Well, this would benefit me, rather than otherwise, for if anyone was concealed therein it would be down below, where the light streaming into the upper passage, as I pressed back the frame to gain room for my body, would be unnoticed.

There was no hesitancy as to what I must do.

Now I had discovered this secret passage it must be thoroughly explored.

The safest way was to burrow through the dark, trusting to hands and feet for safety, and prepared for any encounter.

Whoever might be hidden away there would certainly possess some light, sufficient for any warning I needed.