laces where the stones had crumbled away,
and a slip must have resulted in a terrible fall; but all got well over
the perilous parts, and at last they climbed to a platform on the side
of the huge rocky mass, where the low crumbling walls showed where a
kind of temple had once stood. Here they had an opportunity of gazing
down into a valley that was one mass of glorious verdure, through which
dashed a torrent, whose waters flashed and glittered where the sunbeams
pierced the overhanging trees, and made the scene one of the most
beautiful they had seen.

There were more wonders yet, for the face of the rock was honey-combed
with caverns which ran in a great distance, forming passages and
chambers connected one with the other.

These had evidently been inhabited, for there were marks of tools
showing how they had been enlarged, and curious well-like arrangements
which suggested tanks; but Yussuf assured the travellers that these
holes in the natural rock were used as stores for grain, this being the
manner in which it was stored or buried to the present day.

"There," cried Mr Burne, as they came out of the last cave, and stood
once more upon the platform of rock by the ruins, and had a glorious
panorama of the defile below--"there, I've been as patient as can be
with you, but now it's my turn. What I say is, that we must go back to
camp at once, and have a rest and a good lunch."

"Agreed," said Mr Preston. "You have been patient. What is it,
Yussuf?" he cried suddenly, as he saw the guide gazing intently down at
something about half a mile away, far along the winding defile.

"Travellers," said Yussuf; and in that wild, almost uninhabited region,
the appearance of fellow-creatures excited curiosity.

They were only seen for a few minutes before the party of mounted and
unmounted men with their baggage were seen to curve round a bold mass of
rock, and disappear into a narrow valley that turned off almost at right
angles to that by which they had come.

The descent proved more difficult than the ascent, and Mr Burne made
several attempts to plunge down or slide amongst the debris instead of
trusting to his feet; but these accidents were foreseen, and checked by
Yussuf, who went in front, and at the first sound of a slip threw
himself down and clung to the rock, making himself a check or drag upon
the old lawyer's progress.

They reached the bottom at last safely, but heated and weary with the
long and arduous