It narrowed yet, until I was forced to move carefully, in order to avoid striking against the projecting pieces of rock.

The roof sank lower and lower, until I was compelled, first to stoop, and then to creep on my hands and knees.
It recalled terrible dreams of childhood; but I was not much afraid, because I felt sure that this was my path, and my only hope of leaving Fairy Land, of which I was now almost weary.
At length, on getting past an abrupt turn in the passage, through which I had to force myself, I saw, a few yards ahead of me, the long-forgotten daylight shining through a small opening, to which the path, if path it could now be called, led me.

With great difficulty I accomplished these last few yards, and came forth to the day.

I stood on the shore of a wintry sea, with a wintry sun just a few feet above its horizon-edge.

It was bare, and waste, and gray.