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Title: Lost in a Pyramid, or the Mummy's CurseAuthor: Louisa May Alcott* A Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook *eBook No.: 0603041h.htmlEdition: 1Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: Latin-1(ISO-8859-1)--8 bitDate first posted: July 2006Date most recently updated: July 2006This eBook was produced by: Richard ScottProject Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed editionswhich are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright noticeis included. We do NOT keep any eBooks in compliance with a particularpaper edition.Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check thecopyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing thisfile.This eBook is made available at no cost and with almost no restrictionswhatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the termsof the Project Gutenberg of Australia License which may be viewed online athttp://gutenberg.net.au/licence.html
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I
"And what are these, Paul?" asked Evelyn, opening a tarnished goldbox and examining its contents curiously.
"Seeds of some unknown Egyptian plant," replied Forsyth, with asudden shadow on his dark face, as he looked down at the threescarlet grains lying in the white hand lifted to him.
"Where did you get them?" asked the girl.
"That is a weird story, which will only haunt you if I tell it,"said Forsyth, with an absent expression that strongly excited thegirl's curiosity.
"Please tell it, I like weird tales, and they never trouble me.Ah, do tell it; your stories are always so interesting," she cried,looking up with such a pretty blending of entreaty and command in hercharming face, that refusal was impossible.
"You'll be sorry for it, and so shall I, perhaps; I warn youbeforehand, that harm is foretold to the possessor of thosemysterious seeds," said Forsyth, smiling, even while he knit hisblack brows, and regarded the blooming creature before him with afond yet foreboding glance.
"Tell on, I'm not afraid of these pretty atoms," she answered,with an imperious nod.
"To hear is to obey. Let me read the facts, and then I willbegin," returned Forsyth, pacing to and fro with the far-off look ofone who turns the pages of the past.
Evelyn watched him a moment, and then returned to her work, orplay, rather, for the task seemed well suited to the vivacious littlecreature, half-child, half-woman.
"While in Egypt," commenced Forsyth, slowly, "I went one day withmy guide and Professor Niles, to explore the Cheops. Niles had amania for antiquities of all sorts, and forgot time, danger andfatigue in the ardor of his pursuit. We rummaged up and down thenarrow passages, half choked with dust and close air; readinginscriptions on the walls, stumbling over shattered mummy-cases, orcoming face to face with some shriveled specimen perched like ahobgoblin on the little shelves where the dead used to be stowed awayfor ages. I was desperately tired after a few hours of it, and beggedthe professor to return. But he was bent on exploring certain places,and would not desist. We had but one guide, so I was forced to stay;but Jumal, my man, seeing how weary I was, proposed to us to rest inone of the larger passages, while he went to procure another guidefor Niles. We consented, and assuring us that we were perfectly safe,if we did not quit the spot, Jumal left us, promising to returnspeedily. The professor sat down to take notes of his researches, andstretching my self on the soft sand, I fell asleep.
"I was roused by that indescribable thrill which instinctivelywarns us of danger, and springing up, I found myself alone. One torchburned faintly where Jumal had struck it, but Niles and the otherlight were gone. A dreadful sense of loneliness oppressed me for amoment; then I collected myself and looked well about me. A bit ofpaper was pinned to my hat, which lay near me, and on it, in theprofessor's writing were these words:
"'I've gone back a little to refresh my memory on certain points.Don't follow me till Jumal comes. I can find my way back to you, forI have a clue. Sleep well, and dream gloriously of the Pharaohs. NN.'
"I laughed at first over the old enthusiast, then felt anxiousthen restless, and finally resolved to follow him, for I discovered astrong cord fastened to a fallen stone, and knew that this was theclue he spoke of. Leaving a line for Jumal, I took my torch andretraced my steps, following the cord along the winding ways. I oftenshouted, but received no reply, and pressed on, hoping at each turnto see the old man poring over some musty relic of antiquity.Suddenly the cord ended, and lowering my torch, I saw that thefootsteps had gone on.
