Thence a passage a quarter of a mile long leads to the little chapel standing in the hollow, and which, being hidden among the trees, would be unobserved by any party besieging the castle.

This of course was contrived in order that the garrison, or any messenger thereof, might make an exit in case of siege." "But if we could escape," Cnut asked, "why not enter by this way ?" "The stone is of immense weight and strength," Cuthbert replied, "and could not be loosed from below save with great labor and noise.

There are, moreover, several massive doors in the passage, all of which are secured by heavy bolts within.

It is therefore out of the question that we could enter the castle by that way.

But were we once in, we could easily carry off the lady through this passage." The large force which Sir Rudolph had collected was not intended merely for the defense of the castle, for the knight considered that with his own garrison he could hold it against a force tenfold that which his rival could collect.