It was like the mouth of a drain at the edge of the pavement, and therefore did not offer an easy passage to the settlers; but Neb and Pencroft, taking their pickaxes, soon made it of a suitable height.
The engineer then approached, and found that the sides of the opening, in its upper part at least, had not a slope of more than from thirty to thirty-five degrees.

It was therefore practicable, and, provided that the declivity did not increase, it would be easy to descend even to the level of the sea.

If then, as was probable, some vast cavity existed in the interior of the granite, it might, perhaps, be of great use.
"Well, captain, what are we stopping for ?" asked the sailor, impatient to enter the narrow passage.

"You see Top has got before us!" "Very well," replied the engineer.

"But we must see our way.