The grade rose sharply, until it became almost a climb, yet the floor had evidently been levelled, and there were no obstructions to add to the difficulty of advance.

Then the passage swerved rather sharply to the right, and Cavendish, leading, halted to peer about the corner.

An instant they both remained motionless, and then, seeing and hearing nothing, she could restrain her impatience no longer.
"What is it ?" she questioned.

"Is there something wrong ?" He reached back and drew her closer, without answering, until her eyes also were able to look around the sharp edge of rock.

Far away, it seemed a long distance up that narrow tunnel, a lantern glowed dully, the light so dim and flickering as to scarcely reveal even its immediate surroundings; yet from that distance, her eyes accustomed to the dense gloom, she could distinguish enough to quicken her breathing and cause her to clutch the sleeve of her companion.
The lantern occupied a niche in the side wall at the bottom of a flight of rude steps.