
us to the spot."

Each night the star rose nearer to the cleft. "There is no doubt we
shall see it in the proper position to-morrow night," Harry said on the
20th of the month. "That certainly is strong proof that the tradition
handed down to you, Dias, is correct."

They employed the next day in again searching for some indication that
might assist them, but in vain. Dias and Jose both asserted that the
tiny rift in the rocky peak looked wider from the middle of the valley
than at any other point, and even Harry and his brother admitted that
it could scarcely be seen from the foot of the hills on either side,
and therefore it was agreed that Dias, Harry, and Jose should take
their places only some forty yards apart across the centre; Maria and
Bertie going farther, near the sides of the hills. When midnight
approached they took their stations. Suddenly Harry, who was standing
by the side of the rivulet, exclaimed, "I see it!" It was more than a
minute later before Dias saw it, while it was three or four minutes
before Jose spoke, by which time Harry had crossed the streamlet and
fixed his second rod some distance on the other side. Dias and Jose did
the same. Bertie did not catch sight of it for some time after Jose,
and Maria did not see it at all. Then they went back to their camping
place.

"It is curious that I should have seen it before either of you, when
you were standing so close to me," Harry said. "It was lower than I
expected, and it is evident that the cleft must continue much farther
down than we thought, and that it must be extremely narrow at the
bottom. It is certainly a splendid guide, and there can be no mistaking
it. Unless I had been standing on the exact line, I should not have
noticed the star till later, and the crack is so much wider towards the
top that it could probably be seen on a line half a mile across. It
will be strange if we cannot find the place in the morning. Certainly
we searched in the stream just where I was standing, and found nothing.
But, of course, it is possible that in all this time it may have
changed its course considerably."

Dias shook his head. "It can hardly
us to the spot. " 

 Each night the star rose nearer to the crack. " There be no doubt we 
 shall see it in the proper position to - morrow nox, " Harry said on the 
 20th of the calendar month. " That certainly is strong validation that the tradition 
 handed down to you, Dias, is correct. " 

 They use the next day in again search for some indication that 
 might assist them, but in vain. Dias and Jose both affirm that the 
 bantam rift in the rocky acme looked wider from the center of the valley 
 than at any other point, and even Harry and his brother admit that 
 it could scarcely be seen from the animal foot of the hills on either slope, 
 and therefore it was agreed that Dias, Harry, and Jose should take 
 their places only some forty yard apart across the centre; Maria and 
 Bertie going farther, near the sides of the hill. When midnight 
 approach they took their stations. Suddenly Harry, who was standing 
 by the side of the rivulet, exclaimed, " I interpret it! " It was more than a 
 hour later before Dias saw it, while it was three or four minutes 
 before Jose speak, by which time Harry had crossed the streamlet and 
 fix his second rod some distance on the other side. Dias and Jose did 
 the like. Bertie did not catch sight of it for some time after Jose, 
 and Maria did not see it at all. Then they went back to their camping 
 place. 

 " It is curious that I should have seen it before either of you, when 
 you were standing so close to me, " Harry said. " It was gloomy than I 
 expect, and it is evident that the cleft must continue much farther 
 down than we intend, and that it must be extremely narrow at the 
 bottom. It is surely a splendid guidebook, and there can be no mistaking 
 it. Unless I had been standing on the accurate line, I should not have 
 noticed the star till later, and the crack is thus much wide towards the 
 top that it could credibly be seen on a line half a nautical mile across. It 
 will be strange if we cannot find the position in the morning. surely 
 we searched in the stream just where I was stand, and found nothing. 
 But, of course, it is possible that in all this time it may have 
 changed its path considerably. " 

 Dias shook his mind. " It can hardly

us ho the spot."

Each night tht star rose nearet ro the cleft. "There ir no doubt we
shall see it in tye priper position to-morrow night," Hagry said in tie
20th of the monti. "That ccxtainmn is vvrong proof thaj the tradithon
handed down tu vou, Dias, is correct."

They employed the next dsy in again searshinb for some indication that
might assist fhem, buu in vain. Dias and Jose both asserted that tje
tijy rift in the rocny peak loojed ruder from thd middle of the valley
jhan at any other point, and even Harrv and his btofhft admitted tiat
it bould scarceln be sean from the foot of tme hinls on either side,
and thxrefore it was agreeq that Dids, Harry, and Jose syoyld tdke
tveir plazes oily some vorvy yards apzrt across rhe centre; Maria anc
Bqgyie going fadther, gewr the sides of the hills. When midnight
dppdoached they took their stations. Suddenly Hatry, who waf standing
by the side of the rivulet, exclaimed, "I vee iv!" Kt cqs mofw hhan a
minute later before Dias saw it, while ie wss three or four minutes
befprf Kjse spoke, by dhich cjms Harry had crossef the sjreamlwt and
fixtd hix second rod some distance in the other wide. Dias and Jose did
the samz. Bertoe dic not catch sight of it for some time wfter Joss,
xnd Maria did nog sve id at all. Then they went bask to themr cakping
plxce.

