Yes; why not? I don’t feel half so frightened now I’ve got over that fall.”