"Fact is," said the latter, "I won't see ye go alone, but if there's any fightin' to do with ghosts, you mustn't expect me to help you, for when I aim at a nose, I like to hit it, which is impossible with the noses of goblins and sich like, as your fist will go right through 'em."
The two soon were at the foot of the cliff, which both now commenced to ascend. As they advanced, the rumbling beneath them seemed to increase, shaking the cliff to its foundation.
At length they arrived near the ledge, where the heat was almost unbearable. On one side of them there was a wide cleft, in which a line of fire was seen, glowing like a red hot iron. The slightest mis-step on the part of the adventurers in their endeavors to reach the ledge, must precipitate them into the cleft.
To get to their destination, they must move along a narrow ridge not more than two inches wide, with nothing at the side of the rock to clutch except a slightly rugged surface which must afford them a very insecure hold.
"This is dang'rous traveling," remarked Turk, "worse than walkin' on a railroad track over a rottin bridge."
The two kept on, carefully making progress, until finally they were close to the ledge, upon which a sudden spring carried them.
Winding round the cliff, they could now see another ledge, but no sign of the strange figure. They clambered the rocky surface, exploring it on all sides, but saw no sign of what they were after.
"To my notion," said Turk, "that goblin has gone down to take a siesta, do you see, preparatory to comin' up agin, which, I take it, is a good hint fur us to make leg-bail."
"What is this?" inquired Harry suddenly, stooping and picking up a singular object.
It was a cocoanut branch twisted into an odd shape, bearing some resemblance to a pronged fork.