long coffin, big enough to contain a man seven feet high and
broad in proportion. What gigantic ancestor had I irreverently
dislodged?--and was it from a skeleton throat that the rare jewel which
I held in my hand had been accidentally shaken?

My curiosity was excited, and I bent close to examine the lid of this
funeral chest. There was no name on it--no mark of any sort, save
one--a dagger roughly painted in red. Here was a mystery! I resolved to
penetrate it. I set up my candle in a little crevice of one of the
empty niches, and laid the pearl and diamond pendant beside it, thus
disembarrassing myself of all incumbrance. The huge coffin lay on its
side, as I have said; its uppermost corner was splintered; I applied
both hands to the work of breaking further asunder these already split
portions. As I did so a leathern pouch or bag rolled out and fell at my
feet. I picked it up and opened it--it was full of gold pieces! More
excited than ever, I seized a large pointed stone, and by the aid of
this extemporized instrument, together with the force of my own arms,
hands, and feet, I managed, after some ten minutes' hard labor, to
break open the mysterious casket.

When I had accomplished this deed I stared at the result like a man
stupefied. No moldering horror met my gaze--no blanched or decaying
bones; no grinning skull mocked me with its hollow eye-sockets. I
looked upon a treasure worthy of an emperor's envy! The big coffin was
literally lined and packed with incalculable wealth. Fifty large
leathern bags tied with coarse cord lay uppermost; more than half of
these were crammed with gold coins, the rest were full of priceless
gems--necklaces, tiaras, bracelets, watches, chains, and other articles
of feminine adornment were mingled with loose precious
stones--diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and opals, some of unusual size and
luster, some uncut, and some all ready for the jeweler's setting.
Beneath these bags were packed a number of pieces of silk, velvet, and
cloth of gold, each piece being wrapped by itself in a sort of
oil-skin, strongly perfumed with camphor and other spices. There were
also three lengths of old lace, fine as gossamer, of matchless artistic
design, in perfect condition. Among these materials lay two large trays
of solid gold workmanship, most exquisitely engraved and ornamented,
also four gold drinking-cups, of quaint and massive construction. Other
valuables and curious trifles there were, such as a