The streets, they found, were like those of mountainous cities in Europe, and consisted mostly of steps. It was one of the most uncanny feelings that any of them had ever experienced, this walking through a city of the dead. For, although the ancient places were mostly in ruins, from earthquakes the professor judged, the city yet seemed lifelike enough for some of the vanished race to turn a corner at any instant.
For some reason, the boys kept very close to each other and to the professor, showing no disposition to wander. They found that, as they approached the lake, the buildings grew poorer in character and were not carved or decorated like those closer to the temple. The remains of a splendid wharf remained, however, which set the boys to wondering what had become of the boats that must have once plied between the city and the shore.
This, in turn, suggested ruminations upon the means employed by the vanished race of reaching the lake, for to climb over the mountains was obviously impossible. The professor opined that, at some time, a tunnel must have existed. This set the boys crazy to try to find it, but the man of science declared that, in all probability, the tunnel, if it had ever existed, had been ruined by earthquakes long since.
They stood by the lake side for a time looking into its dark blue depths, and then began a return up the street, climbing the steps cut in the rock.
“Where’s all the treasure we were going to find?” asked Joe, as they climbed the steep causeway worn by the feet of a race long since passed out of existence.
“I don’t imagine we are likely to find much that is valuable,” said the professor. “My belief now is, that when the Spaniards came the inhabitants of this city concealed everything valuable in it in some place known only to themselves.”
“Maybe the lake bottom,” suggested Joe.
“That is not improbable. At any rate, I think we shall have to content ourselves with the glory of having discovered this wonderful place. It is far more perfect than the ruins of Peru are described as being.”
“What about taking that gold plating off the sacred dome?” said the practical-minded Joe.
“Not with my consent,” said the professor. “I would wish this city to be the Mecca of antiquarians from all over the world.”