Sentence:  And then it was that I first perceived the danger in which I stood; for there was no hope of <WSD>kindling</WSD> a light, and I doubted now whether even in the light I could ever have done much to dislodge the great slab of slate. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.).