tower, nor is it used for purposes of war, not standing
upon any wall, and there she might sit at peace and see the sun; yet I
fear to let her do so."

"It must be risked," answered Nehushta. "Take me to visit this place."

So Ithiel led her to the cistern, and from the cistern up a flight of
steps to a little vaulted chamber, into which they entered through
a stone trap-door, made of the same substance as the paving of the
chamber, so that, when it was closed, none would guess that there was
a passage beneath. From this old store-room, for such it doubtless was,
ran more steps, ending, to all appearance, in a blank wall. Coming to
it, Ithiel thrust a piece of flat iron, a foot or more in length, into a
crack in this wall, lifted some stone latch within, and pushed, whereon
a block of masonry of something more than the height and width of a man,
and quite a yard in thickness, swung outwards. Nehushta passed through
the aperture, followed by Ithiel.

"See," he said, loosing his hold of the stone, which without noise
instantly closed, so that behind them there appeared to be nothing but a
wall, "it is well hung, is it not? and to come hither without this iron
would be dangerous. 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.

Next morning, before it was dawn in the