What gigantic ancestor had I irreverently dislodged ?--and was it from a skeleton throat that the rare jewel which I held in my hand had been accidentally shaken?
My curiosity was excited, and I bent close to examine the lid of this funeral chest.

There was no name on it--no mark of any sort, save one--a dagger roughly painted in red.

Here was a mystery! I resolved to penetrate it.

I set up my candle in a little crevice of one of the empty niches, and laid the pearl and diamond pendant beside it, thus disembarrassing myself of all incumbrance.

The huge coffin lay on its side, as I have said; its uppermost corner was splintered; I applied both hands to the work of breaking further asunder these already split portions.