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CHAPTER XLI

One day, having gone over with my younger sons to weed the garden, and survey our possessions, I perceived roof gallery wanted little repair, and called Jack to raise the rope ladder which I had brought from Falcon's Nest, and which very useful while we were constructing the roof; but we sought everywhere; it found; and were quite free from robbers island, only accuse my elder sons, who had doubtless carried it off to ascend some tall cocoa-nut tree Obliged content, we walked garden foot rocks Since our arrival, I somewhat uneasy at hearing dull, continued noise, which appeared side The forge we had passed, now extinguished, workmen were absent Passing along, close rocks, the noise became more distinct, and truly alarmed Could it be an earthquake ? Or perhaps it announced some volcanic explosion I stopped part rock where the noise was loudest; the surface was firm and level; but , blows and falling stones seemed to strike our ears uncertain what ; curiosity prompted me to stay, but sort of terror urged me to remove my child and myself However, Jack, always daring, was unwilling till he had discovered the cause phenomenon "If Francis were here," said he, " fancy it wicked gnomes, working underground, and in fine fright part, I believe only people come to collect the salt rock "

"People ! " said I; "you don't know what saying, Jack; excuse Francis gnomes_,--it poetic fancy, but yours is quite absurd Where are the people from ? "

"But what else can it be ? " said he "Hark ! hear them strike the rock "

"Be certain, however," said I, " no people " moment, I distinctly heard human voices, speaking, laughing, and apparently clapping their hands distinguish any words; struck with mortal terror; but Jack, whom nothing could alarm, clapped his hands also, with joy, that he had guessed right "What did , papa ? Was I not right ? Are there not people rock ? --friends, " approaching the rock, when it appeared shaking; stone soon fell down, then another I seized hold of Jack, to drag him away, lest crushed fragments of rock moment another stone fell, and we saw two heads appear opening,--the heads of Fritz and Ernest Judge surprise and joy ! Jack was soon opening, and assisting his brothers to enlarge it enter, I stepped in, and found myself in real grotto, of round form, with vaulted roof, divided by narrow crevice, which admitted the light and air , however, better lighted by two large gourd lamps my long ladder of ropes suspended opening top, and thus comprehended how my sons had penetrated recess, which impossible to suspect the existence of outside But how had they discovered it ? and what were they making of it ? These were my two questions Ernest replied at once last "I wished," said he, " resting-place mother, when she came to her garden My brothers have each built some place for her, and called it by their name I had desire that some place island dedicated to Ernest, and I now present you the Grotto Ernestine "

"And after all," said Jack, " make pretty dwelling first of us that marries "

"Silence, little giddy-pate," said I; "where expect wife island ? you shall discover one rocks, brothers have discovered the grotto ? But tell me, Fritz, what directed you here "

"Our good star, father," said he "Ernest and I were walking round these rocks, and talking wish for resting-place mother on her way garden He projected tent; but the path was too narrow to admit it; rock, heated sun, was like stove We were considering what do, when summit rock very beautiful little unknown quadruped From its form taken it for young chamois, if I in Switzerland; but Ernest reminded me chamois was peculiar to cold countries, and he thought gazelle or antelope; probably the gazelle of Guinea or Java, called by naturalists the chevrotain suppose I tried to climb the rock this little animal remained standing, with one foot raised, and its pretty head turning first to one side and then other; but useless to attempt it here, where the rock was smooth and perpendicular; besides, put the gazelle to flight, timid and wild animal I then remembered place near Tent House where considerable break occurred chain of rocks, and that, with little difficulty, the rock scaled by ascending this ravine Ernest laughed at me, and asked me if I expected the antelope would wait patiently till I got ? No matter, I determined , and him to remain; but he soon determined to accompany me, for he fancied that fissure of rock flower of beautiful rose-colour, unknown to him My learned botanist thought it an erica_, or heath, and wished to ascertain the fact One helping the other, we soon got through all difficulties, and arrived summit; and here we were amply repaid beautiful prospect on every side talk afterwards, father; formed some idea country which these rocks separate us from But to return to our grotto I went along, first looking pretty gazelle, which licking piece of rock, where doubtless she found some salt hardly hundred yards from her, my gun ready, when suddenly stopped by crevice, which cross, though the opening was not very wide The pretty quadruped was rock opposite ; but of what use would it to shoot it, when secure it obliged to defer it till better opportunity offered, and turned to examine the opening, which appeared deep; still I bottom cavity was white, like that former grotto I called Ernest, who was behind me, plants and stones, to impart to him an idea that suddenly struck me , this the retreat mother him that I believed the floor cave was nearly on level path that led garden, and we had only an opening form of natural grotto, and it exactly what Ernest was much pleased idea, and said easily ascertain the level of weight attached to string; but though startled difficulty of descending to our labour every day, and returning evening, agree to my wish of beginning outside rock, had done former grotto, He had several reasons for wishing to work from within ' first place,' said he, ' cooler this summer weather; soon unable on labouring burning rock; then our path is so narrow, that we know how to dispose rubbish; interior, serve us bench round the grotto; besides, such pleasure in completing it secretly, and unsuspected, without any assistance or advice except yours, my dear Fritz, which I accept with all my heart; so pray find out some means of descending and ascending readily '