The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, November 23, 1897, Image 4
AN EGYPTIAN ELIXIR
By TRANK M. EASTMAN.
[Copyright. 1S97. by tho Author.)
Thou oouldnt toll US, if Hint lCftthom tongue
Cotthl toll What thoso dim. Blghtlenn eyes
lmvo soon,
How tho world looki^t when U was fresh and
young
Anil tho great deluge still had left It green.
?llovaeo Smith.
I hud been exploring a largo rock
tomb to tho vicinity of Karuuk for a
number of weeks in tho summer of 18??
It was a comparatively old discovery,
butowiiiKto tho remarkable character
of the tomb I hud thought it well worth
rny while to glean for 8O0b details as
might have escaped tho notice of earlier
vi ?i tore.
Tlio opening to tho scpulchcr, acci
dentally discovered, consisted of a
straight passage, barely permitting of
tho entrance of a Single individual at a
time npOU his hands and knees. Its sides
wero of red granite, beautifully pol
Ishod, which glittered du/./.lingly in the
light of the explorer's torch. This en
trance ran straight hack into tho hill
for a distance of some ?00 feet, when it
suddenly opened upon a large vaulted
room of circular form, from which there
branched numerous galleries of good
proportions, leading to other chambers,
In which hud been found many sar
copliagi, mummies and mummy cases,
ouo of the sarcophagi being supposed to
bo that of Thothmos HI, tho most glori
ous monarch of Egyptian history, who
erected the obelisk now in Central park,
though no mummy bad been found
within it.
Tho walls of tho passages and cham
bers were, like tbosoof all of the grand*
ear Egyptian tombs, decorated with nu
merous spirited paintings, the bright
colors of which still shone as fresh and
lustrous as if they hud been laid on but
yesterday. It was in this mysterious
ubodo of death that I had been long en
?gaged, copying inscriptions and paint
lugs, searching for new passages and
ro-exaniining tho old ones, with an en
thusiasm which only an nrdeut Egyp
tologist can experience.
I had at length nearly finished my
investigations, and, in fact, the day of
which I am about to speak was to havo
been my last in tho tomb, thero re
maining but one picture to copy, and
that upon tho wall of a remote gallery.
Accordingly, at about noon I found
myself before tho picturo in question,
palette in hand, surrounded by a gionp
of fellahs in my employ, tho dickering
light of whose torches gave their som
ber faces n sufficiently Dantosque ox
prossion.
The picturo I was copying was of a
very common typo, representing a train
of long haired captives defiling before a
king whom I supposed to be Thothmes,
but as the hieroglyphics connected with
the picturo wero very obscuro this
would take some time to determine.
While painting away industriously, and
Sometimes reduced almost to despair in
my attempts to mix colors as bright as
those before mo, I noticed that tho
paint had blistered or peeled off a
littlo just ut tho point of the king's
uoso. As I had never noticed paint
scaling from other pictures, I got up to
examine tho place. Taking hold of a
projecting scnle, I gave it a slight pull,
when, to my surprise, perhaps a square
foot cf the pain', camo away, revealing
tho granite wail behind, and in that
wall a seam or jciut.
With a cry of pleasure I tore, pried
and dug tho paint away for a distanco
of sonio feet and disclosed tho outlino
of a door or passageway whioh had been
He bent over the body.
filled with one immense stone, which
fitted its place so closely that tho point
of a penknife could hardly have been
inserted between tho stone and tho solid
rock of tho gallery. Beyond un entrance
so carefully closed and concealed thero
must bo new and raro treasures, and it
was with considerable excitement that
I began to consider how to removo the
obstaclo in tho passageway. Pressure, I
found, had no effect upon it, and there
remained no way but to blast it. I ac
cordingly sent for drills and sledges,
and soon had two gangs of fellahs at
work sinking two holes on each side of
the slab.
By taking advantage of tho almost
imperceptible interstices between the
stono and tho wall tho work was somo
what accelerated, and soveral hours'
labor resulted in two holes Boine eight
inches deep. These I half filled with
powder, proporly tamped tho charges,
inserted fnses, lit them and retired with
duo promptitude. Tho deep silence of
perhaps a minute was at length broken
by a deafening crash, followed by in
terminable echoes and a strong blast of
snlphurons air.
Allowing timo for tho fumes of tho
powder to dissipate, wo returned and
found tho great slab had been bnrled
inward, where it lay, broken into sov
eral pieces, upon tho floor of a noble
corridor of great width and height.
Soiling a torch from ouo of tho bear
ers, I sprang forward into the newly
oponed passago without a thought of
tho possible presence of foul air or poi
sonous gasoB. Luckily thero was neither.
