The latch acted beautifully, and the door remained shut even after the strain was taken off the cord.
To have opened the door now the lion must have had the sagacity to lift the latch, or else must have broken through the thick, strong planks-- neither of which was to be feared.
But the window still remained open, and through it the lion could easily leap out.

Swartboy, of course, designed closing it in the same manner as he had done the door.
But now arose a particular danger.

He had only one piece of cord.

That was attached to the arrow that still stuck fast.

How was he to detach and get possession of it?
There appeared to be no other way but by going up to the door and cutting it from the shaft.