The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-13

his eye be caught by the sparkle of silver
and gold? No: he would reserve the light
and make what discoveries he could with
out IL.
Relinquishing his hold of the metallic rod rod
he dropped upon his knees. and with. his
face bent low. put forth his hands
The silent watcher at the entrance
started
A faint cry from the interior of the hillock
| as OF one calling for help, and then still
For some time Godfrey had kept his
! close TO the flooring OF the passage posi-
steps Of Idris. But now these footsteps
had ceased, their cessation being followed
shortly afterward by the cry.
Godfrey continued to listen, but though
straining his ear to the utmost he could
not detect the faintest sound. susp-
ciously horrible stiffness prevailed within
''Idris, Idrisi' he called out, sending the
full volume of his voice along the passage:
and ,'Idrisi Idrisi' was echoed from the
roof in tones that seemed like mockery
of his own. If the dead in the sepulchral
chamber were gliding at him the elect
could not have been more weird.
Again he called aloud. and again there
was no answer, save the echoes ot his owa
voice.
My Cod what has happened?'' he cried.
There fell upon him terror like that
which has turned mems hair gray In a
not doubts that some disaster had hap
pened be must hasten TO the rescue: duty,
humanity. friendship, honor-al these
| urged him forward. Every moment was
precious; and yet to venture into the dark
| chamber without a light seemed piece
| of folly, for what was there TO prevent nm
from meeting with the same fate as Idris?
| He rose to his feet and turned his eyes
| towards the cliffs and sea-beach in the
| hope of seeing a coast guard whose Ian
tern would at this juncture be of inesu-
mable service. But alasl no coast guard
| was visible. and to go off in search or one
might make all the difference between life
and death.
| No: he must venture in alone. and without
| a light. and he nerved himself for the task.
| Casting one glance at the sky, the sea, the
| land. as objects he might never see again,
| he snatched up the pickaxe to serve as
whom or what, and plunged into the mouth
of the excavation that yawned black and
grim before him.
| His course through the passage was
much quicker than that of Idris had been.
There could be no danger here, seeing
! that Idris had traversed IT In safety. There
lore lore the re- surgeon sr4Ped ms waS SW 4
suddenly turned off at right angles, whence
he concluded that he was at the entrance
| OF the sepulchral chamber.
''ldris, where are your he cried.
There was no vocal reply. but faint
| splash greeted his ears like the movement
| of a hand through water. a sound which
/ Godfrey interpreted as an answer
| For a terrible idea had seized him. The
| floor OF the chamber was Of earth only,
and not of masonry. he thought: and the
roof, had converted this flooring into
quagmire incapable of supporting the
| lightest weight. Idris had become immersed
| I'm it: had just sunk below the surface:
| his voice was gone: he had just given his
| last gaspi
How was he to save him? One step for
4 ~axI all hA hfxxNcn 1f 10Th ho In 10
| abyss of mud
To test his opinion he flung his pickaxe
| forward taking care to avoid the spot
| whence came the splash. AS ii fell Cod
| frey drew breath of relief. The clangor
made by the falling implement proved that
| the quagmire was the creation of his
| fancy. Still. what had become of Idris
| that he made no reply? He must be some
where within the chamber. seeing that there
was no egress from 1t except by the
| passage. o for light, If only that of a
| match! It's momentary CLEAN would suf-
| flee to dispel the mystery.
| He listened for Idris's breathing. but
failed to detect any sound Idris. If ne were
| really here, was as still as the dead.
There was no other course for Godfrey
| than to grope about until he came upon the
body of Idris, an unpleasant task. seeing
| that 1t might bring him into contact with
| the bones of Vikings
| He started forward at random. Five
PAGES, and his knee knocked against some
| obstruction. Putting out his hand he ascer-
| tanned that directly in front Of him was
] something formed of hewn stone.
With an instructive feeling that this was
a tomb, Godfrey gave II a wide range. and
in so doing stumbled and fell over another
| object.
| 1t was a human body In a moment God
| frey was upon his knees. and passing his
| hand quickly over the PROSTATE figure he
| discovered that it was Idris In state Of
| coma.
| Quickly he felt for the match box which
/ Idris had put into his vest pocket and on
| finding it, drew it forth. Taking out one
| of the wax lights he struck 1t on the side
/ of the box.
| Never within Godfrey's experience had
/ the striking of a match been attended with
| a result appalling, for he Immediately
| found himself in an atmosphere of many
| colored flame. The hot breath of fiery
| furnace glowed around. dazzling his eyes.
| scorching his face.
| In that moment of bewilderment and
| terror the words of the runic ring flashed
| through his mind, and found expression
| in his grasping articulation:
| 1.-The fires of the Asasp'
| simultaneously with the Illumination a
| fierce defamation like a powder blast rent
| the air. and Godfrey. flung backwards as by
i a giant hand, tumbled senseless to the
| ground.