SANDSFOOT CASTLE. 37 



scene of operations at 7 a.m. This gave just an hour for work, 

 before we had to start for home, breakfast, and school. As 

 our operations were carried on in semi-darkness, lying prone, 

 and in a very confined space, our progress was not rapid. 

 The earth had to be loosened and scraped forward; then the 

 worker wriggled backwards, drawing the earth forwards until 

 the outlet of the drain was reached, when the result was sent 

 over the cliff. As the clearing progressed, the one working 

 in the drain was occasionally quite hidden from view. One 

 morning, when I was at work, and nearing the obstacle, I 

 came upon something which for a time defied my efforts to 

 remove it; but at last I loosened it, and took it from its bed, 

 where it had probably been resting for centuries. I wriggled 

 back to daylight with my unknown prize, when it was seen 

 that it was a hollow cylinder of iron, open at one end, and 

 closed at the other. There was a handle on one side. What it 

 was I knew not then; but the heavy burden was cheerfully 

 borne as, with light hearts, we trudged back to breakfast. 

 Another visit sufficed to clear the floor of the drain of 

 accumulated earth and rubble, and to enable us to see clearly 

 the nature of the obstruction. I should state that in the roof of 

 the drain and about six feet from the outlet, a perpendicular 

 drain joined it; and down this had fallen a rectangular piece of 

 stone measuring about 2 feet x lOin. x lOin., which was firmly 

 jammed at the angle formed by the junction of the perpendicular 

 and horizontal drains. To remove this was both difficult and 

 dangerous. The working space was cramped; the prone 

 position of the operator most uncomfortable. Moreover there 

 was the knowledge that when the obstruction moved it would 

 come with a rush ; and then it would be a case of stand clear, or 

 be crushed. The obstruction was at length removed without 

 mishap, and when it came down into the drain, I found to my 

 great joy, that three stone shots, which had lodged behind it, 

 were now released. These I drew towards me, and wriggled 

 back to the outlet with them. They were received with shouts 

 of joy by my companions. The spoil was easily divided, as we 



