It is by the trap that we shall flee . Hark ! The attack is over . Nay , it was none ! '' It had , indeed , been no attack ; it was the arrival of another party of stragglers from the defeat of Risingham that had disturbed Sir Daniel . They had run the gauntlet under cover of the darkness ; they had been admitted by the great gate ; and now , with a great stamping of hoofs and jingle of accoutrements and arms , they were dismounting in the court . `` He will return anon , '' said Dick . `` To the trap ! '' He lighted a lamp , and they went together into the corner of the room . The open chink through which some light still glittered was easily discovered , and , taking a stout sword from his small armoury , Dick thrust it deep into the seam , and weighed strenuously on the hilt . The trap moved , gaped a little , and at length came widely open . Seizing it with their hands , the two young folk threw it back . It disclosed a few steps descending , and at the foot of them , where the would-be murderer had left it , a burning lamp . `` Now , '' said Dick , `` go first and take the lamp . I will follow to close the trap . '' So they descended one after the other , and as Dick lowered the trap , the blows began once again to thunder on the panels of the door . CHAPTER IV -- THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow , dirty , and short . At the other end of it , a door stood partly open ; the same door , without doubt , that they had heard the man unlocking . Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof ; and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread . Beyond the door there were two branches , at right angles .
XXXXX chose one of them at random , and the pair hurried , with echoing footsteps , along the hollow of the chapel roof .
Daniel Dick Joanna Risingham accoutrements anon armoury attack chink first