nd then examine that."

As soon as the party had disposed of their meal, they left the entrance
to the shaft, walked along to the end of the terrace, and began to
examine the first cell.

Here a surprise awaited them, for the cell was double, had two windows
and a door at either end, there being no dividing wall, only a curious
construction in the middle, but so crumbled away that for some minutes
it was examined in vain, the loose stones about turned over and over,
and the dust raked here and there.

"I know," cried Brace at last: "it has been a kitchen."

"Right," said Briscoe: "must have been something of that sort. Let's
get on."

The next place was entered, and proved to be also double, but with only
one entrance, and that narrow.

Brace was the first to enter, and after a glance round and upward to see
if the roof had fallen in, he stood looking down at a heap of stones
which were thickly covered with the dust that had crumbled down and
accumulated.

"There's nothing to see here," he cried; "and the windows are nearly
choked up with growth."

"Yes, come back; these places are all the same," said Briscoe, gripping
him tightly by the arm; but, as he made way for Brace to pass him, and
the rest went on, he stooped down quickly and picked up a piece from the
heap of dust-covered stones and placed it in his pocket.

"Why did you do that?" said Brace, in a low voice.

"Don't ask questions now," whispered Briscoe. "I'll tell you soon.
Wait till we're out of hearing of the men."

Several more of the large double cells were inspected, and they all
seemed to have been used for other purposes than habitation, for various
stone objects lay about, and in two cases their aspect suggested that
they had been used for grain stores; but it was impossible to decide.

Then Brace's heart began to beat quickly with excitement, for he felt
that they were on the brink of a great discovery. Several windows were
passed which were heavily loaded with grotesque ornamentation; but there
was no door visible. The centre of the terrace was marked by a perfect
curtain of liana-like creepers and vines, which hung in festoons from on
high and almost completely hid the elaborately-carved front.

"There must be an entrance here," said the captain. "Out with your
jack-knives, my lads, and cut a way through."

It was no easy task, for the various creepers were interlaced and had
grown together so that saws and strong bill-hooks wo