The Arabs with me so insisted in its opening, thinking that from its thickness much treasure was stored therein, that I consented thereto.  But their hope was a false one, as it proved.  Within, closely packed, stood four jars finely wrought and carved with various adornments.  Of these one was the head of a man, another of a dog, another of a jackal, and another of a hawk.  I had before known that such burial urns as these were used to contain the entrails and other organs of the mummied dead; but on opening these, for the fastening of wax, though complete, was thin, and yielded easily, we found that they held but oil.  The Bedouins, spilling most of the oil in the process, groped with their hands in the jars lest treasure should have been there concealed.  But their searching was of no avail; no treasure was there.  I was warned of my danger by seeing in the eyes of the Arabs certain covetous glances.  Whereon, in order to hasten their departure, I wrought upon those fears of superstition which even in these callous men were apparent.  The chief of the Bedouins ascended from the Pit to give the signal to those above to raise us; and I, not caring to remain with the men whom I mistrusted, followed him immediately.  The others did not come at once; from which I feared that they were rifling the tomb afresh on their own account.  I refrained to speak of it, however, lest worse should befall.  At last they came.  One of them, who ascended first, in landing at the top of the cliff lost his foothold and fell below.  He was instantly killed.  The other followed, but in safety.  The chief came next, and I came last.  Before coming away I pulled into its place again, as well as I could, the slab of stone that covered the entrance to the tomb.  I wished, if possible, to preserve it for my own examination should I come again.

“When we all stood on the hill above the cliff, the burning sun that was bright and full of glory was good to see after the darkness and strange mystery of the tomb.  Even was I glad that the poor Arab who fell down the cliff and lay dead below, lay in the sunlight and not in that gloomy cavern.  I would fain have gone with my companions to seek him and give him sepulture of some kind; but the Sheik made light of it, and sent two of his men to see to it whilst we went on our way.

“That night as we camped, one of the men only returned, saying that a lion of the desert had killed his companion after that they had buried the dead man in a deep sand without the valley, and had covered the spot where he lay with many great rocks, so that jackals or other preying beasts might not dig him up again as is their wont.