We secured, also, your chisel, as well as some hammers, and all our tools were thrown down below; we then arranged two gourds to serve us for lamps; and when all was ready, and our ladder firmly fixed, we descended ourselves; and we have nothing more to tell you, except that we were very glad when we heard your voices outside, at the very time when our work was drawing to an end.

We were sure, when we distinguished your voices so clearly, that we must be near the external air; we redoubled our efforts, and here we are.

Now tell us, father, are you pleased with our idea?
and will you forgive us for making a mystery of it ?" I assured them of my forgiveness, and my cordial approbation of their manly and useful enterprise; and made Ernest happy by declaring that it should always be called the _Grotto Ernestine_.
"Thanks to you all, my dear children," said I; "your dear mamma will now prefer Tent House to Falcon's Nest, and will have no occasion to risk breaking a limb in descending the winding staircase.

I will assist you to enlarge the opening, and as we will leave it all the simplicity of a natural grotto, it will soon be ready." We all set to work; Jack carried away the loosened stones and rubbish, and formed benches on each side the grotto.

With what had fallen outside, he also made two seats in the front of the rock, and before evening all was complete.