It almost seemed as though nature took delight in proving the accuracy of Dick Armstrong's surmise; for, hardly had he said this, than they heard once again the remarkable throb of rushing waters pouring forth from a fissure in the crust of the earth and, what was more, it came from some point toward the rear! Roger smiled faintly, while even Mayhew condescended to let some of the worried look pass away from his face. "I should not like to roam about this terrible country after nightfall," said Roger, shuddering; "for there is too much danger of stepping into some bottomless pit, or having a deluge of boiling water thrown over your head. It's a question up here in the winter-time whether you are going to be frozen to death in a bitter storm, or roasted by the fires that are under the earth. I think we must be getting pretty close to where the Evil One lives, Dick. His workshop may be around these hills, for all we know." Dick, however, shook his head. He was proof against all belief in the supernatural. Such wonders as had been encountered on the trip he felt sure were after all but the products of an eccentric nature. Though they might strike one as bewildering at first, familiarity would dull this feeling of amazement, though it could never breed contempt. "We have a short time still before the sun sinks," remarked Dick; "shall we go on further or spend the night here?" "I'd rather find a better place if it's the same to you," Roger started to say, when to his astonishment Dick suddenly clutched him by the arm, and started to drag him away. At the same moment Roger became aware of a peculiar and alarming sound, as though loose rocks and shale were slipping down an abrupt slope. CHAPTER XIV THE LANDSLIDE ROGER tripped over some obstacle, so that both he and Dick fell flat on their faces, though neither had the misfortune to be injured other than to receive minor bruises. "Why, what happened then?" gasped Roger, as he sat up and commenced to rub one of his elbows. Mayhew had evidently also leaped hurriedly back, for he was crouching near the two boys, staring fixedly at some point just beyond, and looking not only puzzled but deeply concerned. "There was some sort of slip in the rock at the edge of that hole," explained Dick, breathing hard after his sudden exertion. "I was afraid the whole platform might be about to fall into the abyss, and that was why I dragged you back. It was better to be on the safe side, you know." "What will cross our path next, I wonder?" grumbled Roger. "We seem to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. First it is Indians who are about to wipe us out; then we come near being boiled in a pyramid of steaming water, and, as if that were not enough, here we have a narrow escape from being dropped into a bottomless pit."