"'Rash fellow, he'll lose himself, to a certainty,' I thought,really alarmed now.
"As I paused, a faint call reached me, and I answered it, waited,shouted again, and a still fainter echo replied.
"Niles was evidently going on, misled by the reverberations of thelow passages. No time was to be lost, and, forgetting myself, I stuckmy torch in the deep sand to guide me back to the clue, and ran downthe straight path before me, whooping like a madman as I went. I didnot mean to lose sight of the light, but in my eagerness to findNiles I turned from the main passage, and, guided by his voice,hastened on. His torch soon gladdened my eyes, and the clutch of histrembling hands told me what agony he had suffered.
"'Let us get out of this horrible place at once,' he said, wipingthe great drops off his forehead.
"'Come, we're not far from the clue. I can soon reach it, and thenwe are safe'; but as I spoke, a chill passed over me, for a perfectlabyrinth of narrow paths lay before us.
"Trying to guide myself by such land-marks as I had observed in myhasty passage, I followed the tracks in the sand till I fancied wemust be near my light. No glimmer appeared, however, and kneelingdown to examine the footprints nearer, I discovered, to my dismay,that I had been following the wrong ones, for among those marked by adeep boot-heel, were prints of bare feet; we had had no guide there,and Jumal wore sandals.
"Rising, I confronted Niles, with the one despairing word, 'Lost!'as I pointed from the treacherous sand to the fast-waning light.
"I thought the old man would be overwhelmed but, to my surprise,he grew quite calm and steady, thought a moment, and then went on,saying, quietly:
"'Other men have passed here before us; let us follow their steps,for, if I do not greatly err, they lead toward great passages, whereone's way is easily found.'
"On we went, bravely, till a misstep threw the professor violentlyto the ground with a broken leg, and nearly extinguished the torch.It was a horrible predicament, and I gave up all hope as I sat besidethe poor fellow, who lay exhausted with fatigue, remorse and pain,for I would not leave him.
"'Paul,' he said suddenly, 'if you will not go on, there is onemore effort we can make. I remember hearing that a party lost as weare, saved themselves by building a fire. The smoke penetratedfurther than sound or light, and the guide's quick wit understood theunusual mist; he followed it, and rescued the party. Make a fire andtrust to Jumal.'
"'A fire without wood?' I began; but he pointed to a shelf behindme, which had escaped me in the gloom; and on it I saw a slendermummy-case. I understood him, for these dry cases, which lie about inhundreds, are freely used as firewood. Reaching up, I pulled it down,believing it to be empty, but as it fell, it burst open, and outrolled a mummy. Accustomed as I was to such sights, it startled me alittle, for danger had unstrung my nerves. Laying the little brownchrysalis aside, I smashed the case, lit the pile with my torch, andsoon a light cloud of smoke drifted down the three passages whichdiverged from the cell-like place where we had paused.
"While busied with the fire, Niles, forgetful of pain and peril,had dragged the mummy nearer, and was examining it with the interestof a man whose ruling passion was strong even in death.
"'Come and help me unroll this. I have always longed to be thefirst to see and secure the curious treasures put away among thefolds of these uncanny winding-sheets. This is a woman, and we mayfind something rare and precious here,' he said, beginning to unfoldthe outer coverings, from which a strange aromatic odor came.
"Reluctantly I obeyed, for to me there was something sacred in thebones of this unknown woman. But to beguile the time and amuse thepoor fellow, I lent a hand, wondering as I worked, if this dark, uglything had ever been a lovely, soft-eyed Egyptian girl.
"From the fibrous folds of the wrappings dropped precious gums andspices, which half intoxicated us with their potent breath, antiquecoins, and a curious jewel or two, which Niles eagerly examined.
"All the bandages but one were cut off at last, and a small headlaid bare, round which still hung great plaits of what had once beenluxuriant hair. The shriveled hands were folded on the breast, andclasped in them lay that gold box."
