For an instant I paused. What was the use? It meant certain death to raise that door, and in what way might I be profiting either myself or the poor captive if I gave my life thus uselessly? But there was an alternative—one that I had been planning to adopt in case of necessity from the moment that I had first examined the exterior construction of the tower. It offered a slender chance of escape from my predicament, and even a very slender chance was better than what would confront me should I raise the trap-door.
I stepped to one of the windows of the tower and looked down upon the city. Neither moon was in the sky; I could see nothing. Towards the interior of the city I heard the squealing of thoats. There would the camp of the green men be located. Thus by the squealing of their viciou
