midnight
They were thirty fathoms from one of the winzes down which the water streamed . On hearing the roar Richard cautioned the younger men to be prompt , but collected . No time was to be lost , but rash haste might prove as fatal as delay . He sent them on in front of him , and they rushed under and past the winze , where they were nearly crushed by the falling water , and where , of course , their candles were extinguished , leaving them in midnight darkness . This last was not so serious a matter to the elder Richard as , at first sight , it might appear . He knew every foot of the ground they had to traverse , with all its turnings , yawning chasms , and plank bridges , and could have led the way blindfold almost as easily as with a light . As they neared the shaft he passed the younger men , and led the way to prevent them falling into it .