"Well, we'll have plenty of time to do so some other day, for we are not going to move away from this place just yet," said Brace merrily. "Wait till tomorrow, and we'll go in together. I fancy that we shall find it is a temple, and full of mummies." "Like as not," said Briscoe; "and if it is we shall find no end of interesting things wrapped up with them, I should say. I daresay these people did like the Egyptians used to do." "Now," said Sir Humphrey, as the last cell was examined, "one more terrace, and we shall have done all but this centre, and I propose to leave that till to-morrow." "No," cried Brace and Briscoe, in a breath. "I want to sleep to-night," said the latter, "and I can't with this mystery on my brain." "Very well, then; we'll eat a bit of lunch, and then examine that." As soon as the party had disposed of their meal, they left the entrance to the shaft, walked along to the end of the terrace, and began to examine the first cell. Here a surprise awaited them, for the cell was double, had two windows and a door at either end, there being no dividing wall, only a curious construction in the middle, but so crumbled away that for some minutes it was examined in vain, the loose stones about turned over and over, and the dust raked here and there. "I know," cried Brace at last: "it has been a kitchen." "Right," said Briscoe: "must have been something of that sort. Let's get on." The next place was entered, and proved to be also double, but with only one entrance, and that narrow. Brace was the first to enter, and after a glance round and upward to see if the roof had fallen in, he stood looking down at a heap of stones which were thickly covered with the dust that had crumbled down and accumulated. "There's nothing to see here," he cried; "and the windows are nearly choked up with growth." "Yes, come back; these places are all the same," said Briscoe, gripping him tightly by the arm; but, as he made way for Brace to pass him, and the rest went on, he stooped down quickly and picked up a piece from the heap of dust-covered stones and placed it in his pocket. "Why did you do that?" said Brace, in a low voice. "Don't ask questions now," whispered Briscoe. "I'll tell you soon. Wait till we're out of hearing of the men." Several more of the large double cells were inspected, and they all seemed to have been used for other purposes than habitation, for various stone objects lay about, and in two cases their aspect suggested that they had been used for grain stores; but it was impossible to decide. Then Brace's heart began to beat quickly with excitement, for he felt that they were on the brink of a great discovery. Several windows were passed which were heavily loaded with grotesque ornamentation; but there was no door visible. The centre of the terrace was marked by a perfect curtain of liana-like creepers and vines, which hung in festoons from on high and almost completely hid the elaborately-carved front.