Meanwhile Denny and I kept watch, and Phroso, who seemed out of humour, disappeared into her own room. Our idea was to reach the other end of the journey somewhere about eight or nine o’clock in the evening. Phroso told us that this hour was the most favourable for finding the fishermen; they would then be taking a meal before launching their boats for the fishing-grounds. Three hours seemed ample time to allow for the journey, for the way could hardly, however rich it were in windings, be more than three or four miles long. We determined, therefore, to start at five. At four Hogvardt and Watkins returned from the underground passage; they had driven three stout pegs into excavations in the rocky path, and built them in securely with stones and earth. The rope was tied fast and firm round the pegs, and the moistness of its end showed the length to be sufficient. I wished to descend first, but I was at once overruled; Denny was to lead, Watkins was to follow; then came Hogvardt, then Phroso, and lastly myself. We arranged all this as we ate a good meal; then each man stowed away a portion of goat--the goat had died the death that morning--and tied a flask of wine about him. It was a quarter to five, and Denny rose to his feet, flinging away his cigarette. ‘That’s my last!’ said he, regretfully regarding his empty case. His words sounded ominous, but the spirit of action was on us, and we would not be discouraged. I went to the hall door and fired a shot, and then did the like at the back. Having thus spent two cartridges on advertising our presence to the pickets we made without delay for the passage. With my own hand I closed the door behind us. The secret of the Stefanopouloi would thus be hidden from profane eyes in the very likely event of the islanders finding their way into the house in the course of the next few hours. I persuaded Phroso to sit down some little way from the chasm and wait till we were ready for her; we four went on. Denny was a delightful boy to deal with on such occasions. He wasted no time in preliminaries. He gave one hard pull at the rope; it stood the test; he cast a rapid eye over the wedges; they were strong and strongly imbedded in the rock. He laid hold of the rope. ‘Don’t come after me till I shout,’ said he, and he was over the side. The lantern showed me his descending figure, while Hogvardt and Watkins held the rope ready to haul him up in case of need. There was one moment of suspense; then his voice came, distant and cavernous. ‘All right! There’s a broad ledge--a foot and a half broad--twenty feet above the water, and I can see a glimmer of light that looks like the way out.’ ‘This is almost disappointingly simple,’ said I. ‘Would your lordship desire me to go next?’ asked Watkins. ‘Yes, fire away, Watkins,’ said I, now in high good humour. ‘Stand from under, sir,’ called Watkins to Denny, and over he went. A shout announced his safe arrival. I laid down the lantern and took hold of the rope.