Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Aheavy"kukri"knife—oneoftheleaf-shapedkniveswhichtheGurkhasandothersofthehilltribesofIndiausewithsucheffect—hadbeentakenfromitsplaceonthewall,andwithittheattempthadbeenmade.Itwasmanifestthatjustatthemomentofstriking,theblowhadbeenarrested,foronlythepointoftheknifeandnottheedgeofthebladehadstrucktheflesh.Asitwas,theoutersideofthearmhadbeencuttotheboneandthebloodwaspouringout.Inaddition,theformerwoundinfrontofthearmhadbeencutortornaboutterribly,oneofthecutsseemedtojetoutbloodasifwitheachpulsationoftheheart.BythesideofherfatherkneltMissTrelawny,herwhitenightdressstainedwiththebloodinwhichsheknelt.InthemiddleoftheroomSergeantDaw,inhisshirtandtrousersandstockingfeet,wasputtingfreshcartridgesintohisrevolverinadazedmechanicalkindofway.Hiseyeswereredandheavy,andheseemedonlyhalfawake,andlessthanhalfconsciousofwhatwasgoingonaroundhim.Severalservants,bearinglightsofvariouskinds,wereclusteredroundthedoorway.

           AsIrosefrommychairandcameforward,MissTrelawnyraisedhereyestowardme.Whenshesawmesheshriekedandstartedtoherfeet,pointingtowardsme.NevershallIforgetthestrangepictureshemade,withherwhitedraperyallsmearedwithbloodwhich,assherosefromthepool,raninstreakstowardherbarefeet.IbelievethatIhadonlybeenasleep;thatwhateverinfluencehadworkedonMr.