"As fine as silk," came back the rejoinder. "Just climb through and then drop down beside me. It's a bonnie staircase."
"Funny they haven't got it guarded," commented Jack, as he obeyed Sandy's instructions, and in another instant was by his chum's side.
"It does seem queer. But maybe they never figured on our escaping by this way."
"Maybe that's it," agreed Jack, little guessing the real reason that no sentry was posted on the stone stairway.
"Now we'd better hug the wall going down," observed Sandy. "We don't know how far out the steps extend, and if we step off it would be awkward."
"Awkward! We might be killed!" exclaimed Jack.
"That's so, too," agreed Sandy in his usual matter-of-fact tones.
He seemed quite calm and cool, while Jack's heart was beating wildly and his pulses throbbing painfully.
"Now then, easy does it!" observed Sandy, and he began to descend the stone stairway with due caution.
Jack followed, keeping as close to the walls as he could. He could not help feeling conscious of the black void that yawned on the outer end of the projecting steps.