Those who heard them fancied he was trying to get out, and laughed spitefully.

As soon as he had done, he extinguished his candle, and went down to Lina.
She had reached the hard rock which formed the floor of the dungeon, and was now clearing away the earth a little wider.

Presently she looked up in his face and whined, as much as to say, 'My paws are not hard enough to get any farther.' 'Then get out of my way, Lina,' said Curdie, and mind you keep your eyes shining, for fear I should hit you.' So saying, he heaved his mattock, and assailed with the hammer end of it the spot she had cleared.
The rock was very hard, but when it did break it broke in good-sized pieces.

Now with hammer, now with pick, he worked till he was weary, then rested, and then set to again.

He could not tell how the day went, as he had no light but the lamping of Lina's eyes.