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The Peril Finders, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 36. It Was All A Dream |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. IT WAS ALL A DREAM "Ugh! the dust!" cried Bourne, as they stood together looking back through what seemed like a mist. But this soon subsided, and they stepped inside again, to find that a portion of the heap of remains had glided through an opening at the back, evidently the way into another cell--one that was dimly lighted from somewhere above, and which proved as soon as it was examined to be the way they sought, and not merely a narrow shaft, but a wide opening going upward and downward, the steps being in the wall which formed the division between the two chambers. There was only a narrow landing at the foot of the steps, and below this the opening seemed to go right down like a square well, into whose depths the remains that disappeared had glided and lay far below. "A huge cistern," said Wilton eagerly. "No," said the doctor; "the old people could not have stored their water just below the way up to the next range of dwellings. More likely a great corn-store or granary." "Yes," said Bourne, "that seems likely;" but Griggs grunted and said nothing. "What do you think, then?" said the doctor. "I don't fancy those old folks would do much farming and corn-growing, sir," replied Griggs. "You see, it's a rocky sort of place all about here, with very little soil except in patches, and a short supply of water. Flocks and herds must have been more in their way." "Then what would have been the use of a place like this?" Griggs was silent for a few moments, and then he laconically uttered the word-- "Trap!" "A trap!" cried Chris wonderingly. "What could they catch up here?" "Enemies," replied the American, as he stood looking down and then up. "What are you thinking?" said the doctor quickly. "Only this, sir. Perhaps I'm wrong, but you see this is a stronghold, and I can't help thinking that this is the only way into it. There was the first row of dwelling-places, got at only by a ladder, up which the enemy had to fight their way, and they seem to have killed all that were defending that part before fighting their way up to the second row. There they did the same, and here must have been the way up to the top part, which they tried to make stronger still. You see, it's rather a ticklish bit up the side there, and plenty of room all round for those who defended the place to use spears and stones to beat down those who came against them. Just look, it wouldn't only be driving them back, but knocking them off into a hole or trap where they'd be quite done for." "But if that were the case this hole would be piled-up with the remains of the enemy," said Chris eagerly. "That's so, my lad, and we can easily prove it. I'm going down to see." "What, down into that horrible pit?" cried Ned. "I should have thought you had had enough of going down for the water." "I did, squire; but there's no water here. All's dry, and I fancy there's a bottom to it. There didn't seem to be any where the water went down. First of all, though, doctor, if it was a corn-store or granary there'd be steps like those that go up, going down." "Certainly," said the doctor. "And from where we stand, so that the people could fetch up sacks full or baskets." "Of course." "Let's see, then," said the American, and opening his box he took out a match, lit it, and going down upon one knee held the burning splint below him. "No steps here," he cried, jerking the nearly burned-out match out into the gloom. "Try another," said Chris sharply. This was done, and a fresh examination made, but as far as could be seen the great square pit cut out of the rock went down smooth and square without a sign of foothold. "I wonder how deep it is," said Chris, in a whisper tinged with awe. "We'll soon find that out," said the American. "Is there a loose stone anywhere about?" "Yes, plenty on the terrace outside," said Ned, and he stepped back, passed out of the window-opening, and returned with a piece of shale as big as his hand. "Pitch it right out in the middle, squire," cried Griggs, and the fragment quitted the boy's hand, to fall with a sharp sound upon stone, as near as they could guess some thirty feet below. "You're wrong, Griggs," said the doctor. "Am I, sir? Well, not the first time by many." "If this place had been as you think, the bottom would be covered with ashes like those we saw glide down, and that stone would have fallen with a dull thud." "Very likely, sir. That's only how it seemed to me. Shall I go down now and see?" "No; let's climb up to the next range and see what that tells us; we may find some explanation there. Mind how you go, Chris; these steps are risky." "Yes, I'll take care, father," panted the boy, who was already climbing. "I don't want to tumble down there." The height climbed was greater than that of the two lower ascents, but proved to be fairly easy to one whose nerves were steady, and as he reached the top Chris called down-- "It's so gloomy because the cliff overhangs it so. My word! There's been some fighting here!" The rest followed him quickly, and as they gathered, all noticed that there was a fairly wide ledge on all four sides of the place, forming a pathway fairly level, and chipped out of the solid cliff; while, making quite a breastwork at the edge, but irregular in the extreme, stones of all shapes and sizes were piled-up, quite regularly along the side farthest from the rough steps, and of all heights in other parts, the stones nearest to the steps being only few. Griggs came last, and he noted this appearance, and uttered a deep grunt as he pointed out the rough breastwork, but said nothing. "Stones used for building and squaring the openings on to the terrace, I suppose," said Bourne, and the boys looked at them curiously. "What about mortar?" said Ned. "Think they were for building, sir?" said the American. "Yes; don't you?" "No, sir," was the reply. "It seems to fit with my idea." "What do you think, then?" said the doctor. "I think the same as I did before, sir. Those are powder and shot." "What!" cried the boys, in a breath. "Ammunition to cast down at an attacking force?" said the doctor eagerly. "Looks like it, sir. You see, they've used most from close to where the enemy was coming up the steps. Perhaps I'm wrong, though. Let's see what's been going on here. But first of all, is there another floor higher up the cliff?" A careful search only seemed to prove that they were now on a level with the highest terrace and range of chambers, while close by the top of the steps there was ample endorsement of Chris's exclamation about the fighting that had gone on. There was a fairly wide space