The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-05-02

.ssTt u 100 late to ponder" she answered,
Hfting her white and beauteous face and
liking her blue eyes, all big with terror,
upon mine own. Che took the dagger, and
with set teeth the Queen Of this day plunged
1t into the dead breast of the Pharaoh 4
three thousand years ago. Andeven as she
did 30, from the opening Of the shaft
where we had left the eunuch there came
Q groaning soundi We lesped to our feet,
but heard no more, and through the open.
ing the lamp-light still streamed down.
SIT is nsught," 1 said. "Let US make an
end. nrs--s
Then with much toll we hacked and rent
the hard flesh open, and even as we did SO
heard the knife-point crate upon tho gems
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 q scarab@us form,
and OF 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 q
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 mi, hty treas
ure lay glittering in heap before US There
it lay, and there, too, lay the regalia of gold,
the spiced and sickly scented wrappings,
and the torn body of white-haired Pharaoh
Menks-ra, the Osirian, the everything in
Amenti.
We rose, and q 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 an awe, indeed, that we
could not speak. made a sign to Cleo
patra. She grasped the head of Pharaoh
and grasped his feet, and together we
lifted him, climbed the sphinx, and placed
him once more within bis coffin. On him
piled the torn mummy cloths, and on them
laid the lid of the coffin.
And now we gathered up the great gems,
and such Of the ornaments as might with
ease be carried, and these hid, as many as
l 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 whereon it rested,
whose face of awful calm seemed to mock
US with its everlasting smile Of wisdom.
Then We turned and went from the tomb.
At the shaft we halted. l called to the
eunuch, who stayed above, and methought
that faint hooking laugh answered me.
Too smitten 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 and
gained the passage. There burnt the lamp,
but the eunuch l 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.
"He hath been stricken with terror, and,
leaving the lamp, hath fed" said Cleo
patra. ''Oh, ye Godsl who is that seated
THEREOF
/ peered into the darkness, thrusting out
the lamps, and this is what their light fell
at the very dream whereof my
soul sickens! There, facing US, his back
resting against the rock, and on either side
his hands splayed upon the floor, sat the
His eyes and mouth were
open, his fat cheeks dropped down, his tn
hair yet seemed to bristle, and on his coun-
tenance was frozen such stamp of hideous
terror as well might turn the beholders'
brain. And 10! 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,
had followed US to Its depths.
There it hung upon the dead mans 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 |
MS hold, sailed to US. Now he lowered be- |
lore Cleopatra's face, tanning her with his |
wings. Then with a scream, like woman's |
shrek of fury, seeking his violated tomb,
he accursed Thing fitted on and van
shed down the well into the sepuichers. |
'ell against the wall But Cleopatra sank
n heap upon the floor, and, covering her
head with her arms, she shrieked till the
hollow passages rang with the echoes of her
,ries, that seemed to grow and double and
'ush along in volumes of shrill sound.
"Riser cried, ''rise and let us hence
IRE the Spirit shall return to haunt usl II
,hou dost suffer myself to be overwhelmed
iere in this place, lost art thou forever
She staggered to her feet, and never may
forget the look upon her ashy face or in
Ter glowing eyes. Selling lamps. with a
'ush we passed the dead eunuch's horrid
orm, holding her by the hand. We gained
he great chamber, where was the sar-
ophagus Of the Queen of Mepka-ra, and
reversed its length. We fed along the
,assage. What if the Thing had closed
he three mighty doorss No, they were
pen, and we sped through them; the last
'nly did stay to close. I touched the
tone, as knew Row, and the great door
rashed down, shutting US of from the
resence of the dead eunuch and the Hor.
or that had hung upon the eunuch's chin.
low we were ia the white chamber with
he sculptGred panels, and now we faced
he last steep ascent. Oh, that last ascent!
vice Cleopatra slipped and fell upon the
olished floor The second time-'twas
7hen half the distance had been domestic
It fall her lamp, and would, indeed, have
oiled down the slide had l not saved her
tut, in doing thus, I, too, let fall my lamp,
hat bounded away into shadow beneath US,
nd we were i'll utter darkness. And per-
nance about US, in the darkness, lowered
nat awfu. Thing!
'Be brave!" Icried. 20 love, be brave,
nd struggle on, or both are lost! The way,
lOugh steep, is not far: and, though il be