Briscoe, laughing, and, the regular shaft
being found, they descended to the next terrace and began to explore.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

THE TEMPLE OF IDOLS.

Working now upon a regular plan, the party began at one end of the
terrace and examined each cell in turn.

They had proceeded about a third of the way towards the other end, when,
to the surprise of all, although the openings like windows continued in
a regular row, the doorways ceased altogether, and when an attempt to
peer in at window after window was made, nothing whatever could be seen,
for within all was deep silent gloom.

They soon found that about a third part in the centre of the
two-hundred-feet-long terrace was like this: then the doorways began
again and continued right away to the end.

"Here, I want to see what's inside that middle part," said Briscoe. "I
propose that I have a rope round my waist, and that I climb in, and you
lower me down till I holloa out."

"And I propose," said Sir Humphrey, "that we leave that till another
day. Let's go down to the next terrace."

"At your orders, sir," said the American quietly. "I can wait."

The opening leading to the next terrace was sought for after the last
cells had been examined, and when discovered it was found to contain
nothing whatever but the crumbling dust of ages and the traces left by
birds; while, upon descending to this last terrace but one, they saw
that the construction was precisely the same as that of the terrace they
had just left--the central part being pierced only with windows, doored
cells being on either side.

"I feel more and more that I want to see what's inside there," said
Briscoe.

"Well, we'll have plenty of time to do so some other day, for we are not
going to move away from this place just yet," said Brace merrily. "Wait
till tomorrow, and we'll go in together. I fancy that we shall find it
is a temple, and full of mummies."

"Like as not," said Briscoe; "and if it is we shall find no end of
interesting things wrapped up with them, I should say. I daresay these
people did like the Egyptians used to do."

"Now," said Sir Humphrey, as the last cell was examined, "one more
terrace, and we shall have done all but this centre, and I propose to
leave that till to-morrow."

"No," cried Brace and Briscoe, in a breath.

"I want to sleep to-night," said the latter, "and I can't with this
mystery on my brain."

"Very well, then; we'll eat a bit of lunch, a