Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 1
SuddenlysomethinghappenedwhichinaflashprovedthecorrectnessofmyreflectionsandmademecursethedensenesswherebyIhadacceptedthisnight’seventsasotherthantheemptyandmalicious‘frame-up’theynowshowedthemselvestobe. Withoutwarning,anddoubtlessinanswertosomesubtlesignfromAbdul,theentirebandofBedouinsprecipitateditselfuponme; andhavingproducedheavyropes,soonhadmeboundassecurelyasIwaseverboundinthecourseofmylife,eitheronthestageoroff.
Istruggledatfirst,butsoonsawthatonemancouldmakenoheadwayagainstabandofovertwentysinewybarbarians. Myhandsweretiedbehindmyback,mykneesbenttotheirfullestextent,andmywristsandanklesstoutlylinkedtogetherwithunyieldingcords. Astiflinggagwasforcedintomymouth,andablindfoldfastenedtightlyovermyeyes. Then,asArabsboremealoftontheirshouldersandbeganajouncingdescentofthepyramid, IheardthetauntsofmylateguideAbdul, whomockedandjeereddelightedlyinhishollowvoice, andassuredmethatIwassoontohavemy‘magic-powers’puttoasupremetest—whichwouldquicklyremoveanyegotismImighthavegainedthroughtriumphingoverallthetestsofferedbyAmericaandEurope. Egypt,heremindedme,isveryold, andfullofinnermysteriesandantiquepowersnotevenconceivabletotheexpertsoftoday,whosedeviceshadsouniformlyfailedtoentrapme.
HowfarorinwhatdirectionIwascarried,Icannottell;forthecircumstanceswereallagainsttheformationofanyaccuratejudgment.
