In Search of an Unknown Race — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN, 53 But these two ghastly faces set apart by themselves just above a sort of square altar built of slabs of flat stone—/hese were no natives of South America—no enemies slain in battle ! Taking a burning stick from the blaze, Van stepped nearer. The flickering flame shone directly upon the wonder- fully well preserved features of a European. Blonde hair and a heavy beard were exactly as in life. Small cowry Shells had been inserted into the eye sockets, giving the ghastly appearance ofa man looking through half closed eyes. The other face was that of a younger man, with a mustache. With the exception of a shriveled and leathery appearance of the skin, either one could have been recognized by any one knowing the originals in life ! From these grim objects Van transferred his gaze to the square stone structure beneath them ; and as he did so, he gave a Start of surprise. Upon the flat top lay several articles which he at once conjectured to have belonged to the white victims whose embalmed heads were placed directly above them. A pocket revolver of English make, the cylinder of which contained four empty shells and one still loaded, in itself suggested a tragic story. Near it laya box half full of cartridges belonging to the weapon, and, in a little pile by themselves, were nearly fifty large brass shells such as are used with the heaviest kind of breech-loading rifles. A bunch of keys, a watertight metal matchbox containing wax matches, a EOmicboo ‘Ss (E(0) im