Then we tiptoed to the door, which was ajar.
Outside was a passage with a flight of steps at one end which led to the open air.

On these steps lay a faint shine of starlight, and by its help I saw a man huddled up at the foot of them.

It was our sentry, neatly and scientifically gagged and tied up.
The steps brought us to a little courtyard about which the walls of the houses rose like cliffs.

We halted while Hussin listened intently.
Apparently the coast was clear and our guide led us to one side, which was clothed by a stout wooden trellis.

Once it may have supported fig-trees, but now the plants were dead and only withered tendrils and rotten stumps remained.
It was child's play for Peter and me to go up that trellis, but it was the deuce and all for Blenkiron.