He felt dizzy and faint--and hastily made his way out of that close death-chamber into the passage, where he leaned for a few minutes against the great central column to recover himself.

A brisk breath of wind from the Fjord came careering through the gallery, and blew coldly upon his forehead.

Refreshed by it, he rapidly overcame the sensation of giddiness, and began to retrace his steps through the winding arches, thinking with some satisfaction as he went, what a romantic incident he would have to relate to Lorimer and his other friends, when a sudden glare of light illumined the passage, and he was brought to an abrupt standstill by the sound of a wild "Halloo!" The light vanished; it reappeared.

It vanished again, and again appeared, flinging a strong flare upon the shell-worked walls as it approached.
Again the fierce "Halloo!" resounded through the hollow cavities of the subterranean temple, and he remained motionless, waiting for an explanation of this unlooked-for turn to the events of the morning.
He had plenty of physical courage, and the idea of any addition to his adventure rather pleased him than otherwise.

Still, with all his bravery, he recoiled a little when he first caught sight of the extraordinary being that emerged from the darkness--a wild, distorted figure that ran towards him with its head downwards, bearing aloft in one skinny hand a smoking pine-torch, from which the sparks flew like so many fireflies.