Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Hepointedtooneofthesheets.

           "’HerearethetranscriptsfromtheChapelatthesouthandtheeast.Ihavebeenlookingoverthewritingsagain;andIfindthatinsevenplacesroundthiscornerarethesymbolsoftheconstellationwhichwecallthePlough,whichQueenTeraheldtoruleherbirthandherdestiny.Ihaveexaminedthemcarefully,andInoticethattheyareallrepresentationsofthegroupingofthestars,astheconstellationappearsindifferentpartsoftheheavens.Theyareallastronomicallycorrect;andasintherealskythePointersindicatethePoleStar,sotheseallpointtoonespotinthewallwhereusuallytheserdabistobefound!’

           "’Bravo!’Ishouted,forsuchapieceofreasoningdemandedapplause.Heseemedpleasedashewenton:

           "’Whenyouareinthetomb,examinethisspot.Thereisprobablysomespringormechanicalcontrivanceforopeningthereceptacle.Whatitmaybe,thereisnouseguessing.Youwillknowwhatbesttodo,whenyouareonthespot.’

           "IstartedthenextweekforEgypt;andneverrestedtillIstoodagaininthetomb.Ihadfoundsomeofouroldfollowing;andwasfairlywellprovidedwithhelp.Thecountrywasnowinaconditionverydifferenttothatinwhichithadbeensixteenyearsbefore;therewasnoneedfortroopsorarmedmen.

           "Iclimbedtherockfacealone.Therewasnodifficulty,forinthatfineclimatethewoodworkoftheladderwasstilldependable.