“Of course.”
“Let’s see, then,” said the American, and opening his box he took out a match, lit it, and going down upon one knee held the burning splint below him.
“No steps here,” he cried, jerking the nearly burned-out match out into the gloom.
“Try another,” said Chris sharply.
This was done, and a fresh examination made, but as far as could be seen the great square pit cut out of the rock went down smooth and square without a sign of foothold.
“I wonder how deep it is,” said Chris, in a whisper tinged with awe.
“We’ll soon find that out,” said the American. “Is there a loose stone anywhere about?”
“Yes, plenty on the terrace outside,” said Ned, and he stepped back, passed out of the window-opening, and returned with a piece of shale as big as his hand.
“Pitch it right out in the middle, squire,” cried Griggs, and the fragment quitted the boy’s hand, to fall with a sharp sound upon stone, as near as they could guess some thirty feet below.
“You’re wrong, Griggs,” said the doctor.