THE MAMMOTH CAVE. \ 167 



narrow circle which was illuminated immediately 

 around me ; alcove and beyond was apparently an 

 unlimited space, in which the ear could catch not 

 the slightest sound, nor the eye find an object to 

 rest upon. It was filled with silence and dark- 

 ness ; and yet I knew that I was beneath the 

 earth, and that this space, however large it might 

 be, was actually bounded by solid walls. My 

 curiosity was rather excited than gratified. In 

 order that I might see the whole in one con- 

 nected view I built fires in many places with 

 the pieces of cane that I found scattered among 

 the rocks. Then taking my stand on the Mount- 

 ain, a scene was presented of surprising magnifi- 

 cence. On the opposite side the strata of gray 

 limestone, breaking up by steps from the bottom, 

 could scarcely be discerned in the distance by the 

 glimmering light. Above was the lofty dome, 

 closed at the top by a smooth, oval slab, beauti- 

 fully defined in the outline, from which the walls 

 sloped away on the right and left into thick 

 darkness. Every one has heard of the dome of 

 the Mosque of St. Sophia, of St. Peter's and of 

 St. Paul's ; they are never spoken of but in terms 

 of admiration, as the chief works of architecture, 

 and among the noblest and most stupendous ex- 

 amples of what man can do when aided by 



