Mr. Bruce fumbled about his tunic for a moment and then produced a match; this flickered for a moment as he applied it to the torch and then a bright light lit up the scene about them. They were surprised at the strange scene, for they were no longer in the smooth walled and floored tunnel, but in a natural cave, which looked very much like the great cavern; but whether it was the same or not, they could not say. The ceiling was high above their heads and could just be seen in the dim rays of light. The wall to which belonged the projecting rock, behind which they were now standing, was ribbed and seamed and was the only one to be seen. The cavern had widened until they could not see across it.
“If this be the large cave then we are safe, for all we have to do is to look for the hidden door,” said Harry.
“But I do not think it is the same,” said Mr. Bruce, “for the reason, that never, in the large cavern, did we feel this draught or wind.”
“That is so;” said Harry, “we must have struck another cave altogether, and it is probably all the worse for us that we have.”
“Why do you think so?” asked Onrai.
“Why, because we knew how to get out of the other, but how to find an opening to the outside world here, we have no idea.”
“I believe, though,” said Mr. Bruce, “that if we can hold out longer, we will come to a shaft leading up to the surface.”
“There must be some great hole leading to the surface, which causes this draught.”
“It would be well for us to take some rest before trying it again,” said Mr. Graham.
“But what of the poor native?” asked Onrai.