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Chapter 15 — The Giddy Bridge
“But—”
Atumultofsounds,andinparticularasoundlikeaclanginggong,advancingupthemaintunnel,becameaudible.Itwashorriblysuggestiveofatumultuouspursuit.Wemadeaboltfortheunlitsidecavernforthwith.AsweranalongitourwaywaslitbytheirradiationofCavor’slegs.“It’slucky,”Ipanted,“theytookoffourboots,orweshouldfillthisplacewithclatter.”Onwerushed,takingassmallstepsaswecouldtoavoidstrikingtheroofofthecavern.Afteratimeweseemedtobegainingontheuproar.Itbecamemuffled,itdwindled,itdiedaway.
Istoppedandlookedback,andIheardthepad,padofCavor’sfeetreceding.Thenhestoppedalso.“Bedford,”hewhispered;“there’sasortoflightinfrontofus.”
Ilooked,andatfirstcouldseenothing.ThenIperceivedhisheadandshouldersdimlyoutlinedagainstafainterdarkness.Isaw,also,thatthismitigationofthedarknesswasnotblue,asalltheotherlightwithinthemoonhadbeen,butapallidgrey,averyvague,faintwhite,thedaylightcolour.Cavornotedthisdifferenceassoon,orsooner,thanIdid,andIthink,too,thatitfilledhimwithmuchthesamewildhope.
“Bedford,”hewhispered,andhisvoicetrembled.“Thatlight—itispossible—”
Hedidnotdaretosaythethinghehoped.Thencameapause.SuddenlyIknewbythesoundofhisfeetthathewasstridingtowardsthatpallor.Ifollowedhimwithabeatingheart.
