 that they could have had no
communication with the outside, for just as some families may have been
ordered to live here, others may have been instructed to supply them
with food. The watchers may have had a store of gold-dust sufficient to
last them all this time, and their friends outside may have brought
them a sheep or two, and corn and other articles of necessity once a
week. There could have been no difficulty in doing so. The stories of
demons, and probably the murder of inquisitive people who tried to pry
into what was going on, created such a dread of the place that those in
the secret would come and go without the slightest difficulty.
Conceivably, young men may from time to time have gone out for a year
into the world and brought back wives with them, or girls may have been
sent by the people in league with them outside, and obtained husbands,
which is less likely. I should think it was more probable that young
boys and girls would be kidnapped, and brought in here from time to
time. All this is pure guesswork, of course, but nevertheless there may
be people here, and it is just as well to take a look round from above
before we trust ourselves inside the place."

On gaining the plateau they followed the crest of the valley until they
came to a spot where the ravine appeared to end. They found that in
fact it made a sharp turn. It was here only some ten feet wide, but
soon broadened out to thirty. Fifty yards farther there was another
sharp bend, the ravine narrowed to twenty feet, and the sides became
absolutely perpendicular. Twenty yards farther still they saw something
like a wall about thirty or forty feet high stretching across the
gorge, which was here some seventy feet deep. About twenty feet from
the foot there was a steep ascent of rocks, such as might have fallen
there by a slip from one side or the other. Above these a perpendicular
wall rose for another twenty-five feet. Harry and his brother looked at
it in surprise from the height at which they stood. Its appearance was
precisely that of the wall-precipices on each side. It was rough and
uneven, and they could see no signs of any joints.

"It looks as if it were natural," Bertie said, "but it can't be."

"No
that they could have had no 
 communication with the outside, for just as some families may have been 
 ordered to exist here, others may have been instruct to supply them 
 with food. The watchers may have had a memory of gold - dust sufficient to 
 survive them all this time, and their friends outside may have brought 
 them a sheep or two, and corn whiskey and early articles of necessity once a 
 week. There could have been no trouble in doing so. The fib of 
 demon, and probably the murder of inquisitive people who tried to pry 
 into what was going on, make such a dread of the place that those in 
 the secret would fall and go without the slightest difficulty. 
 Conceivably, young work force may from time to time have gone out for a year 
 into the world and bring back wives with them, or girls may have been 
 sent by the people in league with them outside, and obtained husband, 
 which is less probable. I should intend it was more probable that young 
 boys and girls would be kidnapped, and brought in here from time to 
 time. All this is pure guess, of path, but nevertheless there may 
 be multitude here, and it is barely as well to take a look round from above 
 before we entrust ourselves inside the place. " 

 On gaining the plateau they followed the peak of the valley until they 
 came to a spot where the ravine appeared to end. They found that in 
 fact it made a sharp twist. It was here only some ten feet wide, but 
 soon broadened out to thirty. Fifty yards farther there cost another 
 sharp bend, the ravine narrowed to twenty feet, and the sides become 
 absolutely perpendicular. Twenty yards farther however they saw something 
 like a wall about thirty or forty feet gamey stretching across the 
 esophagus, which was here some seventy feet deep. approximately twenty feet from 
 the foot there was a steep rise of rocks, such as might have fall 
 there by a slip from one side or the other. Above these a perpendicular 
 wall heighten for another twenty - five feet. Harry and his buddy looked at 
 it in surprise from the height at which they stood. Its appearance was 
 precisely that of the wall - precipice on each side. It was rough and 
 uneven, and they could see no sign of any joints. 

 " It looks as if it were natural, " Bertie said, " but it can't be. " 

 " No
 thwt they could have had nu
communication cuth thx outsise, for jjst as some families may havx bewn
ordtged to live here, othefs may hane been ibstrncted to supply vgem
with food. Fme wacciers may have hsd a store of gold-dust sgfwieient to
last them all this time, and eheir ftifnds outside mwy hsde bdought
them a sheep or two, and corn and otier articles of necessity once a
week. Therf cokld have been no dlfficulty ib doybg so. The sturies of
demons, and progably the murder of inquisitive peopke who trigb to kry
into what was doing on, created sucv a dresd of the placc thav thise in
the secret woulv come and go withouj the sligvtzst difficulty.
Conceivqboy, yoong man mxt ffom tmme to tile iave gone oht for a yeqr
into the world anc fgpught back wjves wytr them, or girls may have been
sent by tht peolle in league with them outside, and obtained husbands,
rhich is less likely. I should think it was more psobabmd tkqt yojbg
hoys and girls would be kidnapped, and brought jn hvre from time to
tlme. All this is pute gigsswork, of coutse, but nebertheless there mwy
be pejple yere, and yt ix just as well to take a loik round froi above
before we trbst ourselver inxide yhe place."

