Why we had not discovered these stairs from seaward was because they did not come squarely down to the water’s edge at right angles to the wall, but instead lay, as it were, parallel to it in a niche within the wall, so that they were somewhat sheltered from observation from the sea.
As we broke upon them suddenly, therefore, Mistress Lucy clutched my arm. We naturally drew together at the sight of such gods, or devils, in stone.
“The giant stairway!� she cried in thrilled amazement.
“It is indeed,� I said triumphantly, as I realized what our discovery meant, “just as it was stated in the parchment.�
“And the great stone faces,� she added in a voice in which there was a note of horror.
“They, too, were mentioned, you remember,� I said, striving to speak cheerfully, though I was deeply impressed myself.
“And just like the little one back in the ship.�
“The very same,� was my reply.
“They were very old two hundred years ago,� she commented.
“Aye, it appears to me that they must have been old a thousand years ago, or more,� I assented.