I feared it would let him through suddenly as these props fell; but it had been roughly hinged at one end with thongs.

He rose, and he and the Mercian heaved on the door and threw it back.
Then below us gaped a black pit which seemed to go deep into the earth, and for a moment we shrank back from it as men must needs do when a depth is suddenly before them.

Nor should I have wondered if thence the bright points of waiting spears had darted upward in our faces.
But there was nothing save a little cold draught of wind that blew into them from out of that pit, and we looked into it.

I held the torch so that its flickering blaze went to the bottom, and as we saw what was there a groan came from us.
There was the great chair lying, overturned on its side as it may have fallen, but it was dragged back from under the door somewhat.
There were the cushions I had noted also--one lying on the stone floor of the pit, and the other on the seat of the chair.

But there was no sign of the king--none but a stain of red on the cushions and on the floor, and on the blade of a sword which lay beside that terrible pool.