“I hope so. It will be horrible to have to go back as we came.”
Jem nodded, and began to nibble the dry skin at the side of his finger nails, looking up thoughtfully at the translucent arch.
Then he nodded to Don as if he wished to speak, and Don put his ear close to Jem’s lips.
“Think there’s much more on it to come down?”
“More, Jem?”
“Yes. ’Cause when it’s all run out, they’ll be able to see us.”
“I should think it is always falling like this, Jem.”
“Oh!”
No more was said, and they sat patiently waiting for danger or freedom, whichever might be in store for them. Ngati held out his great fist from time to time to shake hands in a congratulatory way, and the hours glided on till it began to grow dark, and another horror assailed Don. It was evident that they must pass the night there in the cold and damp, for to attempt to escape in the dark would be madness, and how would it be if they dropped off to sleep and slipped?
He shuddered at the thought, and sat in silence gazing at Ngati, who waited calmly till the shadows of evening had quite filled the chasm, when he rose, and it was evident that he did not consider escape in the darkness impossible, for, grasping Don’s arm, he uttered the one word “Come!” and led the way out from beneath the watery arch, to stand, as soon as they were quite clear, shading his eyes and gazing through the transparent gloom in search of their enemies.