"I must go to bed," said Juanna faintly; "my head is swimming. I cannot
forget those horrors and that giddy place. When first I saw where I was,
I nearly fainted and fell, but after a while I grew more used to it.
Indeed, while I was speaking to the people I quite forgot my fear, and
the height seemed to exhilarate me. What a sight it was! When all
is said and done, it is a grand thing to have lived through such an
experience. I wonder if anyone has ever seen its like."

"You are a marvellous woman, Juanna," said Leonard, with admiration. "We
owe our lives to your wit and courage."

"You see I was right in insisting on coming with you," she answered
somewhat aggressively.

"For our sakes, yes; for your own I am not so sure. To tell you the
truth, I think that we should have done better never to have started on
this mad expedition. However, things look a little more promising now,
though Nam and his company have still to be reckoned with, and we don't
seem much nearer the rubies, which are our main object."

"No," said Juanna, "they are gone, and we shall be lucky if we do not
follow them into the home of that hideous snake. Good night."

"Francisco," said Leonard, as he rolled himself up in his blanket, "you
had a narrow escape to-night. If I had missed my hold!"

"Yes, Outram, it was lucky for me that your arm is strong and your mind
quick. Ah, I am a dreadful coward, and I can see the place now;" and he
shuddered. "Always from a child I have believed that I shall die by a