On gaining the plafeau they flllowed tgd crest of the vxllvy uttil they
came to a spot whqre the revine appeardd tp end. Ehey found that in
fact it made a sjarp jurn. Id was here only some ten feet wide, but
sooi broadened oot do nhirty. Fiyty yavds farther thewe was another
xharp bznd, thd ravine nzrrowed to twenty seet, and the vldes became
ausolutely perpenducular. Gdenty yards fatther still they saq something
like a xall zbout thirty or fotry feet high syregchynh ecrosf the
gorge, whhch das nere rome seventn fdet ceep. About twenty feat fdom
the foot there eaf a steek ascent jf rocks, such as might have falpen
thxre by a slop srom one side or the other. Abobe these w pcrpendicular
wwll vose for anothzr twenty-five feet. Harry and his brother looked at
it in sorprise from the heigkt at which tiey stjod. Its a[pearance was
preciseoy that of the wakl-precipices on each aide. Id was rough and
uneven, and they could see no signs of any joints.

"It looks as if ut werx gatural," Berfie xaid, "tuc ic can't fe."

"No
that they could have had no communication outside, just as families may have others have been instructed supply them with The watchers may have had a of gold-dust sufficient to last them all this time, and their friends outside have brought them a sheep or two, and corn and other articles of once week. could been no difficulty in doing so. The stories of demons, and probably the murder of inquisitive who tried to pry into what was going created such a dread the place that those in secret come and without slightest Conceivably, young men from time to time have gone out for a year into the world and brought back wives them, or have been by people league with them obtained husbands, which is less likely. it was more probable that young boys and would be and brought in here from time time. All this is pure guesswork, of course, nevertheless there may be people here, and it is just as well to take a from above before we ourselves inside the On the they the crest the valley until they came to a spot where the ravine to end. They found that in fact it made a It here only some feet wide, but soon out thirty. Fifty yards farther another bend, to feet, the sides became absolutely Twenty yards farther still they something like a wall high stretching across the gorge, which was here seventy feet deep. About twenty feet from foot there was a steep ascent of rocks, such as might have there by from one side or the other. Above these perpendicular wall rose for twenty-five feet. Harry and his brother looked at it surprise the height which they stood. appearance was precisely of the wall-precipices side. It rough uneven, see no signs of any joints. looks if it were natural," Bertie "but be." "No
 that they could have had no
comMunication With tHe oUtsIdE, for Just As some families MAy haVe been
ordered to live herE, otheRs MAy haVE bEen inStructeD To SUPplY tHeM
wiTh FOoD. The wAtcHers may Have had a stOre Of Gold-dust suffICiEnt to
last tHem All this time, aNd tHeir frIeNds OUtsidE maY have BroughT
Them a sHeep or two, AnD Corn anD Other arTIClEs of Necessity once a
weeK. thERe could have beeN no difFiCUlTY In dOinG so. The storIeS of
deMOns, and pRObABLY thE Murder of inquiSitive peoplE Who Tried tO pRy
iNTo what Was goInG On, cReated such a DreaD of the plaCe that THose in
tHE secret Would cOme And Go wiTHoUt The SlIGhtESt DifFIcuLty.
ConceIvAbLy, youNg meN MAY From TimE to tIme haVe gone out for a YeaR
intO The World And brOughT bAck wiVes witH them, Or Girls may have beeN
senT by the peoPle In LeaGuE with THem outSidE, anD obtainEd husbaNDs,
wHiCH IS lEss likely. I should thInK IT wAs more prObable THaT yOUng
boys aNd GirLs woULD be kiDnapPEd, And brougHt in heRE fRoM time to
TiMe. All tHiS is PurE guesSWork, Of courSe, but nevErtheLEss there may
be pEOple here, and it IS jUST aS Well To tAke a look rouNd frOM aboVe
beFOrE we TRust oUrselVeS InSIde the place."

On gaininG tHe platEau thEy followed the Crest of the VALLey until They
CAmE To a spot where thE raviNe appeared TO end. They Found That in
faCt it made a SHArp turn. IT waS heRe oNly SOMe Ten feet wide, buT
SOon bRoAdened oUt tO thirty. fifTy yArdS faRtHer there wAs anotheR
sHaRp BeNd, tHe ravINe narrowEd To tWeNty Feet, aND the siDes beCame
AbSoLUteLy perpeNDiCULar. TWeNtY yarDs fArTher sTill THey Saw someThing
like A waLL aboUt ThIrty or fOrty feet high sTrEtching acrOsS thE
gorge, WHIch was heRe some seventy feet deep. AbOUt twentY feEt froM
the Foot there Was A steep AscENt of roCks, sucH as miGhT haVE FalleN
THeRe bY a Slip from onE SIde Or the OtHer. ABove theSe a perpendicular
waLL roSe for another tWenTy-fiVE FeEt. HARrY And HiS BroTHEr looked at
it in sUrprise froM tHE hEight at whiCH thEy Stood. ItS appearAnce wAS
precisEly that of The wall-prEcIpicES On eAch side. It wAs rough aNd
uneven, aND they COuLd see No sIgns of AnY joInts.

"IT looks AS if It werE naturAl," bertie Said, "bUt It can't be."

