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what does； and all I have to say is that it is a very
bad state of mind for a man on the wrong side of
middle age to fall into。
CHAPTER XXVII
WE LEAP
WE passed through the caves without trouble； but when
we came to the slope of the inverted cone two
difficulties stared us in the face。 The first of these
was the laborious nature of the ascent； and the next
the extreme difficulty of finding our way。 Indeed； had
it not been for the mental notes that I had
fortunately taken of the shape of various rocks； etc。；
I am sure that we never should have managed it at all；
but have wandered about in the dreadful womb of the
volcanofor I suppose it must once have been
something of the sortuntil we died of exhaustion and
despair。 As it was we went wrong several times； and
once nearly fell into a huge crack or crevasse。 It was
terrible work creeping about in the dense gloom and
awful stillness from boulder to boulder； and examining
it by the feeble light of the lamps to see if I could
recognize its shape。 We rarely spoke； our hearts were
too heavy for speech； we simply stumbled about falling
sometimes and cutting ourselves； in a rather dogged
sort of way。 The fact was that our spirits were
utterly crushed； and we did not greatly care what
happened to us。 Only we felt bound to try and save our
lives while we could； and； indeed； a natural instinct
prompted us to it。 So for some three or four hours； I
should thinkI cannot tell exactly how long； for we
had no watch left that would gowe blundered on。
During the last two hours we were completely lost； and
I began to fear that we had got into the funnel of
some subsidiary cone； when at last I suddenly
recognized a very large rock which we had passed in
descending but a little way from the top。 It is a
marvel that I should have recognized it； and； indeed；
we had already passed it going at right angles to the
proper path； when something about it struck me； and I
turned back and examined it in an idle sort of way；
and； as it happened； this proved our salvation。
After this we gained the rocky natural stair without
much further trouble； and in due course found
ourselves back in the little chamber where the
benighted Noot had lived and died
But nowa fresh terror stared us in the face。 It will
be remembered that； owing to Job's fear and
awkwardness； the plank upon which we had crossed from
the huge spur to the rocking…stone had been whirled
off into the tremendous gulf below。
How were we to cross without the plank？
There was only one answerwe must try and _i_ jump
_i_ it； or else stop there till we starved。 The
distance in itself was not so very great； between
eleven and twelve feet I should think； and I have seen
Leo jump over twenty when he was a young fellow at
college； but； then； think of the conditions。 Two
weary； worn…out men； one of them on the wrong side of
forty； a rocking…stone to take off from； a trembling
point of rock some few feet across to land upon； and a
bottomless gulf to be cleared in a raging gale！ It was
bad enough； God knows； but when I pointed out these
things to Leo； he put the whole matter in a nutshell
by replying that； merciless as the choice was； we must
choose between the certainty of a lingering death in
the chamber and the risk of a swift one in the air。 Of
course； there was no arguing against this； but one
thing was clear； we could not attempt that leap in the
dark； the only thing to do was to wait for the ray of
light which pierced through the gulf at sunset。 How
near to or how far from sunset we might be； neither of
us had the faintest notion； all we did know was； that
when at last the light came it would not endure more
than a couple of minutes at the outside； so that we
must be prepared to meet it。 Accordingly； we made up
our minds to creep on to the top of the rocking…stone
and lie there in readiness。 We were the more easily
reconciled to this course by the fact that our lamps
were once more nearly exhaustedindeed； one had gone
out bodily and the other was jumping up and down as
the flame of a lamp does when the oil is done。 So； by
the aid of its dying light； we hastened to crawl out
of the little chamber and clamber up the side of the
great stone。
As we did so the light went out。 The difference in our
position was a sufficiently remarkable one。 Below； in
the little chamber； we had only heard the roaring of
the gale overheadhere； lying on our faces on the
swinging stone； we were exposed to its full force and
