Here he paused awhile, listening intently. The image of Lala
Huang arose before his mind's eye reproachfully, but he crushed
the reproach, and advanced until he stood beside the lacquered
coffin.
He remembered where the key was hidden, and, stooping, he fumbled
for a while and then found it. He was acutely conscious of an
unnameable fear. He felt that he was watched, and yet was
unwilling to believe it. The musty and unpleasant smell which he
had noticed before became extremely perceptible.
He quietly sought for the hidden lock, and, presently finding it,
inserted the key, then paused awhile. He rested his torch upon
the cushions of the divan where the light shone directly upon the
coffin. Then, having his automatic in his left hand, he turned
the key.
He had expected now to be able to raise the lid as he had seen
Huang Chow do; but the result was far more surprising.
The lid, together with a second framework of fine netting, flew
open with a resounding bang; and from the interior of the coffin
uprose a most abominable stench.
Durham started back a step, and as he did so witnessed a sight
which turned him sick with horror.
Out on to the edge of the coffin leapt the most gigantic spider
which he had ever seen in his life! It had a body as big as a
man's fist, jet black, with hairy legs like the legs of a crab
and a span of a foot or more!
A moment it poised there, while he swayed, sick with horror.
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