placed a light." And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be
gradually lit up. They reached a widening in the passage where, it
seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small
table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost
entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna. A small silver
lamp hanging before it barely illumined it. The Tatar stooped and
picked up from the ground a copper candlestick which she had left
there, a candlestick with a tall, slender stem, and snuffers, pin, and
extinguisher hanging about it on chains. She lighted it at the silver
lamp. The light grew stronger; and as they went on, now illumined by
it, and again enveloped in pitchy shadow, they suggested a picture by
Gerard Dow.

The warrior's fresh, handsome countenance, overflowing with health and
youth, presented a strong contrast to the pale, emaciated face of his
companion. The passage grew a little higher, so that Andrii could hold
himself erect. He gazed with curiosity at the earthen walls. Here and
there, as in the catacombs at Kief, were niches in the walls; and in
some places coffins were standing. Sometimes they came across human
bones which had become softened with the dampness and were crumbling
into dust. It was evident that pious folk had taken refuge here from
the storms, sorrows, and seductions of the world. It was extremely
damp in some places; indeed there was water under their feet at
intervals. Andrii was forced to halt frequently to allow his companion
to rest, for her fatigue kept increasing. The small piece of bread she
had swallowed only caused a pain in her stomach, of late unused to
food; and she often stood motionless for minutes together in one spot.

At length a small iron door appeared before them. "Glory be to God, we
have arrived!" said the Tatar in a faint voice, and tried to lift her