hiː tˈoʊld ðə vˈɪlɪdʒɚz ðæt wɛn hiː ænd hɪz sˈɪks kəmpˈæniənz wɜː hˈæfweɪ ˌʌp ðə hˈɪl, ɐ lˈɛŋθ ʌv stˈoʊn stˈɛɹkeɪs ɐpˈɪɹd bᵻfˈoːɹ ðˌɛm.
He told the villagers that when he and his six companions were halfway up the hill, a length of stone staircase appeared before them.