THE SOUFRIERE-BIRD. 205 



eagerness to possess the bird, I neglected to examine 

 the ground beneath my feet; I saw only the bird, and 

 darted forward. The loose earth gave way, the 

 mass of orchids and roots, loosened by the rains, fell 

 without warning, and I, wildly grasping at overhang- 

 ing roots which broke in my grip, was thrown into 

 the ravine. It was not more than fifteen feet in depth, 

 and so narrow that my fall was broken by the adjacent 

 walls, and I landed on my feet, bruised and a little 

 torn, but without serious injury. 



Joy at escape from immediate danger was quickly 

 turned to apprehension regarding escape from the 

 gulch, for the walls were as smooth as water could 

 wear them, and the lower portion of the ravine dis- 

 appeared suddenly in the direction of the lake. The 

 head of the ravine was a hole like a well, and into 

 this I had fallen. Through the crevice below me I 

 could see the shimmering waters of the lake, a thou- 

 sand feet beneath, and a few steps farther would have 

 precipitated me into its unfathomed abyss. 



A shower heavier than the others came down fierce- 

 ly, setting rivulets running down the crater and wash- 

 ing the earth from beneath my feet, warning me to be 

 out of the hole if possible. Clinging to some pro- 

 jections in the rock, I worked my way slowly up until 

 near the top ; when about to thrust my arm through 

 the vines that darkened my chamber, I was startled 

 by the appearance of a black, shining head with 

 glittering eyes, thrust right into my face. But for the 

 nearness of the opposite wall, I should have fallen, 

 this apparition took me so by surprise, for it was none 

 other than an immense black snake. Fortunately, I 



