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that pit。〃
〃Still； I will descend it； and to…morrow；〃 said Meyer。
XII
THE BEGINNING OF THE SEARCH
Accordingly； on the next day the great experiment was made。 The chain
and ancient winding gear had been tested and proved to be amply
sufficient to the strain。 Therefore； nothing remained save for Meyer
to place himself in the wooden seat with an oil…lamp； and in case this
should be extinguished； matches and candles； of both of which they had
a large supply。
He did so boldly enough； and swung out over the mouth of the pit；
while the three of them clutched the handles of the winch。 Then they
began to lower； and slowly his white face disappeared into the black
depth。 At every few turns his descent was stopped that he might
examine the walls of the well； and when he was about fifty feet down
he called to them to hold on； which they did； listening while he
struck at the rock with a hammer； for here it sounded very hollow。
At length he shouted to them to lower away again； and they obeyed；
until nearly all the chain was out； and they knew he must be near the
water。 Now Benita； peeping over the edge； saw that the star of light
had vanished。 His lamp was out； nor did he appear to attempt to
re…light it。 They shouted down the well to him； but no answer coming；
began to wind up as fast as they were able。 It was all that their
united strength could manage； and very exhausted were they when at
length Jacob reappeared at the top。 At first； from the look of him
they thought that he was dead； and had he not tied himself to the
chain； dead he certainly would have been； for evidently his senses had
left him long ago。 Indeed； he had fallen almost out of the seat； over
which his legs hung limply； his weight being supported by the hide
rope beneath his arms which was made fast to the chain。
They swung him in and dashed water over his face； till； to their
relief； at last he began to gasp for breath； and revived sufficiently
to enable them to half…lead and half…carry him out into the fresh air。
〃What happened to you？〃 asked Clifford。
〃Poisoned with gases； I suppose；〃 Meyer answered with a groan； for his
head was aching sadly。 〃The air is often bad at the bottom of deep
wells； but I could smell or feel nothing until suddenly my senses left
me。 It was a near thinga very near thing。〃
Afterwards； when he had recovered a little； he told them that at one
spot deep down in the well； on the river side of it； he found a place
where it looked as though the rock had been cut away for a space of
about six feet by four； and afterwards built up again with another
sort of stone set in hard mortar or cement。 Immediately beneath； too；
were socket…holes in which the ends of beams still remained；
suggesting that here had been a floor or platform。 It was while he was
examining these rotted beams that insensibility overcame him。 He added
that he thought that this might be the entrance to the place where the
gold was hidden。
〃If so；〃 said Mr。 Clifford； 〃hidden it must remain； since it can have
no better guardian than bad air。 Also； floors like that are common in
all wells to prevent rubbish from falling into the water； and the
stonework you saw probably was only put there by the ancients to mend
a fault in the rock and prevent the wall from caving in。〃
〃I hope so；〃 said Meyer； 〃since unless that atmosphere purifies a good
deal I don't think that even I dare go down again； and until one gets
there； of that it is difficult to be sure； though of course a lantern
on a string will tell one something。〃
This was the end of their first attempt。 The search was not renewed
until the following afternoon； when Meyer had recovered a little from
the effects of the poisoning and the chafing of the hide ropes beneath
his arms。 Indeed； from the former he never did quite recover； since
thenceforward Benita； who for her own reasons watched the man closely；
discovered a marked and progressive change in his demeanour。 Hitherto
he had appeared to be a reserved man； one who kept tight hand upon
himself； and； if she knew certain things about him； it was rather
because she guessed； or deduced them； than because he allowed them to
be seen。 On two occasions only had he shown his heart before herwhen
they had spoken together by the shores of Lake Chrissie on the day of
the arrival of the messengers； and he declared his ardent desire for
wealth and power； and quite recently； when he killed the Matabele
envoy。 Yet she felt certain that this heart of his was very passionate
and insurgent； that his calm was like the ice that hides the stream；
beneath which its currents run fiercely； none can see whither。 The
fashion in which his dark eyes would flash； even when his pale
countenance remained unmoved； told her so； as did other things。
For instance； when he was recovering from his swoon； the first words
that passed his lips were in German； of which she understood a little；
and she thought that they shaped themselves to her name； coupled with
endearing epithets。 From that time forward he became less guardedor；
rather； it seemed as though he were gradually losing power to control
himself。 He would grow excited without apparent cause； and begin to
declaim as to what he would do when he had found the gold； how he
would pay the world back all it had caused him to sufferhow he would
become a 〃king。〃
〃I am afraid that you will find that exalted position rather lonely；〃
said Benita with a careless laugh； and next minute was sorry that she
had spoken； for he answered； looking at her in a way that she did not
like：
〃Oh； no！ There will be a queena beautiful queen； whom I shall endow
with wealth； and deck with jewels； and surround with love and
worship。〃
〃What a fortunate lady！〃 she said； still laughing； but taking the
opportunity to go away upon some errand。
At other times； especially after dark； he would walk up and down in
front of the cave； muttering to himself； or singing wild old German
songs in his rich voice。 Also； he made a habit of ascending the
granite pillar and seating himself there； and more than once called
down to her to come up and share his 〃throne。〃 Still； these outbreaks
were so occasional that her father； whose perceptions appeared to
Benita to be less keen than formerly； scarcely noticed them； and for
the rest his demeanour was what it had always been。
Further researches into the well being out of the question； their next
step was to make a thorough inspection of the chapel…cave itself。 They
examined the walls inch by inch； tapping them with a hammer to hear if
they sounded hollow； but without result。 They examined the altar； but
it proved to be a solid mass of rock。 By the help of a little ladder
they had made； they examined the crucifix； and discovered that the
white figure on the cross had evidently been fashioned out of some
heathen statue of soft limestone； for at its back were the remains of