Besides, Cyrus Harding hoped later to establish an hydraulic apparatus, which would avoid all fatigue and loss of time, for the inhabitants of Granite House.
The settlers soon became habituated to the use of this ladder.

They were light and active, and Pencroft, as a sailor, accustomed to run up the masts and shrouds, was able to give them lessons.

But it was also necessary to give them to Top.

The poor dog, with his four paws, was not formed for this sort of exercise.

But Pencroft was such a zealous master, that Top ended by properly performing his ascents, and soon mounted the ladder as readily as his brethren in the circus.