Hastening to Sir Mark, who had risen from the floor, with half a dozen sturdy blows Tom snapped the chains that fixed his ankle bands to staples in the wall, then performed the like service for Schwab. He made no attempt to release their ankles from the fetters: there was no time for this, and he feared also to do them an injury. The sounds had caused commotion in the further dungeon, where the sheikh’s other prisoners were confined. Chains were clanking, men were shouting, the uproar was so great that it must reach the ears of the jailer if he were anywhere in the neighbourhood, and though he was shut off from the vaults, he might burst the locks and bring a host of armed men to the rescue. “We have no time to lose,” said Tom. “Come with me.” “But, pardon me——” said Sir Mark. “I can’t explain now,” Tom interrupted. “Come along; it is all right, only we must get away at once.” “At vunce, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. “You hear zat! For ze sake of anyzink, be a man!” “My good sir——” began Sir Mark: but Tom again cut him short. “Can you walk?” he asked, noticing that the Englishman tottered as he stood. “With assistance, perhaps.” At once Tom caught him by an arm, bidding Abdul take the other. Supporting him, they led him along the passage, up the stairway to the upper corridor, Schwab panting and ejaculating behind them. Even before they reached the corridor they heard a tremendous battering at the door whose lock had been filled with fragments of brick. It was so stout a barrier that Tom had no fear that it would be broken down by anything short of a battering ram, and it was not likely that the Moors had at hand an instrument ready for this purpose. His confidence was, however, soon shaken, for, before the party, encumbered with the enfeebled envoy, had begun to ascend the winding stairway leading from the arched corridor to the vestibule above, there was the sound of a very heavy body striking the door, followed by an ominous creak. Leaving the others to precede him, Tom stationed himself on the narrow stair, the hammer in one hand, his revolver in the other. He was determined not to use the revolver except in the last extremity, but he had no such compunctions about using the hammer.