Both shuddered at the touch of those cold marble lips, and an icy chill ran through their veins, as the fearful conviction that their companion was no earthly being thrilled in their bosoms. Even the strongest minds dread supernatural horrors, and our fair fugitives turned involuntarily away. When they looked again, the Mummy was gone, and the darkness appeared so profound that they were obliged to grope their way cautiously along. Fearing alike to remain or to advance, they proceeded with trembling steps slowly along a narrow passage; their minds filled with that vague sense of danger which generally attends the want of light, when imagination pictures terrors that do not really exist, and Fancy lends her aid to magnify those which do.
By degrees, however, the Queen and her companion became accustomed to the darkness; and as the pupils of their eyes dilated, they were enabled to discern the objects around them. Innumerable fantastic shapes now appeared to flit before them, and grim giants to frown awfully from every corner of the gloomy vault they were traversing. The dim and indistinct light threw a misty veil round the projecting corners of the rocks, which gave them a fearful and unnatural grandeur; whilst the fair friends, overpowered with terror, gazed timidly around, and stood a few moments not daring to advance into the darker abysses of the caverns, and yet dreading alike to remain where they were, or to return.
“We must go on,” said Elvira at length, her voice echoing through the cave, till she started at the sound.
“O God!” cried Clara; “hark! a thousand mocking demons seem to repeat from every rock—Go on!—”
“Go on!” again rang in a thousand varied tones through the cavern.
“Let us proceed,” whispered Elvira, shuddering; “this is a fearful place!”
And they hurried on as fast as their trembling limbs could carry them, along a dark and gloomy passage, leading in the direction pointed out by the Mummy. In a few minutes, a bright though glimmering light appeared afar off, like a star, which, gleaming through the darkness, seemed a beacon of hope to guide them on to happiness. A slight current of air, too, now blew freshly in their faces, and their spirits rose, as with quickened steps they hastened onward in the direction from whence it appeared to proceed.
The light now seemed rapidly to enlarge, and the wind blew more freshly, whilst the Queen and her companion distinctly heard the heavy stamping of horses, which vibrated fearfully on the hollow ground, and grew louder and louder every moment as they advanced.
“Ah! what is that?” cried Elvira trembling, clinging closer to her companion.
“It is the bivouac of Prince Ferdinand,” replied Clara; “the Mummy told me we should find him here, and that he would aid us.”
“Ah, that fearful Mummy,” murmured Elvira softly; “if he should deceive us, and this should be only a plan to betray us to our enemies?”
“Fear not,” said Clara; “come what may, we must dare the worst.”
They had now reached the outlet of the cavern, and found an opening large enough to admit of a single person. Cautiously advancing towards it, they paused for a few moments ere they descended, to gaze upon the scene below. A troop of soldiers were scattered round, in various attitudes of repose, under a small grove of trees, whilst their horses grazed at a little distance. The prince alone seemed awake, and he lay apart from his companions, stretched upon a grassy bank, a thick tree spreading above him, his head resting upon his hand, and his eyes fixed upon the ground. The moon shone brightly, and played upon the prince’s polished armour, like summer lightning dancing on a lake. His helmet was thrown aside, and his countenance looked pale and sad, whilst his frequent sighs betrayed the uneasiness of his mind.
“Let us advance,” said Clara, “and try to move him to compassion.”
Elvira complied; and with light and timid steps, fearing almost to breathe, lest they should break the slumbers of their enemies, they approached the prince. All was still, save the hard breathing of the sleeping soldiers, and the measured champing of the horses; their stately figures strongly relieved by the dark grey sky beyond, whilst their long manes and tails swept the ground. The prince was now listlessly tracing figures in the grass with the scabbard of his sword: he started as they approached, and hastily demanded the cause of their intrusion.
“Mercy!” cried Elvira, sinking upon her knees before him; “mercy!” She could say no more, but gasping for breath, she stretched out her arms imploringly, whilst everything around seemed to swim before her eyes, and the figures of the prince, the trees, the horses, and the sleeping soldiers, appeared all dilated to gigantic magnitude. She entirely forgot the pathetic appeal she had intended making to the prince’s feelings, and every faculty seemed suspended in the intenseness of her anxiety.
“For Heaven’s sake, good youth,” exclaimed the prince, addressing Clara, “explain the meaning of this scene! Why does this lovely female kneel to me, and why does she implore my mercy?”
“Because she has no other hope, save in that and Heaven,” said Clara solemnly: “It is the Queen.”
“Elvira!” cried the prince: then raising her eagerly, he continued—“Your Majesty may command my services, and I am most happy fate has given me an opportunity of showing my gratitude; only tell me how I can assist you.”
A few words from Clara explained the urgency of their situation; and the prince, promising to meet them with horses in an hour, persuaded them to return to the cavern till he should join them. Heavily rolled the minutes of this tedious hour, which seemed destined never to have an end, till the nerves of Elvira and Clara were wrought up to such a pitch of agony, that death would have appeared a blessing.