A moment's examination satisfied me
that this was tho real or main tomb, to
Whioh the other had merely served as
an nnteohambcr or perhaps had been
plaoed there as a blind to deceive those
Who might soarch for tho prinoipal
structure. Hero tho passages were uu
usually spnoious and lofty and wore
docoratod with paintings far excelling,
tioth in design and coloring, thosoI had
boon convint?.
jxervousiy pressing pu Mitm ??/.?,
sago, whioh was crossed at intervals by
others as lofty an itself, I oame Anally
to an immense Mini ted nimm her of 00
tagonal form, in tho midst of whioh
stood a bugo sarcophagus of highly pol
ished syenite. At its head thero glit
tered a huge golden ibis, its long nook
?Mirvod in gracofnl folds and the slen
dor, curved bill pointing downward to
ward tho ploco whero tho heart of the
inolosed mummy would naturally havo
been. About tho sides of the apartment
Stood eight other stone coffins, bnt
?mailer and of red granito instead of
syenite.
As the sight of theso objects burst
cpon mo by the flickering torchlight I
felt myself trembling with exoessivo
emotion. Here was, it might be, the
.Cgg***** KVfwntAlnohial diflcovorv ?inoo
tho findiiiK 01 tho Kosottn stone. JNo In- ,
under before me had ever disturbed the !
sileuce of this most awful sepulober. j
Nor Cumbyscs nor Alexander nor any
of tho long list of the conquerors of ;
Egypt had penetrated the secret of this
rock hewn abode of tho dead. Sinco
the deep and solemn choruH of tho de
parting priests of Osiris had died away
in hollow eohoes through tho long cor
ridors about them no sound had broken
tho silenco of the ancient dead. What
if they wero to wake and ask mo of tho
doings of tho world since they had
slumbered there? Not history's self
could answer them.
These and similar thoughts flashed
through my mind, mixed with a tri
umphant feeling of exultation and self
grutulation. But it was already late. 1
had eaten nothing since morning and
my fellahs wi re tired and grumbling,
so I was compelled to abandon my dis
coveries until the morrow, though sore
ly against my will. So jealous was I of
my Undings that, after seeing all of my
workmen out of the tomb, I had my tent
pitched before the outer eutranco, in
order thnt none might gain access to
tho new treasures which wero within
tho inner chambers.
After a restless night I was up with
the dawn, and, eating a hasty break
J fast, hastened to the scene of my dis
! covery, but before repairing thither I
I sent a messenger to Professor Bute-si,
j who was then considered tho greatost
! living Egyptologist) and who was su
perintending some excavations at a
point about ton miles from my camp,
announcing my discovery and begging
j him to como to me at once. This was
an unselfish act on my part, as I knew
j very woll that tho soieutifio world
! would bo apt to givo him entire credit
for my diecovorios if he wero to arrive
j on tho soone so soon and should desire
! to appropriate my laurels, but my de
light was so groat that I felt tho neces
sity of a companion to share it with me.
I Tho first task I set for myself was tho
j removal of the grand central sarcophu
i gus. I had pretty woll mude up my mind
that this was the real coffin of Thothmes
. Ill and that tho one found in tho outer
! tomb had been merely a blind. I sent
j to my oamp for tackle aud a small der
rick so constructed as to be capable of
j being taken apart in small pieces and
readily put together. While awaiting
i its arrival I examined the great golden
I ibis closely. It was apparently of Holid
I gold, ten feet high, and the finest speci
men of tho goldsmith's art I had ever
seen. Tho modeling was perfect and
tho minuteness of the work remarkable.
The tiniest feathers, tho smallest scales
1 on tho long, slender legs, wero repro
| dueod with scrupulous exactness.
"There has never been found anything
j to compare with it," I said exultantly
to myself.
In a short time tho men returned
with tho npparatus, the derrick was
erected and clumps wero placed across
tho polished surface of the massive lid.
I At my command the men at tho wind
lass began to turn, and tho great slab
roso slowly from its plaeo and was
: lowered carefully to the lleor. Leaping
< upon n coil of rope at hand, I looked
{ down into tho sarcophagus. As I did so
the light from my torch brilliantly ro
, fleeted from a huge mummy case of ap
1 parently solid and massy gold. As is
I usual with mummy cases, tho head of
] tho case was modeled into tho form of
a faeo. These faces are supposed to be
likenesses of tho inclosed mummies us
they looked in life. Tho faco was that
of n man still young, of pleasing and
yut commanding presence. Two crystals
inserted for eyes gave it a lifelike aud
almost terrifying appearance. Tho caso
was carved with many und elaborate
designs and was studded with ?ho bod
ies of many scarabs, which wore set
deep in the gold
These details I observed at a glance,
but an object lying at the side of tho
caso and partly upon it now rttructed
my attention. This was a largo vaso or
'; flask of tho purest rock crystal, elabo
rately carved with mystical devices,
; which was filled with a limpid, color
j less fluid?perhaps four or five quarts?
: which seemed to be luminous. At least
J it reflected tho torchlight with an in
tensity that was almost blinding. It
was a wholly novel discovery. Sar
cophagi and mummies wero common
enough, but never had I seen or heard
of tho finding of anything like this.
Had I found it in a Grecian or Kornau
tomb, I might havo called it u lach
rymal vaso, but so far as I knew no
such utensil was used by tho Egyptians.
