perceived that he had been
correct in his surmise as to the purpose of the ledge. Then they
turned, and went back to the other end of the ledge. A few feet
before they reached this, Meinik--who was now leading the
way--stopped.

"Here is a passage, master."

The entrance was about the same size as that through which they had
stepped out on to the ledge but, instead of going straight in, it
started upwards.

"Another flight of steps, Meinik. I am beginning to hope that we
shall find some way out, at the top. If we can do so, it will make
us safe. We could defend those stairs and the entrance for a long
time and, when we wanted to get away, we could make quietly off,
without anyone knowing that we had left."

Chapter 14: In The Temple.

They went up the flight of steps for a considerable distance, then
they found the passage blocked by a number of great stones. Stanley
uttered an exclamation of disgust.

"It has fallen in," he said. "No doubt we are near the top of the
rock. Either the staircase was roofed in, or there was a building
erected over the entrance; and either the roof or building,
whichever it was, has fallen in. That is very unlucky. When we go
down, we will climb up the hill and see if we can discover anything
about it.

"With plenty of food and water," he went on, as they descended into
the lowest chamber, "one could hold this place for any time."

"Yes, master, one could store away the food; but where should we
store the water? We might bring skins in that would last us for a
week, perhaps two weeks, but after that?"

"After that we should make our way off, somehow, Meinik," Stanley
said, confidently. "Well, there is no doubt that this is the place
to shelter in. They are less likely to find us here than anywhere
and, if they do find us, we can defend ourselves stoutly. I should
say, too, that if we think it over, we ought to be able to hit upon
some plan for making noises that would frighten them. You know how
scared the man and the two boys were, at that sighing sound in the
other chamber. We certainly could make more alarming noises than
that."

Meinik nodded.

"That we could, master. With some reeds of different sizes I could
make noises, some as deep as the roar of a tiger, and others like
the singing of a bird."

"Then we will certainly bring some reeds in here with us, Meinik. I
don't suppose they will mind, in the daytime, what sounds they
hear; but at night I don't think