Here and there were spyholes , concealed , on the other side , by the carving of the cornice ; and looking down through one of these , Dick saw the paved floor of the chapel -- the altar , with its burning tapers -- and stretched before it on the steps , the figure of Sir Oliver praying with uplifted hands . At the other end , they descended a few steps . The passage grew narrower ; the wall upon one hand was now of wood ; the noise of people talking , and a faint flickering of lights , came through the interstices ; and presently they came to a round hole about the size of a man 's eye , and Dick , looking down through it , beheld the interior of the hall , and some half a dozen men sitting , in their jacks , about the table , drinking deep and demolishing a venison pie . These were certainly some of the late arrivals . `` Here is no help , '' said Dick . `` Let us try back . '' `` Nay , '' said Joanna ; `` maybe the passage goeth farther . '' And she pushed on . But a few yards farther the passage ended at the top of a short flight of steps ; and it became plain that , as long as the soldiers occupied the hall , escape was impossible upon that side . They retraced their steps with all imaginable speed , and set forward to explore the other branch . It was exceedingly narrow , scarce wide enough for a large man ; and it led them continually up and down by little break-neck stairs , until even Dick had lost all notion of his whereabouts . At length it grew both narrower and lower ; the stairs continued to descend ; the walls on either hand became damp and slimy to the touch ; and far in front of them they heard the squeaking and scuttling of the rats . `` We must be in the dungeons , '' Dick remarked . `` And still there is no outlet , '' added Joanna . `` Nay , but an outlet there must be ! '' Dick answered . Presently , sure enough , they came to a sharp angle , and then the passage ended in a flight of steps . On the top of that there was a solid flag of stone by way of trap , and to this they both set their backs . It was immovable . `` Some one holdeth it , '' suggested Joanna .
`` Not so , '' said XXXXX ; `` for were a man strong as ten , he must still yield a little .
Dick Joanna Oliver cornice dungeons escape flickering goeth holdeth spyholes