Reaching down into tho great stone
; box, I managed to grasp the flask and
j taku it up. As I held it aloft tho fel
' lahs sot up a terrified shout as the
light of their torches was reflected
from it in streams of dazzling teil?
' lianoy.
I "Body of Bacchus I So you are noi
ther crazy nor hoaxing. "
Jt was tho voice of my friend, Dr.
Batesi, who entered tho tomb at this
moment.
Dr. Batesl was an Italian, Home 65
years of ago, though yet vigorous and
of nn extremely nervous temperament.
Bis figure was tall, but thin and gaunt,
and Iiis meager face was decorated by a
long and flowing white benrd. Bis eyes
wero small, bright and restless. Any one
Would havo readily known him as an
enthusiast in whatever study he might
ho interested. Ho always spoko in n
jerky, oxcitablo manner, and his usually
nervous demeanor was now heightened
n dozenfold by tho strango nature of
onr surroundings.
"No, you'ro not crazy. But, groat
heavens I What a discovery!"
"Yes," I replied, striving hard to ap
pear cool. ' 'I think this is something of
a find. Seohero." And I mndo way for
j him to stand upon tho coil of ropo in
ordor that ho might look down into tho
sarcophagus.
As tho glittering mummy caso met
i his sight ho began a series of ejacula
tions in his native tonguo, apparently
unconscious of my presenco. At length
ho somewhat regained his composure,
and tho cryHtal flank in my hand at
tracted his attontion.
"What is that?" he demanded.
"I do not know. I found itinsldo the
flcrcophagus. Did you over seo anything
, liko it bofore?"
Ho did not answer me, but, snotohing
tho vaso from my hand, began to ex
amlno it very olosely, at tho same time
muttering exoitedly to himself. His in
spootlon lasted somo time. Finally his
faco brightened and assumed an expres
sion of decision.
"It may be. It is possible," he said,
, still speuking to himself. "Why not?
j Do not the reoords of Manetho say so?
It is not so improbable after all. Gome, ]
oomo, we shall soon know."
I "Como," he said, turning to me, |
I "we must see that mnmmy. Let us got
tho oaso oat as soon as possible."
I I gave the necessary orders to my i
men, and the derriok was once more
called into reqnisition to lift tho heavy ,
ease from tho sarcophagus.
I "Do you suppose this is Thothmes?" |
I inquired while the men were occupied
with this task.
I "It is no moro Thothmes," he replied,
"than it is Habakkuk. It is Nof-Hab,
a high priest of Osiris, of the eighteenth
dynasty," pointing at the same time to
a hieroglyph carved on the massivooase,
whioh I had overlooked by reason of its
size, extending from one end of the
oaso nearly to the other.
In a few moments tho heavy oaso
wa? on tno Htono noor ana rno uinnsivu
golden cover was removed, revealing
not tho ordinary swathed mid bandaged
tnomuiy, but u miked body floating in
an oily substance wbioh emitted an
aromatic smell. If I bad expected re
newed ovidenco of excitement from the
doctor, I was disappointed. His fea
tures assumed a set expression, and he
bout over the body without uttering a
syllable.
"Thisliquid," I exclaimed excitedly,
?Mb"?
"Honey," replied tho doctor. Thou
ho continued as if to himself: "As I ex
pected. Come! The ancients were not
?11 fools nor all liars. It is 1 o'clock?
a great day, a great day I"
' Tho body, as tbo munony ease bad
foretold, was that of a young man of
pleasing appearance und majestic fig
ure, the flesh still firm and plump,
with no evidences of decay. The body
appeared to have been unmutilated by
tho bauds of tho embalmers. There was
no incision on the flank to evidence the
removal of tho viscera, and the plump
ness of tho closed eyelids led to tho pre
sumption that tho eyes were still in
tbeil sockets. There was positively no
evidence of death, abont the body, un
less it were a certain rigidity, but oth
erwise it might bavo been mistaken for
tho person of some expert swimmer
sleeping en tho surface of his bath.
I "Scud your men for somo food, a
half dozen bottles of wine and plenty
of wider and towels," said tho doctor
in an unnatural voice,
i I had overlooked the fact that it was
past dinner time and hastened to give
tho necessary orders to my men, though
What tho doctor wanted of towels 1
cou I not imagine. Tho required arti
cles wero soon brought.
I "Now dismiss all your men," con
tinued tho doctor in tho samo strained
tone of voice.
I I obeyed as nnquestionlngly us tho
wedding guest obeyed the Ancient Mari
ner, and tho men, ufter depositing a
numhor of lighted torches about the
chamber, retired. After their footsteps
bad died away in tho long corridors,
tho doctor began to pace slowly up and
down the room. Finally bo spoke:
"How many kinds of mummies have
you found in your discoveries?"
"Why," 1 replied, "threo kinds, if
you mean tho manner of their prepara
tion. "
"And they were?"
