the little light that found an entrance through the cave's mouth,
and thus produced, we conjectured, the pale-green object which had
first attracted our attention. We concluded, also, that the
reflecting power of this rock was that which gave forth the dim
light that faintly illumined the first part of the cave.

Before diving through the passage again we extinguished the small
piece of our torch that remained, and left it in a dry spot;
conceiving that we might possibly stand in need of it, if at any
future time we should chance to wet our torch while diving into the
cavern. As we stood for a few minutes after it was out, waiting
till our eyes became accustomed to the gloom, we could not help
remarking the deep, intense stillness and the unutterable gloom of
all around us; and, as I thought of the stupendous dome above, and
the countless gems that had sparkled in the torch-light a few
minutes before, it came into my mind to consider how strange it is
that God should make such wonderful and extremely-beautiful works
never to be seen at all, except, indeed, by chance visitors such as
ourselves.

I afterwards found that there were many such caverns among the
islands of the South Seas, some of them larger and more beautiful
than the one I have just described.

"Now, Ralph, are you ready?" said Jack, in a low voice, that seemed
to echo up into the dome above.

"Quite ready."

"Come along, then," said he; and, plunging off the ledge of the