"Mind the gas, Mister Johnny." Good old Tom.... A shame he's dead.
"I'll have to chance it!" His voice was quite calm now.
The match scratched against the sandpaper.
"The devil! It didn't light. Steady now.... (Keep your paws off me just a moment longer, you scum).... One.... Two.... Three!"
This time the flame caught, flickered, was reflected for a split second in the eyes of a gaunt, stoop-shouldered young man at the other side of the tunnel, then burst into the searing glory of a thousand suns....