Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-07

eunuch-deadl Ills eyes and mouth were open, bis fat cheeks dropped down, his thin hair yet seemed to bristlc, and on his coun. tenance was frozen such stamp of hideous terror as we'll might turn the beholders' brain. And To! fixed by it's 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. Thefe it hung upon the dead man'S chin, slowly rocking itself to and fro, and we could see the fiery eyes shining in it's 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, flaming her with his wings. Then with a scream, like woman's shriek 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 shrieked 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.
 ''Rise !'' cried, "rise and let us hence ere the Spirit shall return to haunt usi If thou dost suffer myself to be overwhelmed here in this place, lost art thou forever"
 She staggered to her feet, and never may I forget the look upon her ashy face or in her glowing eyes. Seizing 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 it's length. We fled along the passage. What if the Thing had closed the three mighty doors7 No, they were open, and we sped through them; the last only did stay to close. I 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- TOT 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-'twas when half the distance had been done-she let fall her lamp, and would, indeed, have rolled down the slide had l not saved her. But, in doing thus, I, too, let fall my lamp, that bounded away into shadow beneath us, and we were in utter darkness. And per chance nhett us, tn the darkness, lowered that awful Thing!
 s.Be braven Icried. 70 love, be brave, and struggie on, or both arc lost! The way, ttOaE ceSO H9 10 HUI 1ol huNf Nuou6h Ae OS dark, soarce can we come to harm in this straight shaft. If the gems weight thee, cast them away!"
 ''Nay," she gaspcd, "that will not I; this shall not be endured to no end. I die with themn
 Then it was that saw the greatness of this woman's heartj for in the dark, and notwithstanding the terrors we had passed and the awfulness of our state, she clung to me and clamhered on up that dread
 passage On we clambered, hand in hand, with bursting hearts, till there, by the mercy or the anger of the Gods, at length we saw the faint light of tne moon creeping through the little opening in the pyramid One struggle more, now the hole was gained, and, like a breath from Heaven, the sweet Eight air played upon our hrews. icEmhe,; through, and, standing on the pile af at,,n'a, lifted and dragged Cleopatra si:yr ne. She fell to the ground and then s;..l down upon it motionless.
 With trembling hands pressed upon the turning stone. It swung to and caught, leaving no mark of the secret place of entry,
 i .r;, ] sN:.,l 4own, aud having pushed s;<.!a I.,l s:!l2 of stones, turned to Cleopatra. She had swcaned, and notwithstanding the dust and grime upon her face, so pale it was that at frstI believed she must be dead. But, rl"ring my hand upon her heart, I felt it stir beneath; and, being spent, I flung pryself down haside her upon the sand to gather up my strength again.