Now things must take their chance." After our midday meal he lay down and slept quite soundly for several hours.

About four o'clock those who were labouring at the piling up of debris over the mouth of the tunnel completed their task, and, in charge of Quick, were marched out of the underground city.
Then Higgs and I took lamps and went along the length of the wires, which lay in a little trench covered over with dust, removing the dust and inspecting them at intervals.

Discovering nothing amiss, we returned to the old temple, and at its doorway met the mountaineer, Japhet, who throughout all these proceedings had been our prop and stay.

Indeed, without his help and that of his authority over the Abati the mine could never have been completed, at any rate within the time.
The light of the lamp showed that his face was very anxious.
"What is the matter ?" I asked.
"O Physician," he answered, "I have words for the ear of the Captain Orme.

Be pleased to lead me to him." We explained that he slept and could not be disturbed, but Japhet only answered as before, adding: "Come you with me, my words are for your ears as well as his." So we went into the little room and awoke Oliver, who sprang up in a great fright, thinking that something untoward had happened at the mine.
"What's wrong ?" he asked of Japhet.