It was like gazing down into the mouth of the Pit.

The single touch of color in the drear picture came from the crimson drapery hanging over the edge of the raised platform.
Seeing all this at one glance my anxious eyes sought the deeper gloom shrouding the tunnel leading toward the entrance.

As I stared that way a sudden flash of fierce lightning illumined it.

So brilliant it burst forth from the opaque night, I hid my blinded eyes, every nerve of my body quivering.
"Great God!" burst forth Cairnes, his voice so close as to startle me.
"'T is like the end of the world!" "Be still," I commanded hastily, pressing him flat, "there they come." A dozen flaming torches rounded the rock projection the lights glistening over the half-naked bodies of the bearers.

Saint Andrew! it was a weird sight, one to strike terror to the soul! With gritted teeth, my heart pounding, I looked out upon it.