re of its flame.
He was, as he had thought, at the lower opening of the narrow passage,
and, as he noted its steep upward slope, he was agitated by
conflicting hopes and fears. It might lead to liberty, but there was
an equal chance that in it he should miserably perish.

At the very outset he was confronted by a condition that was not only
disappointing, but exerted a most depressing influence. There was no
draught, such as he had believed would issue from the winze. In vain
did he hold up a wetted finger, in vain watch for the slightest
flicker in the flame of his candle. The air was as stagnant as that of
a dungeon. And yet there certainly had been a decided current at that
very place only a few hours before. Puzzled and disheartened, he was
still determined to press forward, and, stooping low, he entered the
passage.

It almost immediately became so contracted that he was compelled to
creep on hands and knees, by which method he slowly and painfully
overcame foot after foot of the ascent. A little later he was forcing
his way with infinite labor, an inch at a time, through a space so
narrow that he was squeezed almost to breathlessness. He was also
bathed in perspiration, and was obliged to recruit his strength by
frequent halts.

At length his candle, which had burned low, was about to expire. With
despairing eyes he watched its last flickering flame, feeling only the
terror of impending darkness, and heedless of the fact that it was
burning his hand. With the quenching of its final spark he resigned
himself to his fate. He had fought his best, but the odds against him
were too heavy, and now his strength was exhausted. Closing his eyes,
and resting his head wearily on his folded arms, he prepared for the
oblivion that he prayed might come speedily.

Lying thus, and careless of the passage of time, he was visited by
pleasant dreams, in which were mingled happy voices, laughter, and
singing. He rested on a couch of roses, and cool breezes fanned his
fevered brow. He was free as air itself and surrounded by illimitable
space.

All at once he became conscious that he was not dreaming, but was wide
awake and staring with incredulous eyes at a glimmer of light, so
wellnigh imperceptible that only by passing a hand before his face and
so shutting it out for an instant could he be certain of its
existence. At the same time an unmistakable draught of air was finding
its way to him, and a voice as of an angel came to