My companion now carried a lantern.

The woman was no longer kneeling, but lay face downward several paces nearer to the narrow passage choked with stones and lime dust which separated her from us.

She had fainted while trying to follow.

I seized her feet, and we staggered on, but ere we could leave the passage which led into the larger room I heard a loud rattling and thundering above, and the next instant something struck my head and everything reeled around me.

Yet I did not drop the blue yarn stockings, but tottered on with them into the large open space, where I fell on my knees.
Still I must have retained my consciousness, for loud shouts and cries reached my ears.