Max was not so gallant as an American youth ought to be, so he sprang to his feet and reached over into the casket, drawing therefrom a package of papers which were decidedly modern. The language was a strange one to him, however, and his only hope was that once away from the strange tomb he might find some one who could translate the document for him. He had become an ardent Egyptologist. CHAPTER VII. SPLENDID HEROISM. “We will leave here at once.” There was a sadness in Girzilla’s voice as she answered: “And art thou tired of the houri of the cave?” “Not tired of you, Girzilla, but I want freedom. I must search for Emin’s race.” “Yes, yes. Fate wills it. Isis must be obeyed. Ra”--god of the sun--“ordains it. And Girzilla’s heart must be rent in twain.” “Why so? Art thou not my guide? Shall I not restore thy family to the powerful throne?” “I am not deceived. You of the great storehouses care not for my people.” “But----” “Nay, thou silly boy; the sun does not mate with darkness. Girzilla will take thee from thine enemies and will return to the tomb.” “You are sad.” “Did I not look upon thy face when it was sad?” Max sat down on a broken sarcophagus, and hot, scalding tears poured from his eyes. She had recalled to him the death of his father, nearly a week ago. A veil of oblivion had been over his senses, and he had not been able to weep. The tears eased his heart and soothed him more than any other thing could have done. Girzilla, with womanly tact, withdrew and let him weep, for she knew the value of tears to the sorrow-stricken. Truly, this girl was more than ever a mystery. With the simple innocence of her race she looked upon herself as the consoler of the bereaved one, because she had been present when his eyes first opened to the great sorrow. When his grief had subsided, Girzilla was transformed. She was no longer the lively girl, but the stern guide. “Follow me,” she said, coldly. “Nay, stay a while.” “Why should I? Does not the Frank desire to be free?” “Thou knowest I do; but I have not yet explored this tomb.” Girzilla raised herself to her full height; her eyes flashed with scorn, her little hands were clinched tightly, causing the muscles upon her arms to distend until the silver armlets must have cut into the flesh. Her face was crimson, her body trembled with excitement. “Explore! Yes, you Franks come to my land and carry away its images, destroy its old ruins, ransack the temples, overthrow the gods, and, not satisfied with that, dare even to desecrate the tombs!” “You brought me here,” pleaded Max. “I brought thee to save thy life. I brought thee, even though I knew I might die in thy place.” “What mean you? Are you in danger?” Girzilla laughed bitterly.