"Why, tho first class havo all the
viscera and the brain* removed, the
cavities filled with resins and spices,
aud havo been steeped in natron for a
long time. Tho second havo only the
brains removed and the viscera injected
with oil of cedar. Theso wore also
steeped in natron, as we suppose. Tho
third kind were upperOUtly just salted
down for a certain length of time. TheHe
nre all tho kinds I am familiar with."
"And havo you found and seen no
other kind?"
I "No."
! "Well, thero was a fourth kind. It is
so written in the book of Manetbo. I
havo alwnys believed it to bo a lio of
tho priests. We are about to seo whether
it was such in fact or not. Tho priests
Claimed to have a process by which
they could arrest animation indefinite
ly, and that they could, after tho lapse
of ages, restore lifo to a body in which
existenco had been suspended by the
use of a certain liquor, if tho body were
kept from external injury. Tho only
thing that has seemed to substantiate
this claim has been the fact that u few
bodies have been discovered at widely
different times which bore none of tho
I
ordinary marks of embalming, from
which the viscera and brain bud not
been removed and which wero neverthe
less in a belter state of preservation
than mummies vhich bad been care
fully embalmed. I say such bodies have
been discovered. I should say, rather,
that it is claimed that they have been
discovered, but an 1 never saw ono or
any onn who had I havo been inolim d
to doubt the fact. This body settles tho
matter. I doubt no more."
"I remember now that I have heard
something to the same effect," Ire
plied, "but I do not seo that this sub
stantiates the claim of the priests to bo
ablo to suspend animation and to re
store it after the lapse of ages."
"Thero aro nono so blind as thoao
who will not se.o," ho replied testily.
"Do you not perceive that tho reason
thattheso bodies havo never been re
stored to life Is cither that the knowl
edge of their resting places has been
lost in the lapse of apes or that the
recipe by which they were to bo revived
bas been forgotten?"
"Well?" I said stupidly.
"Well, is there anything more proba
blo than that this is one of those bodies
and that the contents of this vase is the
medicine by which it can bo restored to
life?"
I stared at my companion in amaze
ment. His words sounded like nonsense,
but his manner was calm?unusually
calm?and after all the idea wns not
wholly absurd. Thero nre moro things
I flung It for down one of the unexplored
corridort.
in heaven and earth than our philoso
phy dreams of. It might be as ho said.
"You see," continued the doctor,
"that this man was wise in his dny and
generation and very prudently directed
tho medicine- that was to restore him
to lifo to bo entombed with him."
"Do you suppose he began bis long
sleep, if it is one, voluntarily?"
"Hardly. It may havo beou a pun
ishment for betraying Romo scoret of
the priesthood or n roligions Hie, the
subject of which was selected by lot.
Bat that is moro conjootnro. "
"Does it not seem impossible to you
as a medical man?" I queried.
"My friend," was tho reply, "it is
only Mio studont of medicino who ap
preciates how little is known of tho hu
man body. It Hncms improbable, yes,
wildly improbable; impossible, no."
"Very well, then," I exclaimed, fill
ed with a rising belief nnd enthusiasm,
"lot us try to resnscitato this oitizen of
tho primeval world."
"To work!" ejaculated tho doctor,
turning to tho body.
Wo first lifted it from the case nnd
laid it upon a piece of oanvaa wbioh
was to havo been our tableoloth. In
doing so wo fonnd it was n-.t to stiff as
we had snpposed. It wan, in faot, limp
nud y 1 elding, like that of a naraonin
Absolutely Pure.
Celobrated for its groat leavening
strength ami healthfulness. Assures
tho food against alum und all forms
of adulteration common to tho cheap
brands.
Royal Baking Powder Co.,
Now York.
some torniH or epilepsy. Wb then pro
ceeded to wipe it dry with our towels.
The flesh was firm and natural, though
oold as the clods of the valley.
"But how Bhall wo uso tho liquid?"
I inquired.
"Why, there aio but two ways of
nsiug it?externally and internally. 1
can probably tell from the odor whether
it is dangerous to give internally. Thero
is enough of it, 1 should think, for botli
usob. "
(So saying, tho doctor, after soino dif
ficulty, removed the Stopper, which had
boen sealod with natron. As ho did so
u light, luminous vapor arose from tho
flask, filling the chamber with u deli
oato perfume, liko mingled ether und
orushod applo seeds. For a moment the
scent niado mo giddy, but this Boon
passed away.
"We will first rub it with fho liquid.
After that I will try to pry its mouth
open and pour some down its throat."
Wo bogau rubbing the body. For *
long time wo worked in sileuoe. It wan
hard work, and tho Perspiration wus
soon flowing from us in streams. An
hour had passed and no result was ap
parent.
"I'm afraid it's no uso," I said at
last. "I don't seo uuy indication of
lifo."
"Keep it up," said the doctor stern
ly. "Do you suppose thut ouo is eusily
awakoued after a sleep of 80 cen
turies?"
Ho we continued our work for some
tinio. I was nearly exhausted, when n
cry from the doctor attracted my atten
tion.
j "Ixjok, look I" he cried, pointing to
a place upon the right thigh of the
body.
