' In a second she disappeared; and presently he heard her
telling him to come. The sensation, as he descended into the pitch
dark cavern, was not an agreeable one; but when his feet touched
bottom Nancy took him by the hand.
'We go this way; presently your eyes will be of some use.' She had
spoken the truth. After our hero was a few minutes under ground the
walls, roof, and floor of the tunnel became fairly visible. As for
the floor it was hard and level, the flood having carried all the
turf and earth away, leaving the rock bare. Here and there a mass of
turf and clay had fallen from above, almost impeding the progress of
the explorers; and Roland was well aware that the peril of walking
through the place was not small.
When the river sank into the soft swamp, it did not take a straight
course for the lake, but wound now to the right and again to the
left, according to the solidity of the ground. In addition to these
sinuosities there were several pockets or alcoves along the tunnel,
as if the stream had here found passage for a short way, and was then
obliged to recede. The walls were oozy, and little rivulets trickled
through, and went rippling over the floor of the passage.
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