The White Waterfall

ia. None of us felt inclined to contradict him as we stood near the lip of the crater and gazed into it. The thing ap

the outline was lost in the depths of the mighty cauldron. The inky clouds, which seemed to heave like black masses of cotton wool far down in the abyss, left the imagination to perform acrobatic feats as it attempted to

in a manner that was indescribable. Sudden flashes came from it as if the vermilion mass was studded with blazing carbuncles, but the fascinating beau

on. An inner self connected the pit with the singular feeling of depression which had gripped us the moment we landed upon t

lled by the vanity which prompted him to air his knowledge concerning the cause of the vivid colours which seemed to radiate from the walls. He prattle

for?" asked the youngster. "D

o, we didn't come for the view," he answered. "

lls that hemmed us in on both sides,

go no farthe

gly flat face. "You are too young

cular pit with its brilliantly tinted sides. The answer p

can we?"

lying, then he moved closer to the

. The rim of the vast pit, at the point where Leith was standing, was composed of porphyry of a dark-green shade, and as we neared the edge we noticed that this had been worn to that peculi

rected upon the peculiar polished port

every man who slipped over here since the world began I wouldn't bother with specimens for Ame

ound away to the right and disappeared through a cavernous opening in the brightly tinted walls of the crater. The ledge was bare and unprotected, polished to the same velvety smoothness as the spot on the rim near which we stood, and when

reath of air and turn

me are you up to?" he c

gly. "You had better hold your tongue!

ace. The half-voiced objection to the route had stirred all the sleeping devil in him, and t

?" asked the yo

llowed to come on this trip through the good nature of Professor Herndo

t was evident that Leith intended to take us dazed him, an

, looking at Leith. "Do you expect

come with the expedition through no urging from me. Regarding the ledge, there is absolutely no danger, and

th's order. He walked quickly to the polished porphyry slab, moved cautiously to the extreme rim, then, turning his back on

he death which a slip of his foot would bring upon him. Returning to the spot beneath the polished slipping-of

ver here before they could call thems

ard the explanation, and he immediately pro

ked. "You say all the boy

est. Young boy go over this quick he make plenty

grapher. The Kanaka's remark had brought him much copy, and the da

ried, his eyes wide open as he

ck mighty slippery here. All boys' hands

t the present time?" cried the scientist.

a," replied Leith. "There are no natives on the Isle of Tears no

interesting morsel of information," he murmured. "Hand me

temper in check while the Professor fussed

"He's so busy digesting that tale that he's not thinking of

the slope, and I believe he complained of me to Leith. He sees a mental picture of himse

c he ruffled up like an angry porcupine, and he screeched out hi

ou have no standing with this expedition! This is a scientific exploration party, but it seems to me that a nu

he roared, "and you don't seem to profit by it. Now I'm not going to speak again! If I have to tell you to keep your finger

ourage, and he stood up boldly as

aid quietly. "At least

he glared at Holman, but Edith Herndon

tepping in front of the youngster. "He thinks that the path i

o that it will be impossible for an accident to happen. Soma will go first with one of the other boys, and they will guide every

e which he had carried from the yacht, and they exchanged glances that sh

sank lower, and the inky clouds that seemed to heave far down in its mysterious depths fought their way

have to postpone it till the morning," he exclaimed. "I didn't look for a hitch like this. I tell you that the

for notoriety evidently blinded him to the dangers which would have been per

hear what Mr. Leith says? There is no danger. A rope will b

e at the terrifying abyss and

e morning," s

t?" asked th

replied Edith. "I think it will be better. Thi

t he had laid out in expectation of an immediate descent, and the whole party moved back about thirty yards from the obstacle in our path. As I analyzed my own feelings, o