No noise was heard, not even that of the water, which the undulations of the surge must sometimes agitate in its depths.

A flaming branch was again thrown in.

The sides of the well were lighted up for an instant, but as at the first time, nothing suspicious was seen.
If some marine monster had been surprised unawares by the retreat of the water, he would by this time have regained the sea by the subterranean passage, before the new opening had been offered to him.
Meanwhile, the engineer was standing motionless, his eyes fixed on the gulf, without uttering a word.
The sailor approached him, and touching his arm, "Captain!" said he.
"What do you want, my friend ?" asked the engineer, as if he had returned from the land of dreams.
"The torches will soon go out." "Forward!" replied Cyrus Harding.
The little band left the cavern and began to ascend through the dark passage.

Top closed the rear, still growling every now and then.

The ascent was painful enough.