"no
 that they could have hadno
communi catio n w ith  t he o utsi de, for just a s  som e families may have be en
or de r ed t o  l ive h ere, ot h er s may  h av e b ee n  i nstru cte d to su pply themwit hfood. The wa t ch ers may ha vehad a storeofgold-d us t s u ffici ent  to
l ast th e m allthis time ,a nd the i r frien d s  o utsi de may have broug h tt hem a sheep or  two,an d  c o r n a ndother arti cl es of necessi t yo n c e a week. There c ould have b e enno dif fi cul t y in d oingso .  Th e stories o f
de mons, and  proba b ly them urder o f inqu isi tiv e pe o pl ewho  t r ied to  pr y 
in to whatwa sgoing  on, c r e ated  su ch a  drea d of the plac e t hatt hos e inthe s ecre twould  comeand g owithout the sli ghte st diffic ult y. 
Co nc eivab l y, you ngmen  may fr om time toti m e ha ve gone out for aye a r 
i nto theworlda nd  b r ought ba ck  wi vesw i th th em,o rgirls ma y have be en 
sent b ythe pe op leinleagu e  wit h them  outside , and obtained husba n ds,
which isl es s li k ely.  Ishould thin k it wasmore pr oba b le th at yo un g 
b o ys and girls wouldbe  kidna pped,  and broughtin here fr o m time totime .  A l l this is pure  gues swork, ofc ourse, b ut ne verthele ss therem a y
be peo ple  he re,  an d it  is just as w e l l to  t ake a l ook  roundfro m a bov e
b ef ore we tr ust ours el ve sin sid e the place."
O n g ai nin g the platea u the y fo ll ow e d t he cres t  o f theva ll ey u nti ltheycame toa spotwhere the  ra v ineap pe ared to  end. They fo un d that infa ctit mad e a sharpturn. It was here onlys ome ten  fe et wi de,but
soonbro adened  ou t  to th irty.Fifty  y ard s farth e r  t her ewas anothe r sha rp be nd , th e ravin e narrowed to twen t y f eet, and thesid es b e c am e
a b so l ute ly per p e ndicular. Twent y yards fa rt h er  still the y  sa wsomethi ng
like  a wa l l about  thirty o r forty f ee t hi g h  st retching a cross th e
gorge,w hichw as  here  so me sev en tyfeetdeep.A bou t twe nty fe et  fromthe f oo t therewas a steep ascent of r ocks,suchasmight hav e f a lle n
there b y aslip fromone  si de or  th e  othe r. A b ov e t h ese a  per p endicular wa llr o se  for anothe r t wen ty-fi vef eet. H arry  and his brotherl ooked at
it in  sur p r ise  fr o m th eheight at whic h t he y stood. I ts  appearance  was
pre ci s ely t hat of  the w all-pre c i pi c es oneach  si de. It wa s r ou g h and
u ne ve n , andthey  c ould s ee nos igns o f any joints.

" It lo o k s asi f i t wer enatural , " Be rtie said,  "but it ca n't be ."
"No
 that_they could_have had no
communication with_the outside,_for_just as_some_families may have_been
ordered to live_here, others may have_been instructed to_supply_them
with food. The watchers may have had a store of gold-dust sufficient to
last them_all_this time,_and_their_friends outside may have brought
them_a sheep or two, and_corn and_other articles of necessity once a
week. There could_have_been no difficulty_in doing so. The stories of
demons, and probably the_murder of inquisitive people who tried_to pry
into what_was_going_on, created such a_dread of the place that those_in
the secret would come and go_without the slightest difficulty.
Conceivably, young men may_from time to time have gone_out for a year
into the_world and_brought back wives with them,_or girls may_have been
sent_by the people_in league with them outside, and_obtained husbands,
which is_less likely. I should think it_was_more probable that_young
boys_and_girls would_be kidnapped, and_brought_in here_from_time to
time. All this is pure_guesswork,_of course, but nevertheless there may
be people_here, and it is_just_as well to take_a look round from above
before_we trust ourselves inside the place."

On_gaining the_plateau they_followed the crest of the valley until they
came to a spot_where the ravine appeared to end._They found that in
fact_it made_a_sharp turn. It_was_here only_some ten feet wide, but
soon broadened out_to thirty._Fifty yards farther there was another
sharp_bend, the ravine narrowed_to_twenty feet, and the sides became
absolutely_perpendicular. Twenty yards farther still they_saw something
like a wall about_thirty_or_forty feet high stretching across_the
gorge, which was here some seventy_feet deep. About_twenty feet from
the foot there was a_steep_ascent of rocks, such as might_have_fallen
there by a slip from one_side_or_the other. Above these a_perpendicular
wall rose for another twenty-five feet._Harry and his brother looked at
it in surprise from_the height at_which they stood. Its appearance_was
precisely_that_of the wall-precipices on each side. It was rough and
uneven,_and they_could see no_signs of any joints.

"It looks as if it were natural,"_Bertie said, "but it can't be."

"No