Below, at a depth of some forty feet, was a cavern.
The entrance seemed to be from the crater, and clinging vines lined the passage down which Barney had fallen.
A treacherous coating of moss had covered the hole, and the unsuspecting Irishman had stepped full upon it, with the result we have seen.
In falling, Barney had clutched wildly at the vines, and now he hung twenty feet from the bottom by a single vine, which swayed and seemed likely to snap at any moment.
Just below, upon the floor of the cavern, crouched two fierce tigers.
They roared and snarled savagely and made upward leaps to reach the Celt.
Barney was white with fear and clung desperately to the swinging vine.
“Help!” he shouted in terror. “Misther Frank, save me.”
“Have courage, Barney!” cried Frank, resolutely. “Hang on and I will do my best.”
Barney did hang on with all his strength, and Frank cried, turning to the others: