The immediate impression that the boys received was one of cave-like
barrenness. In the half-light only a gray monotony met the eye.
Yet under this ghostlike pall, forms soon began to appear. In the
center of the chamber stood what was apparently an altar. In spite
of its burden of dust an elevation could be seen about eight inches
high and seven feet in diameter, on which was a boxlike structure
about three feet square and four feet high. On top of this was a
dust-covered figure. Beyond, in the deepest gloom, the mouths of
four radiating tunnels leading still further into the ground could
be seen. The roof was supported by irregular round columns,
apparently of wood, arranged in two circles.
Before beginning an exploration of the chamber the boys decided to
ascertain the depth of the dust covering the floor, into which they
had already sunk over their shoe tops. This was stifling work, for
the soft powder ran back as fast as it was dug away. A half hour at
least was consumed in reaching the bard surface beneath. The
coating of dust was nearly three feet deep.
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