Chapter 12

           "Whenwerecoveredouramazement,whichseemedtolastundulylong,wedidnotloseanytimecarryingthemummythroughthepassage,andhoistingitupthePitshaft.Iwentfirst,toreceiveitatthetop.AsIlookeddown,IsawMr.Trelawnylifttheseveredhandandputitinhisbreast,manifestlytosaveitfrombeinginjuredorlost.WeleftthedeadArabswheretheylay.Withourropesweloweredourpreciousburdentotheground;andthentookittotheentranceofthevalleywhereourescortwastowait.Toourastonishmentwefoundthemonthemove.WhenweremonstratedwiththeSheik,heansweredthathehadfulfilledhiscontracttotheletter;hehadwaitedthethreedaysasarranged.Ithoughtthathewaslyingtocoveruphisbaseintentionofdesertingus;andIfoundwhenwecomparednotesthatTrelawnyhadthesamesuspicion.ItwasnottillwearrivedatCairothatwefoundhewascorrect.Itwasthe3rdofNovember1884whenweenteredtheMummyPitforthesecondtime;wehadreasontorememberthedate.

           "Wehadlostthreewholedaysofourreckoning—outofourlives—whilstwehadstoodwonderinginthatchamberofthedead.