BY

ALFRED PEARSE

	PAGE
'HAIL, SON OF THE SUN!'	[Frontispiece]
'AM I ONLY DREAMING THAT THE DEATH-SLEEP IS OVER?'	[26]
THE DAGGER-POINT DROPPED TILL IT WAS WITHIN AN INCH OF GOLDEN STAR'S BREAST	[119]
THEY THRUST HIM IN WITH HIS ARMS STILL BOUND	[205]
IT HAD SMITTEN HIM TO THE HEART	[228]
NOW THE MOMENT FOR THE GIVING OF THE SIGN HAD COME	[280]

The Romance of Golden Star

PROLOGUE

I

HIS HIGHNESS THE MUMMY

'Ah, what a thing it would be for us if his Inca Highness were really only asleep, as he looks to be! Just think what he could tell us—how easily he could re-create that lost wonderland of his for us, what riddles he could answer, what lies he could contradict. And then think of all the lost treasures that he could show us the way to. Upon my word, if Mephistopheles were to walk into this room just now, I think I should be tempted to make a bargain with him. Do you know, Djama, I believe I would give half the remainder of my own life, whatever that may be, to learn the secrets that were once locked up in that withered, desiccated brain of his.'