234 THE OGEE'S DEN. 



advanced, though with no great alacrity, to her side, and both 

 then gazed intently down the steep declivity. One of the two 

 failed not, we may be sure, to look narrowly for the formidable 

 tusks, which, as she had learnt by experience, were sometimes 

 the only tokens of their wily possessor's presence ; but not a 

 thing was visible, save the ball-like object before noticed. 



Piccoletta was curious as well as courageous. She proposed 

 to her comrade that, by the assistance of each other, they 

 should descend to the bottom of the pitfall ; and when the 

 latter (as was not very surprising) looked somewhat shy of 

 the attempt, our little heroine, half-stepping, half-sliding 

 down the descent, effected her bold purpose by herself. Bold 

 as she was she nevertheless shook, for a minute, from top 

 to toe ; when she found herself standing alone in the very 

 print-mark left by the monstrous body of the late tenant of 

 the den. 



But cause for alarm seemed none, as she evidently had the 

 pitfall entirely to herself, with nothing whatever near her ex- 

 cept what looked below, as it had appeared from above, a great 

 ball of sand great, in comparison with Piccoletta, or with 

 any of her companions, but very small, as compared with a 

 creature like the Ogre. On the matter of her re-ascent Picco- 

 letta felt no concern, being assured that it would prove the 

 easiest operation in the world, when performed free of the 

 monster's presence and his arresting volleys. 



She began, therefore, with great composure, to examine the 



