At any rate, I will take some men up, at once, and get that stone out." The task was a difficult one.

The block of stone was so nearly the size of the passage that they could not get a rope round behind it and, after trying for two hours, in vain, they determined that the only course was to push it before them.

They soon found, however, that this was impossible; and that a part, at least, of the stone was remaining in its place.

Finally, they succeeded in pushing a loop in the rope over the top of the block; and then, by main force, eight of them pulled it out of the hole, and lowered it on to the top step.
By the time that they had done this, dawn was approaching; and they therefore returned, at once, to the chambers below.
The men were all much pleased, when Stanley told them that they would leave that night.

Confident as they felt that the Burmese could not force their way in, a new feeling of nervousness seized them, now that the way was open, lest some unforeseen circumstances might occur to prevent their going.