<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">WONDROUS CAVERNS.</span></SPAN></h2>
<p>‘Look!’ said Yacka, pointing to a range of hills in
the distance. ‘There you will find the cave of the
White Spirit, and your journey will be ended.’</p>
<p>Gazing in the direction the black indicated, they
saw hill upon hill towering one above the other like a
number of huge pyramids. It was a strange sight in
this wild country, where it was doubtful if ever a
white man had set foot before.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[159]</span></p>
<p>They were all eagerness to continue the journey,
but Yacka said this could not be. Certain forms and
ceremonies were to be gone through before he could
venture with them into the hills and caves where
Enooma, the White Spirit, lay at rest. Only the head
of the tribe was permitted to enter the cave, and so
superstitious were the blacks upon this point, that
they believed it meant certain death to anyone of
their number who disobeyed. Consequently Yacka
would have no difficulty in showing Edgar and Will
what the cave contained, as he alone could enter.</p>
<p>Yacka had stated to the tribe that the white men
were come to see Enooma, who was of the same
race, and therefore they must be permitted to enter
the cave.</p>
<p>At the foot of the nearest hill—it could almost be
called a mountain—they halted, and the blacks commenced
a wild, weird chant which sounded like the
wail of lost spirits. They prostrated themselves upon
the ground, and made signs with their spears.</p>
<p>Yacka stepped on ahead, and beckoned to Edgar
and Will to follow, which they did without hesitation.
The other blacks came on at a respectful distance,
and seemed afraid that something was about to
happen. In the side of the hill they were approaching,
Edgar saw a large cleft in the rock wide enough
to admit half a dozen people to pass in abreast.
These hills were all solid rock, not merely mounds
of earth, and were bare in many places, while in
fissures grew trees, and wild creepers hung down in<span class="pagenum">[160]</span>
great profusion. Orchids were growing of exceptional
beauty, and Edgar, as he looked at them,
thought of the price they would bring in the old
country. As they entered the cleft in the rock the
blacks remained behind, and squatted down on the
ground.</p>
<p>‘They guard the entrance,’ said Yacka. ‘When
no one is here this opening in the rock closes up, and
no one can find the cave of Enooma.’</p>
<p>Edgar wondered how Yacka knew the cleft closed
up if no one was there to see such a strange thing
happen.</p>
<p>‘How can you tell that,’ he said, ‘if you have never
seen it?’</p>
<p>‘Rest and listen,’ said Yacka: ‘You never believe
I speak truth because I am black. Once the
Enooma were defeated by the Curracoo, and fled
before them to these hills. They were so hard-pressed
that they had to rush through the cleft in the
rock, and when the last of the tribe passed in the
cleft closed and shut the Curracoo out. This is true,
for men of the tribe have told me, and they do not
lie to the chief.’</p>
<p>Edgar believed this to be another superstition of
the blacks, but he could not resist looking behind
him towards the cleft they had entered by. With a
loud cry he sprang to his feet, for behind them there
was a solid rock, and he could see nothing of the
blacks they had left. Will looked, and turned pale
as he saw they were shut in.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[161]</span></p>
<p>‘How is this?’ said Edgar. ‘What has happened?’</p>
<p>‘Enooma has closed her gate,’ said Yacka. ‘She
knows of the approach of her son and the white men,
and she wishes to be undisturbed.’</p>
<p>Edgar walked back to where he imagined the cleft
in the rock by which they entered had been, but he
could see nothing but a solid mass in front of him.
He felt the rock and it was hard and firm, and must
have been there for ages. How had this strange
thing happened? Yacka must have suddenly turned
as they walked along, and the opening become
hidden, but as they entered the black appeared to
have gone straight on.</p>
<p>‘I give it up,’ said Edgar. ‘We seem to be
blocked in here, and shall have to trust to Yacka to
get us out. It makes a fellow feel queer when such
strange things happen, but I have no doubt there is
an explanation of it if we can find it out.’</p>
<p>The place they were now standing in was a narrow
defile between rocks towering up perpendicularly to
a considerable height. These rocks were bare and
smooth, and not a plant or fern could be seen
growing on the sides. Before them was the mouth
of a cave, and inside seemed dark as pitch. Yacka
walked to the mouth of the cave, and they followed
him. When they became accustomed to the gloom,
they saw a faint glimmer of light, about the size of a
bull’s-eye lantern glass, in the far distance. So far
as Edgar could make out, the sides of the cave were<span class="pagenum">[162]</span>
rocks, but smoothed in a similar way to those on
either side of the defile they had left. The floor of
the cave was hard and even, in some places so
smooth that it became slippery and dangerous.
Yacka did not speak, but kept moving slowly
forward, and they could see the dim outline of his
figure.</p>
<p>‘It must have been the action of water for ages
that has made the floor so smooth,’ said Edgar.
