The Buried Pyramid Read Online Free PDF

traveling as the Nile and the boat is traveling northwest?”
    Alphonse’s frown was replaced with a grin.
    “If this is so,” he said, “then the reference to a homecoming makes sense. It is a coming to the Valley of Dust—the final home of Neferankhotep’s mortal remains. And the Eye of the Hawk . . .”
    “Confirms our guess,” Neville interrupted, too enthused to remember his manners. “There are only a few directions from which this Hawk Rock would resemble a hawk. We came from southeast. The other angle that would provide the same general orientation is looking back at the rock from further to the northwest.”
    Eddie Bryce thumped him on the back.
    “Maybe you’re stretching, Captain,” he said, “but it’s a nice bit of work nevertheless. What do we do now?”
    “Tomorrow,” Alphonse said, “I will go atop the Hawk Rock and study the land to the northwest through my telescope. Perhaps I will see something. Even if I do not, I would wish to journey some distance in that direction to see if we can find evidence to confirm Neville’s reasoning.”
    Derek interjected, “We may run short on provisions, sir.”
    “Nonsense!” Alphonse replied with an airy wave of his hand. “Captain Hawthorne has found both fresh water and camel fodder. With the departure of our guides, we have two more man’s worth of provisions yet untouched. And the Valley of Dust was said to be populated with goats.”
    Neville didn’t say anything about that last. He knew if he did Alphonse would merely point out that Chad Spice’s journal had been correct on the matter of finding water at the Hawk Rock. Besides, if he was in the least honest with himself, he had to admit that he, too, was curious as to what they might find. Being part of a major archeological discovery could only do good things for his reputation, both within the Army and in wider circles as well.
    “I think we would not be imprudent,” Neville said, “to continue our journey at least a bit further northwest. Tomorrow morning while Alphonse makes his telescopic survey we will finish replenishing our water and cut fodder for the camels.”
    “Very good,” Alphonse said, rubbing his hands briskly together. “Everything is perfectly in order.”
    Jackals barking in the small hours just before dawn were the first sign that everything was far from in order.
    “That doesn’t sound right,” Eddie said to Neville, after the captain shook him awake. “Too many. Too scattered. I might believe it of a wolf pack, but jackals . . .”
    “My thoughts exactly,” Neville agreed. “I’m going to wake the others. I’ll send Derek to help you ready the camels. Muffle the harness. We’ll take the gear but leave the tents set up.”
    “Are we leaving?” Eddie asked, stomping into his boots.
    “I want to get out of this canyon,” Neville replied. “ ‘Box’ seems too apt a description for it. Let’s make certain the box doesn’t turn into a coffin.”
    Neville woke Alphonse and Derek, warning them to keep both light and sound to a minimum. Then he crossed to the small tent Miriam occupied. He’d half-expected to find it empty, but the girl was waiting, dressed and alert.
    “Those are not jackals,” she said as soon as she saw him.
    “I thought not,” Neville replied. “This canyon is too closed in for my tastes.”
    “I understand,” Miriam replied. “I will help with the camels.”
    “Good. Send Eddie Bryce to me. I want him on guard.”
    Since their gear had been ready for a morning departure, loading the camels didn’t take long. The jackals’ barking had nearly ceased, but Neville wasn’t fooled into complacency. Earlier, whoever was out there must have been getting into position. Now they were probably waiting for better light.
    By the time Derek reported that the camels were ready, Neville had made his plans. Open desert was hardly preferable to the box canyon, but it did offer a faint hope for escape.
    “Form up,” he told the others.