After seeming hours of torturing suspense the sound of footsteps rumbled down the tunnel-like passage, and a gleam of light, that gave indescribable comfort to the miserable prisoner, began to grow brighter and brighter, till the outlines of a man leaning over the mouth of the pit were thrown into strong relief by the light of a horn lantern.
"Here's thy food," announced the man gruffly. "Cast loose the cord, I pray thee."
As he spoke he lowered a pitcher of water and a loaf of rye bread. Geoffrey unfastened the cord by which they were lowered, and without another word the gaoler proceeded to pull up the sole means of communication.
"How long am I to lie in this horrible den, I beg of thee to tell me?" asked the lad pleadingly, but his only answer was a gruff chuckle, and the man hurried away.
Geoffrey consumed his sorry meal, then sitting with his head resting on his knees, tried his utmost to reconcile himself to his surroundings. Fortunately, sleep came to the relief of his bodily and mental anguish, and stretched upon the hard floor he fell into a deep yet dream-haunted slumber.
How long he slept he knew not. Suddenly he awoke with a start, to find the pit illumined by the glare of numerous torches, while men's voices roughly shouted to him to bestir himself.
Staggering to his feet, Geoffrey found a stout-noosed rope dangling within a few inches of his head, and, in obedience to an order, he passed the loop under his arm-pits. The next instant he was lifted off his feet, and, swaying to and fro, he was hauled to the surface.
Escorted by his captors, the lad retraced his steps along the damp stone passage that he had traversed long hours before, but ere the ground level was reached the party halted before a low iron-bound door.
"This will be thy quarters," exclaimed one of the men, producing a heavy key that hung with others on his girdle. "How did'st thou like the night in my lord's guest-chamber, eh? Have a care, therefore, and behave thyself circumspectly in thy new abode; for, failing this, back to yon pit thou'lt go."
So saying, the gaoler unlocked the door, that creaked and groaned on its hinges as it opened.