rewarded his efforts, and inch by inch the huge door opened into
what at first appeared immeasurable darkness. Holding up the light
he looked in, and uttered a smothered exclamation. A sudden gust of
wind rushed from the sea through the passage and extinguished the
lamp, leaving him in profound gloom. Nothing daunted he sought his
fusee case; there was just one left in it. This he hastily struck,
and shielding the glow carefully with one hand, relit his lamp, and
stepped boldly into the mysterious grotto.

The murmur of the wind and waves, like spirit-voices in unison,
followed him as he entered. He found himself in a spacious winding
corridor, that had evidently been hollowed out in the rocks and
fashioned by human hands. Its construction was after the ancient
Gothic method; but the wonder of the place consisted in the walls,
which were entirely covered with shells,--shells of every shape and
hue,--some delicate as rose-leaves, some rough and prickly, others
polished as ivory, some gleaming with a thousand irridescent colors,
others pure white as the foam on high billows. Many of them were
turned artistically in such a position as to show their inner sides
glistening with soft tints like the shades of fine silk or satin,--
others glittered with the opaline sheen of mother-o'-pearl. All were
arranged in exquisite patterns, evidently copied from fixed
mathematical designs,--there were stars, crescents, roses,
sunflowers, hearts, crossed daggers, ships and implements of war,
all faithfully depicted with extraordinary neatness and care, as
though each particular emblem had served some special purpose.

Sir Philip walked along very slowly, delighted with his discovery,
and,--pausing to examine each panel as he passed,--amused himself
with speculations as to the meaning of this beautiful cavern, so