The Green Mummy - Page 20/191

"Why don't you go to Africa, sir, and try?" asked Hope.

"Fool!" cried the Professor politely. "To fit out an expedition would

take some five thousand pounds, if not more. I would have to penetrate

through a hostile country to reach the chain of mountains I speak of,

where I know this precious tomb is to be found. I need supplies, an

escort, guns, camels, and all the rest of it. A leader must be obtained

to manage the fighting men necessary to pass through this dangerous

zone. It is no easy task to find the tomb of Tahoser. And yet if I

could--if I could only get the money," and he walked up and down with

his head bent on his breast.

Mrs. Jasher was used to Braddock's vagaries by this time, and merely

continued to fan herself placidly.

"I wish I could help you with the expedition," she said quietly. "I

should like to have some of that lovely Egyptian jewelry myself. But

I am quite a pauper, until my brother dies, poor man. Then--" She

hesitated.

"What then?" asked Braddock, wheeling.

"I shall aid you with pleasure."

"It's a bargain!" Braddock stretched out his hand.

"A bargain," said Mrs. Jasher, accepting the grasp somewhat nervously,

for she had not expected to be taken so readily at her word. A glance at

Lucy revealed her nervousness.

"Do sit down, father, and finish your dinner," said that young lady. "I

am sure you will have more than enough to do when the mummy arrives."

"Mummy--what mummy?" murmured Braddock, again beginning to eat.

"The Inca mummy."

"Of course. The mummy of Inca Caxas, which Sidney is bringing from

Malta. When I strip that corpse of its green bandages I shall find--"

"Find what?" asked Archie, seeing that the Professor hesitated.

Braddock cast a swift look at his questioner.

"I shall find the peculiar mode of Peruvian embalming," he replied

abruptly, and somehow the way in which he spoke gave Hope the impression

that the answer was an excuse. But before he could formulate the thought

that Braddock was concealing something, Mrs. Jasher spoke frivolously.

"I hope your mummy has jewels," she said.

"It has not," replied Braddock sharply. "So far as I know, the Inca race

never buried their dead with jewels."

"But I have read in Prescott's History that they did," said Hope.

"Prescott! Prescott!" cried the Professor contemptuously, "a most

unreliable authority. However, I'll promise you one thing, Hope, that if

there are any jewels, or jewelry, you shall have the lot."

"Give me some, Mr. Hope," cried the widow.

"I cannot," laughed Archie; "the green mummy belongs to the Professor."

"I cannot accept such a gift, Hope. Owing to circumstances I have been

obliged to borrow the money from you; otherwise the mummy would have

been acquired by some one else. But when I find the tomb of Queen

Tahoser, I shall repay the loan."