“I won’t go farther. But, see, it seems to be lighter.”
At a point fifty feet farther on, through a rift in the roof, a gleam of light entered the cavern.
Ernest was anxious to trace this, for, as he judged, it came from some outlet, through which he might possibly obtain deliverance.
“Stay where you are,” he said. “I will just go forward and see what I can.”
“Don’t stay long,” entreated Frank nervously.
Ernest was just as well pleased to go forward alone, for if there were really, as he supposed, an outlet, it was as well that Frank should not have his attention drawn to it, lest he should speak of it to his father and so reveal the fact of their explorations. This might excite the suspicion of James Fox and put a stop to their further walks.
Continuing on alone, Ernest then saw, perhaps fifteen feet above him, an opening some three feet in diameter, through which he could obtain a glimpse of the clear sky above.
It made his heart beat with exultation and longing. There was freedom if he could only manage somehow to lift himself up to the outlet and make his way through it.
“What is it, Ernest?” asked Frank.