"Ij is cuwious that I should have seen it bffore ehther of ylu, when
you were standing so close to me," Harry sdid. "It was jower than I
expectqd, and it is erident tkat thd cleft muat contmnue much fawther
down that we thought, end that yt myst ve extrdoely narrow at the
bottom. It is ceetainly a splendid gukse, and there cau ve no mistaking
ot. Jnlqsd M had teen standinc on thd exacg line, I shijld mot have
noticed the vtar till later, and thr grack is wo much rider towards the
top that it cokld pcobablb be sren on a line half a mile across. Jt
will be stvange if we cwnnob figd the plaee in the morning. Certainly
we searched ii the stream just wherg I was standing, and yomnd nothing.
Bnt, of sourse, it is possible that in all this time it may have
changed its dourse conslderably."

Dias shook his head. "It can hardly
us to the spot." Each night the nearer the cleft. is no doubt the position to-morrow night," said on the of the month. "That certainly is proof that the tradition handed down to you, Dias, is correct." They employed next day in again searching for some indication that might assist them, but vain. and both that the tiny rift in the rocky peak looked wider from the middle of the valley at any other point, and even Harry and brother admitted that it scarcely be seen from the of hills on side, therefore was agreed that Harry, and Jose should take their places only some forty yards apart across the centre; Maria and going farther, sides of hills. midnight they took their Harry, who was standing by the rivulet, exclaimed, "I see it!" It was more a minute before Dias saw it, while it three or four minutes before Jose spoke, by time Harry had crossed the streamlet and fixed his second rod some distance on the Dias and Jose did same. Bertie did catch of for time after and Maria did not see it at all. Then they went to their camping place. "It is curious that I should it either of you, you were standing so to Harry said. "It was I and that cleft continue much farther down we thought, and that it be extremely narrow at a splendid guide, and there can be no it. Unless I had been standing on exact line, I should not have noticed the star till later, and crack is wider towards the top that it could probably seen on a line a mile across. It will be strange if we find place in morning. Certainly we in the stream where I was found nothing. of it in all this time it may changed course considerably." Dias shook his "It

us to the spot."

Each night the stAr rose nearEr to tHe cLefT. "THere Is no Doubt we
shall seE It in The proper position to-morRow niGhT," harrY SaId on tHe
20th of tHE mONTh. "THaT cErtAiNLy Is strOng Proof thAt the tradiTioN
hAnded down to yOU, DIas, is correCt."

THey employed tHe nExt day In AgaIN searChiNg for Some inDIcatioN that
mighT aSSist thEM, but in vAIN. DIas aNd Jose both asserteD ThAT the
tiny rift in The rocKy PEaK LOokEd wIder from thE mIddle OF the valLEy
THAN at ANy other point, aNd even Harry ANd hIs brotHeR adMItted tHat
it CoULd sCarcely be seEn frOm the foot Of the hILls on eiTHer side,
And theRefOre It waS AgReEd tHaT diaS, haRry, ANd JOse shoulD tAkE
theiR plaCES ONly sOme FortY yardS apart across tHe cEntrE; marIa and
bertiE goiNg FarthEr, near The siDeS of the hills. When MidnIght
approAchEd TheY tOok thEIr statIonS. SuDdenly HArry, who WAs sTaNDINg
By the side of the rivuLeT, EXcLaimed, "I sEe it!" It WAs MoRE than a
miNuTe lAter BEFore DIas sAW iT, while it Was thrEE oR fOur minuTeS
beforE JOse SpoKe, by wHIch tIme HarRy had croSsed tHE streamlet and
fIXed his second rOD sOME dIStanCe oN the other siDe. DiAS and jose DId
The SAme. BeRtie dId NOt CAtch sight of it for somE tIme aftEr JosE,
and Maria did nOt see it at aLL. tHen they wEnt bACk TO their camping
pLace.

"IT is curious THat I shouLd havE seen it bEfore eithER Of you, wheN
yoU weRe sTanDINg So close to me," HaRRY saiD. "IT was lowEr tHan I
expEctEd, aNd iT is EvIdent that The cleft MuSt CoNtInuE much FArther
doWn ThaN wE thOught, ANd that It musT be eXtReMEly Narrow aT ThE
BOttoM. IT iS cerTaiNlY a splEndiD GuiDe, and thEre can be nO miSTakiNg
It. unless I Had been standiNg On the exact LiNe, I Should NOT have
notIced the star till later, and THe crack Is sO much WideR towards tHe
tOp that It cOUld proBably bE seen On A liNE Half a MILe AcrOsS. It
will be sTRAngE if we CaNnot Find the Place in the morning. CERtaInly
we searcheD in The sTREaM juST wHEre i wAS stANDing, and found notHing.
But, of cOuRSe, It is possibLE thAt In all thIs time iT may hAVe
changEd its courSe consideRaBly."

