“We have seen no chasm but this one.”
“Then you have not found a cave for crystals?”
“Oh yes!” said Saxe: “there it is;” and he pointed up at the face of the narrow valley to where the dark opening looked like a black mark on the rock.
“I see,” said Melchior, looking up. “Yes, that looks a likely place too. I had not seen that.”
“It has quite large crystals in it,” said Dale.
“Then the herr has been up to see?”
“Yes, Saxe found it; but it is very difficult to get to. How are we to climb up and fasten a rope!”
“It is quite easy,” said the guide; and, going back, he made for the ledge, along which he made his way coolly enough till he came to the gap, across which he leaped, thrust his hand into the orifice, and then, to Saxe’s horror, leaped back again with wonderful activity, came down and joined them.
“These things have been so little asked for that they have not half been hunted out. I could have got hundredweights if I had known that they were of value to make it worth while.”
“But that is a good cavern up there,” cried Saxe, who now breathed more freely, as he saw the guide safely down without breaking his neck.