"Ah!" cried Evelyn, dropping it from her rosy palm with ashudder.
"Nay; don't reject the poor little mummy's treasure. I never havequite forgiven myself for stealing it, or for burning her," saidForsyth, painting rapidly, as if the recollection of that experiencelent energy to his hand.
"Burning her! Oh, Paul, what do you mean?" asked the girl, sittingup with a face full of excitement.
"I'll tell you. While busied with Madame la Momie, our fire hadburned low, for the dry case went like tinder. A faint, far-off soundmade our hearts leap, and Niles cried out: 'Pile on the wood; Jumalis tracking us; don't let the smoke fail now or we are lost!'
"'There is no more wood; the case was very small, and is allgone,' I answered, tearing off such of my garments as would burnreadily, and piling them upon the embers.
"Niles did the same, but the light fabrics were quickly consumed,and made no smoke.
"'Burn that!' commanded the professor, pointing to the mummy.
"I hesitated a moment. Again came the faint echo of a horn. Lifewas dear to me. A few dry bones might save us, and I obeyed him insilence.
"A dull blaze sprung up, and a heavy smoke rose from the burningmummy, rolling in volumes through the low passages, and threateningto suffocate us with its fragrant mist. My brain grew dizzy, thelight danced before my eyes, strange phantoms seemed to people theair, and, in the act of asking Niles why he gasped and looked sopale, I lost consciousness."
Evelyn drew a long breath, and put away the scented toys from herlap as if their odor oppressed her.
Forsyth's swarthy face was all aglow with the excitement of hisstory, and his black eyes glittered as he added, with a quicklaugh:
"That's all; Jumal found and got us out, and we both forsworepyramids for the rest of our days."
"But the box: how came you to keep it?" asked Evelyn, eyeing itaskance as it lay gleaming in a streak of sunshine.
"Oh, I brought it away as a souvenir, and Niles kept the othertrinkets."
"But you said harm was foretold to the possessor of those scarletseeds," persisted the girl, whose fancy was excited by the tale, andwho fancied all was not told.
"Among his spoils, Niles found a bit of parchment, which hedeciphered, and this inscription said that the mummy we had soungallantly burned was that of a famous sorceress who bequeathed hercurse to whoever should disturb her rest. Of course I don't believethat curse has anything to do with it, but it's a fact that Nilesnever prospered from that day. He says it's because he has neverrecovered from the fall and fright and I dare say it is so; but Isometimes wonder if I am to share the curse, for I've a vein ofsuperstition in me, and that poor little mummy haunts my dreamsstill."
A long silence followed these words. Paul painted mechanically andEvelyn lay regarding him with a thoughtful face. But gloomy fancieswere as foreign to her nature as shadows are to noonday, andpresently she laughed a cheery laugh, saying as she took up the boxagain:
"Why don't you plant them, and see what wondrous flower they willbear?"
"I doubt if they would bear anything after lying in a mummy's handfor centuries," replied Forsyth, gravely.
"Let me plant them and try. You know wheat has sprouted and grownthat was taken from a mummy's coffin; why should not these prettyseeds? I should so like to watch them grow; may I, Paul?"
"No, I'd rather leave that experiment untried. I have a queerfeeling about the matter, and don't want to meddle myself or letanyone I love meddle with these seeds. They may be some horriblepoison, or possess some evil power, for the sorceress evidentlyvalued them, since she clutched them fast even in her tomb."
"Now, you are foolishly superstitious, and I laugh at you. Begenerous; give me one seed, just to learn if it will grow. See I'llpay for it," and Evelyn, who now stood beside him, dropped a kiss onhis forehead as she made her request, with the most engaging air.
