Fire Island Part 10

"Yes, I know, my man, but you must try to see where he is. Hi! anybody coming with that light?"

"Yes, the man's coming," cried Drew.

"What's that?" said the mate, sharply, as he leaned over the yawning hollow, rope in hand; "that peculiar odour?"

"What, that smell, sir?" said Smith. "I dunno, sir, it's like as if someone had been burning loocifers. Why, of course, I struck some and let 'em fall."

"Ah, that's better!" cried the mate, as a lantern was handed to him by Panton; and, pa.s.sing the free end of the rope through the handle, he ran it along till it was all through, and he could let the light glide down to the sailor.

"That's all right, sir. Now, then, shall I climb or will you lower me down?"

"Try both, we'll keep a good hold. Heaven help him, I hope he has not gone far. Take hold here. No, Mr Panton, let the men. They are better used to handling a rope. Now, then lower away."

Smith began to descend with the lantern, and, as the mate and Panton gazed down, they could dimly make out that below them was a wide jagged crack, descending right away; while in front, a portion of the crack through the stone ran forward at a gradual slope, forming a cavern.

"Keep a sharp look out, my lad. Ah! mind! don't kick the stones down."

"Can't help it, sir. It's all a big slope here, with the stones waiting to go down with a jump."

Proof of this came directly, a touch sending pieces bounding and rus.h.i.+ng down in a way that must have been fatal to anyone below.

The mate uttered a low e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and Panton drew in his breath with a peculiar hiss, as they heard the fragments go on bounding and rebounding below in the awful darkness, while the peculiar odour which the mate had noticed came up more strongly now.

"See him?" cried Mr Rimmer.

"No, sir. Lower away."

"Lower away, my lads. Here, you Tomlin, run back and get a couple more lengths. Quick."

The man darted off, and his comrades lowered away, while Panton and Drew stood with their heads bent and eyes strained to catch a glimpse of their friend in the dim light cast by the lantern now far below.

"It's all one slope, sir, right away down," cried Smith.

"Yes, can you make out the bottom?"

"No, sir. Don't seem to be none. Lower away."

"Ahoy. Help!"

The cry was faint, but it sent a thrill through all gathered at the mouth of the chasm.

"Ahoy!" roared Smith, as he violently agitated the rope. "All right, my lad, coming. Aloft there with the line. No, no, no, don't lower; haul.

I'm too low down now."

The men gave a cheer, and began to haul up till the mate checked them.

"That right?" he cried to the sailor.

"Little higher, sir. Couple o' fathom. He's on a bit of a shelf, 'cross a hole, and I shall have to swing to him."

"That do?" cried the mate in the midst of the breathless excitement.

"Yes, that's about it, sir. Now, then, make fast. I'm going to swing."

"Right!"

Then the lantern began to pa.s.s to and fro, like a pendulum, and at every thrust given with his feet by the swinging man, the loose blocks of lava and pumice went rumbling and cras.h.i.+ng down, sending up whispering echoes and telling of a depth that was absolutely profound.

"Can you manage?" shouted the mate.

"Yes, sir. That was nearly it," came from below. "This time does it."

They saw the light swing again a couple of hundred feet beneath them.

Then it was stationary, and every man's breath came with a catch, for all at once the stones began to glide again; increasing their rush till it grew tremendous, and the watchers felt that all was over, for the light disappeared and the odour that ascended was stifling.

"Haul! Haul!" came from below, sending a spasm of energy through all at the mouth as they pulled in the rope.

"Steady, steady, my lads," cried the mate. "Got him?" he shouted.

"Ay, ay! Haul quick!" came in a stifled voice, and the mate and his companions felt a chill run through them as they grasped the fact that Smith was either exhausted or being overcome by the foul gas set at liberty by the falling stones.

"Haul steady, my lads, and quick," said the mate, as he went down on one knee. "No; walk away with the rope."

His order was obeyed, and the next minute he was reaching down as the dimly seen lantern came nearer and nearer, revealing Smith's ghastly upturned face and the strange-looking figure he held. Then, almost flat upon his chest, the mate made a clutch, which was seconded by Drew, Panton aiding, and Oliver Lane was lifted out of the chasm and borne into the open suns.h.i.+ne, slowly followed by Smith, as the men cheered about the peculiar-looking figure--for clothes, face, hair, Lane was covered with finely-powdered sulphur, in a bed of which he had been lying.

"Better get him back to the brig," said the mate.

"No, no!" cried Oliver, rousing himself. "I shall be better directly; I struck my head against a block of stone, or one of them struck me. It was so sudden. They gave way all at once, and it was hardly a fall, but a slide down. I was stunned though for a few moments."

"A few moments!" cried the mate with a grim laugh. "Why, my lad, we were ever so long before we could make you answer."

Oliver looked at him wonderingly, and then turned and held out his hand to Smith.

"Thank you," he said. "It was very plucky of you to come down and fetch me up."

"Oh, I dunno, sir," said the sailor in a half-abashed way. "Course I come down; anyone on us would. But it arn't a nice place, is it?"

"Nice place!" cried Panton, who was full of eager interest as he examined the fine sulphur clinging to his companion's clothes. "Why it must be one of the old vents of the mountain. You can smell the gases here."

"You could smell 'em there, sir," said Smith gruffly. "'Scaping orful.

Thought they'd be too much for me. Felt as if I must let go."

"I'm better now," said Oliver, rising and drawing a long breath. "I say, Mr Rimmer, I'm very sorry to have given you all this trouble."

"Don't say a word about it, sir; but don't go tumbling into any more of these holes."

"Not if I can help it," said Oliver, smiling. "But the serpent--what became of it?"