My Strangest Case | Page 9

least
four men to lift it. These, with a few exceptions, were in an excellent
state of preservation. Passing through the massive gateway the
travellers found themselves in an open square, out of which streets

branched off the right and left, while the jungle thrust in its inquisitive
nose on every possible occasion. The silence was so impressive that the
men found themselves speaking in whispers. Not a sound was to be
heard save the fluttering of birds' wings among the trees, and the
obscene chattering of the monkeys among the leaves. From the first
great square the street began gradually to ascend; then another moat
was crossed, and the second portion of the city was reached. Here the
buildings were larger, and the sculpture upon the walls more
impressive even than before. The same intense silence, however, hung
over everything. In the narrower streets creepers trailed from side to
side, almost shutting out the light, and adding a twilight effect to the
already sufficiently mysterious rooms and courtyards to be seen within.
"This is by no means the most cheerful sort of place," said Hayle to
Kitwater, as they passed down a paved street side by side. "Where do
you expect to find the great temple and the courtyard of the Three
Elephants' Heads?"
"Straight on," said little Codd, who was behind, and had been
comparing the route they were following with the plan he held in his
hand.
As he spoke they entered another square, and saw before them a mighty
flight of steps, worn into grooves in places by the thousands of feet that
had ascended and descended them in days gone by. At the top was a
sculptured gateway, finer than anything either of them had ever seen,
and this they presently entered. Above them, clear of the trees, and
towering up into the blue, were the multitudinous domes and spires of
the king's palace, to which the gateway above the steps was the
principal entrance. Some of the spires were broken, some were covered
with creepers, others were mutilated by time and by stress of weather,
but the general effect was grand in the extreme. From courtyard to
courtyard they wandered, but without finding the particular place of
which they were in search. It was more difficult to discover than they
had expected; indeed, they had walked many miles through deserted
streets, and the afternoon was well advanced, before a hail from Codd,
who had gone on ahead of them, informed them that at last some sort of

success had crowned their efforts. When they came up with him they
found themselves in a courtyard somewhat larger than those they had
previously explored, the four corners of which were decorated with
three united elephants' heads.
"By the great poker we've got it at last," cried Kitwater, in a voice that
echoed and reechoed through the silent halls.
"And about time, too," cried Hayle, upon whom the place was
exercising a most curious effect. "If you've found it, show us your
precious treasure-chamber."
"All in good time, my friend, all in good time," said Kitwater. "Things
have gone so smoothly with us hitherto, that we must look for a little
set-back before we've done."
"We don't want any set-backs," said Hayle. "What we want are the
rubies as big as pigeon's eggs, and sapphires, and gold, and then to get
back to civilization as quick as may be. That's what's the matter with
me."
As I have already observed, the courtyard in which they were standing
was considerably larger than any they had yet entered. Like the others,
however, it had fallen sadly to decay. The jungle had crept in at all
points, and gorgeous creepers had wreathed themselves round the necks
of the statues above the gateway.
"I don't see any sign of steps," said Hayle, when they had examined the
place in silence for some minutes. "I thought you said a flight of stone
steps led up to where the king's throne was placed?"
"Codd certainly read it so," Kitwater answered, looking about him as if
he did not quite realize the situation. "And how are we to know that
there are not some steps here? They may be hidden. What do you think,
little man?"
He turned to Codd, who was looking about him with eyes in which a
curious light was shining.

"Steps must be somewhere," the latter replied. "We've got to find
them--but not to-night. Sun going down. Too late."
This was undoubtedly true, and so, without more ado, but none the less
reluctantly, the three travellers retraced their steps to their camp upon
the hillside. Hayle was certainly not in a good temper. The monotony
of the long journey from civilization had proved too much for him, and
he was ready to take