H. B. Marriott Watson

“ I asked aloud. "On such a night, and in such a storm what could induce men to take so great a risk?"
Has she been blown in perchance by the gale, a fisher boat from the channel? I strained my eyes to make out what I could, and after that terrible darkness of the caverns I was able to see more clearly than I otherwise should have done. Her bow appeared to be turned towards the cliff, and the rag of the sail blotted out the mast, but as she drove nearer in the storm a figure was visible clinging to the sheets. ”

“ I ejaculated. "This is the high-water mark in the underground passages to which we have blundered in the darkness. If we wait now till the sea goes down, and follow it up as it retires we are bound to come out. God be thanked!"
"Bully!" cried Norroy, feebly. "Did n't I say we'd see it through, old man? Look here, where is it? Let me feel it."
He leaned eagerly forward and dabbled his hands in the wavelets that rippled in by our legs.
"I say, Brabazon," he said presently, "we 'll stick to that arrangement, my boy." ”

“ I struck one, and with all possible speed followed up the tracks till it went out. then I lit another, and repeated the operation, Norroy blowing hard behind me. There were six matches in all, and I succeeded in traversing some fifty yards by their help. And then darkness once more, and this time darkness from which there was no possible relief, unmitigated deep darkness, and darkness in our hearts.
The first thing to secure was that we should keep together; and so it was arranged that we should call to each other constantly, to prevent any possibility of either going astray. ”

“ We 're cooked!" His odd mind reverted to the discovery. "Cunning beggar, that Naylor man. He's a real crook, I should think. Damn it, Brabazon, to think that I shan't be able to turn up at my case! We 'll be skeletons before that time. ”