Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Whenorhowthesecatacombscouldhavebeenconstructed,Weedenwasunabletosay;buthefrequentlypointedouthoweasilytheplacemighthavebeenreachedbybandsofunseenworkmenfromtheriver.JosephCurwenputhismongrelseamentodiverseusesindeed!Duringtheheavyspringrainsof1769thetwowatcherskeptasharpeyeonthesteepriver-banktoseeifanysubterrenesecretsmightbewashedtolight,andwererewardedbythesightofaprofusionofbothhumanandanimalbonesinplaceswheredeepgullieshadbeenworninthebanks.Naturallytheremightbemanyexplanationsofsuchthingsintherearofastockfarm,andalocalitywhereoldIndianburying-groundswerecommon,butWeedenandSmithdrewtheirowninferences.

           ItwasinJanuary1770,whilstWeedenandSmithwerestilldebatingvainlyonwhat,ifanything,tothinkordoaboutthewholebewilderingbusiness,thattheincidentoftheFortalezaoccurred.ExasperatedbytheburningoftherevenuesloopLibertyatNewportduringtheprevioussummer,thecustomsfleetunderAdmiralWallacehadadoptedanincreasedvigilanceconcerningstrangevessels;andonthisoccasionHisMajesty’sarmedschoonerCygnet,underCapt.CharlesLeslie,capturedafterashortpursuitoneearlymorningthescowFortalezaofBarcelona,Spain,underCapt.ManuelArruda,boundaccordingtoitslogfromGrandCairo,Egypt,toProvidence.Whensearchedforcontrabandmaterial,thisshiprevealedtheastonishingfactthatitscargoconsistedexclusivelyofEgyptianmummies,consignedto"SailorA.B.C.