I looked at the pluce indicated. As I
did so the doctor piessed upon the spot
with some force. A paleness resulted,
followed, as he removed his thumb, by
a slow tide of returning color.
"Almighty tiodl" I cried. "Ho
live?l He lives!"
Tho doctor was silent.
It would bo impossible to describe my
sensations on perceiving this indication
of returning animation. Coupled with
exultation at the success of our experi
ment and the magnitude of our discov
ery was a nameless honor ut t lie thought
of tho personality of the being whom
we were about to restore to life. Read
erB of Do Quiucey's opium dreams will
i remember tho horror with whioh "the
j tremendous, tho horrible antiquity" of
I tho countries of Asia inspired him as
vividly ns they renall Iiis "cancerous
j kisses of tho crocodile" Buch an inde
finable horror now possessed me. The
j being before me had lived and loved,
I had thought and dreamed, had hoped
i and longed and feared before the dawn
of history, when the earth was peopled
With strange races whoso very names
had been forgotten long eons ago,
When the flood was a matter of yester
day and the tower of Babul an existing
wonder of tho world, and yut I now
saw liefere my eyes the tide of life,
stagnant for ages, once more beginning
to course within his veins.
Antt(|iiity hmi not begun
Long ere U1m primeval rueo WM run.
Ho seemed to belong neither to the
living nor tho dead. He was a frightful
anomaly. I sickened with horror, but
still continued mechanically to chafe
bis limbs.
Aftor tho lapso of aomo minutes,
which wero accompanied by increasing
evidences of tho return of circulation,
the doctor opened the firmly compressed
lips and with Iiis penknife easily pried
the teetli apart and poured several drops
of the. liquid down the throat of the
body. The effect of tills was soon evi
denced by a very slight but yet porcep
tlblo respiration. There was no lougor
room for doubt, if indeed thoro had
boen any before. The man lived.
Tho doctor was still silent, and in the
whirl of my thoughts I was iuoapablo
of speech. We reuowod our rubbings
with tho liquor, and the respirations
grew stronger and stronger. At last
they wero quito normal. The doctor
poured a few drops of the cordial down
the throat.
"Wo may rest now," he said.
I threw myself on the floor and think
I must have fainted from the exhaustive
labor. tl)0 tumult of luv thnnuhta a?H
tuu neat ei um umuubcr. At any rate
I was uuccnscioua for ROino timo.
When 1 r< gained consciousness, tho
EgyptiflU (for now that lie was alive I
?apposo m Fhnuld be i roporly so called)
wn? breathing easily and naturally as
though in a profound sleep, Tlie doctor
was sentcd uu the fl< ( r. Iii'. back against
a sarcophagus, Iccking Intently at tho
orystal flask whioh I i held in Iiis hand.
Its contents, about ( lie-half of Which
bad been exhausted, sparkled brightly
in the torchlight.
I arose and iq i ila d my friend
As I did BO 1 noticed m inctliitig ahum
lug in his*appearance. Uh feature*
wero set and drawn, while bis eyev
glittered with a light Unit was fearful
in tho wild intensity cf their glare, I
I beaitutcd to speak n id shod looking lr
rosolutuly at him for some minutes. Hi
I scemod unconsciouns of my presence.
From timo to time ho would mutter in
a bourse and tnurticuluto voice.
In tho hope that ho might become
moro composed if left to himself, and
; In order to distract my own excited
thoughts, I turned my attention to tho
Egyptian. His respirations had become
somewhat shorter, und a slight twitch
I ing of his eyelids was apparent. Sitting
? down beside him and taking Iiis head in
' my lap, I knocked off tho neck of tho
! bottle of wine and poured eomo of its
I oonlents down his throat, at tho same
{ time pinching tho epiglottis to make
! him swallow. The efToot of the draft
was soon evidenced by nn inoroased color
in tho awarthy cheek, and in a fow mln
I utoa, while I watched him closely, tho
: eyolids trembled and with groat effort
I slowly opened, and two groat eyos of
intenso bluckness stared solemnly Into
. mine.
Thero could have been nothing moro
natural thun for tho man to havooponod
his eyes aftor having been rostored to
oonsoioujuosN*. yet this action. uia?*?o
na U Wut?, unoctert me more- than tbo
first discovered indications of lifo. A
cold wave swept along my spine, and
my heart paused until I thought it
would nevor resume its pulsations.
On what prehistoric seems bad those
inscrutable eyes last gazed before they
looked into mine? What awful events,
forgotten ere yet a pyramid was found
ed, what mystio ritcB, what mighty
men of old long sunk into oblivion, had
been mirrored in those hideously ancient
orbs?
It was as though the sphinx had
?wakeued from her granite sleep and
looked upon me. Luckily for me I was
not culled upon to long endure that
awesome gaze. The eyelids fell, and, as
if exhausted by the effort of opening bis
eyes, the Egyptian's respiration soon
evidenced that lie was again sleeping.
I laid his bend upon a fold of the can
vas and arose to my feet. As I did so a
cry from the doctor attracted my atten
tion, lie bad arisen and was pacing
feverishly about tiie tomb.
"Oil, fools and madmen!" ho cried. 1
"Ob, blind and more than blind I Idiots
and imbeciles! What have we done,
asses that wu arc? What bave wo done?"
I stared at my friend in teiror and
amazement. His words were those of a
madman, and the glitter of bis eye and
the frenzy of Iiis uiunuer wero in keep
ing. While I still stared he continued
his ejaculations in a half dozen lan
guages, gesticulating wildly, throwing ,
Ids hands aloft, tearing his hair and ,
darting about the chamber.
"Do you know what this is?" at
length bo cried in a terrible voice, ad
vancing toward mo with the tlask held
aloft.
"Of course not," I replied, striving
to appear calm and self possessed.
"Of course you do not," lie answered
with a sneer. "Of course you do not.
How should an imbecile like you know
What it Ib? What should it lie? What is
it but tbo real elixir vita), the elixir
of life, the wine of youth, the medicine
of immortality, so long sought and
never foundl That's what it is, und
that's what we havu been wasting on
that muddy carcass there instcaN of
treasuring it for the preservation of our
own lives through countless ages. And
why not," bo cried, Iiis voice riling to
a scream, as be turned fiercely to me,
"why not for all eternity, for, in the
long ages of existence that this will
give us shall we not bo able to discover
the ingredients of which it is made
and the manner in which it is concoct
ed? Eternityl Eternity 1" he screamed.
"An eternity of life is ours!"
A cold, icy horror seized me. There
could bo no doubt of my companion's
insanity. He was a raving maniac. Tbo
exciting events of the last few bourn
had been too much for bis highly
wrought nervous system. I was alouo
witli him, far from human aid, and
Where no sound or cry of mine could
reach the ear of man. To what ex
tremity might not this insanity drive
bim? I was unarmed, and, though it
stronger man than he, yet I knew that
insanity lends a strength almost super
human. There wus nothing to do but
to strive to appear calm and if possible
quiet him.
"fc?o yon really think this must bo
the elixir of life?" i inquired calmly.
"Of course it is," he cried. "Do you
bopposo it will restore life to that car
rion there after BO centuries or more
and not prolong the life of one already
living? Yes, it is the true elixir, the
true fountain of youth." Here his rav
ings became incoherent and BO contin
ued for some time.
"Well, it may be as you say, doctor,"
I said at length. "Hut let us first got
this fellow fully resuscitated and get
out of here as scon as WO can. Heavens I
Think what fame w ill bo ours when we
introduco to the world a living priest
of thu eighteenth dynasty I"
"Resuscitate that dog!" lie screamed.
"Waste on him any mere* of the pro
' cious fluid which means thousands of
i years of life to us! No, no! Let him
I sleep an be has slept. All that a man
has will he give for his life, and hero
in life, life-, life?thousands of yours
of it!
"Why should yon have uny of it?" ho
continued, casting a look of deep ma
lignity upen me. "Why should you en
joy what you did net IIscover? You
would never have Puspcoted tbo true
nature of the liquor. You would have
wasted it all oil that carcass there. No,
no! You have no right to it. It is all
mine. Millions of years of life, and all
mine!"
"You are welcome to it all, doctor,
if you wish it," I managed to say. "I
am not enamored with life enough to
desire to prolong it indefinitely. I tun
?ntisfied with my allotted length of
days. Hut now let us get out of here if
TOU do nOt W bib tO nnvrw mir 0*1,ari.
ment runner.
"Very well, then," ho cried. "It is
all mine. Eternity is mine. I must be
gin upon it now, before I am a moment
older. From this moment I becomo as
one of the gods. I drink," ho said,
lifting the flask to bis lips, "to immor
tality I" A bright green glaroshot from
the vase as lie held it aloft
Forgetful of danger I sprnhg forward
to intercept bis draft, fully believing
that a medicine no powerful as wo had
found tlds to hs would bo fatal to n liv
ing man, and, determined to cave my
friend's lifo at whatever risk to my
own, I leaped forward, snatched the
flusk from bis hands und flung it far
down ono of the unexplored corridors.
For an instant bo stood us if thunder
?truck._
mHv ^ j&^/fI 1 l'",t tonc*"
I (^<>Cj "j1 Px'sb but to
/ / ilj! cdy Bud use it.
I -_ pv/ A bilious, dyspep
tic condition of the
system not only tunken life miserable, but
It is sure to lead to Something worse, unless
promptly taken in hand and corrected. It !
18 foolish to attempt to dodge SUCll troubles
by any mere temporary expedient. The
Only sensible way in to get rid of thorn for
good and all by a thoroughly rational, scien
tific medicine like Dr. Tierce's Golden Med
ical Discovery.
It cures all disordered, debilitated eondl
Hons by its direct action upon the liver and
digestive oricans; it gives them power to
make fresh, healthy blood free from bilious
Impurities; it drives all disease-genus out
of the circulation; it creates solid, muscular
flesh and constitutional power.
