The cavern—from which the road of subterranean cataracts emerged—was discovered years ago by a party of Alpine climbers, but only a few days ago did scientists venture to descend into it. Using a rope 850 feet long, a windlass and crane, three of the party of five were lowered into the stygian hole. At a depth of 300 feet they found themselves in a "glacier-mill," or "giant's cauldron," said to be the largest ever discovered. It was an immense hollow 36 feet long and 23 feet wide with azure-colored walls that were smooth as glass and that shone weirdly in the glow of flashlights.
Four miles lay the Isle of Lanka from the mainland. Approximately an hour's march. When his wristwatch told him his force had reached the halfway mark, Ramey envisioned the scene transpiring on the lake's surface, perhaps above their very heads. Now, from the numerous wharves and docks, would be putting out a host of tiny craft filled with soldiers. A cry would rise from the citadel as these invaders were seen. Ravana's guards would be calling the alarm ... forces now besieging Vibhishana's tiny garrison might be diverted ... there might even put out from Lanka an opposing "navy"....
But he could not concern himself with these things. He and his followers had their own, allotted duty; upon their success or failure hung the whole campaign.
"On!" he said to Kohrisan. "Faster!"
And Lake O'Brien, irrepressible even under circumstances as vital as these, chuckled.
"'Sail on!'" he quoted extravagantly, "'and on! Sail on!'—Hey, Ramey, old Columbus must have been a bargain-hunter the way he kept yapping about a 'Sale on!'"
Still on they pressed, while moments winged by at a tempo set by the slur of marching feet. And finally came an interruption to their swift progress. The Burrower chattered something to Kohrisan, the ape-captain cried the command to halt. Ramey glanced at him curiously.
"What is it, Captain? Something wrong?"
"Nay, my Lord. But the moment for extra caution is come. Behold the torch in thy hand."