When any approached, the serpent would bite him on one side, and twining about his throat and killing him, would return again to his place.' "I knew well that such a figure was not wrought to pleasantry; and that to brave it was no child's play.

The dead Arab at my feet was proof of what could be done! So I examined again along the wall; and found here and there chippings as if someone had been tapping with a heavy hammer.
This then had been what happened: The grave-robber, more expert at his work than we had been, and suspecting the presence of a hidden serdab, had made essay to find it.

He had struck the spring by chance; had released the avenging 'Treasurer', as the Arabian writer designated him.

The issue spoke for itself.

I got a piece of wood, and, standing at a safe distance, pressed with the end of it upon the star.
"Instantly the stone flew back.