"What's the row, Tom? When are you coming down with those matches?"
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE GREAT REWARD
Challis shuddered with horror as he realised how narrow Royce's escape had been. A moment later, and Royce must have been dashed from his footing on the staple by the massive form of Goruba, and have fallen, like him, to the bottom of the well.
"Hurry up, Tom! What are you so long about, man?" Royce asked.
Challis leant over the coping.
"All right," he said, conscious that his voice was shaking. "Just a minute."
Pulling himself together, he set his foot on the first staple and began to descend very slowly, not daring to look down into the black depths. He reached the hole in the wall, struck a match, lit a candle end he had in his pocket, and followed Royce into the tunnel.
"What's up?" asked Royce. "You're as white as a sheet. Surely that little bit of a climb didn't make you dizzy?"
"No, I'm all right. Goruba's gone!"