enclosing a square in which stood a small pyramid. The walls of the
earthwork were enormously thick, three hundred feet Ned reckoned, and
upon it at regular intervals stood other small pyramids fourteen in
number.

Scattered all about, alone or in groups, were tumuli, and leading away
from the largest group of tumuli Ned saw a street or causeway, which,
passing by the Pyramid of the Sun, ended in front of the Pyramid of the
Moon, where it widened out into a great circle, with a tumulus standing
in the center.

Despite all the courage that he had shown Ned felt a superstitious
thrill as he looked at these ancient and solemn ruins. He and they were
absolutely alone. Antiquity looked down upon him. The sun was gone now
and the moon was coming out, touching pyramids and tumuli, earthworks
and causeway with ghostly silver, deepening the effect of loneliness and
far-off time.

While Ned was looking at these majestic remains he heard the sound of
voices, and then the rattle of weapons. He saw through the twilight the
glitter of uniforms and of swords and sabers. A company of Mexican
soldiers, at least a hundred in number, had come into the ancient city
and, no doubt, intended to camp there. Being so absorbed in the strange
ruins he had not noticed them sooner.

As the men were already scattering in search of firewood or other needs
of the camp Ned saw that he was in great danger. He hid behind a
tumulus, half covered by the vegetation that had grown from its
crevices. He was glad that his serape was of a modest brown, instead of
the bright colors that most of the Mexicans loved. A soldier passed