The Prince of India

no invitation to them; the master, however, drew his robe closer

were still on the floor. The walls were bare but smoothly dressed. Altogether the interest here lay in expectation of what was to come; and possibly it w

ive or thirty steps brought t

to redeem the ceiling from obscurity; yet the master led without pause to a sarcophagus standin

lid was a slab of the finest white marble carven into a perfect model of Solomon's Temple. While the master surveyed the lid he was visibly affected. He passed the lamp over it slowly, letting the light fall into the courts of the famous building; in like manner he illuminated the corridors, and the tabernacle; and, as he did so, his features trembled a

y provided himself in the antechamber with pieces of stone for the purpose, he placed one of them so as to hold the vantage gained. Slowly, then, by working at the ends al

, representing ships, and tall trees, doubtless cedars of Lebanon, and masons at work, and two men armed and in royal robes greeting each other with clasped hands; and so beaut

bed silver tablet. There were rings plain, and rings with jewels in setting, circling the fingers and thumbs; the ears, ankles, even the great toes, were ornamented in like manner. At the feet a sword of the fashion of a cimeter had been laid. The blade was in its scabb

and mouldy; across the forehead the skin was drawn tight; the temples were hollows rimmed abruptly with the frontal bones; the eyes, pits partially filled with dried ointments of a bituminous color. The monarch had

attitude of calm composure the slaves drew back startled. The negro d

sarcophagus was set with basins and urns, each in itself a work of high art; and if their contents were to be judged by what appeared overflowing them, they all held preci

according to their natures; that there have been misers amongst them; but this one--did he imagine he could carry his amassments wit

ve a foot to one of his slaves, and swung himself into the interior. The lamp was then given him, and he surveyed the wealth and splendor

from the owner in the chair, he was slow and deliberate. From his robe he drew a number of bags of coarse hempen cloth, and a broad white napkin. The latter he spread upon the floo

a bag. When the lot was gone through, he returned the rejected to the vessel, placing it back exactly in its place. Then he betook himself to another of t

he slaves. The occupation had been wearisome and tensive; but it was finished, and he would now retire. He li

s been her

et in the nerveless hand. Moving close, and holding the lam

He was from the beginning

I

ve my body, and keep it safely; yet it may be visited, f

I

anger, first to f

pathy with him I gave him of the skill of my people, workers in brass, and silver, and gold, and products of the quarries: and in their ships my sailors brought him the yield of mines from the ends of the earth. At last the house was finished; then he sent me the model of the house, and the coins, and cloths of gold and pearl, and the precious stones

V

me, imagining it can serve me in the next life. I store it here because

sight of the Lord God of Solomon, my royal friend, ta

--HIRAM, KI

nd thee here, and basing my title to thy wealth on that circumstance, I will use it in a way p

e friend of Solomon. Pondering the idea, we begin to realize how vast the latter's fame was; and it cease

hen he laid a hand upon the edge of the sarcophagus preparatory to climbing out. At the moment, while giving a last look about him, an emerald, smoothly cut, and of great size, larger indeed than a full-grown pomegranate, caught his eyes in its place loose upon the

spoke in a

s been her

again assure himself it was not possible t

re since I came a t

d common experience, the lamp shook in his hand. Involuntarily he shr

e a thousand

added mo

ce I am a witness proving the wisdom of the speech, I at least must believe him. Wherefore it is for

oath to let it go, he drew the blade partly from the scabbard, and it

tinued, reflectively. "What king could refu

erald and the sword out to the

he sarcophagus; the emerald and the sword he wrapped in his gown; the bags and the tools were counted and distributed among the slaves for easy carriage. Lamp in hand, he then walked around to see that nothing was left behind. Incidentally he even surveyed the brown walls and the dim dome overhead. Having reached

ve seen, had been numbered by him, were raised and reset. Then handfuls of dust were collected and blown into the slight crevices till they were invisible

feeling at the same time in the folds of his gown for the chart so the object of solicitude on the ship. The roll, the emerald, and the sword were also safe. Signing the slaves t

ter of spoils, hereafter as heretofore,

t of the gallery just reclosed the second time in a thousand years as the high do

oomy, and received them, though with the loss of much of the water. Having thus disposed of that portion of the plunder to the best advantage both for portage and con

breathing it in wholesome volumes, the master studied the stars, and saw the night was

as the starlight allowed, reassured him that, as to the rest of the world, the treasure might remain with its ancient owner undisturbed for yet another thousand years, if not forever; after which, in a congratula

the city, and, under impulsion of the oars, di

nd brought some bread, Smyrna figs, and wine o

r was then

t make Byzantium without looking into any wayside port. I will increase your pay

requent, not one of them noticed the oil-stained water-skin cast carelessly near the master's pillow, or

and, his hand on the gunwale, give a look at some of the landmarks studding the ancient Cycladean Sea, an island here, or a tall promontory of the continent yonder, possibly an Olympian height faintly gray in the vaster distance. His manner at such mo

uld have coasted, but the passenger bade him keep in the open. "There is n

y egg, and conical like an irregular pyramid; the other, a plane on top, with verdure and scatt

parently always ready for spontaneous combustion in the heated months, for what were they designed? No matter--uses were found for them--fitting uses. Eremites in search of the hardest, grimmest places, selected Oxia, and pecking holes and caves in its sides, shared the abodes thus laboriously won with cormo

The dome of Sta. Sophia was in sight; behind it, in a line to the northwest, arose the tower of Galata. "Home by lamplig

all boat. I was once a rower, and yet have a fancy for the oars. Do thou lay off and on hereabouts. P

as told. In a short time the skiff--if the familiar word can be pard

f the black man were lowered into the little vessel. The boat moved away in the direction

he negro, and taking seat by the rudder, changed direction to the southea

securely were they immured, the duty must have been against robbers from the mainland on the east, and from pirates generally. Under the tower there was a climb difficult for most persons in daylight, and from the manoeuvring o

es overgrown with sickly vines. Rejoining his attendant, and staying a moment to thoroughly empty the gurglet

glet in; the second, he took the mantle wrapping the swor

ther stores have I like this one--in India, in Egypt, in Jerusalem--and there i

mall boat was effect

t Port St. Peter on the south side of the Golden Horn. A

old his house and household effects. In the night of the seventh day, with his servants, singular in that all of

to provide for the journey; and that he took precious stones in preferen