My _first_ is a large reflector, Old, but as good as new. My _second's_ the bone and sinew Of lands that we travel through. My _whole_ is little, and lucky, and white; Much like my first, but not so bright (26). I gave up. "Here is an easy one," he said. "It describes an every-day object, and is no quiz (27), I assure you, but an honest riddle." I was born in the sun, but I lived in the earth. I died where I lived, and was buried from sight. I rose from the tomb that had long been my home To curse or to comfort, destroy or delight (28). To my surprise my answer was correct. An image of the Egyptian Mercury (29) brought to mind my recent solution of the Riddle of the Great Sphinx. The old Antiquary was surely the man to whom I should open my heart. "Are you interested in Egypt?" I began. "I have just arrived from Cairo, and, to be plain, have made a stupendous discovery--I have solved the Riddle of the Great Sphinx!" And I gave him an account of my discovery in detail. The Antiquary seemed to drink in my last words, and in another moment had dragged me to the back of the shop. "Man!" he gasped, "do you know what you have done? By this solution you have the chance of solving another and greater mystery!" Leading me to a dark corner, the Antiquary lighted a taper and showed me a narrow door of oak strengthened with iron. "What is this?" I asked. The Antiquary slipped a roll of parchment into my hand. I found on it this verse, engrossed in old English characters: JVGUVAGUVFANEEBJCBEGNYQVZ VAWRJRYYRQPNFXRGOEBHTUGSEBZSNE UNFYNVASBEGUVEGRREPRAGHEVRF XVATNEGUHEFFJBEQRFPNYVONE (30) Though I carried the cryptogram back to America with me, it has to this day remained unsolved--and the Antiquary is dead! * * * * * A Ute Indian Legend. Long years ago the forefathers of the Utes lived near a vast warm lake northeast of the Big River (Colorado). Snakes as long as a hundred lodge poles were plenteous in this lake. The country was full of big trees, big deer, and big oxen with white horns. One day all the big oxen began to roar together, and they raised such a steam from their nostrils that the earth tottered and trembled and the sun was hidden. Then suddenly the warm lake fell and continued falling for the space of three moons, and then became so low that the Indians saw it not again.