Lung and throat affections, which are
often simply the result of impaired nutri
tion, are reached and cured by this wonder
ful 'Discovery" in cases where cod liver
oil emulsions are useless, because the " Dis
covery " in readily assimilated by delicate
?tomachn. It is fur superior to malt ex
tracts, because its beneficial effects are !
permanent.
" I>r. Pierce, I ntn one of vour most grateful
patients," writes Mrs. Annie M. Norman, of
Kqiilinink, Wayue Co., Pa. "I have taken ;
?Golden Medical Discovery,'also 'I'avotlte Pre
frlption' and 'Pellets' with wonderful results. |
am, as many of my friends tell me, like the
dead brought to life. The doctors said I had
consumption nnd death was only a matter of
Urne. That was six years ago. I concluded to
try your medicine. I continued until 1 had taken
nfne turtles of 'Discovery' and several bottles
of ' Pellets.' I got well and have done n great i
deal of hard work since."
When the liver and bowels don't work,
the body and brain won't. Dr. Pierce** '
Pleasant Pellets are a sure, safe, speedy
and permanent cure for constipation, nnd
a torpid liver. One "Pellet" la a gentle
laxative and two a mild cathartic.
Then with incredible quickness and
without uttering u word ho drew a
stiletto from bis breast, plunged it into
my bosom und darted down tho corri
dor. I 'ell fainting to the floor, but bo
fore I lost consciousness I heard a long,
blood curdling Hcreum, followed by a
deathly silence, and I knew no more.
I returned to consciouttueaa iu tho
humble hut of a fellah neur tho scene
of my explorations, wh.vher I hud been
conveyed by my men, who hud found
mo insensible in the thick durkuess of
the vaulted chamber. I had hovered for
weeks between life und death, but the
anxious care of a physician whom the
{Scientific BCOiety had sent me on hear
ing of my wound finally restored me to
consciousness und life. No tidings of
Dr. Hat* si had been received.
Ah soon as 1 was able I revisited the
tomb. Of its former treasures not an
?dorn remained. The wretched felluhs,
who are not permitted to sell any of the
treusures of antiquity which they may
discover, had taken all away to dis
member them at their leisure, In order
to sell the fragments surrcptitiouHly to
tourists The body of tho priest hu<*
disappeared with the other contents of
the tomb.
Feebly and disconsolately I crawled
along one of the corridors which seemed
to me to be the one down which 1 had
thrown the crystal vase. Suddenly my
torohbearer, who was in advance, start
ed back with a cry of horror. Advanc
ing cautiously, 1 found myself looking
down into a wide pit which was sunk
perpendicularly in tho center of tho
passage. 1 threw a pebblo down it, but
i no BOUud of its fall returned to n v ears
from the thick blackiuss below.
j As 1 turned, weary and sick at heart,
my toot struck a soft object. It was a
light felt hat. I know it and its own
er's fate.
The next day found me on my way to
the dahaheull winch was to take mo down
tho Nile. After my litter hi I been
placed on hoard, looking up at the bank
I chanced to see a tall, majestic figure,
richly chid in garments of strange and
ancient fashion, gazing intently upon
tho bont, and, as it Boomed, at mo.
"Who is that man?" 1 abked my
servant.
"Ho is a stranger, excellency, a
newcomer. They call him NefTar. He
is very wise, they say, very wise and
very rich, tint he talks little. Some say
he lias the evil eye, but I do not know. "
The daliuhcah cast oft' from the shorn
?nd with a favoring brcezo shot swiftly
down the stream. As wo swept down
ward I kept my eyes on tho grand, im
posing figure of the stranger as his gazo
followed the boat until a bend in the
river shut him from view.
"Strange, " 1 said to the doctor at my
side, "what hallucinations sick men
have. Now I almost thought that"?
j "Vis, they aie Strange," be replied,
tin'. r.nd.
piIAKLKSTON * "VYKSTKU " u
1 Una Railway Co. ?? Augusta and leht
Ville Mun t I.ine." Schedule in effect B"er
I 7 th, 1887.
?
Lv Augusta. ? iu am 1 40?pu
Ar (iroenwood.12 17 pm .
Anderson. (i 10 an
l aurens. 1 15 pm 1)0 sr
Greenville.2 55 pir It! 80 an
Glenn Springs.4 05 pir
f-'partnnhurir.3 00 pre U ,2.r> an
S>a!uda .5 2 vm .
Hendersonvillo. .. 6 61 pm .
Asheville. 6 46 pm .
1 \"Asheville.8 20 am .
(. Spartan burg.lM,r>am 400pnr
? Greenville.nr>.r>am 4 oo pn
ILaurens.] 15 pm 7 00 prr
A ndcrson.7 (Hi am .
IS.' Greenwood. 2 28 pm .
Ar Augusta. 5 00 i ir 11 10 un
Ar Aikcn. 650 pm
Lv Greonvillo . .
Ar Clinton .
Ncwherry.
! Prosperity.
fjl Columbia.
j.. Bum tor.
Lanes....
hv (lharleston.
I.a lie*.
