“Can you stand?” asked Mr. Bruce of the native.
“Yes,” the man answered; but when Mr. Bruce lowered him to the ground, the poor fellow’s legs gave way under him, and he would have fallen had not Mr. Bruce held him. He then raised him again with the others’ help, and threw the man over his shoulder.
Onrai had risen and had again taken his place at the head of the column. But they had noticed something; the wind was not blowing so violently in this part of the tunnel. They could not account for this, neither did they try to, but it made their progress much easier. And another thing which was being forced on their notice, was the great number of loose stones which covered the floor of the tunnel at this point; it must be that the tunnel here had never been finished completely, or it might be that the rock, being softer at this point, had crumbled and fallen from the ceiling. They were suddenly brought up by Onrai striking violently against a rock, which seemed to end the tunnel. For a moment they stood still, Onrai having been shocked in being brought up so suddenly.
“What is it, now?” asked Mr. Bruce.
“It is the end of the tunnel,” said Onrai, “or else we have suddenly turned in our course and have struck the side wall.”
“Move to your right, and see if there be an opening,” said Mr. Bruce.
Onrai did so and then moved forward again.
“It seemed to be a projection,” said Onrai.
He kept his hand on the rock and followed its curves closely until they were on the other side of it and at last they were out of the fearful wind.
“Have you a match?” asked Mr. Graham of Mr. Bruce. “If you have, light a torch and let us see each other. Onrai move about and see what kind of a place we are in.”