I ran down the passage to the chasm which the slab of stone had spanned.

I had been right in my guess, for the thing was gone.

Laputa was in truth a Titan, who in the article of death could break down a bridge which would have taken any three men an hour to shift.

The gorge was about seven yards wide, too far to risk a jump, and the cliff fell sheer and smooth to the imprisoned waters two hundred feet below.

There was no chance of circuiting it, for the wall was as smooth as if it had been chiselled.