But Forsyth would not yield. He smiled and returned the embracewith lover-like warmth, then flung the seeds into the fire, and gaveher back the golden box, saying, tenderly:
"My darling, I'll fill it with diamonds or bonbons, if you please,but I will not let you play with that witch's spells. You've enoughof your own, so forget the 'pretty seeds' and see what a Light of theHarem I've made of you."
Evelyn frowned, and smiled, and presently the lovers were out inthe spring sunshine reveling in their own happy hopes, untroubled byone foreboding fear.
II
"I have a little surprise for you, love," said Forsyth, as hegreeted his cousin three months later on the morning of his weddingday.
"And I have one for you," she answered, smiling faintly.
"How pale you are, and how thin you grow! All this bridal bustleis too much for you, Evelyn." he said, with fond anxiety, as hewatched the strange pallor of her face, and pressed the wastedlittle hand in his.
"I am so tired," she said, and leaned her head wearily on herlover's breast. "Neither sleep, food, nor air gives me strength, anda curious mist seems to cloud my mind at times. Mamma says it is theheat, but I shiver even in the sun, while at night I burn with fever.Paul, dear, I'm glad you are going to take me away to lead a quiet,happy life with you, but I'm afraid it will be a very short one."
"My fanciful little wife! You are tired and nervous with all thisworry, but a few weeks of rest in the country will give us back ourblooming Eve again. Have you no curiosity to learn my surprise?" heasked, to change her thoughts.
The vacant look stealing over the girl's face gave place to one ofinterest, but as she listened it seemed to require an effort to fixher mind on her lover's words.
"You remember the day we rummaged in the old cabinet?"
"Yes," and a smile touched her lips for a moment.
"And how you wanted to plant those queer red seeds I stole fromthe mummy?"
"I remember," and her eyes kindled with sudden fire.
"Well, I tossed them into the fire, as I thought, and gave you thebox. But when I went back to cover up my picture, and found one ofthose seeds on the rug, a sudden fancy to gratify your whim led me tosend it to Niles and ask him to plant and report on its progress.Today I hear from him for the first time, and he reports that theseed has grown marvelously, has budded, and that he intends to takethe first flower, if it blooms in time, to a meeting of famousscientific men, after which he will send me its true name and theplant itself. From his description, it must be very curious, and I'mimpatient to see it."
"You need not wait; I can show you the flower in its bloom," andEvelyn beckoned with the mechante smile so long a stranger to herlips.
Much amazed, Forsyth followed her to her own little boudoir, andthere, standing in the sunshine, was the unknown plant. Almost rankin their luxuriance were the vivid green leaves on the slender purplestems, and rising from the midst, one ghostly-white flower, shapedlike the head of a hooded snake, with scarlet stamens like forkedtongues, and on the petals glittered spots like dew.
"A strange, uncanny flower! Has it any odor?" asked Forsyth,bending to examine it, and forgetting, in his interest, to ask how itcame there.
"None, and that disappoints me, I am so fond of perfumes,"answered the girl, caressing the green leaves which trembled at hertouch, while the purple stems deepened their tint.
"Now tell me about it," said Forsyth, after standing silent forseveral minutes.
"I had been before you, and secured one of the seeds, for two fellon the rug. I planted it under a glass in the richest soil I couldfind, watered it faithfully, and was amazed at the rapidity withwhich it grew when once it appeared above the earth. I told no-one,for I meant to surprise you with it; but this bud has been so long inblooming, I have had to wait. It is a good omen that it blossomstoday, and as it is nearly white, I mean to wear it, for I've learnedto love it, having been my pet for so long."
"I would not wear it, for, in spite of its innocent color, it isan evil-looking plant, with its adder's tongue and unnatural dew. Waittill Niles tells us what it is, then pet it if it is harmless."
"Perhaps my sorceress cherished it for some symbolic beauty--thoseold Egyptians were full of fancies. It was very sly of you to turnthe tables on me in this way. But I forgive you, since in a fewhours, I shall chain this mysterious hand forever. How cold it is!Come out into the garden and get some warmth and color for tonight,my love."
