When the constellation, which was not included among the accepted theories of Copernicus, passed away, Haggerty sat up and rubbed the swelling over his ear, tenderly yet grimly.

Next, he felt about the floor for his pocket-lamp.

A strange spicy dust drifted into his nose and throat, making him sneeze and cough.

A mummy had reposed in the overturned cartonnage and the brittle bindings had crumbled into powder.

He soon found the lamp, and sent its point of vivid white light here and there about the large room.
Pursuit of his assailant was out of the question.