I felt my naked feet cling to the rungs of an iron ladder.

Ned Land and Conseil, firmly seized, followed me.

At the bottom of the ladder, a door opened, and shut after us immediately with a bang.
We were alone.

Where, I could not say, hardly imagine.

All was black, and such a dense black that, after some minutes, my eyes had not been able to discern even the faintest glimmer.
Meanwhile, Ned Land, furious at these proceedings, gave free vent to his indignation.
"Confound it!" cried he, "here are people who come up to the Scotch for hospitality.