CHAPTER XIII.

THE EXCAVATORS

Nothing succeeds like impudence. The original plan had provided for

work at night only; but the flooded state of the Nile Valley was so

discouraging to tourists and interruption of labours in the remote

spot where the tomb was situated so unlikely that Danbazzar at the

outset decided upon day shifts and night shifts.

Now definitely launched upon this unlawful project, a sort of unholy

joy fired the party. It was even shared by Professor Blackwell.

The plan of operations was worthy of its inventor. The entrance to the

tomb lay in a fairly deep recess; and Danbazzar had constructed, in

convenient sections, a huge screen--practically a piece of scenery.

The material for this accounted for the presence of several strangely

shaped cases among their baggage for which Barry had hitherto been

unable to account.

Set in place before the entrance to the tomb, with top pieces and side

pieces, or wings, it was joined with sand and rubbish to the rubble of

the valley path. When lovingly finished by Danbazzar--seated upon a

light scaffold--with odd dabs of paint applied to a wet surface upon

which sand had been thrown, the result was magical. While it slightly

altered the conformation of the landscape, it was utterly impossible

to detect the presence of this screen even by the closest scrutiny.

One would have had to tap it to learn that it was of wood and canvas,

and not of rock.

Access to the interior was gained by an ingenious door, low down at

one corner. This door was in reality a shallow box filled with rubble

and cement and opening upward. In the space between the screen and the

rock there was ample room for work, which was carried on by lantern

light. With two men always on duty, one at the high end of the valley

and one at the low, to give warning for operations to cease, detection

was next to impossible, short of treachery on the part of an employee.

On the morning that this screen was completed, Danbazzar, paint brush

in hand, stood surveying his work with the pride of an artist. He

turned to Barry, who stood beside him and:

“Some illusion, I think!” said he.

“It’s simply amazing!” cried John Cumberland.

“I worked behind that screen, sir,” said Danbazzar, “for three months,

and not a soul but my men ever knew I was there! The last month I

spent covering up what I’d found.”

“I take it,” said Cumberland, “we can soon demolish what you

reconstructed?”

“Pretty soon,” Danbazzar agreed. “But I had to make a sound job of

it.”

“Anyway,” said Barry, “from now onward we are safe.”

“As you say--” Danbazzar bowed as one who acknowledges applause and

gave the signal for the scaffolding to be demolished--“the dangerous