NOWtoreturntoTomandBecky'sshareinthepicnic. Theytrippedalongthemurkyaisleswiththerestofthecompany,visitingthefamiliarwondersofthecave—wondersdubbedwithratherover–descriptivenames,suchas"TheDrawing–Room,""TheCathedral,""Aladdin'sPalace,"andsoon. Presentlythehide–and–seekfrolickingbegan,andTomandBeckyengagedinitwithzealuntiltheexertionbegantogrowatriflewearisome;thentheywandereddownasinuousavenueholdingtheircandlesaloftandreadingthetangledweb–workofnames,dates,post–officeaddresses,andmottoeswithwhichtherockywallshadbeenfrescoed(incandle–smoke). Stilldriftingalongandtalking,theyscarcelynoticedthattheywerenowinapartofthecavewhosewallswerenotfrescoed. Theysmokedtheirownnamesunderanoverhangingshelfandmovedon. Presentlytheycametoaplacewherealittlestreamofwater,tricklingoveraledgeandcarryingalimestonesedimentwithit,had,intheslow–draggingages,formedalacedandruffledNiagaraingleamingandimperishablestone. TomsqueezedhissmallbodybehinditinordertoilluminateitforBecky'sgratification. Hefoundthatitcurtainedasortofsteepnaturalstairwaywhichwasenclosedbetweennarrowwalls,andatoncetheambitiontobeadiscovererseizedhim. Beckyrespondedtohiscall,andtheymadeasmoke–markforfutureguidance,andstartedupontheirquest. Theywoundthiswayandthat,fardownintothesecretdepthsofthecave,madeanothermark,andbranchedoffinsearchofnoveltiestotelltheupperworldabout. Inoneplacetheyfoundaspaciouscavern,fromwhoseceilingdependedamultitudeofshiningstalactitesofthelengthandcircumferenceofaman'sleg;theywalkedallaboutit,wonderingandadmiring,andpresentlyleftitbyoneofthenumerouspassagesthatopenedintoit. Thisshortlybroughtthemtoabewitchingspring,whosebasinwasincrustedwithafrostworkofglitteringcrystals;itwasinthemidstofacavernwhosewallsweresupportedbymanyfantasticpillarswhichhadbeenformedbythejoiningofgreatstalactitesandstalagmitestogether,theresultoftheceaselesswater–dripofcenturies. Undertheroofvastknotsofbatshadpackedthemselvestogether,thousandsinabunch;thelightsdisturbedthecreaturesandtheycameflockingdownbyhundreds,squeakinganddartingfuriouslyatthecandles. Tomknewtheirwaysandthedangerofthissortofconduct. HeseizedBecky'shandandhurriedherintothefirstcorridorthatoffered;andnonetoosoon,forabatstruckBecky'slightoutwithitswingwhileshewaspassingoutofthecavern. Thebatschasedthechildrenagooddistance;butthefugitivesplungedintoeverynewpassagethatoffered,andatlastgotridoftheperilousthings. Tomfoundasubterraneanlake,shortly,whichstretcheditsdimlengthawayuntilitsshapewaslostintheshadows. Hewantedtoexploreitsborders,butconcludedthatitwouldbebesttositdownandrestawhile,first. Now,forthefirsttime,thedeepstillnessoftheplacelaidaclammyhanduponthespiritsofthechildren.Beckysaid: "Why,Ididn'tnotice,butitseemseversolongsinceIheardanyoftheothers." "Cometothink,Becky,weareawaydownbelowthem—andIdon'tknowhowfarawaynorth,orsouth,oreast,orwhicheveritis.Wecouldn'thearthemhere." "Iwonderhowlongwe'vebeendownhere,Tom?Webetterstartback." "Yes,Ireckonwebetter.P'rapswebetter." "Canyoufindtheway,Tom?It'sallamixed–upcrookednesstome." "IreckonIcouldfindit—butthenthebats.Iftheyputourcandlesoutitwillbeanawfulfix.Let'strysomeotherway,soasnottogothroughthere." "Well.ButIhopewewon'tgetlost.Itwouldbesoawful!"andthegirlshudderedatthethoughtofthedreadfulpossibilities. Theystartedthroughacorridor,andtraverseditinsilencealongway,glancingateachnewopening,toseeiftherewasanythingfamiliaraboutthelookofit;buttheywereallstrange. EverytimeTommadeanexamination,Beckywouldwatchhisfaceforanencouragingsign,andhewouldsaycheerily: "Oh,it'sallright.Thisain'ttheone,butwe'llcometoitrightaway!" Buthefeltlessandlesshopefulwitheachfailure,andpresentlybegantoturnoffintodivergingavenuesatsheerrandom,indesperatehopeoffindingtheonethatwaswanted. Hestillsaiditwas"allright,"buttherewassuchaleadendreadathisheartthatthewordshadlosttheirringandsoundedjustasifhehadsaid,"Allislost!" Beckyclungtohissideinananguishoffear,andtriedhardtokeepbackthetears,buttheywouldcome.Atlastshesaid: "Oh,Tom,nevermindthebats,let'sgobackthatway!Weseemtogetworseandworseoffallthetime." Profoundsilence;silencesodeepthateventheirbreathingswereconspicuousinthehush.Tomshouted. Thecallwentechoingdowntheemptyaislesanddiedoutinthedistanceinafaintsoundthatresembledarippleofmockinglaughter. "Oh,don'tdoitagain,Tom,itistoohorrid,"saidBecky. "Itishorrid,butIbetter,Becky;theymighthearus,youknow,"andheshoutedagain. The"might"wasevenachillierhorrorthantheghostlylaughter,itsoconfessedaperishinghope. Thechildrenstoodstillandlistened;buttherewasnoresult. Tomturneduponthebacktrackatonce,andhurriedhissteps. ItwasbutalittlewhilebeforeacertainindecisioninhismannerrevealedanotherfearfulfacttoBecky—hecouldnotfindhiswayback! "Oh,Tom,youdidn'tmakeanymarks!" "Becky,Iwassuchafool!Suchafool!Ineverthoughtwemightwanttocomeback!No—Ican'tfindtheway.It'sallmixedup." "Tom,Tom,we'relost!we'relost!Wenevercangetoutofthisawfulplace!Oh,whyDIDweeverleavetheothers!" ShesanktothegroundandburstintosuchafrenzyofcryingthatTomwasappalledwiththeideathatshemightdie,orloseherreason. Hesatdownbyherandputhisarmsaroundher;sheburiedherfaceinhisbosom,sheclungtohim,shepouredoutherterrors,herunavailingregrets,andthefarechoesturnedthemalltojeeringlaughter. Tombeggedhertopluckuphopeagain,andshesaidshecouldnot. Hefelltoblamingandabusinghimselfforgettingherintothismiserablesituation;thishadabettereffect. Shesaidshewouldtrytohopeagain,shewouldgetupandfollowwhereverhemightleadifonlyhewouldnottalklikethatanymore. Forhewasnomoretoblamethanshe,shesaid. Sotheymovedonagain—aimlessly—simplyatrandom—alltheycoulddowastomove,keepmoving. Foralittlewhile,hopemadeashowofreviving—notwithanyreasontobackit,butonlybecauseitisitsnaturetorevivewhenthespringhasnotbeentakenoutofitbyageandfamiliaritywithfailure. By–and–byTomtookBecky'scandleandblewitout.Thiseconomymeantsomuch!Wordswerenotneeded. Beckyunderstood,andherhopediedagain. SheknewthatTomhadawholecandleandthreeorfourpiecesinhispockets—yethemusteconomize. By–and–by,fatiguebegantoassertitsclaims;thechildrentriedtopayattention,foritwasdreadfultothinkofsittingdownwhentimewasgrowntobesoprecious,moving,insomedirection,inanydirection,wasatleastprogressandmightbearfruit;buttositdownwastoinvitedeathandshortenitspursuit. AtlastBecky'sfraillimbsrefusedtocarryherfarther.Shesatdown. Tomrestedwithher,andtheytalkedofhome,andthefriendsthere,andthecomfortablebedsand,aboveall,thelight! Beckycried,andTomtriedtothinkofsomewayofcomfortingher,butallhisencouragementsweregrownthreadbarewithuse,andsoundedlikesarcasms. FatigueboresoheavilyuponBeckythatshedrowsedofftosleep.Tomwasgrateful. Hesatlookingintoherdrawnfaceandsawitgrowsmoothandnaturalundertheinfluenceofpleasantdreams;andby–and–byasmiledawnedandrestedthere. Thepeacefulfacereflectedsomewhatofpeaceandhealingintohisownspirit,andhisthoughtswanderedawaytobygonetimesanddreamymemories. Whilehewasdeepinhismusings,Beckywokeupwithabreezylittlelaugh—butitwasstrickendeaduponherlips,andagroanfollowedit. "Oh,howCOULDIsleep!IwishInever,neverhadwaked!No!No,Idon't,Tom!Don'tlookso!Iwon'tsayitagain." "I'mgladyou'veslept,Becky;you'llfeelrested,now,andwe'llfindthewayout." "Wecantry,Tom;butI'veseensuchabeautifulcountryinmydream.Ireckonwearegoingthere." "Maybenot,maybenot.Cheerup,Becky,andlet'sgoontrying." Theyroseupandwanderedalong,handinhandandhopeless. Theytriedtoestimatehowlongtheyhadbeeninthecave,butalltheyknewwasthatitseemeddaysandweeks,andyetitwasplainthatthiscouldnotbe,fortheircandleswerenotgoneyet. Alongtimeafterthis—theycouldnottellhowlong—Tomsaidtheymustgosoftlyandlistenfordrippingwater—theymustfindaspring. Theyfoundonepresently,andTomsaiditwastimetorestagain. Bothwerecruellytired,yetBeckysaidshethoughtshecouldgoalittlefarther.ShewassurprisedtohearTomdissent.Shecouldnotunderstandit. Theysatdown,andTomfastenedhiscandletothewallinfrontofthemwithsomeclay. Thoughtwassoonbusy;nothingwassaidforsometime.ThenBeckybrokethesilence: Tomtooksomethingoutofhispocket. "Doyourememberthis?"saidhe. "It'sourwedding–cake,Tom." "Yes—Iwishitwasasbigasabarrel,forit'sallwe'vegot." "Isaveditfromthepicnicforustodreamon,Tom,thewaygrown–uppeopledowithwedding–cake—butit'llbeour—" Shedroppedthesentencewhereitwas.TomdividedthecakeandBeckyatewithgoodappetite,whileTomnibbledathismoiety. Therewasabundanceofcoldwatertofinishthefeastwith. By–and–byBeckysuggestedthattheymoveonagain.Tomwassilentamoment.Thenhesaid: "Becky,canyoubearitifItellyousomething?" Becky'sfacepaled,butshethoughtshecould. "Well,then,Becky,wemuststayhere,wherethere'swatertodrink.Thatlittlepieceisourlastcandle!" Beckygaveloosetotearsandwailings.Tomdidwhathecouldtocomforther,butwithlittleeffect.AtlengthBeckysaid: "They'llmissusandhuntforus!" "Yes,theywill!Certainlytheywill!" "Maybethey'rehuntingforusnow,Tom." "Why,Ireckonmaybetheyare.Ihopetheyare." "Whenwouldtheymissus,Tom?" "Whentheygetbacktotheboat,Ireckon." "Tom,itmightbedarkthen—wouldtheynoticewehadn'tcome?" "Idon'tknow.Butanyway,yourmotherwouldmissyouassoonastheygothome." AfrightenedlookinBecky'sfacebroughtTomtohissensesandhesawthathehadmadeablunder. Beckywasnottohavegonehomethatnight! Thechildrenbecamesilentandthoughtful. InamomentanewburstofgrieffromBeckyshowedTomthatthethinginhismindhadstruckhersalso—thattheSabbathmorningmightbehalfspentbeforeMrs.ThatcherdiscoveredthatBeckywasnotatMrs.Harper's. Thechildrenfastenedtheireyesupontheirbitofcandleandwatcheditmeltslowlyandpitilesslyaway;sawthehalfinchofwickstandaloneatlast;sawthefeebleflameriseandfall,climbthethincolumnofsmoke,lingeratitstopamoment,andthen—thehorrorofutterdarknessreigned! HowlongafterwarditwasthatBeckycametoaslowconsciousnessthatshewascryinginTom'sarms,neithercouldtell. Allthattheyknewwas,thatafterwhatseemedamightystretchoftime,bothawokeoutofadeadstuporofsleepandresumedtheirmiseriesoncemore. TomsaiditmightbeSunday,now—maybeMonday. HetriedtogetBeckytotalk,buthersorrowsweretoooppressive,allherhopesweregone. Tomsaidthattheymusthavebeenmissedlongago,andnodoubtthesearchwasgoingon. Hewouldshoutandmaybesomeonewouldcome. Hetriedit;butinthedarknessthedistantechoessoundedsohideouslythathetrieditnomore. Thehourswastedaway,andhungercametotormentthecaptivesagain. AportionofTom'shalfofthecakewasleft;theydividedandateit.Buttheyseemedhungrierthanbefore. Thepoormorseloffoodonlywhetteddesire. Bothheldtheirbreathandlistened.Therewasasoundlikethefaintest,far–offshout. InstantlyTomansweredit,andleadingBeckybythehand,startedgropingdownthecorridorinitsdirection. Presentlyhelistenedagain;againthesoundwasheard,andapparentlyalittlenearer. "It'sthem!"saidTom;"they'recoming!Comealong,Becky—we'reallrightnow!" Thejoyoftheprisonerswasalmostoverwhelming. Theirspeedwasslow,however,becausepitfallsweresomewhatcommon,andhadtobeguardedagainst. Theyshortlycametooneandhadtostop. Itmightbethreefeetdeep,itmightbeahundred—therewasnopassingitatanyrate. Tomgotdownonhisbreastandreachedasfardownashecould.Nobottom. Theymuststaythereandwaituntilthesearcherscame. Theylistened;evidentlythedistantshoutingsweregrowingmoredistant! amomentortwomoreandtheyhadgonealtogether.Theheart–sinkingmiseryofit! Tomwhoopeduntilhewashoarse,butitwasofnouse. HetalkedhopefullytoBecky;butanageofanxiouswaitingpassedandnosoundscameagain. Thechildrengropedtheirwaybacktothespring.Thewearytimedraggedon;theysleptagain,andawokefamishedandwoe–stricken.TombelieveditmustbeTuesdaybythistime. Nowanideastruckhim.Thereweresomesidepassagesnearathand. Itwouldbebettertoexploresomeofthesethanbeartheweightoftheheavytimeinidleness. Hetookakite–linefromhispocket,tiedittoaprojection,andheandBeckystarted,Tominthelead,unwindingthelineashegropedalong. Attheendoftwentystepsthecorridorendedina"jumping–offplace." Tomgotdownonhiskneesandfeltbelow,andthenasfararoundthecornerashecouldreachwithhishandsconveniently;hemadeanefforttostretchyetalittlefarthertotheright,andatthatmoment,nottwentyyardsaway,ahumanhand,holdingacandle,appearedfrombehindarock! Tomliftedupagloriousshout,andinstantlythathandwasfollowedbythebodyitbelongedto—InjunJoe's!Tomwasparalyzed;hecouldnotmove. Hewasvastlygratifiedthenextmoment,toseethe"Spaniard"taketohisheelsandgethimselfoutofsight. TomwonderedthatJoehadnotrecognizedhisvoiceandcomeoverandkilledhimfortestifyingincourt. Buttheechoesmusthavedisguisedthevoice. Withoutdoubt,thatwasit,hereasoned. Tom'sfrightweakenedeverymuscleinhisbody. Hesaidtohimselfthatifhehadstrengthenoughtogetbacktothespringhewouldstaythere,andnothingshouldtempthimtoruntheriskofmeetingInjunJoeagain. HewascarefultokeepfromBeckywhatitwashehadseen. Hetoldherhehadonlyshouted"forluck." Buthungerandwretchednessrisesuperiortofearsinthelongrun. Anothertediouswaitatthespringandanotherlongsleepbroughtchanges. Thechildrenawoketorturedwitharaginghunger. TombelievedthatitmustbeWednesdayorThursdayorevenFridayorSaturday,now,andthatthesearchhadbeengivenover.Heproposedtoexploreanotherpassage. HefeltwillingtoriskInjunJoeandallotherterrors.ButBeckywasveryweak. Shehadsunkintoadrearyapathyandwouldnotberoused. Shesaidshewouldwait,now,whereshewas,anddie—itwouldnotbelong. ShetoldTomtogowiththekite–lineandexploreifhechose;butsheimploredhimtocomebackeverylittlewhileandspeaktoher;andshemadehimpromisethatwhentheawfultimecame,hewouldstaybyherandholdherhanduntilallwasover. Tomkissedher,withachokingsensationinhisthroat,andmadeashowofbeingconfidentoffindingthesearchersoranescapefromthecave;thenhetookthekite–lineinhishandandwentgropingdownoneofthepassagesonhishandsandknees,distressedwithhungerandsickwithbodingsofcomingdoom. 
