Another scratch, and a blue flame as the brimstone on the end caught fire; and then, as the splint of wood burned up, I could see in the midst of a ring of light the face of Shock, looking very intent as he bent over the burning match, and held to it the wick of a little end of a common tallow candle.
"I allus carries a bit o' candle out of the lanthorns," he said, showing his teeth; and then he held up the light, and I could see that the opening to the cave was completely closed up, just as if the roof had all come down, and the cave we were in was not half the size it was at first, a slope of sand encroaching on the floor.

I felt chilled, for I felt that it would be impossible to tunnel through that sand.
"Now, then," said Shock coolly, "that there's the way--ain't it?
Well, we don't want no light to see to do that; so you put it out 'case we wants it agen, and put it in yer pocket.

I'll go down on my knees and have first scratch, and when I'm tired you shall try, and we'll soon get through it.

We won't wait for Ike." I longed to keep the candle burning, but what Shock said seemed to be right; so I put it out, and as I did so I saw the boy begin to scratch away as hard as he could at the sand in the direction of the entrance, and then in the dark I could hear him panting away like some wild animal.
"I say," he cried at last.
"Yes," I said.
"It don't seem no good.

More you pulls it away, more it comes down.
It's like dry water, and runs all through your hands." "Let me have a try," I said.
"All right.