Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse observed led slowly upward and that the air was freshening as they proceeded.
At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop.
"Light um fire," she directed tersely.
It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning quickly.
The men uttered an exclamation of surprise.
What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present.
Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence there.
"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder.
"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know the kind, I've seen them before."
But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration.