n prime condition there was a
feast of bear meat at the following dinner. The white travelers found
it rather too strong for their palates, but the Indians reveled in it.

It was shortly after noon the next day, when Goosal, after remarking
that a storm seemed brewing, announced that they would be at the
entrance to the cavern in another hour.

"Good!" cried Professor Bumper. "At last we are near the buried city."

"Don't be too sure," advised Mr. Damon, "We may be disappointed.
Though I hope not for your sake, my dear Professor."

Goosal now took the lead, and the old Indian, traveling on foot, for he
said he could better look for the old landmark that way than on the
back of a mule, walked slowly along a rough cliff.

"Here, somewhere, is the entrance to the cavern," said the aged man.
"It was many years ago that I was here--many years. But it seems as
though yesterday. It is little changed."

Indeed little did change in that land of wonders. Only nature caused
what alterations there were. The hand of man had long been absent.

Slowly Goosal walked along the rocky trail, on one side a sheer rock,
towering a hundred feet or more toward the sky. On the other side a
deep gash leading to a great fertile valley below.

Suddenly the old man paused, and looked about him as though uncertain.
Then, more slowly still, he put out his hand and pulled at some bushes
that grew on a ledge of the rock. They came away, having no depth of
earth, and a small opening was disclosed.

"It is here," said Goosal quietly. "The entrance to the cavern that
leads to the burial place of the dead, and the city that is dead also.
It is here."

He stood aside while the others hurried forward. It took but a few
minutes to prove that he was right--at least as to the existence of the
cavern--for the four men were soon peering into the opening.

"Come on!" cried Tom, impetuously.

"Wait a moment," suggested the professor, "Sometimes the air in these
places is foul. We must test it." But a torch one of the Indians
threw in burned with a steady glow. That test was conclusive at least.
They made ready to enter.

Torches of a light bark, that glowed with a steady flame and little
smoke, had been provided, as well as a good supply of electric
dry-battery lamps, and the way into the cavern was thus well lighted.
At first the Indians were afraid to enter, but a word or two from
Goosal reassured them, and they followed Professor Bump