Jack Rattenbury stepped up to her, and she showed him the mouth of the rent. He could see a black irregular stain; in the feeble light it did not show as a gulf. It might have been ink run over the turf――but ink in floods. How deep it was he could not conjecture, for it showed no depth, only level blackness. 'How far down?' he asked. 'To the very level of the beach,' she answered, 'except at the end where the tear begins, and there it is choked with earth and stone that has crumbled and tumbled in. You will not be able to carry the kegs down; the slope is steep as a spire, and is broken in places by bits of rock, and in others soft as dough. You must lower the tubs.' 'Rope!' ordered Jack, turning to the man nearest. Then, 'Some one will have to descend.' 'That will I,' said the girl, 'but I must have a light.' 'It is surely unsafe for you to attempt it.' 'Not at all. I have climbed it. I know what it is like. I have led you so far. I will go through with my enterprise. Let me have a lantern.' One was passed to young Rattenbury. Winefred stepped along the fringe of the rent till she reached its extreme limit. 'I can descend here in safety,' she said, 'but it is not easy work, and a heavy man might sink in the rubbish; see, I am over the edge already. When I am lower down I will light the lantern. It is a little difficult at first to descend, but it becomes easier farther down. Do not fear for me. I learned how to do it to-day――I mean yesterday: it is past midnight now. You shall follow me after you have lowered the casks.' She disappeared into the black chasm. It made the heart of the young man stand still for a moment. He expected to hear a heavy fall. Then a white hand was extended out of it, and he let her take the lantern. 'Is there room for me also?' he asked. 'No; it is steep and narrow. Give me flint and steel.' In another moment he saw a splutter of sparks, then a glow that brightened as the girl breathed on the ignited tinder. Finally came a burst of yellow flame. She had kindled the candle, and this she at once placed in the lantern. Now only could he see the wall of the chasm, and the flint-stones glistening in it like eyes. Below all was impenetrable darkness. 'Have no fear,' said Winefred cheerfully, and began the descent. Jack watched the light as it danced down. It was seen here, then there, as she circumvented some fallen block that had lodged and wedged itself in the chasm. Then boldly she mounted another, and leaped down from it. Next moment she was struggling through soft chalk like a snowdrift. Then a shoot of stones was sent bounding down the incline, dislodged by her feet. Jack dared not lean over lest he should occasion some of the friable chalk of the edge to give way and fall upon her.