Starr followed.
They soon found themselves in a profound obscurity, which was only relieved by the glimmer of the lamp.

The young man held it above his head, the better to light his companion.

A dozen ladders were descended by the engineer and his guide, with the measured step habitual to the miner.

They were all still in good condition.
James Starr examined, as well as the insufficient light would permit, the sides of the dark shaft, which were covered by a partly rotten lining of wood.
Arrived at the fifteenth landing, that is to say, half way down, they halted for a few minutes.
"Decidedly, I have not your legs, my lad," said the engineer, panting.
"You are very stout, Mr.Starr," replied Harry, "and it's something too, you see, to live all one's life in the mine." "Right, Harry.

Formerly, when I was twenty, I could have gone down all at a breath.