Cries of astonishment came from all at the wonderful panorama that stretched out before them. Hundreds of feet down and to their right was the camp, and a short distance away were Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis. The dromedaries were tethered beside a large rock near the cliff.
“I suppose Fekmah and Tishmak are in the tent,” remarked the scientist, scanning the landscape.
With the aid of his powerful binoculars the camp was made to appear quite near, and the features of the naturalists were easily made out.
At last Dr. Kirshner turned about.
“A fine view,” he said. “But let us not spend too much time here. I want to explore the roof of this cliff.”
The rocky surface was in most places flat, but there were a few huge fissures that apparently extended far into the rock.
They had come to one unusually deep crack when Dr. Kirshner stopped and slid down the steep side, desirous of seeing the unusual.
He reached the bottom some fifteen feet below, sending a score of small rocks down the side of the crevice.
“What’s there?” Joe called down, bending over the side.
“Nothing, I guess. There is—— Wait a minute!”