I struggled to my feet and sprinkled water over his face till he revived and rolled on to the floor, where presently he sank into sleep or torpor.

As he did so the first lamp gave out.
"Light it, Japhet," said Maqueda, "it is dark in this place." "O Child of Kings," answered the man, "I would obey if I could, but there is no more oil." Half-an-hour later the second lamp went out.

By the light that remained we made such arrangements as we could, knowing that soon darkness would be on us.

They were few and simple: the fetching of a jar or two of water, the placing of arms and ammunition to our hands, and the spreading out of some blankets on which to lie down side by side upon what I for one believed would be our bed of death.
While we were thus engaged, Japhet crawled into our circle from the outer gloom.

Suddenly I saw his haggard face appear, looking like that of a spirit rising from the grave.
"My lamp is burned out," he moaned; "it began to fail whilst I was on watch at the tunnel mouth, and before I was half-way here it died altogether.