They were not actually obliged to do this, but by the time they had reached a loftier space they were thankful to pause, and to stand upright. Something grazed John’s head as he straightened his aching back, and he directed the lantern’s beam upwards, running it over the roof of the chamber. “By Jupiter!” he said softly. “That’s something to have seen, Jerry!”
“What are they?” asked Chirk, staring upwards. “They look like icicles to me, and the lord knows it’s cold enough!”
“Not icicles: stalactites. They’re formed by the dripping of the water—thousands of years of it! I told you this would be a capital go!”
“I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed myself more,” said Chirk sardonically. “If this was where young Stornaway came, I’m not surprised he caught a chill! Look, Soldier! The walls are streaming wet! What makes ’em so?”
“Water, of course. What’s more, it’s Carlton House to a Charley’s shelter there’s a river somewhere below us. There’s one in the Peak cavern, and a boat on it: Miss Nell told me about it. Are you ready to go on?”
“I’m within ames-ace of going back!” replied Chirk, with mordant humour. “Howsever, if we’ve got to go on, let’s cut line and go!”
John had moved cautiously forward, peering ahead. “Take care!” he said suddenly. “We’re dropping down fast now, and there’s a damned lot of loose rubble! Hell and the devil confound it, I wish I hadn’t put these boots on! Lord, it’s a regular stairway! Look!”
The passage had widened considerably. Chirk, who was standing with his lantern directed on to the rock-face above his head, withdrew his fascinated gaze to glance down the steep descent. Fragments of jutting rock did indeed form the semblance of a stairway, but the drop from one to another was sometimes of several feet, and for the most part the ground was littered with rubble, and treacherously loose stones, some of them of great size. It was not difficult to perceive how Henry Stornaway’s father had broken a leg in the cavern. Chirk said so, with some asperity. He then begged the Captain to pause. “Just you cast your ogles over this devil’s work!” he adjured him, keeping the beam of his lantern fixed on the rock. “Don’t you tell me that wicked face came there natural, Soldier!”
It took John a moment to perceive what was holding Chirk chained to the spot. Then he laughed, and said: “Good God, it’s only the weathering of the rock that’s done that! If we had the time to waste, I daresay we could pick out a dozen weird faces!”
“Thank’ee, I’d as lief go on!” said Chirk. “But for the lord’s sake take care how you set your feet down!”