'T will be a sweet sacrifice, and I should like to live to hear your cries for mercy, and drink of the warm blood." I stared at him, unable to deny our helplessness.
"You would make us believe there is no upper entrance to this accursed hole!" "Seek as you please--there is none.

You are trapped beyond struggle; you cannot escape the vengeance of the Sun." I pointed, still incredulous, toward the great burning log.
"Did you grow yonder tree in this cavern?
or was it borne here on the back of a slave ?" "It was lowered from above, over the edge of the cliff, by grass ropes." "I believe you lie," I cried, now thoroughly shaken by his surly contempt; but the fellow only leered at me, and I strode across the great room, where I might reflect beyond sight of his eyes.

As I passed to the other side of the altar I observed a little gray daylight flooding the mouth of the cave.

The sight recalled to mind another possible danger.
"Cairnes," I called, "it is about the hour of sunrise.

Down in the village I have noticed that whenever the sun touches the crest of these rocks the priests up here go forth, waving a flame into the air from yonder platform.