“We haven’t a great deal of time,” said Joe. “But I wouldn’t miss taking that in for hardly anything.”
He led the way down the steep slope, which required not a little caution. A single misstep would have meant a terrible fall to the bottom of the cañon.
An hour of careful climbing and their feet touched the green grass below. The tower, they observed, was several hundred yards in the distance.
“Probably we will find other ruins near,” remarked Joe Lewis, as they walked toward the corner of the narrow valley.
“Where there is one there is likely to be two,” smiled Dr. Rander. “And maybe you’re right.”
When they came nearer they saw that the tower was at least a hundred feet high. It was built of small blocks of stone, carefully fitted together. Near the base was a heavy growth of vines and creepers, which wound around the tower up to a height of twenty feet.
“Here’s a door,” called Bob, who had gone around the other side. “Let’s go in and see what we can find.”
With the aid of small flashlights they entered the structure and looked about.
Everywhere were cobwebs and other evidences of age, showing that it had not been occupied for hundreds of years. In one corner was a narrow winding stairway, which evidently led to the top.
“Shall we go up?” asked Joe.