f stone; and the whole was enclosed by a wall of great
height and enormous thickness that swept out in an immense semicircle
from the face of the cliff, and thus shut in the terraced promontory and
also a considerable area of level land at the base of it between the
lowest terrace and the margin of the lake.

On the highest terrace, crowning and dominating the whole, was a
majestic building that seemed to be half temple and half fort--a square
structure, resting solidly against the face of the cliff, and thence
projecting a long way outward to where its facade was flanked by two
low, heavy, square towers. Architecturally, this building, unlike any
other of which I had knowledge in Mexico, saving only the temple that we
had found upon the lonely mountain-top, was pervaded by a distinctly
Egyptian sentiment. Its walls sloped inward from their bases, and no
trivial nor fretful lines weakened the effect of their massive dignity;
for the whole of the decoration upon them was a broad panelling that was
gained by a combination of heavy pilasters and a heavy cornice; and with
the exception of a central entrance, the front was unbroken by openings
of any kind. Possessing these characteristics, the building had about it
an air of solemnity that bordered closely upon gloom; and the obvious
solidity of its construction was such that it seemed destined to last on
through all coming ages in defiance of the assaults of time. There was
no need for me to question Tizoc; for I knew that what I beheld before
me, crowning with sombre grandeur this strange city, girded with such
prodigious walls, was the Treasure-house that Chaltzantzin, the Aztec
King, had builded in the dim dawning of a most ancient past.

Young took his turn in looking through the glass, and as he handed it to
Fray Antonio he said: "If at any time in th' course o' th' past few
weeks, Professor, you've got th' notion from any o' my talk that I
thought that dead friend o' yours, th' old monk, was a liar, I want t'
take it all back; and I want t' take back all that I've said about that
other dead friend o' yours, th' Cacique, havin' set up a job on us. It's
clear enough now that both o' your friends played an entirely square
game. They said that there was a walled city, an' there it is; they said
that there was a big Treasure-house, an' there _that_ is. They were
perfect gentlemen, Professor, and I want t' set myself right on th'
record by sayin' so. If one of 'em hadn't be