The Prince of India, Volume I

was midnight or nearly so; for certain stars had climbed into certai

enger wa

t now, and get close in shore. There are no breakers. H

d. The skipper reported to the passenger. Going to each of the slaves, the latter signed them to descend. The negro swung himself down like a monkey, and received the baggage, which, besides the bundles already mentioned, consisted

, and lie there to-morrow, and to-morrow night. Attract little notice as possible. It is not necessary to pass the

re?" asked the sailor, think

for me," wa

ed carefully as he had been a child. In brief time the party was ashore, and the boat returning

The master then led the way. Crossing the road running from Sidon along the coast t

k deeply in sand and mould. The patches of white on them had a ghastly glimmer in the starlight. They were approaching the site of an old

e for itself across the route the party was pursuing. Descending to the water, a ha

tablatures and vases from which the ages had not yet entirely worn the fine chiselling. At length an immense uncovered sarcophagus barred the way. The mast

of such weight and solidity that a number of them had never been disturbed. Doubtless the dead within were lying

n down; and these two had never spanned anything more substantial than the air. Strange structure for such a locality! Obviously the highway which once ran over it had begun in the city the better to communicate with the cemeter

ace. The tools and bundles were thrown down by a rock, and preparations made for the remainder of the night. The pallet was

or terrace cumbered with rocks, and so broad that few persons casually looking would have suspected it artificial. Facing fully about from the piers, he walked forward following the terrace which at places was out of line, and piled with debris tumbled

e place again and agai

as been h

e was left

such certainty pass upon it in relation to a

amined the face of the cliff then in front of him, lingering longest on t

with undisguised satisfaction,

entence was

w relief on the face of the rock was directly exposed; seeing it he smiled, and replaced

d with oil and wicks; then, as if everything necessary to his project was done, he took to

water-skin to the negro. Then he led out of the hollow, and up the mountain to the terrace visited in the afternoon; nor did he pause in the area mentioned as the abrupt

ng into the cliff was discovered. The cavity, small at first, rapidly enlarged, until it gave assurance of a doorway of immense proportions. When the enlargement sufficed for his admission, the master stayed the work

with a chemical powder which he poured at his feet; then he produced a flint and steel, and struck them together. Some sparks dropped upon the powder. Instant

an inscription in raised letters, now mostly defaced. The floor was a confusion of fragments knocked from sarcophagi, which, massive as they were, had been tilted, overturned, uncovered, mutilated, and robbed. Useless to inquire whose the vandalism. It may have been of Chaldeans of the t

t to carving, his eyes ran rapidly along the foot of the northern wall until they came to a sarcophagus of green marble. Thither he proceeded. He

as been h

sentence was l

ed it at the bottom with a stone chip. Another bite, and a larger chip was inserted. Good hold being thus had, a vase was placed for fulcrum; after which, at every dow

he master beckoned the negro, and touching a stone not wider than his three fingers, but reddish in hue, and looking like mere chinking lodged in an accidental crevice, signed him to strike it with the end of the bar. Once-twice-the stone refused to

were masons in the old time who amused themselves applying their mathematics to such puzzles. Here obviously the intention had

the combination. That the master numbered with chalk, and had carefully set aside. A second block