12 POOLE'S HOLE. 



again endeavoured to descend wherever it seemed most practicable, 

 but without effect : I then attempted to get back through the 

 chink, this was also impracticable. The only chance which 

 remained, was to call to the guides, in hopes of being heard, 

 which I endeavoured to do by exerting my voice to the utmost, when, 

 as soon as the reverberations of the echo had ceased, nothing was 

 to be heard but the drops of water tinkling from the roof and 

 sides of the cavern, except which, all was as silent as death I I 

 then with resignation seated myself upon the rock, and for a few 

 moments gave myself up for lost, having no other idea of my 

 situation but that I had got into a part of the cavern never before 

 seen by man. Nothing remained for me to do but sit and see 

 my candle expire, which I was well convinced could not last 

 many minutes longer, at length, after a short time spent in the 

 most solemn suspense, I thought I heard a humming noise at a 

 distance, which drawing nearer, to my unspeakable comfort, 

 proved to be two of the guides, who had come forward in search 

 of me. The hope now returned of once again beholding the 

 light of the sun. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the 

 guides at seeing me in such a situation, they immediately declared 

 that no person had ever been seen there before, and that it was 

 impossible to descend without being dashed to atoms. I could 

 now discern my situation more clearly ; I found myself perched 

 upon a rock that overhung a precipice of at least forty or fifty 

 yards perpendicular height. Fortunately, one of the guides had 

 the temerity to ascend the rugged side of the cavern to within 

 twelve or fifteen yards of where I was situated ; I then having the 

 assistance of another light, descended with the greatest difficulty 

 and danger to within a short distance of where the guide was 

 standing, the guide was standing upon a rock that projected about 

 two feet from the side of the cavern. Between me and the guide 

 was an open space of about three yards in width, and, by the 

 best observation I could take, of between thirty and forty yards 

 in depth, the side of the cavern beneath me perpendicular, and 

 the face of the rock to which I was clinging, was also nearly per- 

 pendicular. As I was unable to turn, the guide told me to step 



