At Pedro's words, Strong's face became ashen. "Are you telling the truth?" he asked hoarsely. "Indeed I am. My father knows of several who have searched the place and nothing has ever been found." Strong drew a long breath and passed his hand over his face. "I have believed it true," he finally said, "ever since I first came into possession of this paper. There is something about it that rings true and I have counted upon finding sufficient wealth to enable me to achieve a long cherished plan. If what you say," turning to Pedro, "is true, my chance of attaining my ambition is very slim." "I'm sorry, sir, but if I had known for certain what your object was in coming down here I might have saved you the trouble. Isn't there any other way you might obtain the money you wish?" "If there is, I don't know it." "Pedro may be right," spoke up Billie suddenly, "but I am in favor of making an inspection of our own, now that we are here. What do you say, Don?" "I'm with you." Then to Strong: "How are we to get to the bottom?" Strong reached over and from behind a nearby boulder produced another bundle of rope. "I had intended making a rope ladder," he said. "All right, then," from Donald, "a rope ladder it shall be." The boys set to work and in the course of an hour had made a rope ladder more than fifty feet in length. Lowering it into the shaft, it seemed to reach to the bottom and Billie started to go down, but Strong prevented him. "I shall go first," he said. "If there is any danger from poisonous gas, or from reptiles, I shall take the risk. You boys have parents and homes. I have no one. If I should suffer any mishap, do not attempt to rescue me. It would not be worth while." "Nothing will happen," declared Adrian. "I have a hunch and my hunches are usually right." The rope having been properly fastened and warded off the side by an ingenious arrangement of several large rocks, Strong began his descent. In his left hand he carried a flaming torch and Donald leaned over the edge, looking down, with rifle sighted, to fire upon any reptile which might be brought to light by the torch's ruddy glare. Step by step Strong went down, stopping every now and then to hold his torch below him, if perchance it might come into contact with fire damp or any other noxious gas. He had descended at least three-fourths of the way, when, as he swung his torch below, he uttered a cry that was almost a shriek and the torch fell from his hand. At the same instant Donald gave vent to a loud exclamation and his rifle cracked. "Hold on," he cried as he arose from the ground, "as you value your life, don't lose your hold." "What is it?" asked the others in one voice. "Snakes! Dozens of them," replied Donald. "Climb up, Strong, as fast as you can." "All right," came a feeble reply, followed almost immediately by a louder call of "Help!" "Hold fast," called Donald. "I'm coming."