RobinsonCrusoecouldnothavebeenmorestartledatthefootprintinthesandthanwewereatthisunwelcomediscovery。Myfirstimpulsewastomakeasrapidaretreataspossible，andbendourstepsinsomeotherdirection；butourcuriositytoseewhitherthispathmightlead，promptedustopursueit。Soonwewent，thetrackbecomingmoreandmorevisiblethefartherweproceeded，untilitconductedustothevergeoftheravine，whereitabruptlyterminated。
“Andso，“saidToby，peeringdownintothechasm，“everyonethattravelsthispathtakesajumphere，eh？“
“Notso，“saidI，“forIthinktheymightmanagetodescendwithoutit；whatsayyou，-shallweattemptthefeat？“
“Andwhat，inthenameofcavesandcoal-holes，doyouexpecttofindatthebottomofthatgulfbutabrokenneck-why，itlooksblackerthanourship’shold，andtheroarofthosewaterfallsdowntherewouldbatterone’sbrainstopieces。“
“Oh，no，Toby，“Iexclaimed，laughing；“butthere’ssomethingtobeseenhere，that’splain，ortherewouldhavebeennopath，andIamresolvedtofindoutwhatitis。“