"If you would only consent to keep still," said I, "we would take
you down with us in ten seconds."

"Hum!" returned Peterkin; "suppose a salamander was to propose to
you 'only to keep still,' and he would carry you through a blazing
fire in a few seconds, what would you say?"

We both laughed and shook our heads, for it was evident that
nothing was to be made of Peterkin in the water. But we could not
rest satisfied till we had seen more of this cave; so, after
further consultation, Jack and I determined to try if we could take
down a torch with us, and set fire to it in the cavern. This we
found to be an undertaking of no small difficulty; but we
accomplished it at last by the following means:- First, we made a
torch of a very inflammable nature out of the bark of a certain
tree, which we cut into strips, and, after twisting, cemented
together with a kind of resin or gum, which we also obtained from
another tree; neither of which trees, however, was known by name to
Jack. This, when prepared, we wrapped up in a great number of
plies of cocoa-nut cloth, so that we were confident it could not
get wet during the short time it should be under water. Then we
took a small piece of the tinder, which we had carefully treasured
up lest we should require it, as before said, when the sun should
fail us; also, we rolled up some dry grass and a few chips, which,
with a little bow and drill, like those described before, we made
into another bundle, and wrapped it up in cocoa-nut cloth. When
all was ready we laid aside our garments, with the exception of our
trousers, which, as we did not know what rough scraping against the
rocks we might be subjected to, we kept on.