And you think we could, or you could, or whoever undertook the task,
could get to the terraces yonder and escape--if there proves to be a way
up there?"

"Yes, father," said Chris, flushing with excitement now. "I feel sure
there is a way there."

"And you, Griggs--what do you say?"

"I feel sure of it, sir; but whether we could reach it from down below
here or not is another thing."

"The only way is to prove it," said the doctor.

"Now, at once, sir?" cried Griggs.

"Well, yes," said the doctor thoughtfully; "why not?"

He asked the question in a tone of voice that needed no answer, and then
turned to Chris.

"We'll go and examine the place, then, for the Indians must be gone."

"Oh yes," said Griggs, "they're gone, sure enough. But it would be as
well for say two to stop here on the terrace and be ready to fire if the
enemy should appear again."

This was soon arranged, Wilton and Bourne undertaking the task, while,
after a good look round to make sure that no watching eyes were
scrutinising their movements, the little party of four started for the
other side of the depression, Chris being so insistent that he felt
really well enough to be one, that the doctor shrank from leaving him
behind.

The task did not prove very difficult, for they had their previous
experience to help them, and they were not long after reaching the foot
of the cliff before finding a way up to the lowest terrace, and grasping
the fact that the incident that had taken place in the part they had
occupied had been repeated here. Whether before or after it was
impossible to say, but they found all the traces of a desperate fight,
and the defence of a brave people who had held out in cell after cell to
the very end.

Then the way up to the next terrace was hunted out and found half buried
in stones and dust, and hidden still further by the growth of ages.
Here again were the traces of the massacre, and after a hurried
examination of these, half-way along the second terrace Griggs came to a
sudden stop and cocked his rifle, an act immediately imitated by the
rest.

"Danger?" whispered the doctor.

"Don't know yet," was the reply, "but we're somewhere near the cells
where those fellows were using their bows the other day, and where I saw
them a little while ago."

He ceased speaking, and pointed downwards.

"What can you see?" whispered Chris.

"Trail. Moccasin-covered feet," was the answer.

The two boys would have pa