I could not stir for some minutes, and then it all came like a flash, and I knew that I must have lain listening for some time to Shock breathing heavily, and then insensibly have fallen asleep, and for how long?
That I could not of course tell, but so long that the sand had gone on trickling in till it had nearly covered me, as I lay nearest to the opening.

It had been right over my chest, and sloped up and away from, me, so that my legs were deeply buried, and it required quite a struggle to get them free, while to my horror as I dragged them out from beneath the heavy weight more sand came down, and one hard lump rolled down and up against me sufficiently hard to give me pain.
There was the same terrible silence about me, and it seemed to grow deeper.

A short time before I had heard Shock breathing hard, but now his breath came softly, and then seemed to cease.
That silence had lasted some time, when all at once it was broken by my companion as I knelt there in the soft sand.
"Mars Grant! I say.

You awake ?" "Yes." "What yer doing of ?" "I am saying my prayers." There was another silence here, and then Shock said softly: "What yer praying for ?" "For help and protection in this terrible place," I cried passionately; and I crouched down lower as I bowed myself and prayed that I might see the sunshine and the bright sky once again--that I might live.
Just then a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and I felt Shock's lips almost touch my ear as he whispered softly: "I say--I want to say my prayers too." "Well," I said sternly, "pray." There was again that silence that seemed so painful, and then a low hoarse voice at my side said slowly: "I can't.

I 'most forgets how." "Shock," I cried, as I caught at his hands, which closed tightly and clung to mine; and for the first time it seemed to come to me that this poor half-wild boy was only different to myself in that he had been left neglected to make his way in life almost as he pleased, and that in spite of his wilful ways and half-savage animal habits it was more the want of teaching than his fault.
I seemed to feel brighter and more cheerful as we sat together soon after, discussing whether we should light the candle again, and all at once Shock exclaimed: "I say." "What, Shock ?" "I won't shy nothing at you no more." "It does not seem as if you will ever have the chance, Shock," I cried dolefully.
"Oh, I don't know, mate," he said; and at that word "mate" I seemed to feel a curious shrinking from him; but it passed off directly.
"Shall I light the candle ?" he said after a pause.
"Yes, just for one look round," I said.