Let's have another try at scratching a hole." I heard him move, and then he struck a light again so as to see where to begin.
"Must know, you see," he said.

"If I get scratching at the wrong side, it would take so long to get out." In spite of my trouble I could not help feeling amused, there seemed to be something so droll in the idea of Shock burrowing his way right into the hill and expecting to get out; but the next moment I was listening to him and watching the tiny spark at the end of the burned match die out.
Rustle, rustle, rustle, he went on, and every now and then there was a loud panting such as some wild animal would make.

Then I uttered a cry of fear, for I felt a quantity of sand strike me and I bounded aside, for it seemed that the top was coming down.
"What's matter ?" cried Shock, stopping short.
"Nothing," I said as I realised the cause of my fright.

"Some of the sand hit me." "What! some as I chucked behind me ?" "Yes." The scratching and tearing went on again, and I felt the sand scattered over me several times, but the fear did not attack me again.
All at once there was a soft rushing noise, and Shock uttered a yell which seemed to make my heart leap.
"Shock!" I cried, "Shock!" but there was no answer, only a scuffling noise.

"Shock! where are you ?" The scuffling noise continued, and their there was a loud panting, a cry of "Oh!" and my companion staggered by me.
"Shock!" I cried.
"Oh! I say," he groaned, "I've got it all in my eyes agen.