The herald., 1898-05-08
PART w.


was mummy case, adorned with SYM
metrical designs consisting of spheres,
triangles and squares. whilst up the
centro vvoa pointed tho senblance of q
palm tree. the colors of which were
as brilliantly fresh and distinct as If
still wet. At the head, where the
spreading branches should have been,
the lid Of the case had been roughly,
and evidently with haste, broken away,
and Grant saw, covered with thin.
transparent veil of gauze-like texture.
the face Of q young and very beautiful
girl.
On the lid Of the coffin, across the
breast, rested the piece that had been
broken off, and the doctor was engaged
in examining this.
The coffin and body proved of some
considerable weight, although the for
mer was made of sycamore wood. The
doctor remarked upon this fact; Grant
leaned forward and whispered in his
ear.
"Ah! I had forgotten" exclaimed
the former, with somewhat incredu-
1ous smile, "but do not be too san
guine."
Grant laughed confident, exulting
laugh, but made no reply, for the coffin
was now resting in full view upon the
two iron bars which the men had
pushed beneath it, across the marble
sarcophagus, as soon as the others had
lifted it sufficiently.
Hasan, at sign from Grant, placed
the broken piece Of lid loosely across
the face Of the girl. screening her from
the sight of the fellahin. Then, as
soon as the men had recovered breath,
the coffin was tenderly lifted down and
placed in position on the wheelbarrow.
AS soon as this was done, the doctor
leaned over the edge of it's recent rest
ing place and searched the hollow,
marble cavity for the little painted
images, jewelry, and other customary
memorials Of the dead. The search was
in vain. A splinter of wood from the
broken lid and a few marks of the
tooling on the sides were all that re-
Warded him. When he stepped down
and turned to Grant, his face wore a
look of mingled perplexity and serious
ness.
However, he merely remarked:
"Ours is no ordinary discovery; and
this Is no pre-arranged burial in the
usual acceptance Of the words.'
Having satisfied himself that there
were no relics. the doctor with much
regret tore himself away from the
place, which for him was full Of inter-
est.
The wheelbarrow with it's precious
burden was carefully propelled by two
Of the fellahtn, who were, when tired,
to be relieved by others; and a process
sion being formed, Hasan went on in
front with the light, whilst the rest of
the party brought up the rear.
They had to change bearers twice,
for the burden was heavy; and once,
when they came to the pile of debris
which had blocked the way, and given
them SO much trouble the day before
they nearly came to grief by stumble
over loose stone. At length, however,
they reached the entrance and stepped
out into the red glare of the setting
sun. 1t was not until their eyes became
accustomed to the strong light that the
attempt to lift UP the hand-cart out
Of the hole was made. The sand at
the sides of the hole was fully eight
feet high and very loose, SO that it re-
quired no small effort of strength and
skill to accomplish the task in safety.
Everyone had to lend his assistance,
and 1t was nearly half an hour before
the coffin was finally deposited in the
tent.
Early next morning the camp was
broken up. and the party started on it's
return journey. The coffin, which was
occurred By ropes to the barrow. was to
be carried by the six fellahin, four at a