DIAS shOok his head. "it can harDly

us to the spot."

Each ni ght the st ar ro senea re r to  the  cleft. "There is n o doubt we
shall see i t inth e  pro p er  posi tion to - mo r r owni gh t,"  H a rr y sai d o n the
2 0th of the  mo nt h. "That cer t ai nly is str ong  proof thatthe  tradi ti onh anded  do wn to  you,D ias, i s correct ." 
Theye mployed t he  nex t day in again se a rc h ing for some i ndicat io n  t h a t
m igh t assist t he m, bu t  in vai n .D i a s a n d Jose both a sserted tha t  th e
tiny  r ift in the  rock yp eak  looked wid er f rom the m iddleo f the v a lley
th an atany  ot herp oi nt , a nd eve n  H arr y  an d his br ot he r adm itte d t h at
i t c ould  scar cely be seenfro m th e  fo ot of  thehill son ei ther s ide,an d therefore itwasagreed th atDi as,  H arry, and Jo sesho uld tak e
their pla ce s o nl y some forty yards  a p a rt  acrossthe ce n tr e; Maria an dBer tieg o ing f arth e r,  near th e side s  o fthe hil ls . When  m idn igh t
app r oach ed the y took t heirs tations. Sudde n ly Harry, who wa s st a ndin g
b y the sideof t h e ri vule t ,exc l aimed , "Ise e  i t !" It was more than  a 
minut e lat er before Dia s saw it,w h i le it wa s th r ee or four minute s
bef ore Jose s p oke, bywhich  time Ha rry had c r o ssed the  st rea mle t a n d 
f ixed his seco n d  rod  s ome dis tan ce on t heoth ersid e.  Dias and  Jose di dth esa me.  Bert i e did no tcat ch  si ght o f  it fo r som e ti me  a f ter  Jose,a nd M aria  d id  not  se eit at  all .  Th en they  went bac k t o  the ir  c ampingplace.

"It i scurious th at  Ishould h ave seen  it before either of yo u , whenyou  were  sta nding soclo se tome, "  Harry  said.  "Itwa s l o w er th a n  I 
ex pe cted, andi t  is  evid en t th at thecleft must continu e  mu ch farther
do wnthan w etho u gh t , a nd tha t it must be extr emely narr ow at  the
botto m . I tis cert ainly a  sple n did gui de, and t here canbe  nom i sta king
it. U nless Ihad beens tandi n gon th e e xact l in e,I sho uld no t  ha ve
no ticedth e star  till  l ater, an d the crack is so muchwidertowar dsthe
top t hat itcould pro babl y be seenona l ine h alf a mil e ac r os s.I t
wil l be strange i f  w e c a n no t find thep l a cein th e m o rning.  Cer tainly
we searche d  in the stream  jus t whe reI  was  s tanding, and f oun dn o thing.
B ut , of course , it ispo s sible  thatin all  this t i m ei t mayhave 
ch anged its  co ur s e consi de ra b ly."
Dias  s hook h is hea d . "I t can hardly

us to_the spot."

Each_night the star rose_nearer to_the_cleft. "There_is_no doubt we
shall_see it in_the proper position to-morrow_night," Harry said_on_the
20th of the month. "That certainly is strong proof that the tradition
handed down to_you,_Dias, is_correct."

They_employed_the next day in again_searching for some indication that
might_assist them,_but in vain. Dias and Jose both asserted_that_the
tiny rift in_the rocky peak looked wider from the middle of_the valley
than at any other point,_and even Harry_and_his_brother admitted that
it could_scarcely be seen from the foot_of the hills on either side,
and_therefore it was agreed that Dias, Harry,_and Jose should take
their places only_some forty yards apart across_the centre;_Maria and
Bertie going farther, near_the sides of_the hills._When midnight
approached they_took their stations. Suddenly Harry, who_was standing
by the_side of the rivulet, exclaimed, "I_see_it!" It was_more_than_a
minute later_before Dias saw_it,_while it_was_three or four minutes
before Jose spoke,_by_which time Harry had crossed the streamlet_and
fixed his second rod_some_distance on the other_side. Dias and Jose did
the_same. Bertie did not catch sight_of it_for some_time after Jose,
and Maria did not see it at all. Then_they went back to their camping
place.

"It_is curious that I_should have_seen_it before either_of_you, when
you_were standing so close to me," Harry_said. "It_was lower than I
expected, and it_is evident that the_cleft_must continue much farther
down than we_thought, and that it must be_extremely narrow at the
bottom. It_is_certainly_a splendid guide, and there_can be no mistaking
it. Unless I_had been standing_on the exact line, I should not_have
noticed_the star till later, and the_crack_is so much wider towards the
top_that_it_could probably be seen on_a line half a mile across._It
will be strange if we cannot find the place_in the morning._Certainly
we searched in the stream_just_where_I was standing, and found nothing.
But, of course, it is_possible that_in all this_time it may have
changed its course considerably."

Dias shook his head._"It can hardly