fury； as the great draught drew first from this
direction and then from that； howling against the
mighty precipice and through the rocky cliffs like ten
thousand despairing souls。 We lay there hour after
hour in terror and misery of mind so deep that I will
not attempt to describe it； and listened to the wild
storm…voices of that Tartarus； as； set to the deep
undertone of the spur opposite； against which the wind
hummed like some awful harp； they called to each other
from precipice to precipice。 No nightmare dreamed by
man； no wild invention of the romancer； can ever equal
the living horror of that place； and the weird crying
of those voices of the night； as we clung like
shipwrecked mariners to a raft； and tossed on the
black； unfathomed wilderness of air。 Fortunately the
temperature was not a low one； indeed； the wind was
warm； or we should have perished。 So we clung and
listened； and while we were stretched out upon the
rock a thing happened which was so curious and
suggestive in itself； though doubtless a mere
coincidence； that； if anything； it added to； rather
than deducted from； the burden on our nerves。
It will be remembered that when Ayesha was standing on
the spur； before we crossed to the stone； the wind
tore her cloak from her； and whirled it away into the
darkness of the gulf； we could not see whither。 Well
I hardly like to tell the story； it is so strange。 As
we lay there upon the rocking…stone； this very cloak
came floating out of the black space； like a memory
from the dead； and fell on Leoso that it covered him
nearly from head to foot： We could not at first make
out what it was； but soon discovered by its feel； and
then poor Leo； for the first time； gave way； and I
heard him sobbing there upon the stone。 No doubt the
cloak had been caught upon some pinnacle of the cliff；
and was thence blown hither by a chance gust； but
still； it was a most curious and touching incident。
Shortly after this； suddenly； without the slightest
previous warning； the great red knife of light came
stabbing the darkness through and throughstruck the
swaying stone on which we were； and rested its sharp
point upon the spur opposite。
〃Now for it；〃 said Leo； 〃now or never。〃
We rose and stretched ourselves； and looked at the
cloud…wreaths stained the color of blood by that red
ray as they tore through the sickening depths beneath；
and then at the empty space between the swaying stone
and the quivering rock； and； in our hearts； despaired；
and prepared for death。 Surely we could not clear it
desperate though we were。
〃Who is to go first？〃 said I。
〃Do you； old fellow；〃 answered Leo。 〃I will sit upon
the other side of the stone to steady it。 You must
take as much run as you can； and jump high； and God
have mercy on us； say I。〃
I acquiesced with a nod； and then I did a thing I had
never done since Leo was a little boy。 I turned and
put my arm round him； and kissed him on the forehead。
It sounds rather French； but as a fact I was taking my
last farewell of a man whom I could not have loved
more if he had been my own son twice over。
〃Good…bye； my boy；〃 I said； 〃I hope that we shall meet
again； wherever it is that we go to。〃
The fact was I did not expect to live another two
minutes。
Next I retreated to the far side of the rock； and
waited till one of the chopping gusts of wind got
behind me； and then； commending my soul to God； I ran
the length of the huge stone； some three or four and
thirty feet； and sprang wildly out into the dizzy air。
Oh！ the sickening terrors that I felt as I launched
myself at that little point of rock； and the horrible
sense of despair that shot through my brain as I
realized that I had _i_ jumped short _i_ 。 But so it
was； my feet never touched the point； they went down
into space； only my hands and body came in contact
with it。 I gripped at it with a yell； but one hand
slipped； and I swung right round； holding by the
other； so that I faced the stone from which I had
sprung。 Wildly I stretched up with my left hand； and
this time managed to grasp a hob of rock； and there I
hung in the fierce red light； with thousands of feet
of empty air beneath me。 My hands were holding to
either side of the under part of the spur； so that its
point was touching my head。 Therefore； even if I could
have found the strength； I could not pull myself up。
The most that I could do would be to hang for about a
minute； and then drop down； down into the bottomless
pit。 If any man can imagine a more hideous position；
let him speak！ All