There were three hundred and eight steps, for he counted them.

And the steps were only on one side of the ladder, so he had to be extremely careful.

On he went, up and on, on and up, till his feet ached and his hands felt as though they would drop off for tiredness.

He could not look up far, and he dared not look down at all.

There was nothing for it but to climb and climb and climb, and at last he saw the ground on which the ladder rested--a terrace hewn in regular lines, and, as it seemed, hewn from the solid rock.