"I beg pardon, sir," said Lennox, drawing back; but as he glanced aside he saw that the sergeant was busy with the end of the rope, fastening it to the handle of one of the lanterns, and the man who had slipped it off his shoulder was rapidly uncoiling the ring. "Anybody got a flask?" said Dickenson. "We might send him down a reviver with the light." But there was no reply, flasks being rarities at Groenfontein, and such as there were did not contain a drop. By this time the lantern was ready, and Sergeant James glanced at the captain, who signed to him to lower away. Directly after, the descending lantern was lighting up the sides of the gulf, which were not six feet apart; but how far the great crack-like place extended they could not see, the light penetrating but a little distance, and then all was black darkness, out of which, from far below, there came up the murmuring, gurgling rush of the running water. As for the lantern, as soon as it was lowered down it ceased swinging, coming with a sharp tap against smooth rock which went downward in a pretty regular slope, but so steep that the lantern lay upon its side and glided down as fast as the men could pay out the rope. "I sha'n't have length enough, I'm afraid, sir," said the sergeant, who leaned over the edge. "Then why didn't you bring more?" cried the captain angrily. The sergeant was silent, and _grate! grate! grate_! the lantern went on down over the rock face, which sparkled with moisture, for an exceedingly thin sheet of water glistened and went on wearing it down as it probably had from the time the great kopje cavern was formed. But still there was no sign of the missing man--nothing but glistening rock, and beyond that darkness. "How much more rope have you?" said the sergeant in a whisper. "'Bout a dozen feet," said the man who was passing it to him from behind. "Swing the lantern to and fro," cried the captain sharply. "It won't swing, sir," replied the sergeant. "If I try, it will only roll over on to its face." "Never mind; you haven't tried. Now swing it," cried Roby. "Bottom," cried the sergeant, for the lantern stopped short, and down beneath it there was a flash and a quivering reflection, showing that it was close to the flowing water. "What is it resting on?" said Lennox eagerly, for he had forgotten the snub he had received and was all eagerness to help. "I didn't hear it click on rock." "Just what I was thinking, sir," replied the sergeant, lifting the suspended lantern again and letting it descend once more. "I wish to goodness, Mr Lennox, that you would not keep on interfering," cried Captain Roby angrily.--"Now, sergeant, what do you make out?" "Rests on something soft, sir. No; it's hit against something hard. Why, it's metal--a buckle." "I know," cried Lennox, forgetting himself again. "You've lowered it right down on to the poor fellow, and he's above the water."