“Listen,” said Jack. “There. That dull humming sound. What is it? I lay awhile, half asleep, half waking, before I got up. Then I stopped to shake you fellows awake. Come on, let’s look out of these loopholes.”
“The Sun’s not yet up,” grumbled big Bob. “Why in the world do you have to beat him? Having such a good time of it, that you hate to miss a minute?”
Nevertheless, he followed Jack and Frank to the loopholes.
The humming sound referred to was louder. For several moments they stared through the apertures, unable to see anything in the dark square below. But the light grew momentarily stronger, as the sun neared the top of the eastern rampart of the valley. Then objects began to grow and took form in the lessening shadows.
“Whew,” exclaimed Bob, in an awed tone. “Did you ever——”
“And I said last night it looked like a city of the dead,” said Frank.
As for Jack, he deserted his loophole and, gaining his father’s side, shook him into wakefulness.
“Come here, Dad. What a sight.”
What a sight, indeed! The others were roused and summoned, too. For the great square was packed with humanity, rank upon rank of people, on their knees, facing the Temple and the east. At that moment, the sun shot above the horizon. And all that great multitude of people bowed forward, touching their hands to their lips, and then flinging their arms wide to the Sun.
The serried ranks were dressed in gorgeous costumes. Many wore wreaths upon their heads. Many wore ornaments of gold and silver that reflected back the light of the sun in myriad flashings. And on standards high above the multitude flapped great imperial banners, stirring lazily in the breeze that brought the dawn.