How are your trousers getting on ?" "Oh, right enough, only they're very gritty.

Glad to get into them, though." In a very short time they were dressed, and it being decided that they would not return here if it were possible to avoid it, the lanthorn and tinder-box were taken, and they made up their minds to make the venture of wading back in the dark.
Mike was rather disposed to fight against it, but he yielded to his companion's reasoning when he pointed out that before long they would be able to see the light, and their lanthorn would be superfluous.
Vince rose, and starting with the cudgel outstretched before him, he stepped down into the water and began to wade.
His first shot for the opening in front proved a failure, for he touched the wall across the pool, but finding which way it trended he was not long in reaching the place where it gradually narrowed like a funnel-- their voices helping, for as they spoke in whispers the echoes came back from closer and closer, the water deepened a little, and then Vince was able to extend the cudgel and touch the wall on either side.
Once only did he feel that they must have entered some side passage, and he stopped short with the old feeling of horror coming over him as the thought suggested the possibility of their wandering away utterly and hopelessly lost in some fearful labyrinth, where they would struggle vainly until they dropped down, worn out by their exertions, to perish in the water through which they waded.
"What's the matter ?" said Mike, in a quick, sharp whisper; and Vince remained silent, not daring to speak, for fear that his companion should detect his thoughts by the tremor he felt sure that there would be in his voice.
"Do you hear?
Why don't you speak ?" said Mike.

"Don't play tricks here in the dark." "I'm not playing tricks," replied Vince roughly, after making an effort to overcome his emotion.

"I'm leading, and I must think.

Are we going right ?" "You ought to know.