had been intended for occupation by one or at
most two people. There were no traces of domestic implements to be
found, and nothing but the dust of the crumbling stones and the nests of
birds with which the openings of the cells were choked met the
searchers' eyes.

The investigation of this portion of the cliff city was, of course, made
in the reverse way, terrace after terrace being explored by the
adventurers descending; but the L-shaped shafts were far larger and more
commodious, and, instead of holes being made for the feet,
carefully-made steps had been cut out of the solid stone.

Feeling assured that if any interesting traces of the old dwellers were
to be found they would in all probability be here, Sir Humphrey and his
brother headed the search, and one by one every cell was entered and
each terrace explored, till, as they looked over the front, they made
out that only three more terraces remained, one of which was that below
which the great wall of rock went sheer down to the river at the spot
where they had cast the line to find bottom.

The party paused now for a few minutes' rest and conversation before
descending to these last three terraces.

"It is a wonderful place," said Brace thoughtfully, "and the old people
who cut out these cells and did all that carving must have been clever
enough for anything. Look at the shaping of this curious-looking
monster."

"I admire the way they protected themselves and prepared for a siege as
much as anything," said Briscoe. "The manner in which they contrived
the water supply is to my mind grand. We must have torches one of these
days, and examine that tank, and get up to the top and find out how the
spring is led in."

"But it seems strange that there are no more remains left about. They
did not possess anything apparently but a few earthen pots and the stone
mills," said Brace.

"People didn't furnish much in early times," said Briscoe, laughing. "A
man provided himself with a knife, a bow and arrow, or a spear, and a
place to lay his head in, and no doubt thought he was rich. He didn't
want a van when he was going to move to a fresh residence."

"But these people must have been highly civilised to ornament this
temple, or palace, or whatever it was, so grandly."

"Well, let's make our way to the bottom," said Briscoe; "we may find
something more interesting yet. Ready, Sir Humphrey?"

"Yes: forward," was the reply.

"He means downward," said