"Trapped! and by my own cursed curiosity," he muttered, as he
commenced groping his way up in the darkness. But it was not so easy
as he had supposed. Twice he slipped his foot into a rotten hole, and
once the stairs trembled so violently that he thought they were about
to fall. Nevertheless he reached the top, as he realized when his
head came in contact with the trap-door, upon the other side of which
he pictured Ah Ben standing with an amused smile. Henley placed his
shoulder against the door, and to his amazement found that it opened
quite easily. He then procured a light, and having satisfied himself
that there had never been the slightest intention to entrap him, the
door having simply fallen, he went hurriedly to bed.