Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02

returned my glasses to their case
and stood for some moments deep in
reflection: then I descended the slope,
to the tiny encampment where I had
left Hassan es-Sugra. He was no.
where to be seen. and, having waited
some ten minutes 1 grew impatient.
am raising my voice:
"Hassan" 1 cried; "Hassan es-
Sugra"
No answer greeted me, although in
the desert stiffness the call must have
been audible for miles. A second and
third time l called his name .
and the only reply was the shrill note
of a pyramid bat that swooped low
above my head.
This mysterious episode affected
me unpleasantly. but did not divert me
from my purpose; succeeded in cast
ing out certain demons of supersti-
ton who had sought to lay hold upon
me; and prolonged scrutiny of the
surrounding desert somewhat allayed
my fears of human surveillance. For
my visit to the chamber in the heart
myself in rubber oled shoes, an old
pair of drill trousers and pajama
Jacket A Colt repeater was in my
hip pocket, and, in addition to several
instruments which 1 thought might be
useful in extracting the ring from
it's setting. l carried a powerful cleo
trio torch.
Seated on the threshold of the en-
trance fifty feet above the desert lev
ell, I cast a final glance backward to-
ward the Nile valley. then, the light
ed torch carried in my jacket pocket,
l commenced the descent of the mar
row, sloping passage. Periodically,
when some Granny between the blocks
offered foothold, checked my
progress, and inspected the steep
path below for snake tracks.
Some 240 feet of .labored descent
discovered me in a sort of shallow
cavern little more than yard high
and partly hewn out of the living
rock which formed the foundation of
the pyramid. In this place I found
and the smell of remote mortality
which assailed my nostrils from the
sand-strewn floor threatened to choke
me. I had little relish for the second
part of the journey, which lay
through a long horizontal passage
height. The mere memory Of that
Anal crawl of forty feet or SO is suf-
fcient to cause me to perspire pro-
fusely; therefore let 1t suffice that I
reached the end of the second pass
age. and breathing with difficulty tho
place. found myself at the foot of the
rugged shaft which gives access to
the kings chamber. Resting my
torch upon a convenient ledge, /
climbed up, and knew myself to be
in one of the oldest chambers fash
toned by human handiwork.
The journey had been most exhaust
ing. but, allowing myself only few
moments rest, I crossed to the east
ern corner of the place and directed
a ray of light upon the crevice which,
from Hassan's description. / believed
to conceal the ring. His account hav-
ing been detailed, experienced little
difficulty in finding the cavity; but
In the very moment Of success the light
OF the torch grew dim and
recognized with a mingling of cha
grin and fear that it was burnt out
and that had no means of recharg-
ing it.
Ere the light expired. I had time
to realize two things: That the cavity
was empty and that some one
or something was approaching the
foot Of the shaft along the horizontal
passage below!
Retreat was impossible; there is
but one entrance to the pyramid; and
the darkness which now descended
upon me was indescribable: 1t pos
sessed horrifc qualities; 1t seemed
palpably to enfold me like the wings
of some monstrous bat.
The sounds or approach continued.
The suspense was becoming intoler-
able-when. into the Memphian gloom
below me. there suddenly intruded a
faint but ever-growing light. Be-
tween excitement and insufficient air
! regarded suffocation as imminent.
Than n,,% Int nj hou xvo n