The Peril Finders Part 77

"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, pa.s.sed 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 endors.e.m.e.nt of Chris's exclamation about the fighting that had gone on.

There was a fairly wide s.p.a.ce 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 repet.i.tion 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.