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bisecting tunnel； being terribly afraid lest I should
turn up it in the dark if once I got confused as to
the direction； and then paused to think。 What was I to
do？ I had no match； it seemed awful to attempt that
long journey back through the utter gloom； and yet I
could not stand there all night； and； if I did；
probably it would not help me much； for in the bowels
of the rock it would be as dark at midday as at
midnight。 I looked back over my shouldernot a sight
or a sound。 I peered forward down the darkness：
surely； far away； I saw something like the faint glow
of fire。 Perhaps it was a cave where I could get a
lightat any rate； it was worth investigating。 Slowly
and painfully I crept along the tunnel； keeping my
hand against its wall； and feeling at every step with
my foot before I put it down； fearing lest I should
fall into some pit。 Thirty pacesthere was a light； a
broad light that came and went； shining through
curtains！ Fifty pacesit was close at hand！ Sixty
oh； great heaven！
I was at the curtains； and they did not hang close； so
I could see clearly into the little cavern beyond
them。 It had all the appearance of being a tomb； and
was lit up by a fire that burned in its centre with a
whitish flame and without smoke。 Indeed； there； to the
left； was a stone shelf with a little ledge to it
three inches or so high； and on the shelf lay what I
took to be a corpse； at any rate； it looked like one；
with something white thrown over it。 To the right was
a similar shelf； on which lay some broidered
coverings。 Over the fire bent the figure of a woman；
she was sideways to me and facing the corpse； wrapped
in a dark mantle that hid her like a nun's cloak。 She
seemed to be staring at the flickering flame。
Suddenly； as I was trying to make up my mind what to
do； with a convulsive movement that somehow gave an
impression of despairing energy； the woman rose to her
feet and cast the dark cloak from her。
It was _i_ She _i_ herself！
She was clothed； as I had seen her when she unveiled；
in the kirtle of clinging white； cut low upon her
bosom； and bound in at the waist with the barbaric
double…headed snake； and； as before； her rippling
black hair fell in heavy masses down her back。 But her
face was what caught my eye； and held me as in a vise；
not this time by the force of its beauty； but by the
power of fascinated terror。 The beauty was still
there； indeed； but the agony； the blind passion； and
the awful vindictiveness displayed upon those
quivering features； and in the tortured look of the
upturned eyes； were such as surpass my powers of
description。
For a moment she stood still； her hands raised high
above her head； and as she did so the white robe
slipped from her down to her golden girdle； baring the
blinding loveliness of her form。 She stood there； her
fingers clenched； and the awful look of malevolence
gathered and deepened on her face。
Suddenly； I thought of what would happen if she
discovered me； and the reflection made me turn sick
and faint。 But even if I had known that I must die if
I stopped； I do not believe that I could have moved；
for I was absolutely fascinated。 But still I knew my
danger。 Supposing she should hear me； or see me
through the curtain； supposing I even sneezed； or that
her magic told her that she was being watchedswift
indeed would be my doom。
Down came the clinched hands to her sides； then up
again above her head； and； as I am a living and
honorable man； the white flame of the fire leaped up
after them； almost to the roof； throwing a fierce and
ghastly glare upon _i_ She _i_ herself； upon the white
figure beneath the covering； and every scroll and
detail of the rock work。
Down came the ivory arms again； and as they did so she
spoke； or rather hissed； in Arabic； in a note that
curdled my blood； and for a second stopped my heart；
〃Curse her； may she be everlastingly accursed。〃
The arms fell and the flame sank。 Up they went again；
and the broad tongue of fire shot up after them； then
again they fell。
〃Curse her memoryaccursed be the memory of the
Egyptian。〃
Up again； and again down。
〃Curse her； the fair daughter of the Nile； because of
her beauty。
〃Curse her； because her magic hath prevailed against
me。
〃Curse her； because she kept my beloved from me。〃
And again the flame dwindled and shrank。
She put her hands before her eyes； and； abandoning the
hissing tone； cried aloud：
〃What is the use of cursing？she prevailed； and she
is gone。〃
Then she commenced with an even more frightful energy：
〃Curse her where she is。 Let my curses reach her where
she is and disturb her rest。
〃Curse her through the starry spaces。 Let her shadow
be accursed。
〃Let my power find her even there。
〃Let her hear me even there； Let her hide herself in
the blackness。
〃Let her go down into the pit of despair； because I
shall one day find her。〃
Again the flame fell； and again she covered her eyes
with her hands。
〃It is no useno use；〃 she wailed； 〃who can reach
those who sleep？ Not even I can reach them。〃
Then once more she began her unholy rites。
〃Curse her when she shall be born again。 Let her be
born accursed。
〃Let her be utterly accursed from the hour of her
birth until sleep finds her。
〃Yea； then； let her be accursed； for then shall I
overtake her with my vengeance； and utterly destroy
her。〃
And so on。 The flame rose and fell； reflecting itself
in her agonized eyes； the hissing sound of her
terrible maledictions； and no words of mine；
especially on paper； can convey how terrible they
were； ran round the walls and died away in little
echoes； and the fierce light and deep gloom alternated
themselves on the white and dreadful form stretched
upon that bier of stone。
But at length she seemed to wear herself out； and
ceased。 She sat herself down upon the rocky floor； and
shook the dense cloud of her beautiful hair over her
face and breast； and began to sob terribly in the
torture of a heart…rending despair。
〃Two thousand years；〃 she moaned； 〃two thousand years
have I waited and endured； but though century doth
still creep on to century； and time give place to
time； the sting of memory hath not lessened； the light
of hope doth not shine more bright。 Oh！ to have lived
two thousand years； with my passion eating at my
heart； and with my sin ever before me。 Oh； that for me
life cannot bring forgetfulness！ Oh； for the weary
years that have。 been and are yet to come； and
evermore to come； endless and without end！
〃My love！ my love！ my love！ Why did that stranger
bring thee back to me after this sort？ For five
hundred years I have not suffered thus。 Oh； if I
sinned against thee； have I not wiped away the sin？
When wilt thou come back to me who have all； and yet
without thee have naught？ What is there that I can do？
What？ What？ What？ And perchance sheperchance that
Egyptian doth abide with thee where thou art； and mock
my memory。 Oh； why could I not die with thee； I who
slew thee？ Alas； that I cannot die！ Alas！ Alas！〃 and
she flung