But when night came, no-one could reproach the girl with herpallor, for she glowed like a pomegranate-flower, her eyes were fullof fire, her lips scarlet, and all her old vivacity seemed to havereturned. A more brilliant bride never blushed under a misty veil,and when her lover saw her, he was absolutely startled by the almostunearthly beauty which transformed the pale, languid creature of themorning into this radiant woman.
They were married, and if love, many blessings, and all good giftslavishly showered upon them could make them happy, then this youngpair were truly blest. But even in the rapture of the moment thatmade her his, Forsyth observed how icy cold was the little hand heheld, how feverish the deep color on the soft cheek he kissed, andwhat a strange fire burned in the tender eyes that looked sowistfully at him.
Blithe and beautiful as a spirit, the smiling bride played herpart in all the festivities of that long evening, and when at lastlight, life and color began to fade, the loving eyes that watched herthought it but the natural weariness of the hour. As the last guestdeparted, Forsyth was met by a servant, who gave him a letter marked"Haste." Tearing it open, he read these lines, from a friend of theprofessor's:
"DEAR SIR--Poor Niles died suddenly two days ago, while at theScientific Club, and his last words were: 'Tell Paul Forsyth tobeware of the Mummy's Curse, for this fatal flower has killed me.'The circumstances of his death were so peculiar, that I add them as asequel to this message. For several months, as he told us, he hadbeen watching an unknown plant, and that evening he brought us theflower to examine. Other matters of interest absorbed us till a latehour, and the plant was forgotten. The professor wore it in hisbuttonhole--a strange white, serpent-headed blossom, with paleglittering spots, which slowly changed to a glittering scarlet, tillthe leaves looked as if sprinkled with blood. It was observed thatinstead of the pallor and feebleness which had recently come overhim, that the professor was unusually animated, and seemed in analmost unnatural state of high spirits. Near the close of themeeting, in the midst of a lively discussion, he suddenly dropped, asif smitten with apoplexy. He was conveyed home insensible, and afterone lucid interval, in which he gave me the message I have recordedabove, he died in great agony, raving of mummies, pyramids, serpents,and some fatal curse which had fallen upon him.
"After his death, livid scarlet spots, like those on the flower,appeared upon his skin, and he shriveled like a withered leaf. At mydesire, the mysterious plant was examined, and pronounced by the bestauthority one of the most deadly poisons known to the Egyptiansorceresses. The plant slowly absorbs the vitality of whoevercultivates it, and the blossom, worn for two or three hours, produceseither madness or death."
Down dropped the paper from Forsyth's hand; he read no further,but hurried back into the room where he had left his young wife. Asif worn out with fatigue, she had thrown herself upon a couch, andlay there motionless, her face half-hidden by the light folds of theveil, which had blown over it.
"Evelyn, my dearest! Wake up and answer me. Did you wear thatstrange flower today?" whispered Forsyth, putting the misty screenaway.
There was no need for her to answer, for there, gleamingspectrally on her bosom, was the evil blossom, its white petalsspotted now with flecks of scarlet, vivid as drops of newly spiltblood.
But the unhappy bridegroom scarcely saw it, for the face above itappalled him by its utter vacancy. Drawn and pallid, as if with somewasting malady, the young face, so lovely an hour ago, lay before himaged and blighted by the baleful influence of the plant which haddrunk up her life. No recognition in the eyes, no word upon the lips,no motion of the hand--only the faint breath, the fluttering pulse,and wide-opened eyes, betrayed that she was alive.
Alas for the young wife! The superstitious fear at which she hadsmiled had proved true: the curse that had bided its time for ageswas fulfilled at last, and her own hand wrecked her happiness forever. Death in life was her doom, and for years Forsyth secludedhimself to tend with pathetic devotion the pale ghost, who never, byword or look, could thank him for the love that outlived even such afate as this.
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