He looked to the right and left, paddling slowly; on all sides he saw
the slimy columns stretching regularly into the darkness. The light of
the open day grew dimmer as he advanced, the air became colder. He
looked eagerly around him, paddling slowly. Already he half repented the
attempt. The boat went along easily, and the black and heavy water
hardly splashed as he drew his paddle through it. Still nothing could
be seen but the even ranks of pillars. Then, all at once, the night grew
blacker, and again the cold wind arose and blew in his face; everywhere
was the ghastly silence and the darkness. A shiver went through him; he
could not bear it; in an agony of terror he turned his paddle to go
back. Whatever might be the secret of the cavern or the reward of the
adventure, he dared go no further. He must get back quickly to the open
air and the blue sky. He drew his paddle through the water. The boat did
not turn. He gave a cry, he pulled with all his might, the boat only
lurched a little and went on its way. He set his teeth and backed; his
life depended upon it. The boat swam on. A cold sweat broke out over
him; he put all his strength in his stroke. The boat went on into the
darkness swiftly and silently. He paused a little to regain force; he
stifled a sob of horror and despair. Then he made a last effort; the
skiff whirled round into another avenue of columns, and the paddle
shivered into atoms against a pillar. The little light of the cavern
entrance was lost, and there was utter darkness.
Amyntas cowered down in the boat. He gave up hope of life, and lay there
for long hours awaiting his end; the water carried the skiff along
swiftly, silently. The darkness was so heavy that the columns were
invisible, heavy drops fell into the water from the roof. How long would
it last? Would the boat go on till he died, and then speed on for ever?
He thought of the others who had gone into the cavern. Were there other
boats hurrying eternally along the heavy waters, bearing cold skeletons?
He covered his face with his hands and moaned. But he started up, the
night seemed less black; he looked intently; yes, he could distinguish
the outlines of the pillars dimly, so dimly that he thought he saw them
only in imagination. And soon he could see distinctly their massive
shapes against the surrounding darkness. And as gradually the night
thinned away into dim twilight, he saw that the columns were different
from those at the entrance of the cavern; they were no longer covered
with weed and slime, the marble was polished and smooth; and the water
beneath him appeared less black. The skiff went on so swiftly that the
perpetual sequence of the pillars tired his eyes; but their grim
severity gave way to round columns less forbidding and more graceful; as
the light grew clearer, there was almost a tinge of blue in the water.
Amyntas was filled with wonder, for the columns became lighter and more
decorated, surmounted by capitals, adorned with strange sculptures. Some
were green and some were red, others were yellow or glistening white;
they mirrored themselves in the sapphire water. Gradually the roof
raised itself and the columns became more slender; from them sprang
lofty arches, gorgeously ornamented, and all was gold and silver and
rich colour. The water turned to a dazzling, translucent blue, so that
Amyntas could see hundreds of feet down to the bottom, and the bottom
was covered with golden sand. And the light grew and grew till it was
more brilliant than the clearest day; gradually the skiff slowed down
and it swam leisurely towards the light's source, threading its way
beneath the horse-shoe arches among the columns, and these gathered
themselves into two lines to form a huge avenue surmounted by a vast
span, and at the end, in a splendour of light, Amyntas saw a wondrous
palace, with steps leading down to the water. The boat glided towards
it and at the steps ceased moving.