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Show -32- "Take the path, Sandy," Verus replied. "But don't you think the steps would be a lot easier to climb down?" "Yes, they would be easier, but it is the wrong direction. We must go down the path." Sandy thought for a minute, then put Verus back in her pocket. After pushing the cover back over the well shaft, she started toward the steps. "I'm sure this would be faster," she muttered. The steps curved around the crown of the mountain and then dipped straight down between two high walls of slate. They then made a sharp turn and abruptly ended. Sandy stared, for before her stretched a gigantic ocean! It spread out in every direction, and she could see no end to it! "But - but where are the mountains?" she gasped, for there vere none in sight. Bewildered, she stepped down onto the wide bottom step. It broke loose with a loud crack and fell with her into the water. Amazingly, the step floated, and Sandy barely got wet. The sides and back of the step were intact, forming a secure three way ridge which she held onto. She soon noticed that her little raft was slowly rotating. She was heading toward a huge whirlpool! Leaning over, Sandy slapped the water in a desperate attempt to push the raft away, but it was too late. It was caught in the whirlpool's outer rim and v/as twisting slowly toward the fearsome abyss! As it was gradually drawn in, she looked into the |