118 MARTIN RATTLER.

Without taking notice of their remarks, the hermit
repeated the experiment at the mouths of two caverns
farther on, with the like result.

“Maybe the spalpeen’s hidin’ in the little cave
where ye laid down yer gun,” suggested Barney,
going towards the place as he spoke. “Och, then,
come here, friend; sure it must be the mouth of a
mine, for there’s two o’ the beautifullest di’monds I
iver—”

Barney's speech was cut short by a low peculiar
sound, that seemed like the muttering of far-distant
thunder. At the same moment the hermit pulled him
violently back, and placing himself in a firm attitude
full in front of the cavern, held the point of the spear
advanced before him.

“Martin,” he whispered, “shoot an arrow straight
into that hole—quick !”

Martin obeyed, and the arrow whizzed through the
aperture. Instantly there issued from it a savage
and tremendous roar, so awful that it seemed as if
the very mountain were bellowing and that the cavern
were its mouth. But not a muscle of the hermit’s
figure moved. He stood like a bronze statue, his
head thrown back and his chest advanced, with one
foot planted firmly before him and the spear pointing
towards the cave. It seemed strange to Martin that