It was now midnight. My guide told me to follow him. "We'll go down below and find a place in which to snatch a little sleep." Down a long flight of stairs we went, along corridors, then down another flight and round more corridors. The passages seemed endless, until at last we came to a halt beside the bunk-like beds fastened on the wall.
"What an extraordinary place; how deep is it?"
"About sixty feet," said my companion. "The place is like a rabbit warren."
"Well, I'm glad you are with me, for I should never find my way out alone." And I rolled my blanket round me and went to sleep.
I was awakened by my guide. "Come on," he said; "time we moved off."
I quickly got out of my blanket. Jove, how cold it was! My teeth chattered like castanets.
"It's like an ice-house down here; let's go out and see if any of the men have any fire left. Might be able to have a little hot tea before we go. I have some biscuits and odds and ends in my satchel."
"Will you let me have a man to help me with my tripod?"
"Certainly, as a matter of fact I arranged for one last night."
Up we went. Along the corridors men were lying about in their blankets, fast asleep. Holding a piece of guttering candle in my hand, and shaking like a leaf with cold, I stepped between the sleeping men; but it was anything but an easy task.