Part 11 (1/2)
Leith noticed that our glances were directed upon the peculiar polished portion of the rio over on to the track below,” he drawled
”If I had a dollar for every an I wouldn't bother with specie is directly beneath, and it leads away to the right”
We stretched out our necks and looked, and I tried to thrust back the exclamation that came to my lips Directly beneath the polished part of the rie barely three feet wide, and this narrow path wound 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 one looked at it and then let his eyes glance over the infernal depths that were ier to which a cli it to the cavern in the wall
Holely upon Leith
”What sort of a fool game are you up to?” he cried ”What do you ly ”You had better hold your tongue!” he roared ”If you don't I'll--I'll----”
He stopped and glared at the young fellow, aover his sallow face The half-voiced objection to the route had stirred all the sleeping devil in hiers crooked as if certain they would be called upon to grip Holster coolly
”I'll bundle you back to the yacht!” screaiant ”You've been allowed to coood nature of Professor Herndon, but you mustn't think you have any voice in the direction of affairs”
Holers of the path over which it was evident that Leith intended to take us dazed hi confir ladies?” I inquired, looking at Leith ”Do you expect the ladies to do anything against their inclinations,” he answered blandly ”They have co the ledge, there is absolutely no danger, and it is the only path by which we can reach the interior of the island Soo over the rim and show them”
Edith and Barbara Herndon, with their father,Kanaka stepped forward to obey Leith's order He walked quickly to the polished porphyry slab,his back on the crater, he dropped upon his hands and knees and lowered hi face appeared above the top
We crept closer and watched hie toward the cavern, apparently unaffected by thoughts of the death which a slip of his foot would bring upon hi-off place he put his muscular hands into two clefts in the slab above and drew hier,” he cried ”All boys go over here before they could call therabbed his notebook as he heard the explanation, and he ie the Kanaka with questions
”What was that?” he squeaked ”You say all the boys had to clirinned Soo over this quick he ood”
The Professor's pencil rapher The Kanaka's reers of the path were forgotten as he jotted down the information
”And they went over here?” he cried, his eyes wide open as he gazed at the edge of the crater
”Right over here,” grinned Sohty slippery here All boys' hands and feet do that Polish it hty fine”
”But surely this test is not carried on at the present time?” cried the scientist ”When was this wonderful custom in force?”
”About the ti to America,”
replied Leith ”There are no natives on the Isle of Tears now So of a tiurgled like a drowningmorsel of information,” he murmured ”Hand me my camera, Barbara; I wish to take a snapshot of the place”
The delay irritated Leith, but he kept his teet a good view of the spot
”The old fool should be in a padded cell,” growled Hol of the dangers of this path