The floor was the same everywhere save at its extremities.At the point of Willock's descent,it dipped away in a narrow line that would not have admitted a man's body.At the other end,where he now stood,it suddenly gave way to empty space.It came to an end so abruptly that there was no means of discovering how deep was the narrow abyss beyond.Possibly it descended a sheer three hundred feet,the depth of the ridge at that place.On the smooth floor which melted to nothingness with such sinister and startling suddenness,the candlelight revealed the skeleton of a man lying at the margin of the unknown depths.Mingled with the bones that had fallen apart with the passing of centuries,was a drawn sword of blackened hilt and rusted blade--a sword of old Spanish make--and in the dust of a rotted purse lay a small heap of gold coins of strange design.
Well,pard,said Brick Willock grimly,you come here first and much obliged to you.You've told me two things:that once in here,no getting out--unless you bring along your ladder;and what's better still,nobody has been here since you come,or that wouldn't be my money!And now having told me all you got to say,my cavalier,I guess we'd better part.He raked the bones into a heap,and dashed them into the black gulf.He did not hear them when they struck bottom,and the sinister silence gave him an odd thrill.He shook his head.If I ever roll out of bed here,he said,me and you will spend the rest of the time together,pardner.