The water was lashed into foam by the struggles of the serpent, and bullets from Harry’s revolver seemed to have no effect. They got a good look now at the monster. The largest part of the body was just back of the head and tapered from this to the end of the tail. The head was at least six feet long, and flat, or nearly so. The wide jaws, when open, showed a double set of irregular teeth. The tongue was forked. A large horn about three feet long sprang from the head just back of the nostrils, and from this to the point of the tail was a succession of smaller horns. Just back of the large horn or tusk, was a hole through which the monster forced a stream of water high into the air. Three great fins on either side of the body were tipped with long claws looking as if they might be used for crawling. Its rage was terrible when maddened by the flaming torch and by the escaping of its prey.
The party now hurried on over the bridge after they had transferred the packs by a succession of leaps across the break. The monster followed them for awhile but finally turned and swam away. They reached the end of the bridge about two hours later, and calculated that it must be about ten miles long. Leaving the shores of the lake they again followed the line of broken stone, and two days later reached the opposite wall.
For awhile they sought a possible opening in the wall, but could nowhere detect any evidence of human handiwork. To and fro they went, pressing hard upon every piece of rock which projected from the wall. This they kept up all of the first day, and they laid down to rest that night pretty well disheartened. Their provisions were getting low for they had calculated in getting through in much less time. They had been living on short rations for the past twenty-four hours, but now they had but a few crackers left. They still had hopes, however, of finding this secret door on the morrow, when they would find food in plenty on the other side of the wall. The following morning after a frugal repast of dry crackers, they again began the search. They first examined the wall directly in front of them, but could see no crack or crevice which might indicate the presence of a door. They had carefully followed the line of broken stone, and they might reasonably expect to find the door at the end of this.
Striking on the rock with a hammer at different places, they could not distinguish any difference in tone, which would indicate a thinner part of the rock wall. They examined the rock for about four hundred feet, and all seemed perfectly solid. They discovered in their search many holes about four feet square, two feet wide, and three feet deep. These were arranged along the side of the cavern, having been cut in the wall, and upon close inspection they found them to contain what proved to be mummies. These were wrapped in heavy sacking, many of the envelopes being of fantastic colors. Harry took one of these bundles from its place and cut it open. A number of cloth coverings were found under the outside wrapping, and then came a covering of large leaves which crumbled into dust when exposed. Next to the leaves was a wrapping of fine silk. This having been removed the body was discovered. It was that of a man who must have been more than six feet in height when alive. The head was brought forward between the knees, which were drawn up; the skin was dry and hard and drawn closely over the bones; the hair was long and still retained a beautiful lustre. The head was small but beautifully formed; the hands and feet were also small and symmetrical. Inside the covering were a number of gold balls about one half inch in diameter; two characters were engraved on one side of each of these balls. Examining them closely, Mr. Bruce declared that the hieroglyphics were undoubtedly Egyptian. Around the neck of the mummy was a chain of gold set with diamonds and opals. This chain was similar to the one found around Harding’s neck, but the bright red stone was missing.
Eight o’clock had arrived and they were still searching for the opening. A supper of crackers had been eaten. They were already suffering from the pangs of thirst. The water gourds which had been refilled before leaving the lake were again empty. The food, with the exception of a few crackers, was gone.
Mrs. Graham and Nellie laid down to get a few hours’ rest, but Enola, with the men of the party, kept bravely on in search of the opening. Midnight came and found them still searching. Hungry and thirsty, they, too, at last lay down, feeling that they must reserve their strength as much as possible. Their few hours of sleep, however, did not seem to refresh them, for the thirst had made them restless. The whole party arose about the same time and the search was soon taken up again. They examined the wall more closely, going farther on either side, but with no success.
Late in the afternoon Mrs. Graham became so feverish for want of water that Sedai started with two large gourds for the lake. If they should find the opening in the meantime, they were to leave directions as to how to open the rock door, and then pass on. About midnight Mr. Graham also became delirious, and Mrs. Graham’s and Nellie’s lips were so swollen that they could scarcely articulate. Mr. Bruce and Harry, although suffering terribly, still kept up the search. All night they tramped up and down the cave, trying to find the secret opening. Toward morning they became so famished and their tongues and lips were so parched and swollen they could not make each other understand what they were saying. Enola alone seemed to retain her clear and unfailing senses.
Mr. Bruce and Harry had thrown themselves on the ground at last, thoroughly worn out, their lips and tongues swollen terribly. Mrs. Graham and Nellie were mumbling something in their delirium which was unintelligible. This drove Mr. Bruce and Harry nearly frantic, and again they arose and took up the search. Their breath came hard through their parched throats, and their eyes were wild and glaring. Mr. Bruce walked over to where Mrs. Graham and Nellie were lying, and suddenly drawing his knife, he slit the sleeve of his jacket and shirt, and made a deep incision in his arm; then carefully raising Nellie’s head with his other arm he let the warm blood from the wound drop between her half-open lips; then going to Mrs. Graham he partially alleviated her sufferings in the same way. Finally overcome with weakness Mr. Bruce fell back, and Harry, who had stood by looking at the strange sight, but hardly realizing what Mr. Bruce was doing, now came up, and tearing off the sleeve of the shirt, bound the arm tightly above the wound. Enola stood watching this self-sacrificing act on the part of Mr. Bruce, and when Harry had bandaged his arm, she turned and walked toward the wall, mumbling something to herself. Harry saw that she, too, was fast becoming delirious, but he was powerless to help her, he being almost too weak now to again take up the search.
He arose to his feet, however, and again joining Enola, they together staggered from point to point of the wall, feverishly looking for some indication of a revolving stone. Hours had passed since Sedai had left them, but they seemed like years to his suffering companions. Praying for his return, praying for deliverance from this cavern, Enola felt her senses leaving her. She fought against this but to no purpose. Harry finally sank to the ground in a delirium. Enola gazed at him for a moment, and making one final effort, stumbled along leaning against the wall for support. She had gone but five or six paces when her strength gave way entirely, and she sank back upon the rock floor. Death seemed inevitable.