“What?” Danbazzar demanded. “That here before us, perished but recognizable, lie the ingredients of the formula as they were prepared by the last priest to wake Zalithea, for the use of his successor?” “No,” Barry replied: “_that’s_ hard enough--but what I cannot believe is that the woman who is the centre of this incredible story lies _here_, in this sarcophagus!” “Personally, my mind is open!” Professor Blackwell asserted, glancing around him. “There is no other entrance to this chamber?” “None whatever,” Danbazzar confirmed. “Therefore,” the Professor went on, shaking perspiration from his high brow, “we are the first explorers, since this amazing ritual came to an end for reasons which, probably, we shall never know.” He glanced aside at the sarcophagus. “It’s uncanny,” he murmured, “the thought that inside those walls of granite---- But, no! I stick to my opinion!” “How long will it take to raise the lid?” Barry interrupted. John Cumberland, hot, tired, met his son’s glance with one fired by no less enthusiasm. “With the aid of the apparatus which we have with us, Barry,” he answered, “not long. You agree, Danbazzar?” The latter, who was less excited than the others--always excepting Hassan es-Sugra--bowed in his old-world manner. “We’ll have that lid off in an hour!” he declared. “But before we start there are quite a lot of precautions we have to take.…” Two hours later the gear for lifting the great granite lid was brought from its hiding place; and everything was put in order for the operation, the result of which would prove or disprove Dr. Rittenburg’s theory (now shared by Professor Blackwell) that Princess Zalithea was a myth; that no such person had ever existed; that the tradition was a priestly invention designed to impress the vulgar mind. Ever distrustful of Ahmed Tawwab, guards armed with rifles had been placed at selected spots northwest of the camp along the caravan road to Farshût; these reinforcing the ordinary guards in the valley. The wildest excitement prevailed among the party. Apparently, as well as Barry could make out, apart from the problematical contents of the sarcophagus, the objects found in the tomb were in many ways unique. There was an exquisitely embossed bowl, which, he learned, was of pure gold. The figures upon it were apparently different from any found hitherto. Professor Blackwell succeeded in identifying seven of the substances found, in the vials and the casket, as identical with those mentioned in the formula possessed by Danbazzar. One or two defied speculation, or the Professor’s knowledge, until Danbazzar enlightened him as to their nature. Whereupon he recognized them, but raised his voice in doubt respecting the possibility of obtaining these at the present day.