Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-01-09

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4 lay, and there, too, lay the regatta Of gold.
The spiced and sicAly scented wrakpings, |
md the torn body Of white-haired Pharson
Aenka-rA the Osirian, the everything In
Ameuti
We rose, and q great awe fell upon N,
now that the deed was dono and our hearts
were NO more upborne by tho rage OF eager
eearch-so great IN awe, indeed, that We
could not speak. I made . sign TO Cleo
patra She grasped the head Of Pharaoh
and I grasped his feet, and together we
lifted him, climbedthe sphinx, and placed !
HIM once more within his CONN. On.him |
I piled the torn mummy cloths, and on them |
laid the lid Of tho coffin.
And now we gathered up the great gems, |
aud such Of the ornaments as might with |
ease be carried, and these hid, as many as /,
! 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 its everlasting smile OF wisdom.
Then we turned and went from the tomb.
At the shaft we halted. called to the
eunuch, who stayed above, and methought
that faint mocking 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 aud quick, mounted by 1t nd
gained the passage. There burnt the lamp,
but the euuuch saw not. Thinking surely
t. at 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 Gods! who is that seated
therep'
I 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
his hands splayed upon the floor, sat the
euuuch-dead. His eyes and mouth were
open, his fat cheeks dropped down, his thin
hair vet 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 tho
pyramid, vanished in the sky, but which,
returning, 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, evil
head
Aghast, utterly sghast, We stood and
stared at the hateful sight; till presently
; tho 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 q scream, like womsn's
shrek of fury, seeking his violated tomb.
the accursed Thing fitted on and van
| ished down the well into the sepuichers.
| fell against the wall. But Cleopatra sank
| in . heap upon the floor, and, covering her
| head with her arms, she shrieked till tho
| 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 honce
| ere the Spirit shall return to haunt usl II
thou dost suffer myself to be overwhelmed
here in this place, lost art thou forever"
She staggered to her feet, and never may
forget the look upon her ashy face or In
her glowing eyes. Selling lamps. with .
| rush we sassed 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 doors? No, they were
open, and we sped through them; the last
only did / stay to close. l touched the
stone, as knew Tow, 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 WIFI
the .culptured panels, and now we faced
the last steep ascent. Oh, that last ascent!
Twice Cleopatra slipped and fell upon the
nolished 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, /, too, let fall my lamp
that bounded away into SHADOW beneath US
and we were in utter darkness. And per
chance about US, in the darkness, lowered
that awful Thingl
"Be braver' Icried. 20 love, be brave
and struggle on, or both are lost! The way
though steep, is not far; and, though 1t oe
dark, scarce can we come to harm In TIM
straight shaft II the gems weight thee
cast them swsyp'
"Nay," she gasped, "that will not
this shall not be endured TO no end. l di'
with them"
Then it was that saw the greatness o.
this woman's heart; for in the dark, ant
notwithstanding the terrors we had passef
and the awfulness of our state, she clunl
to me and clambered on up that dreat
passage. On we clsmbered, hand In hand
with bursting hearts, till there, by tn.
mercy or the anger Of tho Gods, At lenRtl
we saw the faint light Of the moon creepin!
through the little opening in the pyramid
One struggle more, now the hole wa
gained, and, like breath from Heaven
the sweet night air played upon our orows
lclimbed through, and, standing on the pli'
of stones, lifted and dragged Cleopatra
after me- She fell to the ground and the'
sank down upon it motionless.
With trembling hands pressed upon Tn
! turning stone 1t swung to and caught
, leaving no mark Of the secret place OF entry
Then l came down, snd having pushes
, away the pile of stones, turned TO Cleopatra
She had swooned, and notwithstanding tn
dust and CRIME upon her face, so pale
was that at first believed she must be dead
But, placing my hand upon her heart, l lei
it stir beneath; and, being spent, l nun
/ myself down beside her upon the sand I
, gather up my strength again.