."

Such a crushing, such a feeling of helplessness and nothingness he had
never experienced. At moments it seemed to him that the priests would
leave him in one of those narrow doorless chambers. Then despair seized
the young pharaoh; he touched his sword and was ready to cut them down.
But he remembered directly that without their assistance he could not
go hence, and he dropped his head.

"Oh to see the light of day, even for a moment! How terrible must death
be among three thousand rooms filled with gloom or utter darkness!"

Heroic souls have moments of deep depression which the common man
cannot even imagine.

The advance had lasted an hour almost when at last they entered a low
hall resting on octagonal pillars. The three priests surrounding the
pharaoh, separated then Ramses noticed that one of them nestled up to a
column and vanished, as it were, in the interior of it.

After a while a narrow opening appeared in one of the walls, the
priests returned to their places, and the guide commanded to light four
torches. All turned toward that opening and pushed through it
cautiously.

"Here are the chambers," said the overseer.

The priests lighted quickly torches which were fixed to the walls and
columns. Ramses saw a series of immense chambers filled with most
varied products of priceless value. In this collection every dynasty,
if not every pharaoh, had placed from what he or it possessed, that
which was most peculiar, or which had the most value.

There were chariots, boats, beds, tables, caskets, and thrones gold or
covered with gold plate, also inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl and
colored wood so ornamentally that artists must have worked tens of
years at them. There were weapons, shields and quivers glittering with
jewels. There were pitchers, plates, and spoons of pure gold, costly
robes, and baldachins.

All this treasure, thanks to dry and pure air, was preserved without
change during ages.

Among rare objects the pharaoh saw the silver model of the Assyrian
palace brought to Ramses XII by Sargon. The high priest, while
explaining to the pharaoh whence each gift came, looked at his face
diligently. But in place of admiration for the treasures, he noticed
dissatisfaction. "Tell me, worthiness," inquired Ramses on a sudden,
"what good comes of these treasures shut up in darkness?"

"Should Egypt be in danger there would be great power in them," replied
the overseer. "For a few of these helmets,