The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-11-25

tagonal form, in the midst Of which
stood huge sarcophagus Of highly pol
ished syenite. At it's head there gilt
tered hugo golden ibis, it's long neck
curved in graceful folds and the slen-
dor, curved bill pointing downward to-
ward tho place where the heart of the
incloSed mummy would naturally have
been. About the sides Of the apartment
stood eight other stone collins, but
smaller and Of red granite instead of
syenito.
AS tho sight of these objects burst
upon me by tho fickering torchlight I
felt myself trembling with excessive
emotion. Hero was, it might be, the
greatest Psychological discovery since
tho finding Of tho Rosetta stone. No in
truder before me had ever disturbed the
silence of this most awful sepulcher
Nor Cambyses nor Alexander nor any
of the long list Of tho conquegors Of
Egypt had penetrated tho secret Of this
rock hewn abode of the dsad. Since
tho deep and solemn chorus Of the de-
parting priests of Osiris had died away
in hollow echoes through the long cor
ridors about them no sound had broken
tho silence Of the ancient dead. What
if they wero to wake and ask mo Of the
doings Of tho world since they had
slumbcrcd there? Not history's self
could answer them.
These and similar thoughts flashed
through my mind, mixed with tri-
umphal, feeling Of cXultation and self
graduation. But it was already late I
had eaton nothing since morning and
my fellahs were tired and grumbling,
so J. was compelled to abandon my dis
coverics until tho morrow, though sore
ly against my will. So jealous was l Of
my findings that after seeing all Of my
workmen out of the tomb, l had my tent
pitched before tho outer entrance, in
order that mono might gain access to
the new treasures which were within
tho inner chambers.
After restless night was up with
the dawn, and, eating hasty break
fast, hastoncd to tho scene Of my dis.
covcry, but before repairing thither !
sent Il messenger to Professor Batcsi,
who was then considered tho greatest
living Psychologist, and who was su-
pcrintcnding sOmo excavations ut Il
point about ten miles from my camp,
announcing my discovery and begging
him to como to mo at once This was
an unsclfish net Oh my part, as knew
very we'll that tho scientific world
would be apt to givo him entire credit
for my discoveries if no were to arrive
on the scene so soon and should desire
to appropriate my laurcls, but my de-
light was so great that felt tho neces-
sity Of companion to share it with mo.
The first task set for myself was the
removal Of the grand central Sarcopha-
! gus. | had pretty we'll made up my mind
that this was tho real coffin of Thothmes
III and that the one found in tho outer
tomb had been merely blind. I sent
to my camp for tackle and small der
rick so constructed as to be capable OF
being taken apart in small pieces and
readily put together. While awaiting
its arrival l examined the great golden
ibis closely. It, was apparently of solid
gold, ten feet high, and the finest speci-
men Of tho goldsmith's art had even
s"C.,. The modelling was perfect and
the minutcness Of the work remarkable.
The tniest feathers, the smallest scales
on the long, slender legs, were repro,
ducCd with acrupulous exactness.
"Thcro has never been found anything
to compare with it," l said eXultantly
to myself
III Il short timo the mon returned
with tho apparatus, tho derrick was
erected and clamps were placed across
the polished surface Of the massive lid
AT my command the men at the wind
lass began to turn, and the great slal
rose slowly from its place and was
lowered carefully to the floor. Loapine
upon coil of ropo at hand, looked
down into tho sarcophagus. AS did st
the light from my torch brilliantly ro
flcctcd from huge mummy case of ap
parently solid and massy gold. AS il
usual with mummy cases; tho head o
tho case was modelled into tho form O
face. These faces arc supposed to b.
likcncsses Of tho inclosed mummies a
they looked in life. The face was tha
or man still young, Of pleasing an
yet commanding presence. Two crystal
inserted for eyes gave it lifcliko AM
almost terrifying appearance The cas-
was carved with many and elaborate
designs and was studded with the bod
les of many scarabs, which were sc
deep III the gold
These details ] observed at glance
Wv 'ii obJS'" y lllS1 tU tHC Slu0 Ol III
: case and partly upon it now sttracteI
=, my attention. This was u largo vase O
: flask Of tho purost rock crystal, elabo
y ratcly carved with mystical devices
y which was filled with limpid, color
= less fluid-pcrhaps four or five quarts
y which seemed to bo luminous AT leas
y 1T reflected tho torchlight with an in
tcnsity that was almost binding. l
= was wholly novel discovery Sar
cophagi and mummies were common
enough, but never had | seen or hear,
. of tho finding of anything like this
g Had found it III a Grccian or Roman
tomb, l might havo called il Il ZACH
. rymal vase, but so far as I knew NJ
= such utcnsil was used by tho Egyptians
Reaching down into tho great ston
, box, managed to grasp tho flask an.
take it up. AS 1 held it aloft the fel
labs set up a terrified shout az tn
light Of their torches was rcf1octe,