‘How cold it is after the heat we have had! Reminds
me of a petrifying cave. I believe if we
remained here long enough we should be turned into
stone.’</p>
<p>‘I have no desire to be turned into a petrified
mummy at present,’ said Will laughing; ‘but you’re
right about the cold—I am chilled to the bone.’</p>
<p>‘How much more of this is there, Yacka?’ said
Edgar, speaking loud enough for the black, who was
some way in front, to hear him.</p>
<p>The sound of his voice echoed through the passage,
and gradually died away in the distance.</p>
<p>‘Wait,’ said Yacka. ‘Be careful here.’</p>
<p>They had need of the warning, for they were now
treading upon something soft and slimy, and the
sensation was not pleasant. They slipped about and
made but little progress, and were glad when the
ground felt hard and dry again.</p>
<p>The round ball of light at the end was gradually
widening, and they could now see more plainly the
nature of the passage they were traversing. Looking<span class="pagenum">[163]</span>
up to the roof Edgar saw thousands of glittering
stars, which flashed and twinkled even with the faint
light from the opening.</p>
<p>‘Look, Will,’ he said; ‘how lovely this roof would
be if there was more light! They might be diamonds,
they sparkle so.’</p>
<p>‘Wish they were,’ replied Will. ‘A few diamonds
would help a fellow along—you know in what direction
I mean.’</p>
<p>‘Yacka has promised to make us rich. I wonder
if he will let us take what we like if there is anything
to take?’</p>
<p>It was a mass of various-coloured stalactites on the
roof that had attracted Edgar’s attention, and as they
got more light in the passage they were seen in all
their beauty. The sides were also covered with
curiously-twisted and gnarled designs. As they
neared the opening they saw the sun was shining
brightly, and that they were about to enter an open
space. They were not, however, prepared for the
sight that burst upon their astonished gaze as they
stepped out of the darkness into the full light of the
sun. Yacka watched them with a delighted expression
in his eyes, and had evidently anticipated the
surprise he was about to give them.</p>
<p>They were so charmed with the scene that they sat
down and looked upon it without saying a word.
The spot they were in was like a large basin hollowed
out of the solid rocks. The sides sloped down gradually,
and were hollowed out at the base. Had there<span class="pagenum">[164]</span>
been tiers of seats round, it would have resembled in
shape a vast amphitheatre. There was, however,
something far more picturesque than bare seats round
this wonderful circle. The whole of the basin was
covered with a kind of green moss, which looked like
velvet as the sun shone upon it.</p>
<p>This velvet bed was studded with a profusion of
flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Brilliant
orchids selected the most shady nooks to fix their
abode in. Huge white convolvulus spread over projections
and clumps; lilies of great height filled in spaces
where water lodged, and gently trickled down into a
pool in the hollow of the basin. Great nest ferns surrounded
the water, their fronds, over six feet long,
spreading out like large fans. The miniata had its
large carmine blossoms showing to perfection, the
colour being dazzling. Pandanus and screw palms
also grew amongst the giant ferns and lilies. Floating
on the water in the basin were gigantic water-lilies.</p>
<p>So scooped out was this basin, that there was an
ample shade for the numerous ferns and lilies that do
not flourish with the full light of the sun upon them.
Surrounded by such lovely flowers and ferns, and with
a cool pool of water to make everything refreshing, it
is small wonder, after their recent experiences, that
Edgar and Will fancied themselves in an enchanted
spot. How it all came here no one could fathom.
Nature fixes upon strange spots in which to work at
her best. All they knew and cared about was that<span class="pagenum">[165]</span>
in an unexplored part of Australia they had come
upon such a wonderful scene.</p>
<p>Yacka assured them this was a mere nothing when
compared with the cave of Enooma.</p>
<p>The place they were now in he described as the
bathing-place of Enooma, and said the waters from
the caves did not run into this place.</p>
<p>‘You can drink this water,’ said Yacka, ‘but not
that in the caves. It is bitter, and will turn the
tongue hard, and you will have no taste.’</p>
<p>It always struck Edgar as curious that, no matter
where they happened to be, Yacka could invariably
procure them a good meal. Even in this spot, where
it did not seem likely they would be able to find much
to relieve their hunger, Yacka got berries and roots,
some water from the pool, and made quite a pleasant,
and what proved to be a strengthening, drink. He
also gave them a root which he said would appease
hunger for a time whenever tasted.</p>
<p>Yacka would not allow them to linger here, but
walked round the basin.</p>
<p>Edgar saw no outlet except the one by which they
had entered. At the far side Yacka pulled aside the
dense masses of ferns, and they saw an opening large
enough to admit of a man crawling through. Yacka
went first, and they followed on their hands and
knees.</p>
<p>This passage was about fifty yards in length, and
at the other end was an open cave, which was lighted
by a hole in the roof, naturally formed. Gliding down<span class="pagenum">[166]</span>
the walls were glistening drops of water, and the floor
was very uneven, and covered with masses of rock
that must at some remote period have become
detached from the roof. Some of the tracery on the
walls Edgar looked at with wonder. It was of a rich
cream colour, and almost like the texture of a cashmere
shawl.</p>
<p>All sorts of shapes and figures could be seen caused
by the action of the water, which must have taken
thousands of years to perform its work, and would
take thousands more years to complete it. Hanging
from the roof were large pendants like icicles, and the
water ran slowly down them and dripped off at the
end. The hollow underneath caused by these drips
showed the extreme age of the cave.</p>
<p>Leaning against the side of the cave Edgar saw
close to him what at first looked like a bunch of
grapes; but when he observed it closely he found it
was a peculiar formation in the rock.</p>
<p>‘That is one of the secrets,’ said Yacka. ‘It is a
guide to the inner cave we must enter. Watch.’</p>
<p>Yacka pushed the bunch of grapes, and a large
slab of rock moved slowly round, and through the
opening they saw another large cave beyond.</p>
<p>‘Enter and wait,’ said Yacka.</p>
<p>‘Are you coming?’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>‘I will fetch you,’ said Yacka; ‘but I must enter the
White Spirit’s cave before you, or harm may befall.’</p>
<p>‘I don’t half like it,’ said Edgar. ‘We are not
afraid, but you had better go on with us.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[167]</span></p>
<p>Yacka said: ‘You must remain alone.’</p>
<p>‘All right,’ said Edgar, sitting down on a projection
from the rock; ‘but make haste back.’</p>
<p>Yacka went away, and when they looked round they
found the rock had swung back into its place, and they
were imprisoned in the cave.</p>
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