The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-05
6Y II. RIDER HAGGARD,
Author or KING Solon,on's Mines, !"
she" Allan Quatcrnain,"
ETC., Etc, Etc.
Illustrated by NIcHoLL. after CATION WOOD
VILE and oRElFFENHAoEN.
INTRODUCTION.

III only Tor the depth OF the shaft,
~ which dcsccnds vertically from the
rock hewn cave, that once served az .
mortuarv chapel TO the friends and reIa-
lives OF the departed, to the coffin chamber
beneath. This shaft is no less than eighty
nine feet in depth. The chamber at its foot
was found to contain three collins only,
though il is large enough for many more
Two Of these. which in all probability in
Closed the bodies OF the high priest, Am
enemhat, and Of his wife, father and
mother OF Harmachis, the hero Of this his
tory. the shameless Arabs who discovered
them there and then broke up.
The Arabs broke the bodies up. With
nnhallowed hands they tore the Holy Amen
omhat and the frame OF her who had, as it
Is written, been filled with the spirit Of the
Hathors-tore them limb from limb. search
ing for treasure amid their bones-perhaps.
rs IS their custom. selling the very bones
for few piastres TO the last ignorant tour
isl who came their way, seeking what be
might destroy. For in Egypt the unhappy,
the living find their bread in the tombs Of
the great men who were before them
But, rs it Glanced some little while after
ward. one who is known 10 this writer. and
4 doctor by profession. passed up the Nile
70 AbvdOs. and became acquainted with the
men who had done this thing. They re-
yealed to him the secret of the place, telling
him that one coffin vet remained entonbei
Il seemed TO be the coffin OF a poor person,
they said, aud therefore. being pressed for
time. they had left il Gnvioiatcd. Moved by
curiosity to explore the recesses OF q tomb
rs yet unprofaned by tourists, my friend
hrlbed the Arabs 10 reveal its secret to him
What ensaed will give III his own words.
exactly as he wrote j, to me:
slept that night near the Temple Of Scti,
AMI started before dayhreak on the follow
ing morning. With me were q cross-eved
rascal called Ali-.Ali Bahia named him
the man from whom got the ring which
ali sending yon. and Il small but choice as
sortment OF his fellow-thi.ves. Within an
hour after sunrise we reached the valley
where the tomb is. II is n drsola;c place.
Into which the sun pours his scarcil;Hg heat
ali The loag day through. till the huge
brown coN:.ei.. whi..h are sireNn about Dc-
come SO hot that oGc can scarcely bear TO
touch them. and the sand scorches the feet.
We rode on donkeys. FOR ii was already too
hot to walk some way up the valley where
vulture floating far in the blue overload
was the only other yisitor-tlll we came 10
an enormous bowider polished by centuries
~ tUS dIllOh VI SUI dHu hlIu mere n
halted. saying the tomb was under the
stone. Accordingly we dismounted. and.
leaving the donkeys in charge Of a felian
boy. went up TO the rock. Beneath it vas
small hole. barely large enough for man
10 creep through: il had been ,inc by jack
ais for the doorway aud sonsc par, Of the
cave were entirely s!ted ~, and i, was BY
means IF this jaekal hoic that Inc tomb ha,
been discovered. Ali crepi il, OH his hands
and knees. and I followed To find myself
III place cold after the hot outside air,
and. III contrast with the light. filled with ii
dazzling darkness. We Ii, our candies. and.
The select BODY IT thieves havin. arrived.
made an examination We were in |: cave
The size CT a large room and followed hy
hand. the further part of the cave beng al
most free from drlff dust. TIN the waits
ere religious paintings Of the usual T;alc-
mas character. and among them one Of n
majestic cii man with long white beard.
who le seated III ii carved chair holding u
wand N his hand. Before hm is passing
process sion Of priests bearing sacred i'm
ages. IN the Tar corner Of the tomb on the
right hand from the door is the shaft Ut tie
mummy p.'. Il square Mon'hcd well eat in
he Back rock. We had brnagn, beam Of
fn.rGwood. aEd this was now laid across
The pit ana rope made fast to it. Then
Ali-~who. to do him justice, is courageous
ihicf-took hold Of the rope. and, putting
some candles into the breast Of his robe,
placed his bare feet against the smooth
sides of the well aid began TO descend with
great rapidity. Very soon he had van
ishe,, into the blackncss. aud the a.i-
ta,ion Of the cord alone told us that any
thing was going Oh below. Al last the rope
ceased shaking, and fain, shout came
rnmDliEg upthe we'll. announcing Airs safe
arrival. Then. far below. q tiny star OF
light appeared. He had Ii. the candle
thereby disturbing hundreds of bats. tha;
fitted up in an endless stream and as ST.
len'ly as spirits. The rope was hauled up
again. and now it was my turn: but as de-
..incd to trust my neck TO the nandoye
hand method Of descent. the end of the cord
was made fast round my middle. and was