discover that a strange thing had
occurred. The whole of the iron plates had been torn from their sockets,
and a dark cavity behind each disclosed.

The small sealed cells had been wrenched open simultaneously, as if by a
miracle.

But upon careful examination there was, I found, nothing miraculous in
the manner in which they had thus been forced. The suffocating smoke that
filled the place was of itself sufficient evidence of the agent to which
the explosion had been due, and when I looked at the first cavity I saw
that right around the chamber, from plate to plate, there had been laid a
train of gunpowder, communicating with a charge of powder placed behind
each of the semi-circular holes that had so puzzled me. Apparently it had
been deemed by Samory wiser to seal the cells entirely rather than secure
them by locks, and the train of powder had been placed in position in the
event of any reverse of fortune requiring him to secure his treasure
quickly before flight. A single spark, as I had accidentally proved, was
sufficient to open every cell simultaneously.

Fortunately our lamp was not blown out by the concussion, therefore as
soon as the smoke cleared, we together made another tour of inspection
around the cavities, finding each of them crammed to overflowing with
treasure of every description. Five of the cells, apparently freshly
sealed, contained a portion of the stolen jewels of Mo, but all the
remainder were evidently the spoils of war, much of it of enormous value.
It amused me, too, to discover in one of the cavities, among a great
collection of costly bejewelled ornaments, such European articles as a
pair of common scissors in a pasteboard case, several penknives of the
commonest quality, an India-rubber squeaking doll, a child's toy train in
tin, and a mechanical mouse. All were, no doubt, considered as treasures
by the Arab potentate, yet I reflected that nearly every article in the
whole of that miscellaneous collection had been acquired by the most
ruthless and merciless bloodshed.

When at last we became convinced of the necessity for finding some exit,
we left the chamber by the way we had entered. The discovery of the
wonderful treasure of the Sanoms made it plain to me that there must be
an exit somewhere, for the packs were far too ponderous to have been
lowered from the Kasbah by the way we had entered. On reflection I saw
that the lion was evidently kept there to guard the entrance to the sto