“But just then a dark object loomed up before us. ‘An Indian lodge!’ I cried in joy.
“The guide said nothing, but rode on before me, and called to me to dismount. I was glad enough to do this, and he pointed to the open doorway of the building. It was so low I had to crawl through it, but I was thankful to get in, in any fashion.”
“I wonder, father, that you were not afraid of finding something dreadful in there!”
“I did not stop to think about the matter. And then I knew there was something dreadful outside. So, in I went, and found the place entirely empty. The guide followed me as soon as he had covered the mules, and made them as comfortable as he could.”
“It was a deserted house, I suppose.”
“No, it was a tomb.”
“A tomb! Out in that lonely place!”
“Yes, but then the place had not always been lonely. I found out afterwards that that region was once inhabited by a tribe of Indians. They all perished before their country was discovered by Europeans, but some of their dwellings, and many of their tombs remained. These tombs were large stone buildings, with one room, lighted by a single window. This room was capable of holding ten or twelve dead bodies, placed in a sitting posture. These bodies were first embalmed—made into what we call mummies. When the tomb was full the door was sealed up. The Europeans opened these sepulchres that had been sealed up for centuries; and carried the mummies away to put into museums.
A REFUGE FROM THE STORM.