" Bumter.
Columbia .
Prosperity .
Newl'Orry.
'Clinton .... ....
I'Ar (i reen vi lie_
ll',60 air
'2 1?) pn
'2 r>7 pir
8 13 pir
4 30 prr
6 42 pn
_7 48 pn.
"7 00 an7
8 2fl am
h 36 air
11 00 an
11 58 anc
12 10 pm
12 60 pir
3 (id pir
Close connections at Greenwood for a'
points on 8. A. 1.. and C. ,V G. Railway, unr
u' Bpartanburg with Southern Railway.
For information relative to tickets, rat I
schedules, etc.. address
W..I, CM A IG, (ion. Pass. A pent.
Augusta, 0%
.1. 8. Gnreton. Agent.(5. H. 8paiehts Gm
Vurr? GroAnvfUfl R. p
\V. H. MARTIN,
Attorney at Law,
LitUitENS, - South Oarot.ina.
Will practice in all Courts of this Slate
Attention givnil to collections.
j. T. Johnson. w. R. inenky
.JOHNSON Ac It IClIKY,
ATTORNEYS at la W.
Office -Fleming 'Corner, N ort he at
side of Public Square.
II. Y. SIMPSON. C. D. hahksdai.F
SIMPSON & DAItKSDALE,
Attorneys at Law,
LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Special attention given to the investi
gation of titles and collection of claims
11. W. BALL. i. w. rim KINS. w. w. ham.
BALL, SINK IN H & BALL,
Attorneys at Law,
LAURRNs, South Ca hoi.in a.
Will praotiee In nil State and United
Stuten Court. Special altonlion given
collections
Who is "Will Whitener?
He is our Fashionable Hair Cutter and Shaver
-IN BENDELL.A HOTEL.
You Can Buy the
Standard Paragon
Sewing Machine
FROM
Alexander Bros. & Co.
for $17.50.
ALEXANDER BROS. & CO.
GREBNVILLE, 8 C
W. HL C1BBES & CO.,
? (AGENTS I ou AND DEALERS IN) ?
Machinery, Vehicles and Mill Supplies.
Represent:
A. B. Farquhar Co., Engines, Boilers, Saw-Mills,
Threshing Machines.
Chandler & Taylor Co., Engines and Boilers.
Lombard Iron Works&Supp' Co.,Boilers and Saw-Mills.
Liddell Co., Cotton Presses, E igines and Boilers, Saw
Mills.
Danie. Pratt Gin Co., Cotton gins and cotton presses.
Winship Machine Co.,< otton gins and cotton presses.
Brown Cotton Gin Co.. Co.ton gins.
Lane Manufacturing Co., Saw-Mills.
Straub Machinery Co., Grist Mills.
Braunau & Co., Cane Mills, Evaporator pans, etc.
Henry R. Worthington, .Steam Bumps.
Meridian Machine Shops, "Hunter FulTCircle Hay
Presses."
Jno. E. Chisolm, "Chisolm's $35 hay press."
Stover Manufacturing Co., Wind mills, tanks and towers.
Rife IlydraulicEngine M'f'g Co., Hydraulic Rams.
Henry Disslon 6c Sons, Saws.
Deering Harvesting Co., Harvesting'Machinery.
Keystone Manufacturing Co., Corn Shredders.
J.A. Fay Kgan Co., Wood Working Machinery.
Studebaker Brothers M'f'g Co., Wagons, Buggies, etc.
J. B. McFarlan Carriage Co., Vehicles.
New York Belting & Backing Co., Rubber belting and
packings.
We are in a position to epiote Factory Prices on any
thing in the Machinery, Vehicle or Mill Supply lines.
We keep in stock. Cotton gins, Threshing machines,
Hay presses, Binders, Mowers, Reapers, Hay Rakes, Cane
Mills, Evaporator Bans, Furnaces, Saws, Disc Harrows, Pipe
and pipe fittings of all kinds, Injectors, Boiler tubes, Pumps,
Drive Points, Pump Cylinders, Rubber and Leather Belting,
Wagons, Buggies, Road Carts and General Machinery Sup
plies.
gm" Reliable Goods.
%Wf~ Low Prices.
0tT" Fair Treatment.
W. II. GIBBES & CO.,
804 Gervais St. Columbia, S. C.
Represented in Laurens County by H. E. Gray, Laurens, S.C.
Prudential Insurance Co,
'5
?*-? OF AM ERICA.
Home Office, Newark, N, J. John F. Dryden, President.
Assets July 1, 181)7,
$21,250,000.
Surplus Over,
$4,400,000.
New liuslness Wrlt
lon J890,
$129,000,000.
Income 1896,
$14,000,000.
TUM*
All Policies Contain the iNCONTKSTABLB and NoN-FoUFKITABLE features and Promise to
Pay Claims Immediately upon Receipt of Satisfactory Proofs of Death. Also Provide for Cith
Values, Loans, Paid-Up and Extended Insurance.
L L. WITHERS
GENERAL AGENT,
S
COLUMBIA, S. C