Part 21 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVI
BURT LEFT ALONE
”Critch,” said Burt suddenly, ”that was a blaood idea while it lasted But it hasn't lasted We can't do it”
”Sure we can!” returned Critch hopefully ”Why not?”
”It'd take us a year to build a deadfall like that”
”We don't need to! Ain't Pongo blind? All we have to do is rig up a figure-four trap out o' logs”
”That'd be a nice easy job, wouldn't it!” retorted Burt ”He may be blind but he ain't foolish No, sir, it won't work We just got to kill that lion though If we don't, Mbopo'll knoe've been runnin' a bluff on hioin' to do?” said Critch irritably ”Sit here and let him come?”
”Not ht to be soh fromies while we're here with Ta-En-User, but not froht,” responded Critch briskly ”Here goes for the first thing”
Without cereot to fix Mbopo sure, ain't we? Well, take hold o' this--don't bust it!”
”What you doing?” exclaian to pry open the e of the little axe obtained from Mbopo Critch paused to reply
”It's a pipe, Burt! We'll just upwrap Ta-En-User here, see? I guess he ain't in extra good condition but he'll do for a while Then we'll fill up the case with leaves and the wrappings These pigmies have never seen inside the case, reet hihts and you get back in the corner
”When Mbopo comes I'll tell 'em you did this to the ankh” Critch raised his axe and cut a deep gash on the cross aro dried you up for insulting him Get the point?
That'll scare 'em stiff We'll take the ankh, the stuffed case and the e”
”Yes you will!” cried Burt hastily ”S'pose I'rinned Critch ”I'd do it only I reckon the ot to do it!”
”But what for?” persisted Burt ”What's the use? S'pose the lion co oil at hiht to scare hie I'll see if I can't locate some o' that poison The whole tribe'll be scared stiff when they see the mummy, 'specially if he's kind of spoiled You hide out here till et I'll warn the dwarfs away froettin' e need We can't make Mbopo understand very well”
”It wouldn't be a bad idea if you was going to stay here 'stead of me,”
assented Burt dubiously ”S'pose we kill the lion How'll you account forback to life?”
”I'll tote the mummy in here and bury hiht I'll have theh a Latin verb and yell and you walk out Why, man, I'll be no end sacred! We'll own the whole blah,” admitted Burt ”Tell you what you do Send the stuff on with Mbopo and build a fire right in front of the door before you go Leave ht to burn too Mebbe that fire'll keep the lion out”
”Hurray!” exclaiet the old boy unwrapped It's been pretty daht to be pretty well preserved in spite of that He isn't torn up except at the neck Off she comes!”
Critch set to work at the head and Burt at the foot of the case It did not take theaudily-painted wooden case apart Then a heavy aromatic odor filled the hut As Critch had said, the mummy was unharmed except at the neck Here the case had been splintered open but when the lid was off the boys saw that only a few layers of the wrappings had been torn away The whole mummy rapped in cloths
Burt and Critch lifted out the s to thetinkled and fell against the case Their eyes fell on the remainder of the scarab necklace of which Montenay had obtained a part Evidently it had been placed around the neck after the mummy rapped Burt hurriedly stuffed it into his pocket
”Got that anyhow,” he reh Here we go!”