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"I allus carries a bit o' candle out of the lanthorns," he said, showing

his teeth; and then he held up the light, and I could see that the

opening to the cave was completely closed up, just as if the roof had

all come down, and the cave ere in was not half the size it was at

first, a slope of sand encroaching on the floor I felt chilled, for I

felt that it would be ih that sand

"Now, then," said Shock coolly, "that there's the way--ain't it? Well,

we don't want no light to see to do that; so you put it out 'case we

wants it agen, and put it in yer pocket I'll go down on my knees and

have first scratch, and when I'h it We won't wait for Ike"

I longed to keep the candle burning, but what Shock said seeht; so I put it out, and as I did so I saw the boy begin to scratch

away as hard as he could at the sand in the direction of the entrance,

and then in the dark I could hear hi away like some wild

animal

"I say," he cried at last

"Yes," I said

"It don't seeood More you pulls it away, h your hands"