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white arrowhead flints。 We forced our way through it； finding it
about forty feet long； and emerged into a third chasm。 This； too； was
precisely like the first； except in its longitudinal shape； which was
thus。 （See figure 3。） ｛image｝
We found the entire length of the third chasm three hundred and
twenty yards。 At the point _a_ was an opening about six feet wide；
and extending fifteen feet into the rock； where it terminated in a
bed of marl； there being no other chasm beyond； as we had expected。
We were about leaving this fissure； into which very little light was
admitted； when Peters called my attention to a range of
singular…looking indentures in the surface of the marl forming the
termination of the _cul…de…sac_。 With a very slight exertion of the
imagination； the left； or most northern of these indentures might
have been taken for the intentional； although rude； representation of
a human figure standing erect； with outstretched arm。 The rest of
them bore also some little resemblance to alphabetical characters；
and Peters was willing； at all events； to adopt the idle opinion that
they were really such。 I convinced him of his error； finally； by
directing his attention to the floor of the fissure； where； among the
powder； we picked up； piece by piece； several large flakes of the
marl； which had evidently been broken off by some convulsion from the
surface where the indentures were found； and which had projecting
points exactly fitting the indentures； thus proving them to have been
the work of nature。 Figure 4 ｛image｝ presents an accurate copy of the
whole。
After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded
us no means of escape from our prison； we made our way back； dejected
and dispirited； to the summit of the hill。 Nothing worth mentioning
occurred during the next twenty…four hours； except that； in examining
the ground to the eastward of the third chasm； we found two
triangular holes of great depth； and also with black granite sides。
Into these holes we did not think it worth while to attempt
descending； as they had the appearance of mere natural wells； without
outlet。 They were each about twenty yards in circumference； and their
shape； as well as relative position in regard to the third chasm； is
shown in figure 5。 ｛image｝
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 23 ~~~
CHAPTER XXIV
0N the twentieth of the month； finding it altogether impossible to
subsist any longer upon the filberts； the use of which occasioned us
the most excruciating torment； we resolved to make a desperate
attempt at descending the southern declivity of the hill。 The face of
the precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone； although
nearly perpendicular throughout its whole extent （a depth of a
hundred and fifty feet at the least）； and in many places even
overarching。 After a long search we discovered a narrow ledge about
twenty feet below the brink of the gulf； upon this Peters contrived
to leap； with what assistance I could render him by means of our
pocket…handkerchiefs tied together。 With somewhat more difficulty I
also got down； and we then saw the possibility of descending the
whole way by the process in which we had clambered up from the chasm
when we had been buried by the fall of the hill…that is； by cutting
steps in the face of the soapstone with our knives。 The extreme
hazard of the attempt can scarcely be conceived； but； as there was no
other resource； we determined to undertake it。
Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert…bushes； and to
one of these we made fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs。 The
other end being tied round Peters' waist； I lowered him down over the
edge of the precipice until the handkerchiefs were stretched tight。
He now proceeded to dig a deep hole in the soapstone （as far in as
eight or ten inches）； sloping away the rock above to the height of a
foot； or thereabout； so as to allow of his driving； with the butt of
a pistol； a tolerably strong peg into the levelled surface。 I then
drew him up for about four feet； when he made a hole similar to the
one below； driving in a peg as before； and having thus a
resting…place for both feet and hands。 I now unfastened the
handkerchiefs from the bush； throwing him the end； which he tied to
the peg in the uppermost hole ； letting himself down gently to a
station about three feet lower than he had yet been that is； to the
full extent of the handkerchiefs。 Here he dug another hole； and drove
another peg。 He then drew himself up； so as to rest his feet in the
hole just cut； taking hold with his hands upon the peg in the one
above。 It was now necessary to untie the handkerchiefs from the
topmost peg； with the view of fastening them to the second； and here
he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes at so
great a distance apart。 However； after one or two unsuccessful and
dangerous attempts at reaching the knot （having to hold on with his
left hand while he labored to undo the fastening with his right）； he
at length cut the string； leaving six inches of it affixed to the
peg。 Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg； he descended to a
station below the third； taking care not to go too far down。 By these
means （means which I should never have conceived of myself； and for
which we were indebted altogether to Peters' ingenuity and
resolution） my companion finally succeeded； with the occasional aid
of projections in the cliff； in reaching the bottom without accident。
It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to
follow him； but I did at length attempt it。 Peters had taken off his
shirt before descending； and this； with my own； formed the rope
necessary for the adventure。 After throwing down the musket found in
the chasm； I fastened this rope to the bushes； and let myself down
rapidly； striving； by the vigor of my movements； to banish the
trepidation which I could overcome in no other manner。 This answered
sufficiently well for the first four or five steps； but presently I
found my imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast
depths yet to be descended； and the precarious nature of the pegs and
soapstone holes which were my only support。 It was in vain I
endeavored to banish these reflections； and to keep my eyes steadily
bent upon the flat surface of the cliff before me。 The more earnestly
I struggled _not to think； _the more intensely vivid became my
conceptions； and the more horribly distinct。 At length arrived that
crisis of fancy； so fearful in all similar cases； the crisis in which
we began to anticipate the feelings with which we _shall _fall…to
picture to ourselves the sickness； and dizziness； and the last
struggle； and the half swoon； and the final bitterness of the rushing
and headlong descent。 And now I found these fancies creating their
own realities； and all imagined horrors crowding upon me in fact。 I
felt my knees strike violently together； while my fingers were
gradually but certainly relaxing their grasp。 There was a ringing in
my ears； and I said； 〃This is my knell of death！〃 And now I was
consumed with the irrepressible desire of looking below。 I could not；
I woul