ow firm belief was correct,--that yonder stood a solid, substantial
city, erected by the hands of a people whom common consent had agreed
were long since wiped out of existence.

The story told by Cooper Edgecombe, backed up by the articles taken from
the person of the warrior whom he had slain in self-defence, certainly
had its weight; while the brief and imperfect glimpse which he had won
of yonder valley helped to bear out that astounding belief. And yet, how
could it be true?

Really believing, yet forced by more sober reason to doubt, the poor
professor was literally "in a sweat" long ere another view could be won
of the depressed valley, although the landing of the air-ship was so
well chosen as to make that trip of the briefest duration consistent
with prudence.

The natural obstacles were considerable, however, and as they picked
their way along, the brothers for the first time began to gain a fairly
accurate idea of what was meant by the term, a virgin forest.

To all seeming, the human foot had never ventured here, nor were any
marks or spoor of wild beasts perceptible on either side.

Although the aerostat had landed not far below the crest of those hills,
the adventurers had to climb higher, before winning the coveted view,
partly because the most practicable route led down into and along a
winding gulch, where the footing was far less treacherous than upon the
higher ground, cumbered, as that was, with the leaf-mould of centuries.

Still, half an hour's steady labour brought the little squad to the
coveted point, and once again Professor Featherwit was almost literally
stricken speechless,--for there, far below their present location,
spread out in level expanse, lay the secret valley with all its marvels.

Far more extensive than it had appeared by that initial glimpse, the
valley itself seemed composed of fertile soil, yet, by aid of the river
which cut through, near its centre, irrigating ditches conveyed water to
every acre, thus ensuring bounteous crops of grain and of fruit as well.

Numerous buildings stood in irregular array, for the most part of no
great height, nor with many pretensions towards architectural beauty or
grace of outline; but in the centre of the valley upreared its head a
massive structure, pyramidal in shape, consisting of five comparatively
narrow terraces, connected one with another only at each of the four
corners, where stood a wide-stepped flight of stones.

"Behold!"