Even after opening the window, I had no desire to enter The Tower at that point, as I had little strength left. I decided to descend, assemble supplies and make preparations to enter the next day, when I could re-ascend and explore on an extended basis. I returned to camp exhausted, lit a fire, prepared and ate a meal, went to my tent and slept.

I was awake at first light the next morning. I assembled food, drink and other supplies for several days, returned to The Tower and ascended. The pack containing my supplies I had left at ground level with a rope attached, and carried the end of the rope with me. After reaching the window, I entered and pulled up the pack. I primed and lit a gas lantern, which lit the room I was in with a yellowish-white glow. The room was lined with bookcases, apart from the mirror I had seen previously, as well as a door. The door led to a metal circular staircase that led up into an opening in a wooden ceiling, and down into the gloom. A railing surrounded the stairs, and I could see that there were doors at the other three compass points, all closed.
I was less interested at this point in exploring at my level than determining if entry to The Tower could be gained at ground level, so I decided to descend. I took the gas lantern, along with a large four-cell flashlight and a heavy revolver. I began to move down the stairs, while using the lantern to see what was around me in all directions. Figuring the stair risers at about 10 inches, and perhaps 10 feet to a story, I counted off 60 steps down, figuring that as approximately 50 feet, which was my estimation of the height of the window whereby I had entered. However, I observed no opening in the rock wall, only the rocks themselves, each inscribed inside as on the outside. After descending another 20 steps, I encountered a door in the wall. Relieved, and assuming I had miscalculated the height, I threw bolts back on the top and bottom of the door, and removed a large crossbar. However, the door would not open, nor move in the slightest degree. I had noticed there was a small window set in the door, closed by a metal cover. I turned the latch and opened the cover, and was mystified when my light showed only earth and small rocks on the other side. After several minutes lost in thought, I closed and latched the window cover, and continued my descent.