things to interest us both. He
wanted to know all about you and our plans, and naturally I wanted to
know all about the Fung and the ritual and traditions connected with the
worship of Harmac, so that we were never dull for a single moment.
In fact, I wish that we could have had longer together, for we became
excellent friends. But whatever happens, I think that I have collected
the cream of his information," and he tapped a fat note-book in his
hands, adding:

"What an awful thing it would have been if a lion had eaten this. For
myself it did not matter; there may be many better Egyptologists, but I
doubt if any one of them will again have such opportunities of original
research. However, I took every possible precaution to save my notes
by leaving a copy of the most important of them written with native
ink upon sheepskin in charge of your son. Indeed, I meant to leave the
originals also, but fortunately forgot in the excitement of my very
hurried departure."

I agreed with him that his chances had been unique and that he was a
most lucky archaeologist, and presently he went on puffing at his pipe.

"Of course, when Oliver turned up in that unexpected fashion on the back
of the idol, remembering your wishes and natural desire to recover
your son, I did my best to rescue him also. But he wasn't in the room
beneath, where I thought I should find him. The priests were there
instead, and they had heard us talking above, and you know the rest.
Well, as it happens, it didn't matter, though that descent into the
den of lions--there were two or three hundred feet of it, and the rope
seemed worn uncommonly thin with use--was a trying business to the
nerves."

"What did you think about all the time?" asked Oliver curiously.

"Think about? I didn't think much, was in too great a fright. I just
wondered whether St. Paul had the same sensations when he was let down
in a basket; wondered what the early Christian martyrs felt like in
the arena; wondered whether Barung, with whom my parting was quite
affectionate, would come in the morning and look for me as Darius did
for Daniel and how much he would find if he did; hoped that my specs
would give one of those brutes appendicitis, and so forth. My word! it
was sickening, especially that kind of school-treat swing and bump at
the end. I never could bear swinging. Still, it was all for the best, as
I shouldn't have gone a yard along that sphinx's tail without tumbling
off, tight