“Sounded like a drip of water in a pool.”
“Perhaps it’s a well.”
“They wouldn’t make a well here. Let’s go to the bottom, and then be satisfied for one day.”
“Take hold of hands then, in case.”
“In case of what?”
“There may be foul air at the bottom, same as there was in the Manor well.”
“You are saying that to frighten me.”
“No.”
“Well, it sounded like it. Let’s go on.”
The two explorers of this hidden way went on down and down, with the sounds made by their feet echoing strangely; but still there were fresh steps, and the distance seemed in their excited state to be tremendous. Scarlett, however, persevered, though his movements were slower and slower; and more than once he turned back to hold the light as high as possible, so as to gaze up at the way they had come, looking over his shoulder, and still holding tightly by Fred’s hand.