Creeping fearfully forward on hands and knees around the sharp corner I found myself before the yawning entrance to a cavern.

I realized that here was the ending of our toilsome climb, for I could see nothing beyond, excepting a precipitous wall of stone.

If the path had continuation, it must pass through the cave.
"Yonder yawns a gloomy-looking hole, Master Benteen," muttered the Puritan, lying at full length beside me, and staring ahead.

"Yet my eyes see no sign of life to alarm us." "The front is unguarded surely," I admitted gravely, "but do not feel confident that there are no occupants within.

If I mistake not, we have stumbled upon the very spot whence the priests signal down to the valley the rising and setting of the sun." "I never witnessed such ceremony, yet to my mind it would be far pleasanter going forward than lying here on the hard rock." Realizing the truth of his comment, yet muttering over my shoulder a word of caution, I began crawling forward into the interior.