At first it seemed as though there weren’t no way out; but with the help of the light, he found at last a little, low tunnel that opened out of the hole; and then he found another opposite to it.  And the one he reckoned must run up under Vitifer into the thickness of the hill; while t’other pointed south.  Then, thinking upon the lay of the land, Amos reckoned the second might be most like to lead to the air.  And yet his heart sank a minute later, for he guessed—­rightly as it proved—­that the south tunnel was that which opened into a cave at Smallcumbe Goyle, near half a mile down under.  A place it was where he’d often played his games as a child; but that ancient mine adit was well known to be choked by a heavy fall of rock fifty yards from the mouth, so it didn’t look very hopeful he’d win through.  However his instinct told him the sole chance lay there; for t’other channel, if pursued, could only lead to the heart of the hill.  He set out according and after travelling twenty yards with bent head found the roof of the tunnel lift and went on pretty steady without adventures for a few hundred yards.  ’Twas very evil air and he doubted if he’d keep his head much longer; but with the torch light to guide his feet, he staggered forward conscious only of one thing, and that was a great and growing pain in his elbow.  That’s where the first stone had grazed him that his nephew had thrown down the pit, and he stopped and found he was cut to the bone and bleeding a lot.  The loss vexed him worse than the pain, for he knew very well you can’t lose blood without losing strength, and he couldn’t tell yet whether it might not be within his strength to save him at the other end.  So he slit a piece off the tail of his shirt and tied it above his elbow so tight as he was able.  Then he held on, but knew too well he was getting spent.  For a man well over fifty year can’t spend a night of that sort and find himself none the worse for it.

A bit farther forward there was a little more to breathe, and as the tunnel dropped, he felt the air sweeter.  And that put a pinch more hope into him again.  It was up and down with him and his mind in a torment, but at last he tried not to think at all, and just let his instinct to fight for life hold him and concentrated all his mind and muscle upon it.  Yet one thought persisted in his worst moments:  and that was, that if he didn’t come through, his nephew wouldn’t be hanged, but enjoy the two farms for his natural life; and the picture of that vexed Amos so terrible that without doubt ’twas as useful to help him as a bottle of strong waters would have been.

On he went, and then he had a shock, for the torch was very near spent and began to grow dimmer; so he put it out to save the dying rays against when he might need them.  And he slowed down and rested for half an hour, then refreshed, he pushed slowly on again.