Lost in a Pyramid, or The Mummy's Curse by Lousia May Alcot

Classic Ghost Stories

The episode features a dramatic reading of Louisa May Alcott's 1869 short story 'Lost in a Pyramid, or The Mummy's Curse,' followed by an an

Key takeaways

• Louisa May Alcott used pseudonyms like A.M. Barnard to publish sensationalist 'lowbrow' fiction while maintaining her respectable brand as a moral chronicler.
• The story is recognized as one of the earliest fully developed 'mummy's curse' tales in English literature.

Main topics

• Mummy's Curse trope
• Louisa May Alcott's literary career

Notable quotes

I warn you beforehand that harm is foretold to the possessor of these mysterious seeds.

Conclusion

A deep dive into how Victorian pulp fiction established enduring horro

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:07) Everybody dies, don't they? Everybody comes back, don't they? Isn't that so? Speaker 1 (0:13) You tried to get into the locked drawer today, didn't you? How Speaker 2 (0:17) do that they'd come back, mother? Speaker 1 (0:22) Lost in a Pyramid, or The Mummy's Curse, by Louisa May Olcott, published 1869. This narration is read by Tony Walker. One. What are these, Paul? asked Evelyn, opening a tarnished gold box and examining its contents curiously. Seeds of some unknown Egyptian plant, replied Forsythe, with a sudden shadow on his dark face, as he looked down at the three scarlet grains lying in the white hand lifted to him. Where did you get them? asked the girl. "'That's a weird story which will only haunt you if I tell it,' said Forsythe, with an absent expression that strongly excited the girl's curiosity. "'Please tell it. I like weird tales, and they never trouble me.' "'Oh, do tell it. Your stories are always so interesting,' she cried, looking up with such a pretty blending of entreaty and command in her charming face that refusal was impossible. "'You'll be sorry for it, and so shall I, perhaps.'" i warn you beforehand that harm is foretold to the possessor of these mysterious seeds said forsyth smiling even while he knit his black brows and regarded the blooming creature before him with a fond yet foreboding glance Tell on, I'm not afraid of these pretty atoms, she answered with an imperious nod. To hear is to obey. Let me read the facts and then I will begin, returned Forsyth, pacing to and fro with the far-off look of one who turns the pages of the past. Evelyn watched him a moment, and then returned to her work or play, rather for the task seemed well suited to the vivacious little creature, half child, half woman. While in Egypt, The shift commenced for Scythes slowly. I went one day with my guide and Professor Niles to explore the Cheops. Niles had a mania for antiquities of all sorts, and forgot time, danger, and fatigue in the ardour of his pursuit. We rummaged up and down the narrow passages, half choked with dust and close air, reading inscriptions on the walls, stumbling over shattered mummy cases, or coming face to face with some shrivelled specimen, perched like a hobgoblin on the little shelves where the dead used to be stowed away for ages. I was desperately tired after a few hours of it, and begged the professor to return, but he was bent on exploring certain places and would not desist. We had but one guide, so... I was forced to stay, but Jamal, my man, seeing how weary I was, proposed to us to rest in one of the larger passages while he went to procure another guide for Niles. We consented, and assuring us that we were perfectly safe if we didn't quit the spot, Jamal left us, promising to return speedily. The professor sat down to take notes of his researches, and stretching myself on the soft sand, I fell asleep. I was roused by that indescribable thrill which instinctively warns us of danger, and springing up I found myself alone. One torch burned faintly where Jamal had struck it, but Niles and the other light were gone. A dreadful sense of loneliness oppressed me for a moment. Then I collected myself and looked well about me. A bit of paper was pinned. to my hat which lay near me, and on it, in the professor's writing, were these words. I've gone back a little to refresh my memory on certain points. Don't follow me till Jumal comes. I can find my way back to you, for I have a clue. Sleep well and dream gloriously of the pharaohs. N.N. I laughed at first over the old enthusiast, then felt anxious and restless, and finally resolved to follow him, for I discovered a strong cord fastened to a fallen stone, and I knew that this was the clue he spoke of. Leaving a line for Jamal, I took my torch and retraced my steps, following the cord along the winding ways. I often shouted, but received no reply. and pressed on hoping we'd each turn to see the old man poring over some musty relic of antiquity suddenly the chord ended and lowering my torch i saw that the footsteps had gone on rash fellow he'll lose himself to a certainty i thought really alarmed now As I paused, a faint call reached me, and I answered it, waited, shouted again, and a still fainter echo replied. Niles was evidently going on, misled by the reverberations of the low passages. No time was to be lost, and, forgetting myself, I stuck my torch in the deep sand to guide me back to the clue, and ran