Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-02

| in chamber much smaller than that we had
left, but, like it, containing nothing to satisfy
our curiosity. Our search, hitherto, had been
| fruitless, but the mummies might not be far
distant; another effort and we might still be
successful.
The Arab whom followed, and who led the
way, now entered another gallery, and we all
continued to move in the same manner as be-
fore, each preceded by a guide. We had not
gone far before the heat became oppressive j;
for my own part, found my breathing ex-
tremely difficult. my head began to ache most
violently and / had most distressing fulness
about the heart.
We felt we had gone too far; and yet were
almost deprived Of fthe power of returning. At
this moment the torch Of the first Arab went
out; was close to him, and saw him fall on his
side he uttered groan-his legs were strongly
convulsed-and / heard rafting in his throat
he was dead! The Arab behind me, seeing
the torch of his companion extinguished, and
conceiving he had stumbled, passed me, ad-
vanced to his assistance, and stopped. OBJ
served him to appear faint, totter, and fall in
moment--he also was dead. The third Arab
came forward, and made an effort to approach
the bodies, but stopped short. We looked at
each other in silent horror. The danger in
creased every instant; our torches burned
our knees tottered under US, and we felt our
strength nearly gone.
There was no time to be lost-our American
companion cried out to us to stake courage"
and we began to move back as fast as we could.
We heard the remaining Arab shouting after
us, and calling us Ca6ies, imploring our assist
ance, and upbraiding US with deserving him.
But we were obliged to leave him to his fate,
expecting every moment to share it with him.
The windings of the passages through which
we had come increased the difficulty of our es-
cape; we might each take wrong turn, and
never reach the great chamber we had first en-
tered. Even supposing we took the shortest
road, it was but too probable our strength would
fail us before we arrived.
We had each of us separately, and unknown
to one another, observed attentively the differ
ent shapes of the stones which projected into
the galleries we had passed. so that each had an
imperfect clue to the labyrinth we had now to
retrace. We compared notes, and only on one
occasion had dispute, the American differing
from nv friend and myself In this dilemma
we were determined by the majority, and for
tunately were right. Exhausted with fatigue
and terror. we reached the edge of the deep
trench, which remained to be crossed before we
got into the great chamber. Mastering all my
strength, leaped, and was followed by the
American Ny friend stood on the brink,
ready to drop with fatigue. He called to US
"for Heavens sake, to help him over the fosse,
or at least stop, if only five minutes, to allow
him time to recover his strength" 1t was i'm
possible; to stay was death, and we could not
resist the desire to push on and gain the open
air. We encouraged him to summon all his
force, and he cleared the trench. When we
reached the open air it was one o'clock, and
the heat in the sun about l60 deg. Our sail
ors, who were waiting for us, had luckily a
bardak full of water, which they sprinkled upon
us, but though q little refreshed, it was not
possible to climb the sides of the pit; they un-
folded their turbans, and, singing them round
our bodies, drew us to the top.
Our appearance alone without our guides
naturally astonshed the Arab who had re-
NAMED at the entrance of the cavern; and he
anxiously inquired for his hahabebas, or friends
To have confessed they were dead would have
excited suspicion; he would have supposed we
had murdered them, and have alarmed the in
habitants of Amabdi, to pursue us and revenge
the death of their friends. We replied, there
fore, they were coming, and were employed in
bringing out the mummies we had found, which
was the cause of their delay.
We lost no time in mounting our asses, re-
crossed the desert, and passed hastily by the
village to regain the ferry of Manfalout. Our
cangia was moored close to the town, and we
got on board by five o'clock.
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The Mounds in the West.