In this way they came to the edge of the chasm. It was about a thousa long and perhaps two hundred wide. They dismounted from their hors and came to the edge, and looked down into it. A stro smote up into their faces, mixed with a smell which was quite unlike any they had ever smelled. It was rich, sharp, exg, and made you she depth of the chasm was sht that at first it dazzled their eyes and they could e nothing. When they got ud to it they thought they could make out a river of fire, and, on the banks of that river, what emed to be fields and groves of an unbearable, hot brilliahough they were dim pared with the river. There were blues, reds, greens, and whites all jumbled together：a very good stained-glass window with the tropical sun staring straight through it at midday might have something the same effect. Down the rugged sides of the chasm, looking black like flies against all that fiery light, hundreds of Earthmen were climbing.
“Your honours,” said Golg （and wheuro look at him they could e nothing but blaess for a few miheir eyes were so dazzled）.“Your honours, why don’t you e down to Bism? You’d be happier there than in that cold, unprotected, naked try out on top. Or at least e down for a short visit.”
Jill took it frahat none of the others would listen to su idea for a moment. To her horror she heard the Prince saying： “Truly, friend Golg, I have half a mind to e down with you. For this is a marvellous adventure, and it may be no mortal man has ever looked into Bism before or will ever have the ce again. And I know not how, as the years pass, I shall bear to remember that it was on my power to have probed the uttermost pit of Earth and that I forbore. But could a man live there? You do not swim in the fire-river itlf?”
“Oh no, your Honour. Not we. It’s only salamanders live in the fire itlf.”
“What kind of beast is your salamander?” asked the Prince.