Колодець і маятник

           Atlength,however,Itookcourage,anddidnothesitatetostepfirmly;endeavoringtocrossinasdirectalineaspossible. Ihadadvancedsometenortwelvepacesinthismanner,whentheremnantofthetornhemofmyrobebecameentangledbetweenmylegs. Isteppedonit,andfellviolentlyonmyface. 

           Intheconfusionattendingmyfall,Ididnotimmediatelyapprehendasomewhatstartlingcircumstance,whichyet,inafewsecondsafterward,andwhileIstilllayprostrate,arrestedmyattention. Itwasthis—mychinrestedupontheflooroftheprison,butmylipsandtheupperportionofmyhead,althoughseeminglyatalesselevationthanthechin,touchednothing. Atthesametimemyforeheadseemedbathedinaclammyvapor,andthepeculiarsmellofdecayedfungusarosetomynostrils. Iputforwardmyarm,andshudderedtofindthatIhadfallenattheverybrinkofacircularpit,whoseextent,ofcourse,Ihadnomeansofascertainingatthemoment. Gropingaboutthemasonryjustbelowthemargin,Isucceededindislodgingasmallfragment,andletitfallintotheabyss. FormanysecondsIhearkenedtoitsreverberationsasitdashedagainstthesidesofthechasminitsdescent;atlengththerewasasullenplungeintowater,succeededbyloudechoes. Atthesamemomenttherecameasoundresemblingthequickopening,andasrapidclosingofadooroverhead,whileafaintgleamoflightflashedsuddenlythroughthegloom,andassuddenlyfadedaway.