It was ill fitted, so that the edge of it stood up above the flooring, also the bolt that fastened it had been removed, although the staples in which it used to work remained.
Peter looked round for some stick or piece of wood to pass through these staples, but could find nothing.

Then he bethought him of a short length of cord that he had in his pocket, which served to tie one of the saddle-bags in its place on his mule.

This he fastened from one staple to the other, so that the trap-door could not be lifted more than an inch or two.
Reflecting that this might be done, and the cord cut with a knife passed through the opening, he took one of the chairs and stood it so that two of its legs rested on the edge of the trap-door and the other two upon the boarding of the floor.

Then he said to Castell: "We are snared birds; but they must get into the cage before they wring our necks.

That wine was poisoned, and, if they can, they will murder us for our money--or because they have been told to do so by the guide.