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THE STORY
Part I
To cross the chasm was indeed a
perplexity. When the earth had ceased trembling, von Scholtz climbed upon a
large rock that had fallen near him and sat upon it for a long time with eyes
half closed, his head resting against the side of the cave as if in deep
thought. When at last he opened his eyes and climbed down from the rock, he
said, "I know I take my life in my hands, but I'll try it." He walked
deliberately up to the abyss and looking down, saw far below a fiery mass of
molten rock and just above the molten mass he saw upon a ledge of rock the
mangled form of one of the unfortunate miners, hanging as though ready to drop
into the cauldron below where doubtless his comrade had met his fate. The sight
only served to strengthen the testimony of his senses and he withdrew from the
scene with a shudder.
He walked a short distance, still in deep
thought. Time was passing and he must come to a decision. The thought of
retreat was more and more distasteful to him since he had come so far; still he
wanted to be sure he was right in distinguishing the real from the unreal.
Again he turned toward the chasm, saying: "I must prove my faith in my own
course of reasoning." So with a steady tread, he faced again the awful cleft,
but as he looked down his courage once more failed him. He grew desperate,
censuring himself for his weakness. With a tremendous effort, he set his jaw,
clenched his fists, and setting out with a firm tread, this time looking
upward, ignoring the sight beneath his feet, walked straight ahead. For an
instant he felt a swimming sensation, but only for an instant, for instead of
falling, he found the floor of the cave as solid as ever.
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