we opened pack after pack he uttered
ejaculations of surprise and complete gratification, recognizing in the
recovered gems the wonderful incomparable heirlooms of his royal house.

He turned to thank me when we had finished, and as he did so I placed my
hand firmly on his arm, saying in a serious voice:

"In addition to these, Omar, I have also recovered a jewel of even far
greater worth than all this magnificent collection; one that will shine
as the brightest and most beautiful gem in the diadem of Mo."

A genuine look of bewilderment crossed his pale refined features for an
instant, as he answered:

"I really don't understand, Scars. No jewel can be of greater intrinsic
value than the Treasure of the Sanoms. What is it?"

For answer, Liola, a veritable vision of classic beauty in her loose
white robe, gold-embroidered at the hem, and broad girdle of fiery
rubies, stepped from behind the heavy curtain of blue silk where she had
been concealed, and stood before him.

Rigid in speechless amazement he stood for a moment, then recognizing
that his lost love was actually present, alive and well, he bounded
towards her, and with a loud cry of joy embraced her, brushing back her
soft hair and covering her white open brow with passionate kisses.

It was indeed a joyous reunion, but as I turned intending to withdraw
discreetly and leave them alone together to continue their exchange of
confidences, my friend promptly called me back, saying:

"Stay, Scars, old fellow! Let me hear from your own lips the solution of
this mystery of the return of the dead to life. Truly you have recovered
a jewel worth to me a hundred times all the treasures of Mo."

Crossing again towards him I described briefly the revolting
circumstances in which I had discovered her, a harem slave of our Arab
enemy; how we had both narrowly escaped being burned to death, our
subsequent adventures in the damp subterranean burrow, and the finding of
the secreted treasure.

"Liola herself also made one discovery," I said in conclusion, laughing
and turning towards her.

Gently disengaging herself from her lover's fond arms she went behind the
curtain where she had hidden, and on coming forth again held in her slim
white hands a round package still securely wrapped in untanned hide,
which she handed to Omar.

"The Rock Diadem of the Naya!" he cried in joy, when his trembling, eager
hands had opened it. "The most valued of all our possessions!" Then,