They
came away, having no depth of earth, and a small
opening was disclosed.
"It is here," said Goosal quietly. "The
entrance to the cavern that leads to the burial
place of the dead, and the city that is dead also.
It is here."
He stood aside while the others hurried
forward. It took but a few minutes to prove that
he was right--at least as to the existence of the
cavern--for the four men were soon peering into
the opening.
"Come on!" cried Tom, impetuously.
"Wait a moment," suggested the professor,
"Sometimes the air in these places is foul. We
must test it." But a torch one of the Indians
threw in burned with a steady glow. That test
was conclusive at least. They made ready to enter.
Torches of a light bark, that glowed with a
steady flame and little smoke, had been provided,
as well as a good supply of electric dry-battery
lamps, and the way into the cavern was thus well
lighted. At first the Indians were afraid to
enter, but a word or two from Goosal reassured
them, and they followed Professor Bumper, Tom,
and the others into the cavern.
For several hundred feet there was nothing
remarkable about the cave. It was like any
other cavern of the mountains, though wonderful
for the number of crystal formations on the root
and walls--formations that sparkled like a million
diamonds in the flickering lights.
"Talk about a wonderland!" cried Tom.
"This is fairyland!"
A moment later, as Goosal walked on beside
the professor and Tom, the aged Indian came to
a pause, and, pointing ahead, murmured:
"The city of the dead!"
They saw the niches cut in the rock walls.
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