There lay the lantern on the stone, still
glowing. Below rose the tumult, men coming to his side of the pyramid,
drawn by his cry. He could no longer reach the top of the pyramid
without being seen, but he knew another way. He snatched up the lantern,
tucked it under his serape and made for the opening which he had noticed
in the side of the pyramid at his first ascent. It was scarcely ten feet
away, and he boldly stepped in, a thing that he would never have dared
to do had it not been for the happy chance of the lantern.
His foot rested on solid stone, and he stood wholly in the dark. Yet the
uproar came clearly to his ears. It was a certainty now that more
soldiers would ascend the pyramid looking for him, but he believed that
ignorance and superstition would keep them from entering it.
The air that came to his nostrils out of the unknown dark was cold and
clean, but he did not yet dare to take out his lantern. He felt
cautiously in front of him with one foot and touched a stone step below.
He also touched narrow walls with his outstretched hand. He descended to
the step, and then, feeling sure that the light of his lantern could not
be seen from without, he took it from under his serape and held it as
far in front of him as he could.
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