The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-10
Observation-Disclosures NM
A STORY OF EGYPT.
copyright. 1871


r WAS an ill-chosen night for such
an experiment; had forgotten that
was Halloween.
But it is easy to forget European
lidays in Cairo. They seem quite out
place in the land Of the Pharaohs
IA the city Of the Arabian Nights-a
1eer anachronism. Yet subsequent
"A had reason to conclude that the
pjtchery Of Halloween loses none of its
|otency there. Why should it in the
olne Of magic and the haunt Of num-
Ms?
N had ridden my bicycle far up the
1ski. Bicycles are no longer a novel
in the Egyptian metropolis, but they
ely invade the native quarter; and
/ slowly .pedaled through the tur-
ned throng found that attracted
hsiderable attention. A vociferous
b meddlesome mob pushed after me;
Zee was forced to dismount by don
v boys who thrust their superfuous
FINALS across my track, and once 1
most fell under the feet of bag
ge camel whose bulging pack swept
e narrow way. At last, vexed and
i and thirsty, stopped at small
THE place was brilliantly lighted and
DIVIDED with Arabs. At one end. on
ised platform, sat story teller.
hanging on sort of one-stringed
itar and reciting, ! suppose, some
bdern variant of the Thousand and
ne Tales. Soon a waiter approached.
to order u sherbet, but
56uld not make myself understood; at
4hgth, however, he set before me
jneglass brimming with some trans.
arent liquid. l slipped at it gingerly;
e taste was sweetish and spicy. l
IS in the experimental mood; and as
began by saying, I had quite forgot
b that it was Halloween. "It's harm
Is, anyhow" I thought-"Here goes!"
ID drank it down.
" have no memory of remounting my
heel, but | presently found myself
on 1t. The streets were empty now
eingularly empty-and few on with
Astic touch and effortless speed down
lerminable lanes of darkness. had
lrted homeward, but already l was
i in gloomy labyrinth of unknown
eys. l was becoming alarmed but
lned unable to abate my speed.
at length ! issued from the city and
pt out under the open sky. Stars
mmered above me; they glinted in
E black Nile as sped across the long
fdge; the pyramids lcomed in shadow
yo ond.
And now I was whirling along the
ge of the fringe of desert which
erywhere skirts the valley beneath
E cliffs. noticed with uneasy curl
ty that the sand seemed unaccount-
ly disturbed in many places. Just
fore me 1 discerned something strug-
Ing up out of the ground. AS passed
stood erect. 1t was mummy.
fled on in choking horror. But the
pin was full of black figures; they
ereexhuming themselves everywhere.
the dim light could see them strip
ng off their balsamed bandages; felt
at they were gathering in hosts be-
nd me. l flung all my strength upon
e pedals and cut the wind like
he ball.
Suddenly saw in front of me an
Ky opening. l knew at once that it
ns the mouth of tomb-Egypt is full
these rock-hewn tunnels-but
hether / fled into it from mere excess
terror, or was swept down its throat
the mysterious force that appeared
animate my wheel, cannot pretend
say. / only know that in an instant
~ and plain and dusly ghosts had
nished. and 1 was darting down u
|eep incline through cavern darkness.
knew that in moment / should
zach the end--a dead wall Of solid
Rck. My machine was brakelcss; my
Ct were powerless on the pedals. II
me--a terrific shock, concusslon
~ seemed annihilation; and wheel
y rider lay together In mingled ruin,
i'cr an interval occupied with indie,
oaole sensations, rose 10 my feet
~ amazed TO flnd myself unhurt--r
'nought that was dying. I noted
win some surprise, that tho place
- = ss.'sss dsrA--thovgA TIC l!gat