here was the ending of
our toilsome climb, for I could see nothing beyond, excepting a
precipitous wall of stone. If the path had continuation, it must pass
through the cave.

"Yonder yawns a gloomy-looking hole, Master Benteen," muttered the
Puritan, lying at full length beside me, and staring ahead. "Yet my
eyes see no sign of life to alarm us."

"The front is unguarded surely," I admitted gravely, "but do not feel
confident that there are no occupants within. If I mistake not, we
have stumbled upon the very spot whence the priests signal down to the
valley the rising and setting of the sun."

"I never witnessed such ceremony, yet to my mind it would be far
pleasanter going forward than lying here on the hard rock."

Realizing the truth of his comment, yet muttering over my shoulder a
word of caution, I began crawling forward into the interior. No sign
of human presence appeared, and I ventured to stand upright. The
cavern possessed a wide opening, with a broad platform of rock
extending well out beyond the face of the cliff. Along the edge I
could observe the rather dim outlines of an immense altar, built of
detached stones, rising to a considerable height, and partially
blocking the entrance. From below it might serve to conceal the mouth
of the cave. This obstruction shut off much of the moon's light,
rendering the interior intensely dark. We were compelled to grope our
way forward with hands pressed against the walls. I had not advanced
more than thirty feet, my every nerve tingling, when I saw the ruddy
reflection of a fire, hitherto completely concealed by a sharp turn in
the tunnel. Rounding this abrupt point we found ourselves in a large
room capable of containing upwards of three hundred persons. This
chamber was partly natural in formation, but, as I discovered later,
had been considerably enlarged by artificial means. So high was it
that, in the dim light, I could scarcely distinguish its vaulted roof,
while its length was hidden in the darkness. In the very centre of
this apartment arose a great pile of irregular rock, flattened and
hollowed along the top, where was burning a vast log, the smoke
ascending straight upward, evidently finding outlet above. The light,
red and yellow, flared and flickered upon the surrounding bare gray
walls, nothing else arresting the eye except a second wide rock
platform close to where we crouched. This was partially concealed by a
great mat of coarsely