Then the youths and maidens ran to theseus and kissed his hands and feet, and him for his great deed; and, as it was already growing dark, theseus bade them follow him while he wound up the silken thread which was to lead them out of the labyrinth. through a thousand rooms and courts and winding ways they went, and at midnight they came to the outer door and saw the city lying in the moonlight before them; and, only a little way off, was the seashore where the black ship was moored which had brought them to crete. the door was wide open, and beside it stood ariadne waiting for them. "the wind is fair, the sea is smooth, and the sailors are ready," she whispered; and she took the arm of theseus, and all went together through the silent streets to the ship. in this excerpt, the sequence of events creates suspense by speeding up the plot to move the story forward and build tension. starting the story in the middle of things. describing a setting that causes anticipation. showing the importance of a long period of time that has passed