As I did so, the Star Jewel held there fell out and struck the dead man on the mouth.

Mirabile dictu there came forth at once from the dead mouth a great gush of blood, in which the red jewel was for the moment lost.

I turned the dead man over to look for it, and found that he lay with his right hand bent under him as though he had fallen on it; and in it he held a great knife, keen of point and edge, such as Arabs carry at the belt.

It may have been that he was about to murder me when vengeance came on him, whether from man or God, or the Gods of Old, I know not.

Suffice it, that when I found my Ruby Jewel, which shone up as a living star from the mess of blood wherein it lay, I paused not, but fled from the place.