rate, I
should prefer it vastly to such a waste of time, and that in a form to
me so disagreeable as that I have had to endure to-day."

CHAPTER IX.

A STARTLING EVENT.

It was some days later that Chebron and Amuba again paid a visit to
the temple by moonlight. It was well-nigh a month since they had been
there; for, save when the moon was up, the darkness and gloom of the
courts, lighted only by the lamps of the altars, was so great that the
place offered no attractions. Amuba, free from the superstitions which
influenced his companion, would have gone with him had he proposed it,
although he too felt the influence of the darkness and the dim, weird
figures of the gods, seen but faintly by the lights that burned at
their feet. But to Chebron, more imaginative and easily affected,
there was something absolutely terrible in the gloomy darkness, and
nothing would have induced him to wander in the silent courts save
when the moon threw her light upon them.

On entering one of the inner courts they found a massive door in the
wall standing ajar.

"Where does this lead to?" Amuba asked.

"I do not know. I have never seen it open before. I think it must have
been left unclosed by accident. We will see where it leads to."

Opening it they saw in front of them a flight of stairs in the
thickness of the wall.

"It leads up to the roof," Chebron said in surprise. "I knew not there
were any stairs to the roof, for when repairs are needed the workmen
mount by ladders."

"Let us go up, Chebron; it will be curious to look down upon the
courts."

"Yes, but we must be careful, Amuba; for, did any below catch sight of
us, they might spread an alarm."

"We need only stay there a minute or two," Amuba urged. "There are so
few about that we are not likely to be seen, for if we walk
noiselessly none are likely to cast their eyes so far upward."

So saying Amuba led the way up the stairs, and Chebron somewhat
reluctantly followed him. They felt their way as they went, and after
mounting for a considerable distance found that the stairs ended in a
narrow passage, at the end of which was an opening scarce three feet
high and just wide enough for a man to pass through. This evidently
opened into the outer air, as sufficient light passed through to
enable them to see where they were standing. Amuba crept out through
the opening at the end. Beyond was a ledge a foot wide; beyond that
rose a dome some six feet high and ei