Only remember that you must be quick in going up it again, since hungry lions are active, and let all take notice that we are not responsible for anything that may happen to you." "Surely you had better stop where you are, my uncle," remarked Maqueda.
"To be mocked by you for ever after, my niece.

No, I go to face the lions," and very slowly he crept through the hole and began to descend the ladder.

Indeed, when Quick followed after an interval he found him only half-way down, and had to hurry his movements by accidentally treading on his fingers.
A minute or two later, peeping over the edge, I saw that they were all in the den, that is, except Joshua, who had reascended the ladder to the height of about six feet, and stood on it face outward, holding to the rock on either side with his hands as though he had been crucified.
Fearing lest he should be seen there, even in the shadow, I suggested to Maqueda that she should order him either to go down, or to return, which she did vigorously, but without effect.

So in the end we left him alone.
Meanwhile the three had vanished into the shadow of the sphinx, and we could see nothing of them.

The great round moon rose higher and higher, flooding the rest of the charnel-house with light, and, save for an occasional roar or whimper from the lions beyond the wall, the silence was intense.