Then the music seemed to change into a new key, and my fancy made me think it sounded like the distant cries of some in dire distress. The miserable moan seemed to disturb the sleepers, for I heard an exclamation of dismay, and Alwin's voice said, in a tone of horror, "Edred! Edred! where are we? our lights are gone out!" Edred seemed to be only half awake, and he grumbled an impatient answer; but Alwin shook him with a despairing cry.
"What is it?" said Edred, now thoroughly roused.
"We are in darkness; we shall never find our way out. Oh, what shall we do, Edred?"
"I do not know, I am sure," said Edred; "but we had better turn the way we came."
"But which way?" said the other.
"This, to be sure," said Edred, beginning to grope his way along.
"But there were numbers of turnings, Edred," said Alwin reproachfully; "and the Guide-book——"
"Stop that!" called Edred, with fierce anger, "we shall come all right; but let's have a truce to your whining."
Alwin was silent after this rebuke; but the caverns were by no means silent, for now the unearthly sounds seemed to increase, and the boys clung to each other in terror. Louder and louder grew the roar, and I heard one of them exclaim. "There is something coming towards us. Oh, see! what is it? what can it be?"
The anguish of those words I shall never forget.