The Irish standard., 1889-11-23

5ss u
cit ls too late to PONDER she answered
lifting her white and beanteous face an6
fixing her blue eyes, all Zig with terror
upon mine own She took the dagger, and
with set teeth the Queen Of this day plunged
it into the dead breast Of tho Pharaoh Of
three thousand years ago. And even as she
did so, from the opening of the shaft
where we had left the eunuch there came
groaning sound! We leaped to our feet
but heard no more, and through the open
ing the lamp-Iight still streamed down.
/ cit is naught." said. s'Let us make an
end.n
Then with much toll we hacked and rent
the hard flesh open, and even as we did sc
heard the knife point CRATE upon the gem
within.
Cleopatra plunged her hand into the dead
breast and drew forth somewhat. She held
it to the light, and gave little cry, for
from the darkness of Pharaoh's heart there
flashed into light and life the most beau
teous emerald that ever man beheld. Per.
feet it was in color, very large, without a
flaw, and fashioned to a scarabBus form,
and on the under side was the oval, in
scribed with the divine name of Menka-ra,
Son of the Sun.
Again, again, and yet again she plunged in
her hand and drew from Pharaoh's breast
great emeralds bedded there in spices.
Some were fashioned and some were not;
but all were perfect in color. without a
flaw, and in value priceless. Again and
again she plunged her white hand into that
dread breast, till at length all were found,
and there were one hundred and forty and
eight Of such gems as are not known in
the world. And the last time that she
searched she brought forth not emeralds,
indeed, but two great pearls, wrapped in
linen, such as never have been seen. And
of these pearls more hereafter.
So it was done, and all the mighty treas
ure lay gLittering in heap before U.S. There
it lay, and there, TOO, lay the regalia of gold.
the spiced and SICILY scented wrakpings,
Menka-ra, the Osirian, the everything in
Amenti.
We rose, and great awe fell upon us,
now that the deed was done and our hearts
were no more upborne by the rage of eager
search--so great ar awe, indeed, that we
could not speak. I made sign to Cleo
patra She grasped the head of Pharaoh
and ] grasped his feet, and together we
lifted him, climbed the sphinx, and placed
hun once mere within his coffin. On him
I piled the torn mummy cloths, and on them
laid the lid of the coffin.
And now we gathered up the great gems,
and sEch Of the ornaments as might with
ease be carried, and these I hid, as many as
I could, within the folds Of my robe. And
those that were left did Cleopatra hide upon
her breast. Heavily laden with priceless
treasure, we gave one last look at the
dreadful, solemn place, at the great sar.
cophagus, and the sphinx wherein it rested,
whose face Of awful calm seemed to mock
us with it's everlasting smile OF wisdom.
Then we turned and wentf from the tomb.
At the shaft we halted. called to the
eunuch, who stayed above, and nlethought
that faint knocking laugh answered me.
Too sn1itten with terror to Call again, and
fearing that, should we delay, Cleopatra
would surely swoon, seized the rope, and,
beng strong and quick, mounted by it md
gained the passage. There burnt the lamp,
but the eunuch I saw not. Thinking surely
that he was little way down the passage.
and slept--as, in truth, he did babe Cleo
patra make fast the rope about her middle,
and with much labor drew her up. Then,
having rested awhile, we moved on with
the lamps to seek the eunuch.
ssH- hath been stricken with terror, and,
leaving the lamp, naJh fed" said Cleo
patra. 4'Oh, We Gods! who is that seated
there?n ~,:
J. peered into the darkness, thrusting out
the lamps, and this is what their light fell
on--this, at the very dream whereof my
soul sickens! There, facing us, his back
resting against the rock, and on either side
nis hands splayed upon the floor sat the
eunuch-dead His eyes and mouth were
open, his fat cheeks dropped down, bis thin
hair yet seemed to b-istle, and on his coun~
tenance was frozen such stamp OF hideOus
terror as well might turn the beholders'
brain. And lol fixed by its hinder claws,
even to his chin, hung that mighty bat
which, flying forth when we entered the
pyramid, vanished in the sky, but which,
returning, had followed us to It's depths.
There it hung upon the dead mans chin:
slowly rocking itself to and fro, and we
could see the fiery eyes shining in its evil
head
Aghast, utterly aghast, we stood and
stared at the hateful sight; till presently
the bat spread his huge wings, and, loosing
his hold, sailed to us. Now he lowered be-
fore Cleopatra's face, tanning her with his
wings. Then with scream, like wornan's
shrek of fury, seeking his violated tomb,
the accursed Thing fitted on and van.
ished down the well into the sepulchers. I
fell against the wall. But Cleopatra sank
in heap upon the floor, and covering her
head with her arms, she shrleked till the
hollow passages rang with the echoes OF her
cries, that seemed to grow and double and
rush along in volumes of shrill sound.
ssRise!' I cried, "rise and let US hence
ere the Spirit shall return to haunt usl If
thou dost suffer myself to be overwhelmed
here in this place, lost art thou forever"
She staggered to her feet. and never may
1 forget the look upon her ashy face or in
her glowing eyes. Selling lamps. with
rush we passed the dead eunuch's horrid
form, holding her by the hand. We gained
the great chamber, where was the sar-
cophagus Of the Queen of Menka-ra, and
traversed its length. We fed along the
passage. What If the Thing had closed
the three mighty doorsa No, they were
open, and we sped through them; the last
only did I stay to close. touched the
stone, as knew how, and the great door
crashed down. shutting US of from the
presence Of the dead eunuch and the Hor-
ror that had hung upon the eunuch's chin.
Now we were in the white chamber with
the sculptured panels, and now we faced
the last steep ascent. Oh, that last ascent!
Twice Cleopatra slipped and fell upon the
polished floor. The second time-'ttvas