“Waal, gents all,” said Lake, as they came up, “here’s whar we stop.”
“So it seems,” said Mr. Chillingworth; “but where is that gold mine you brought us here to examine?”
For reply Lake pointed across the gulf at their feet. Exactly opposite to where they stood they could now see on the wall of a precipice facing them a narrow ledge. At one end of this ledge was what appeared to be the mouth of a cave.
“Thar,” said Lake, indicating the opening; “thar’s the place.”
“How on earth do you expect to cross this gulch?” gasped the professor, looking at Lake, as if he were in doubt as to whether the fellow was in his right wits.
Lake exerted a little more of his great strength and gave the rocking stone a great shove. It bent outward and dipped over the gorge.
“Hyar’s haow we’ll cross,” he said. “It’s a bridge put hyar by either God or the Devil, but it’s come in handy fer Simon Lake.”
CHAPTER XX.
BURIED ALIVE.
It was Monday who broke the silence that followed.
“Dat right, boss,” he said. “In old time me come here wid whaler we go on stone lots of time.”