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Returning speedily to the front entrance, Luindal stared in disbelief at the outer tunnel where they had come through just a few hours before: it was now totally blocked off by rocks and boulders. Bending down to examine the spot more closely, Luindal could not see a shred of daylight. The twisting tunnel was inky black, with stones packed tight against the opening. Worst of all, the tide was beginning to pound against the sandy shore. Only an hour or so, and the greedy waves were likely to swallow up the cave, even the main cavern in which they stood. Several inches of water already lapped around his feet, while most of the smaller tunnels were wholly impassable. Even if the waves did not overwhelm the front entrance, the water that had flooded the side tunnels would ultimately come rushing into the main cavern, since it had nowhere else to go.
Alahaseey had spoken of an occasional rock that came crashing down from the hill onto the shoreline below, but she had never warned of a general landslide that could block off the entrance trapping the searchers inside. A cluster of Elves and Lossoth were crowded about the entry tunnel, frantically attempting to clear out whatever stones and rubble they could. Yet,even with the aid of picks, their work was proceeding slowly: they could not outpace the rushing waves.
Rôg had come back with Annû and Elwë and the Elf who had been injured in the side cavern. Luindal gestured to the small brown bat to come over and speak. "Are there any other ways out of this cave?" For the caves the Elf had known as a young lad often had more than one entrance.
"No," Rôg squeaked. "When I flew in, the first thing I did was to check all the passages. There is no other way in or out."
"Then we are in a mess indeed. For the front opening is crammed with a thick wall of rubble and rock, quite heavy stuff, and I see little chance of tunnelling to the other side."
Rôg's small brown eyes suddenly lit up and he cocked his head sideways, as if he wanted to say something. "Well, out with it, my friend," Luindal prodded. "I have no idea what to do next. If you have any good ideas, share them now, or none of us will be left to hear them...."
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