Now Aunt Maria hated ladders: they were awkward for skirts, and moreover they made her giddy; so she simply got on her knees and peeped through the trap-door.

But there was a fire directly below, and there was also a pretty strong smell of pipes of tobacco, so that she saw nothing and was stifled and disgusted.

She sent Glover down, as people lower a dog into a mine where gases are suspected.
After a brief absence the skipper returned and reported.
"Pooty sizable room.

Dark's a pocket 'n' hot's a footstove.

Three or four Injuns talkin' 'n' smokin'.