erraces one above the other. They must have built
those."

"Nay, squire; those regular lines are just how the rocks form in ledges
and cracks. I s'pose, doctor, we shan't go any further to-day?"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

THE WATER SEARCH.

"Certainly not," cried the doctor. "We must explore this place. But it
looks so fresh that most likely we shall find a tribe of Indians living
here still."

"Nay," said Griggs, shaking his head as his keen eyes wandered from
place to place along the vast opening. "Indians who lived here must
have had horses for going about, and there isn't a sign of one anywhere.
Besides, if there had been any Indians we should have had some of them
showing. The fighting men might be away, but there'd be their wives and
papooses skulking here and there."

"Yes; a city of the dead," said the doctor, sweeping the sides of the
amphitheatre with his glass. "Not a sign of life but some marmot-like
animals yonder. And, as far as I know, there are no Indians who build
or carve out such houses as these living now, except the puebla Indians.
Well, this is a discovery indeed. We are bound to find some
interesting relics here if other travellers have not been beforehand
with us."

"Then we shall camp here for a day or two, father?" cried Chris eagerly.
"Let's ride on to the end, and see if there's a way out yonder."

"Yes, it will be as well," said the doctor, "and at the same time we can
select our camp. But the first thing is to find water."

"If there is none we must go back to that torrent where the gold was
found."

"And make some excursions here," said Wilton.

"Must be water somewhere here, sir," said Griggs uneasily. "There must
have been a strong tribe living here at some time--hundreds of 'em,
perhaps--and they couldn't live without drinking."

There was a desolate look about the newly-discovered city, but the
bottom between the vast walls was every here and there verdant with
grass and shrub, while the walls themselves were dotted with the growth
of ages. Bushes were everywhere, while in every crack and cleft, trees
had taken root, some being of a pendent growth spreading graceful boughs
which waved in the soft wind that from time to time swept through the
great depression.

"Let's leave the mules to browse here," said the doctor; "there's enough
of this short bush to keep them together while we ride on and explore,
for I think we may make sure that we have the place to