rld. The thing being
too heavy for him to carry in his weakened state, for it is much over
life-size, he was obliged to roll it before him, which accounts for the
present somewhat damaged condition of the nose and semi-Egyptian diadem.

Never shall I forget the sight of the Professor as he appeared out of
the darkness, shuffling along upon his knees where his garments were
worn into holes, and by the feeble light of the lamp that he moved from
time to time, painfully pushing the great yellow object forward, only a
foot or two at each push.

"Here it is at last," he gasped triumphantly, whilst we watched him with
indifferent eyes. "Japhet, help me to wrap it up in the mat and lift
it into the box. No, no, you donkey--face upward--so. Never mind the
corners, I'll fill them with ring-money and other trifles," and out of
his wide pockets he emptied a golden shower, amongst which he sifted
handfuls of dust from the floor and anything else he could find to serve
as packing, finally covering all with a goat's-hair blanket which he
took from his bed.

Then very slowly he found the lid of the box and nailed it down, resting
between every few strokes of the hammer whilst we watched him in our
intent, but idle, fashion, wondering at the strange form of his madness.

At length the last nail was driven, and seated on the box he put his
hand into an inner pocket to find his note-book, then incontinently
fainted. I struggled to my feet and sprinkled water over his face till
he revived and rolled on to the floor, where presently he sank into
sleep or torpor. As he did so the first lamp gave out.

"Light it, Japhet," said Maqueda, "it is dark in this place."

"O Child of Kings," answered the man, "I would obey if I could, but
there is no more oil."

Half-an-hour later the second lamp went out. By the light that remained
we made such arrangements as we could, knowing that soon darkness would
be on us. They were few and simple: the fetching of a jar or two
of water, the placing of arms and ammunition to our hands, and the
spreading out of some blankets on which to lie down side by side upon
what I for one believed would be our bed of death.

While we were thus engaged, Japhet crawled into our circle from the
outer gloom. Suddenly I saw his haggard face appear, looking like that
of a spirit rising from the grave.

"My lamp is burned out," he moaned; "it began to fail whilst I was
on watch at the tunnel mouth, and before I was hal