"Everybody."
"Let's get back, then," said the doctor; "but we'll keep out here on the
terrace as far as we can. It is gruesome work trampling amongst the
ashes of the fallen, interesting as it all is."
"I suppose we shall find another of those chimney-like flights of
steps," said Wilton; "but I was too much taken up with what we were
doing to notice."
"I hope so," replied the doctor, "but I saw nothing. I fancy, though,
that this was the only way up into the town or city, and, judging by the
appearance of the next terrace, it will be the last."
"Then we shall be able to get on to the top of the cliffs this way,
sir," said Griggs.
"I really can't say yet," was the reply. "Let's find the next shaft
first, and see how far it goes."
They kept along the terrace where they could, but here and there the
falling away of stones rendered it necessary for them to re-enter a cell
and keep for a little distance along by the inner passage. But at last
the first cell of the series was reached, and directly after they were
standing at the top of the second stairway and looking about vainly for
a third--the one that should give them a passage to the third floor of
dwelling-places.
"There must be a way," said Griggs, as he stood scratching his head,
"but I'm a bit puzzled. The upper rocks hang over here, and there seems
to be no sign of anything having broken away."
"Let's look in the first cell again," said Chris; "perhaps it begins in
there."
They stepped in to where the ashes lay piled-up and forming a slope on
one side reaching half-way up the back wall, this portion not having
been disturbed.
"No way out of this place except into the next chamber," said Griggs.
"We shall have to look somewhere else. But didn't you say we had found
no weapons yet, sir?" he continued, addressing the doctor.
"Yes; you have not seen any?"
"Looks like a couple of those stone axes yonder," said Griggs, pointing
to the back of the sloping heap. "I'll get them."
He took a couple of steps, and his feet sank in some depth. Then
quickly taking another and another to preserve his equilibrium, he
uttered a cry of annoyance, for his weight had set the whole of the heap
of dust in motion, bringing part into the cell where they stood, while
the rest glided like sand upon a slope, evidently sinking through a
similar opening to that which led into the next chamber, but here formed
in the wall exactly opposite to the window looking out on to the
terrace.
"Lend us a hand," cried Griggs, and he snatched at one of those
stretched out to his aid, following the rest in a hurried flight out of
the place, for the whole of the ashes and bones were in motion and ran
out through the back with a soft rushing sound.