You continue your haphazardly successful descent. The gloom is all around you now, as you come to one last hole. A cold draft issues from it, and by the light of your excellent candle you spy deep dark water, surrounded by tall wooden ledges. Clearly, your best option is to grasp the hole's edge, launch yourself onto a ledge, and hide there silently.
Of course, you could also turn and face your pursuers. All other paths in the musty gloom appear to be dead ends.