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being Job's board； and in doing so drew some fifty or
sixty paces to the left of our starting…point； for we
went up like a crab； sideways。 Presently we reached a
ledge； narrow enough at first； but which widened as we
followed it； and moreover sloped inward like the petal
of a flower； So that as we followed it we gradually
got into a kind of rut or fold of rock that grew
deeper and deeper； till at last it resembled a
Devonshire lane in stone； and hid us perfectly from
the gaze of anybody on the slope below； if there had
been anybody to gaze。 This lane （which appeared to be
a natural formation） continued for some fifty or sixty
paces； and then suddenly ended in a cave； also
natural； running at right angles to it。 I am sure that
it was a natural cave； and not hollowed by the hand of
man； because of its irregular and contorted shape and
course； which gave it the appearance of having been
blown bodily in the mountain by some frightful
eruption of gas following the line of least
resistance。 All the caves hollowed by the ancients of
Ko^r； on the contrary； were cut out with the most
perfect regularity and symmetry。 At the mouth of this
cave Ayesha halted； and bade us light the two lamps；
which I did； giving one to her and keeping the other
myself。 Then； taking the lead； she advanced down the
cavern； picking her way with great care； as indeed it
was necessary to do； for the floor was most irregular…
…strewn with boulders like the bed of a stream； and in
some places pitted with deep holes； in which it would
have been easy to break one's leg。
This cavern we pursued for twenty minutes or more； it
being； so far as I could form a judgmentowing to its
numerous twists and turns no easy taskabout a
quarter of a mile long。
At last； however； we halted at its farther end； and
while I was still trying to pierce the gloom a great
gust of air came tearing down it； and extinguished
both the lamps。
Ayesha called to us； and we crept up to her； for she
was a little in front； and were rewarded with a view
that was positively appalling in its gloom and
grandeur。 Before us was a mighty chasm in the black
rock； jagged and torn and splintered through it in a
far…past age by some awful convulsion of nature； as
though it had been cleft by stroke upon stroke of the
lightning。 This chasm； which was bounded by a
precipice on the hither； and presumably； though we
could not see it； on the farther side also； may have
measured any width across； but from its darkness I do
not think that it can have been very broad。 It was
impossible to make out much of its outline； or how far
it ran； for the simple reason that the point where we
were standing was so far from the upper surface of the
cliff； at least fifteen hundred or two thousand feet；
that only a very dim light struggled down to us from
above。 The mouth of the cavern that we had been
following gave on to a most curious and tremendous
spur of rock； which jutted out in mid…air into the
gulf before us for a distance of some fifty yards；
coming to a sharp point at its termination； and
resembling nothing that I can think of so much as the
spur upon the leg of a cock in shape。 This huge spur
was attached only to the parent precipice at its base；
which was； of course； enormous； just as the cock's
spur is attached to its leg。 Otherwise it was utterly
unsupported。
〃Here we must pass；〃 said Ayesha。 〃Be careful lest
giddiness overcome you； or the wind sweep you into the
gulf beneath； for of a truth it hath no bottom；〃 and；
without giving us any further time to get scared； she
started walking along the spur； leaving us to follow
her as best we might。 I was next to her； then came
Job； painfully dragging his plank； while Leo brought
up the rear。 It was a wonderful sight to see this
intrepid woman gliding fearlessly along that dreadful
place。 For my part； when I had gone but a very few
yards； what between the pressure of the air and the
awful sense of the consequences that a slip would
entail； I found it necessary to go down on my hands
and knees and crawl； and so did the other two。
But Ayesha never condescended to this。 On she went；
leaning her body against the gusts of wind； and never
seeming to lose her head or her balance。
In a few minutes we had crossed some twenty paces of
this awful bridge； which got narrower at every step；
and then all of a sudden a great gust came tearing
along the gorge。 I saw Ayesha lean herself against it；
but the strong draught got under her dark cloak； and
tore it from her； and away it went down the wind
flapping like a wounded bird。 It was dreadful to see
it go till it was lost in the blackness。 I clung to
the saddle of rock and looked round； while the great
spur vibrated with a humming sound beneath us； like a
living thing。 The sight was a truly awesome one。 There
we were poised in the gloom between earth and heaven。
Beneath us were hundreds upon hundreds of feet of
emptiness that gradually grew darker； till at last it
was absolutely black； and at what depth it ended is
more than I can guess。 Above were space upon space of
giddy air； and far； far away a line of blue sky。 And
down this vast gulf upon which we were pinnacled the
great draught dashed and roared； driving clouds and
misty wreaths of vapor before it； till we were nearly
blinded and utterly confused。
The whole position was so tremendous and so absolutely
unearthly that I believe it actually lulled our sense
of terror； but to this hour I often see it in my
dreams； and wake up covered with cold perspiration at
its mere fantasy。
〃On！ on！〃 cried the white form before us； for now the
cloak had gone _i_ She _i_ was robed in white； and
looked more like a spirit riding down the gale than a
woman； 〃On； or ye will fall and be dashed to pieces。
Keep your eyes fixed upon the ground； and closely hug
the rock。〃
We obeyed her； and crept painfully along the quivering
path； against which the wind shrieked and wailed as it
shook it； causing it to murmur like a vast tuning…
fork。 On we went； I do not know for how long； only
gazing round now and again； when it was absolutely
necessary； until at last we saw that we were on the
very tip of the spur； a slab of rock little larger
than an ordinary table； and that throbbed and jumped
like any over…engined steamer。 There we lay on our
stomachs； clinging to the ground； and looked about us；
while Ayesha stood leaning out against the wind； down
which her long hair streamed； and； absolutely heedless
of the hideous depth that yawned beneath； pointed
before her。 Then we saw why the narrow plank； which
Job and I had painfully dragged along between us； had
been provided。 Before us was an empty space； on the
other side of which was something； as yet we could not
see what； for here either owing to the shadow of the
opposite cliff； or from some other cause…the gloom was
that of night。
〃We must wait awhile；〃 called Ayesha； 〃soon there will
be light。〃
At the moment I could not imagine what she meant。 How
could more light than there was ever come to this