s they fell. Let's go
on."

Cell after cell was entered, with the remains lying thick as the
warriors had fallen, the searchers continuing the examination to the
very end, and then gladly stepping out on to the terrace, to stand there
in the broad daylight, the air seeming to feel fresh and clear after
what they had gone through.

"A strange bit of history," said the doctor thoughtfully. "We know now
and think how this bit of civilisation came to an end; but we have
discovered no weapons of war to help us to give a date to the siege."

"But we haven't half done our search yet, sir," said Griggs. "There's
another terrace above this, you see," and he pointed up to where there
had been another row of the cells formed in the rock-face, these latter
standing back a little and evidently being the last, for above them the
cliff projected like a gigantic cave, as far as they could see, from end
to end.

"Who votes that we give up now and leave the examination till another
day?" said Bourne, who had seemed more and more enthusiastic as the
search went on.

There was no reply.

"Who votes that we try and get up to the next stage?"

Hands went up, and Ned shouted eagerly--

"Everybody."

"Let's get back, then," said the doctor; "but we'll keep out here on the
terrace as far as we can. It is gruesome work trampling amongst the
ashes of the fallen, interesting as it all is."

"I suppose we shall find another of those chimney-like flights of
steps," said Wilton; "but I was too much taken up with what we were
doing to notice."

"I hope so," replied the doctor, "but I saw nothing. I fancy, though,
that this was the only way up into the town or city, and, judging by the
appearance of the next terrace, it will be the last."

"Then we shall be able to get on to the top of the cliffs this way,
sir," said Griggs.

"I really can't say yet," was the reply. "Let's find the next shaft
first, and see how far it goes."

They kept along the terrace where they could, but here and there the
falling away of stones rendered it necessary for them to re-enter a cell
and keep for a little distance along by the inner passage. But at last
the first cell of the series was reached, and directly after they were
standing at the top of the second stairway and looking about vainly for
a third--the one that should give them a passage to the third floor of
dwelling-places.

"There must be a way," said Griggs, as he stood scratching his