San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-17

4JaOOrAt VIM ohAOAOA bA0 III ILLS
moment.
DIR. Batesi was an Italian, some SO
years of age, though yet vigorous and
of an extremely nervous temperament.
His figure was tall, but thin and gaunt,
and his meager face was decorated by
long and flowing white beard. His eyes
were small, bright and restless. Any one
would have readily known him as an
enthusiast In whatever study he might
be interested. He always spoke in a
jerky, excitable manner, and his usually
nervous demeanor was now heightened
dozenfold by the strange nature of
our surroundings.
"No, you're not crazy. But, great
heavens! What discovery
eyes" I replied, striving hard to APP
pear cool. 81 think this ia something of
find. Sec here" And made way for
him to stand upon the coil of rope in
order that he might look down into the
sarcophagus.
As the glittering mummy case met
his sight he began a series of ejacula-
tions in his native tongue, apparently
unconscious of my presence. At length
he somewhat regained his composure,
and the crystal flask in my hand at
tracted his attention.
"What is that?" he demanded.
81 do not know. found it inside the
sarcophagus. Did you ever see anything
like it before?"
He did not answer me, but, snatching
the vase from my hand, began to ex-
anime it very closely, at the same time
muttering excitedly to himself. His in
spection lasted some time. Finally his
face frightened and assumed an express
sion of decision.
.'It may be. 1t is possible" he said,
still speaking to himself. "Why not?
Do not the records of Manetho say so?
It is not SO improbable after all. Come,
come, we shall soon know"
Come" he said, turning to me,
1--WE must see that mummy. Let us get
the case out as soon as possible"
/ gave the necessary orders to my
men, and the derrick was once more
called into requisition to lift the heavy
case from the sarcophagus.
"Do you suppose this is Thothmes?"
/ inquired while the men were occupied
with this task.
"It is no more Thothmes, he replied,
ethan it is Habakkuk 1t is Nef -Rah,
high priest Of Osiris, of the eighteenth
dynasty" pointing at the same time to
hieroglyph carved on the massive case.
which had overlooked by reason Of its
size, extending from one end of the
case nearly to the other.
In few moments the heavy case
was on the stone floor and the massive
golden cover was removed, revealing
not the ordinary swathed and bandaged
mummy, but a naked body floating in
an oily substance which emitted an
aromatic smell. If had expected re-
newed evidence Of excitement from the
doctor, / was disappointed. His fea-
lures assumed a set expression, and he
bent over the body without uttering a
syllable.
"This liquid, exclaimed excitedly,
"is''-
Honey, replied the doctor. Then
he continued as if to himself: "As ex-
pected. Comel The ancients were not
all fools nor all liars 1t is o'clock
a great day, great dayl'
The body, as the mummy case had
foretold, was that of a young man of
pleasing appearance and majestic fig
ure, the flesh still firm and plump,
with no evidences of decay. The body
appeared to have been unmutilated by
the hands of the embalmers. There was
no incision on the flank to evidence the
removal of the viscera, and the plump
ness of the closed eyelids led to the pre-
sumption that the eyes were still III
their sockets. There was positively no
evidence of death about the body, I'M
less it were certain rigidity, but 9th
erwise it might have been mistaken for
the person of some expert swimmer
sleeping ON the surface of his bath.
"Send your men for some food,
half dozen bottles of wine and plenty
of water and towels" said the doctor
in an unnatural voice.
had overlooked the fact that it was
past dinner time and FASTENED to give
the necessary orders to my men, though
what the doctor wanted Of towels L
could not imagine. The required arti-
Giles were soon brought.
Now dismiss all your men," con-
tinued the doctor in the same strained
tone of voice.
obeyed as unquestioningly as the
wedding guest obeyed the Ancient Mari
ner, and the men, after depositing
number of lighted torches about the
chamber, retired. After their footsteps
had died away in the long corridors,
the doctor began to pace slowly up and
down the room. Finally he spoke:
"How many kinds Of mummies have
you found in your discoveries?'
"Why," / replied, 'three kinds, If
you mean the manner Of their prepare
ton"
"And they were?"
"Why, the first class have all the
viscera and the brains removed, the
cavities filed with resins and spices,