"Yes; and there is also another reason why these people came here and met their fate many, many years ago."
"What is that?"
"In this calcareous formation the preservative qualities of the carbonates would prevent rapid decomposition. These skulls are turning to the same material that we see all about us. See how brittle the bones are. Our bones are of lime formation, being largely composed of the carbonate, the same as the stalactites."
The other substances now lying about were noticed. The excitement engendered at the sight of the bones was enough temporarily to blind them to the numerous things found scattered about. Here was a dirk, the edges entirely worn away, and whitened. There were the metal ribs of what seemed to be a case, or a receptacle of some kind. Lying at one side was an ancient type of firearm, long, heavy, and with an immense bore. Another and another were found—a regular arsenal, with the scattered remnants of peculiar little copper receptacles with whitish powder in them.
Harry, who was about to remove the powder, was stopped by the Professor. "We must retain everything as we find it, as nearly as possible. We do not yet know what the little vessels contain."
Not an article of clothing thus far had been found. A little higher up on the platform, two more skeletons were seen, both of which had fractured skulls, one of them showing two cavities which could not have been accidental, as both showed the same kind of fracture, and inclined across the skull in the same direction on the left side.
Alongside these skeletons were more of the long, wicked-looking firearms which had been found previously near the other bodies. There was every evidence to show that a terrible fight had terminated the existence of the band. More long knives, with curiously wrought handles, were lying behind the last skeletons, and on a more careful examination, a knife of an entirely different pattern was found within the ribbed cavity of one of them.
Still farther back, new articles appeared. Articles of furniture, many of them coated with the fallen carbonates; and here were the first articles of clothing, some of which were so decomposed as to crumble at the touch. Others were still firm. Some of the articles, like a mantle, had threads intact running in one direction, and the other cross thread all converted into dust, which disappeared when the garment was held up.
On some of the garments were metal trimmings. "They look like silver," said George, excitedly; "and what is this? It seems to be silver," as he brushed a bracelet-like piece of ornamentation with the sleeve of his coat. As they advanced new articles came in sight; a bench; a veritable chair, or couch, the covering of which was there merely to give it form, but the substance had gone. Only the wood remained and that largely decayed.
And now on every side, at the rear and along the walls of the recess, were evidences of human habitation. Cutlasses, knives, and at one side, what appeared to be the kitchen, were numerous pots and kettles of various sizes and descriptions, nearly all of them of copper.