THE BOTTOM OF THE GULF
'I can't die like a rat in a trap,' said Curtius, whimpering.
And off he went on his exploration. He looked in at the recess from which the voice had proceeded and found nothing. The cave was enormous. For many hours he tramped on and on, and never through one tiny chink in the roof did he see the light of day. Exhausted and ravenous, at last he flung himself down on the floor of the cave, and almost immediately the voice, which had been silent all this time, began again. First of all came that faint, mean little snigger; then it said:
'Hungry?'
'Worn out with hunger,' sobbed Curtius; 'I'm thirsty, too. My mouth is so parched that I can hardly speak, and there doesn't seem to be one drop of moisture in this damned cavern.'
'There isn't,' said the voice, 'nor one crumb of food either, with the exception of your horse, and I don't
97
