The Underground Drainage 



with the usual supply of torches, candles, and waterproof 

 matches, and also a supply of fluorescein mixed ready 

 for use. 



The following morning the ladders were placed in 

 position, and two of us went down as far as the ledge 

 to prospect, taking the precaution to tie ourselves on to 

 our mountaineering rope, which was slowly paid out by 

 the men above, as each of us made his way down the 

 ladder, thus acting as a life-line in case of a slip. 



The ledge we found to consist of slabs of limestone 

 worn smooth and highly polished by the action of the 

 water and offering a somewhat precarious foothold. By 

 the exercise of considerable care we were able to crawl 

 to the edge and to peer over into the lower chasm. A 

 floor consisting of loose boulders was just discernible 

 in the dim light, and by timing the fall of a pebble 

 we estimated it to be over 300 feet below us. Of 

 the walls of the lower chasm we could see nothing 

 beyond some 50 feet below the ledge, and this in spite 

 of the fact that the Sun was shining brightly and there 

 was a fairly good light in the pit. 



While we were on the ledge a shower of sand and 

 pebbles came down from the top, narrowly missing one 

 of us, and as it struck the ledge with considerable force 

 we thought it desirable to return to the surface immedi- 

 ately. On the way up the ladders the first man was 

 again saluted with pebbles and sand, but fortunately was 

 not hurt. On reaching the surface we found that with 

 every care it was impossible to avoid dislodging pebbles 

 from the slope when hauling on the life-line, and under 

 these circumstances we began to doubt if it was safe to 

 continue the exploration. In any case the day was now 



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