His voice came up softly to the three watchers now, so low that even in the vast silence of the cavern it could barely be heard.

To Roderick Drew it was as if the strange creature below him was sobbing like a heart-broken child, and he whispered in Wabigoon's ear.

Then, foot by foot, so gently that his moccasined feet made no sound, he approached the madman.
Half-way to him he paused.
"Hello, John Ball!" he called softly.
The faint light of the torch was falling upon him, and he advanced another step.

The murmuring of the wild man ceased, but he made no movement.

He still knelt in his rigid posture, his arms stretched toward the black chaos beyond him.