eld by a wilderness of columns which opened before us seemingly
endless vistas where an eternal twilight reigned. Of interior decoration
there was nothing save a broad and simple panelling upon the walls, and
the great pillars were mere round monoliths without either bases or
capitals.

As we entered this, to them, most sacred place a hush fell upon our
escort, and even I felt something of that reverent awe that is inspired
by any building which has been sanctified by the worship of multitudes
within it through countless years. But that Young did not at all share
this feeling with me was made manifest by his observing, after taking a
long look around him: "Well, this wouldn't answer for a Congregational
church, anyway. There ain't a pew in th' whole place, an' here in broad
daylight you couldn't see a hymn-book if you tried. I wonder what they'd
say, Professor, to a bid for puttin' in a dynamo for 'em an' lightin'
this dark old hole with electricity? An' it 'u'd take off a lot o' this
chill an' dampness if they'd have a steam-heater put in at th' same
time. It's enough t' give all hands rheumatism th' way cold creeps
strike up your legs." But at this point Young's observations were cut
short peremptorily by the hand that one of the guards laid across his
mouth; which hint that it was desirable for him to keep silence was
quite unmistakable.

This decided repression of Young's chattering, no doubt, was the more
vigorous because we now were approaching the farther end of the temple,
where loomed before us amid the shadows a great idol, set upon an
altar-like throne. This figure, fully ten feet high, was a strange
medley of grotesque and hideous carvings that yet in its entirety was
like a man; and so cruel and so ferocious was the general air of it that
it well might inspire a very lively terror in simple souls. The most
striking feature of the figure was a dismal skull, that was outheld from
the region of the waist by two great hands placed there arbitrarily and
without any relation to the figure's arms; and for a crest--repeating
the motive of the gate-way--it had two serpents' heads, the bodies
pertaining to which were twisted and involved about the whole mass. For
eyes this evil thing had large and gleaming green stones--being, in
truth, emeralds, though I did not at that time recognize them as
such--and golden serpents, very beautifully wrought, were twisted about
it, and a collar of golden hearts was hung around it