Here is the crack where it must be set to lift the
latch within."
"Whoever lived here guarded their food and water well," answered
Nehushta.
Then Ithiel showed her the place. It was a massive tower of a square
of about forty feet, whereof the only doorway, as he told her, had been
bricked up many years before to keep the thieves and vagabonds from
sheltering there. In height it must have measured nearly a hundred
feet, and its roof had long ago rotted away. The staircase, which was
of stone, still remained, however, leading to four galleries, also
of stone. Perhaps once there were floors as well, but if so these had
vanished, only the stone galleries and their balustrades remaining.
Ithiel led Nehushta up the stair, which, though narrow, was safe and
easy. Resting at each story, at length they came to that gallery which
projected from its sides within ten feet of the top of the tower, and
saw Jerusalem and the country round spread like a map beneath. Then,
as it was sunset, they returned. At the foot of the stair Ithiel gave
Nehushta the piece of iron and showed her how to lift the secret latch
and pull upon the block of hewn stone that was a door, so that it opened
to swing to again behind them.
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