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Cleopatra。 〃O ye Gods！ who is /that/ seated there？〃
I peered into the darkness； thrusting out the lamps； and this was what
their light fell onthis at the very dream of which my soul sickens！
There； facing us； his back resting against the rock； and his hands
splayed on either side upon the floor； sat the eunuch/dead！/ His
eyes and mouth were open； his fat cheeks dropped down； his thin hair
yet seemed to bristle； and on his countenance was frozen such a stamp
of hideous terror as well might turn the beholder's brain。 And lo！
fixed to his chin； by its hinder claws； hung that grey and mighty bat；
which； flying forth when we entered the pyramid； vanished in the sky；
but； returning； had followed us to its depths。 There it hung upon the
dead man's chin slowly rocking itself to and fro； and we could see the
fiery eyes shining in its head。
Aghast； utterly aghast； we stood and stared at the hateful sight； till
presently the bat spread his huge wings and； losing his hold； sailed
to us。 Now he hovered before Cleopatra's face； fanning her with his
white wings。 Then with a scream； like a woman's shriek of fury； the
accursed Thing flittered on； seeking his violated tomb； and vanished
down the well into the sepulchre。 I fell against the wall。 But
Cleopatra sank in a heap upon the floor； and； covering her head with
her arms； she shrieked till the hollow passages rang with the echoes
of her cries； that seemed to grow and double and rush along the depths
in volumes of shrill sound。
〃Rise！〃 I cried； 〃rise and let us hence before the Spirit shall return
to haunt us！ If thou dost suffer thyself to be overwhelmed in this
place thou art lost for ever。〃
She staggered to her feet； and never may I forget the look upon her
ashy face or in her glowing eyes。 Seizing lamps with a rush； we passed
the dead eunuch's horrid form； I holding her by the hand。 We gained
the great chamber； where was the sarcophagus of the Queen of
Menkau…ra； and traversed its length。 We fled along the passage。 What
if the Thing had closed the three mighty doors？ No； they were open；
and we sped through them； the last only did I stay to close。 I touched
the stone； as I knew how； and the great door crashed down； shutting us
off from the presence of the dead eunuch and the Horror that had hung
upon the eunuch's chin。 Now we were in the white chamber with the
sculptured panels； and now we faced the last steep ascent。 Oh that
last ascent！ Twice Cleopatra slipped and fell upon the polished floor。
The second timeit was when half the distance had been doneshe let
fall her lamp； and would； indeed； have rolled down the slide had I not
saved her。 But in doing thus I； too； let fall my lamp that bounded
away into shadow beneath us； and we were in utter darkness。 And
perchance about us； in the darkness； hovered that awful Thing！
〃Be brave！〃 I cried； 〃O love； be brave； and struggle on； or both are
lost！ The way； though steep； is not far； and； though it be dark； we
can scarce come to harm in this straight shaft。 If the gems weight
thee； cast them away！〃
〃Nay；〃 she gasped； 〃that I will not； this shall not be endured to no
end。 I die with them！〃
Then it was that I saw the greatness of this woman's heart； for in the
dark； and notwithstanding the terrors we had passed and the awfulness
of our state； she clung to me and clambered on up that dread passage。
On we clambered； hand in hand； with bursting hearts； till there； by
the mercy or the anger of the Gods； at length we saw the faint light
of the moon； creeping through the little opening in the pyramid。 One
struggle more； now the hole was gained； and like a breath from heaven；
the sweet night air played upon our brows。 I climbed through； and；
standing on a pile of stones； lifted and dragged Cleopatra after me。
She fell to the ground and then sank down upon it motionless。
I pressed upon the turning stone with trembling hands。 It swung to and
caught； leaving no mark of the secret place of entry。 Then I leapt
down and； having pushed away the pile of stones； looked on Cleopatra。
She had swooned； and notwithstanding the dust and grime upon her face；
it was so pale that at first I believed she must be dead。 But placing
my hand upon her heart I felt it stir beneath； and； being spent； I
flung myself down beside her upon the sand； to gather up my strength
again。
CHAPTER XII
OF THE COMING BACK OF HARMACHIS； OF THE GREETING OF CHARMION；
AND OF THE ANSWER OF CLEOPATRA TO QUINTUS DELLIUS；
THE AMBASSADOR OF ANTONY THE TRIUMVIR
Presently I lifted myself； and； laying the head of Egypt's Queen upon
my knee； strove to call her back to life。 How fair she seemed； even in
her disarray； her long hair streaming down her breast！ how deadly fair
she seemed in the faint lightthis woman the story of whose beauty
and whose sin shall outlive the solid mass of the mighty pyramid that
towered over us！ The heaviness of her swoon had smoothed away the
falseness of her face； and nothing was left but the divine stamp of
Woman's richest loveliness； softened by shadows of the night and
dignified by the cast of deathlike sleep。 I gazed upon her and all my
heart went out to her； it seemed that I did but love her more because
of the depth of the treasons to which I had sunk to reach her； and
because of the terrors we had outfaced together。 Weary and spent with
fears and the pangs of guilt； my heart sought hers for rest； for now
she alone was left to me。 She had sworn to wed me also； and with the
treasure we had won we would make Egypt strong and free her from her
foes； and all should yet be well。 Ah！ could I have seen the picture
that was to come； how； and in what place and circumstance； once again
this very woman's head should be laid upon my knee； pale with that
cast of death！ Ah！ could I have seen！
I chafed her hand between my hands。 I bent down and kissed her on the
lips； and at my kiss she woke。 She woke with a little sob of feara
shiver ran along her delicate limbs； and she stared upon my face with
wide eyes。
〃Ah！ it is thou！〃 she said。 〃I mind methou hast saved me from that
horror…haunted place！〃 And she threw her arms about my neck； drew me
to her and kissed me。 〃Come； love；〃 she said； 〃let us be going！ I am
sore athirst； andah！ so very weary！ The gems； too； chafe my breast！
Never was wealth so hardly won！ Come； let us be going from the shadow
of this ghostly spot！ See the faint lights glancing from the wings of
Dawn。 How beautiful they are； and how sweet to behold！ Never； in those
Halls of Eternal Night； did I think to look upon the blush of dawn
again！ Ah！ I can still see the face of that dead slave； with the
Horror hanging to his beardless chin！ Bethink thee！there he'll sit
for evertherewith the Horror！ Come； where may we find water？ I
would give an emerald for a cup of water！〃
〃At the canal on the borders of the tilled land below the Temple of
Horemkhuit is close by；〃 I answered。 〃If any see us； we will sa