nd
of the passage, and was prepared to climb up into the churchyard, I found
that the hole was stopped, and that there was no exit.

I understood now how it was that I had heard talking so long after the
company had left the vault; for it was clear that Ratsey had been as
good as his word, and that the falling in of the ground had been
repaired before the contraband-men went home that night. At first I made
light of the matter, thinking I should soon be able to dislodge this new
work, and so find a way out. But when I looked more narrowly into the
business, I did not feel so sure; for they had made a sound job of it,
putting one very heavy burial slab at the side to pile earth against
till the hole was full, and then covering it with another. These were
both of slate, and I knew whence they came; for there were a dozen or
more of such disused and weather-worn covers laid up against the north
side of the church, and every one of them a good burden for four men.
Yet I hoped by grouting at the earth below it to be able to dislodge the
stone at the side; but while I was considering how best to begin, the
candle flickered, the wick gave a sudden lurch to one side, and I was
left in darkness.

Thus my plight was evil indeed, for I had nothing now to burn to give me
light, and knew that 'twas no use setting to grout till I could see to go
about it. Moreover, the darkness was of that black kind that is never
found beneath the open sky, no, not even on the darkest night, but lurks
in close and covered places and strains the eyes in trying to see into
it. Yet I did not give way, but settled to wait for the dawn, which must,
I knew, be now at hand; for then I thought enough light would come
through the chinks of the tomb above to show me how to set to work. Nor
was I even much scared, as one who having been in peril of life from the
contraband-men for a spy, and in peril from evil ghosts for rifling
Blackbeard's tomb, deemed it a light thing to be left in the dark to wait
an hour till morning. So I sat down on the floor of the passage, which,
if damp, was at least soft, and being tired with what I had gone through,
and not used to miss a night's rest, fell straightway asleep.

How long I slept I cannot tell, for I had nothing to guide me to the
time, but woke at length, and found myself still in darkness. I stood up
and stretched my limbs, but did not feel as one refreshed by wholesome
sleep, but sick and tired with pains in bac