down the straight path before me, whooping like a madman as I went. I didn't mean to lose sight of the light, but in my eagerness to find Niles, I turned from the main passage and, guided by his voice, hastened on. His torch soon gladdened my eyes, and the clutch of his trembling hands told me what agony he'd suffered. Let's get out of this horrible place at once, he said, wiping the great drops off his forehead. Come, we're not far from the clue. I can soon reach it, and then we're safe. But as I spoke, a chill passed over me, for a perfect labyrinth of narrow paths lay before us. Trying to guide myself by such landmarks as I had observed in my hasty passage, I followed the tracks in the sand till I fancied we must be near my light. No glimmer appeared, however, and, kneeling down to examine the footprints nearer, I discovered, to my dismay, that I had been following the wrong ones, for, among those marked by a deep boot-heel, were prints of bare feet. We had no guide there, and Jamal wore sandals. Rising, I confronted Niles with the one despairing word, Lost, as I pointed from the treacherous sand to the fast waning light. I thought the old man would be overwhelmed, but to my surprise he grew quite calm and steady, thought a moment, and then went on, saying quietly, other men have passed here before us let us follow their steps for if i do not greatly err they lead toward great passages where one is easily found On we went, bravely, till a mist stepped through the professor violently to the ground with a broken leg and nearly extinguished the torch. It was a horrible predicament, and I gave up all hope as I sat beside the poor fellow who lay exhausted with fatigue, remorse and pain, for I wouldn't leave him. Paul, he said suddenly, if you will not go on, there is one more effort we can make. i remember hearing that a party lost as we are saved themselves by building a fire the smoke penetrated further than sound or light and the guide's quick wit understood the unusual mist he followed it and rescued the party make a fire and trusted jamal "'A fire without wood?' I began. But he pointed to a shelf behind him which had escaped me in the gloom. And on it I saw a slender mummy-case. I understood him, for these dry cases, which lie about in hundreds, are freely used as firewood. Reaching up, I pulled it down, believing it to be empty. But as it fell, it burst open and out rolled a mummy. Accustomed as I was to such sights, it startled me a little, for danger had unstrung my nerves. Laying the little brown chrysalis aside, I smashed the case, lit the pile with my torch, and soon a light cloud of smoke drifted down the three passages, which diverged from the cell-like place where we'd paused. While busied with the fire, Niles, forgetful of pain and peril, had dragged the mummy nearer and was examining it with the interest of a man whose ruling passion was strong even in death. Come and help me unroll this. I have always longed to be the first to see and secure the curious treasures put away among the folds of these uncanny winding sheets. This is a woman, and we may find something rare and precious here, he said, beginning to unfold the outer coverings. from which a strange aromatic odour came. Reluctantly I obeyed, for to me there was something sacred in the bones of this unknown woman. But to beguile time and amuse the poor fellow, I lent a hand, wondering as I worked if this dark, ugly thing had ever been a lovely, soft-eyed Egyptian girl. from the fibrous folds of the wrappings dropped precious gums and spices which half intoxicated us with their potent breath antique coins and a curious jewel or two which niles eagerly examined All the bandages but one were cut off at last, and a small head laid bare, round which still hung great plaits of what had once been luxuriant hair. The shrivelled hands were folded on the breast, and clasped in them lay that gold box. Aha! cried Evelyn, dropping it from her rosy palm with a shudder. Nay, don't reject the poor little mummy's treasure. I've never quite... forgiven myself for stealing it. Oh, for burning her, said Forsyth, painting rapidly, as if the recollection of that experience lent energy to his hand. Burning her? Oh, Paul, what do you mean? asked the girl, sitting up with a face full of excitement. I'll tell you. While busied with Madame la Mommie, our fire had burned low, for the dry case went like tinder. A faint, far-off sound made our hearts leap, and Niles cried out, Pile on the wood! Jamal is tracking us! Don't let the smoke fail now, or we're lost! There's no more wood! The case was very small, and it's all gone! I answered, tearing off such as my garments as would burn readily, and piling them upon the embers. Niles did the same, but the light fabrics were quickly consumed and made no smoke. Burn that, commanded the professor, pointing to the mummy. I hesitated a moment. Again came the faint echo of a horn. Life was dear to me. A few dry bones might save us, and I obeyed him in silence. A dull blaze sprung up, and a heavy smoke rose from the burning mummy, rolling in volumes through the low passages and threatening to suffocate us with its fragrant mist. My brain grew dizzy. The light danced before my eyes. Strange phantoms seemed to peoply air, and