He descended to the step, and then, feeling sure that the light of his lantern could not be seen from without, he took it from under his serape and held it as far in front of him as he could.

A narrow flight of stone steps led onward and downward further than he could see, and, driven by imminent necessity, he walked boldly down them.
The way was rough with the decay of time from which stone itself cannot escape, but he always steadied himself with one hand against the wall.
The stone was very cold and Ned had the feeling that he was in a tomb.
Once more he had that overwhelming sense of old, old things, of things as old as Egypt.

At another time, despite every effort of reason, he would have thrilled with superstitious terror, but now it was for his life, and down he went, step by step.
The air remained pure like that of great caves in the States, and Ned did not stop until a black void seemed to open almost before him when he drew back in affright.

Calming himself he held up the lantern and looked at the void.

It was a deep and square well, its walls faced as far as he could see with squared stones.