“We’ll have to hurry if we’re going to search the other three streets,” Randy pointed out.
This time Jill agreed to help by going alone so as to save time. They agreed to cut the search period to five minutes, at which time they would come back to their meeting place. Ted had been gone about a minute when he heard someone calling. His heart stirred with hope, and he hustled back at moderate speed to the place from where they had started.
“I think I’ve found a way out!” Jill was crying excitedly.
Fortunately they were able to catch Randy before he got very far, and the two boys followed Jill down the street where she had made her discovery. After a hundred feet or so they came into a big open area and at one side of it there rose a huge stone staircase leading upward.
“There!” Jill cried happily.
“Let’s go up!” Ted urged.
They started up the steps that slowly turned in a half spiral as they ascended. After a long climb, the children found themselves in a large gallery. In spite of their hurry, the three became as hypnotized by the sight of many stone tables or altars arranged in orderly fashion throughout the place. Lying on top of the altars were long oblong cases, fancily decorated.
“These must be coffins!” Randy burst out.
“Let’s get out of here!” Jill pleaded.
Ted’s gaze had turned from the altars to the smooth, rounded walls of the room that were covered with paintings from one end to the other.