### 79

Struggling to your feet, you stagger along the forest track as it ascends into the darkening foothills of the Maaken range. The track comes to an abrupt end at the entrance of a mine tunnel, partially obscured by foliage. You realize this must be a disused route into the Maaken mines, for they honeycomb the foothills and mountains of this region. You know that if you can locate one of the major shafts, you should be able to trace your way through the mines to Ruanon itself.

Just inside the tunnel entrance, you find a broken crate containing five Torches and a Tinderbox. The tunnel is pitch black and you will need at least one torch to light your way. You may take however many Torches you wish before continuing, but each Torch takes up one space in your Backpack.

The tunnel is cold and forbidding. You explore for over a mile before arriving at a junction. Here, another tunnel branches off towards the south. It appears to be a recent excavation, and you follow it in the hope of finding a major shaft.

Turn to 117.

Text copyright © 1985 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1985 Gary Chalk.