between the top of the great square shaft and the openings into the first cell and that leading to the terrace front, and here the remains lay literally heaped, looking as if a most desperate encounter had taken place. Further examination proved that the first cell had also been desperately defended, for the combatants had lain in heaps. It was the same with the second, and as the adventurers went on without stopping to investigate, they found a dire repetition of the battle, and proofs that chamber after chamber had been a little battle-field in which many fell, right on to the extreme end of the range, all of which was in far better condition as to its stone-work than the terraces below. The heaps of gruesome dust ended with the last chamber only, very little being seen to take attention; but on the terrace, and here in the last four or five chambers, the doctor stooped several times to rake away the soft, easily-swept ashes, to point out proofs of his former opinions, many of the relics he uncovered and touched being quite small. "A horrible massacre," he said softly. "Children, youths, and these are doubtless the skulls of women." "Oughtn't we to preserve specimens of each to take back? They would be of intense interest to students of the past," said Bourne gravely. "How?" replied the doctor. "Touch any of them.--There, you see. They crumble into dust almost at a breath. What we carry away from here must be in our memories. As far as mine is concerned, it is already charged with the knowledge that we have, here the remains of two races of people, the one fierce and barbarous, the other the civilised builders and carvers of this strange city of the past. Here it is, all written down, how, in spite of all their efforts for their protection, dwelling, as they must have been, in the midst of fierce and bloodthirsty tribes, they were attacked, conquered, and massacred to the very last. For I expect when we examine the terraces on the other side of this place, we shall find a repetition of all we have found here. There, enough of horrors for one day." "But you'll come and examine all this again, father?" said Chris excitedly. "Yes, I should like to come too," cried Ned. "What, haven't you both had enough of these horrors?" said the doctor, raising his eyebrows. "N-no, father," said Chris slowly, and as if thinking the while. "It is very horrible, of course, and one almost shivers to think of how the brave people must have fought; but there's a something about it that seems to draw one on to try and know more, and it is almost like reading of a dreadful battle and a brave defence; only it seems to be so much more true." "Yes, and it's so ancient, father," said Ned, meeting Bourne's eyes. "I want to know more, and to try and find some of the swords and spears and battle-axes." "I know what I should like to find," said Chris, speaking as eagerly as his companion. "What?" said the doctor, for Chris stopped suddenly, and seemed lost in thought. "I suppose it couldn't be done," the boy added dreamily, "but I seem as if I was on the side of all those people who were beaten, and I should like to see how many of the enemy they killed before the last of them were massacred." "You'd like to count their enemies' skulls, eh, Chris?" said the doctor, smiling. "Yes, I feel something of the same kind; but nature has forbidden that, my boy. You see we are amidst heaps of dust." "But we may find some of their weapons that they used," said Bourne. "We must search for them." "I should like to put a word in here, gentlemen," said Griggs suddenly, "for I've got a touch--a bad one--of our young friends' complaint. We've a good two hours' broad sunshine yet, I should say." "Oh, quite that," said the doctor. "Well, there's all that lot of ammunition yonder at the top of the trap." "Yes," said the doctor; "I begin to think you're right about that, Griggs." "And seeing what a stand the poor people made here, fighting from room to room--or house to house, I suppose I ought to call it--I can't help thinking that there was something pretty desperate went on before they let the enemy get up those steps." "No doubt," said the doctor, "and that accounts for so many of the stones of that breastwork being missing." "That's right, sir. Well, I want to go down into that hole with a big light, and see what's at the bottom there. I'm reckoning that we could find out what kind of weapons the enemy had to fight against the stones." "Yes," cried Ned; "their swords and--" "Well, I don't know about swords, squire," said the American dryly, "but they must have had something to fight with. I vote that we go and see." This was agreed to without hesitation on the doctor's part, and the party made their way back to the top of the steps. There was a pause here while all walked along the four sides, where hundreds of stones averaging the size of a man's head lay just as they had been placed ages before; and then the descent was made to the opening at the side where the heap of dust had disappeared, and a short consultation took place. "You'll have to give up for to-day, Griggs," said the doctor; "it's as black as ink down there at the bottom." "That's what I've been thinking, sir," said Griggs. "One must have a lanthorn for this job, and by the time I've been to fetch it, got back here with another rope or two, and lit up ready for work, another hour will have slipped away; so if Chris and Ned here will promise not to tell me that I'm too much scared to go, I think I'll give it up for to-night." "You may take it for granted that no one will even dream of such a thing," said the doctor quietly; "and I think it will be much wiser to give up. We've done quite enough for one day. Every one for camp, a good wash, and a hearty meal." An hour later they were seated round their camp-fire, talking over the adventures of the day, and that night almost the same dream disturbed the slumbers of both boys, whose minds overleaped the long roll of ages which had elapsed, and conjured up for them the rock city occupied by a busy population. Then came the alarm of danger, the surprise made by the active enemy, and then the fierce defence of the first standing, the fight on the lower terrace, and the desperate defence of cell after cell. Then the fight for the next, and afterwards the escalading of the staircase in the great square hole, down into which Chris seemed to see scores of fierce-looking Indian warriors beaten by the stones cast from above. Worst of all in the dream was the final slaughter along the last platform, a sight so horribly real that Chris woke up suddenly, bathed in perspiration, and suffering an agony of excitement before he could force himself to believe it was all a dream. _ |
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