diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 6709-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 194410 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 6709-h/6709-h.htm | 10849 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 6709.txt | 9542 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 6709.zip | bin | 0 -> 187697 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/msscc10.txt | 9518 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/msscc10.zip | bin | 0 -> 187190 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/msscc10h.htm | 10900 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/msscc10h.zip | bin | 0 -> 189385 bytes |
11 files changed, 40825 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6709-h.zip b/6709-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a59fa2f --- /dev/null +++ b/6709-h.zip diff --git a/6709-h/6709-h.htm b/6709-h/6709-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7ace85 --- /dev/null +++ b/6709-h/6709-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10849 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta content="pg2html (binary v0.17)" name="linkgenerator" /> + <title> + A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder, by James de Mille + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; font-style: italic;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + .xx-small {font-size: 60%;} + .x-small {font-size: 75%;} + .small {font-size: 85%;} + .large {font-size: 115%;} + .x-large {font-size: 130%;} + .indent5 { margin-left: 5%;} + .indent10 { margin-left: 10%;} + .indent15 { margin-left: 15%;} + .indent20 { margin-left: 20%;} + .indent25 { margin-left: 25%;} + .indent30 { margin-left: 30%;} + .indent35 { margin-left: 35%;} + .indent40 { margin-left: 40%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: 0.6em; + font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; + text-align: right; background-color: #FFFACD; + border: 1px solid; padding: 0.3em;text-indent: 0em;} + .side { float: left; font-size: 75%; width: 15%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + .head { float: left; font-size: 90%; width: 98%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + p.pfirst, p.noindent {text-indent: 0} + span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 0.8 } + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +Author: James De Mille + +Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6709] +First Posted: January 17, 2003 +Last Updated: April 15, 2019 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT *** + + + + +Etext produced by Andrew Sly + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN A COPPER CYLINDER + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By James De Mille + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I — THE FINDING OF THE COPPER + CYLINDER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II — ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III — A WORLD OF FIRE AND + DESOLATION </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV — THE SIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V — THE TORRENT SWEEPING UNDER THE + MOUNTAINS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI — THE NEW WORLD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII — SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND + SCEPTICISM </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII — THE CAVE-DWELLERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX — THE CAVERN OF THE DEAD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X — THE SACRED HUNT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI — THE SWAMP MONSTER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII — THE BALEFUL SACRIFICE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII — THE AWFUL "MISTA KOSEK" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV — I LEARN MY DOOM </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV — THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI — THE KOSEKIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII — BELIEF AND UNBELIEF </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII — A VOYAGE OVER THE POLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX — THE WONDERS OF THE "AMIR" + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX — THE DARK MAIDEN LAYELAH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI — THE FLYING MONSTER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII — ESCAPE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII — THE ISLAND OF FIRE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV — RECAPTURE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV — FALLING, LIKE ICARUS, INTO + THE SEA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI — GRIMM'S LAW AGAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII — OXENDEN PREACHES A SERMON + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII — IN PRISON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX — THE CEREMONY OF SEPARATION + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX — THE DAY OF SACRIFICE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI — CONCLUSION </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I — THE FINDING OF THE COPPER CYLINDER + </h2> + <p> + It occurred as far back as February 15, 1850. It happened on that day that + the yacht Falcon lay becalmed upon the ocean between the Canaries and the + Madeira Islands. This yacht Falcon was the property of Lord Featherstone, + who, being weary of life in England, had taken a few congenial friends for + a winter's cruise in these southern latitudes. They had visited the + Azores, the Canaries, and the Madeira Islands, and were now on their way + to the Mediterranean. + </p> + <p> + The wind had failed, a deep calm had succeeded, and everywhere, as far as + the eye could reach, the water was smooth and glassy. The yacht rose and + fell at the impulse of the long ocean undulations, and the creaking of the + spars sounded out a lazy accompaniment to the motion of the vessel. All + around was a watery horizon, except in the one place only, toward the + south, where far in the distance the Peak of Teneriffe rose into the air. + </p> + <p> + The profound calm, the warm atmosphere, the slow pitching of the yacht, + and the dull creaking of the spars all combined to lull into a state of + indolent repose the people on board. Forward were the crew; some asleep, + others smoking, others playing cards. At the stern were Oxenden, the + intimate friend of Featherstone, and Dr. Congreve, who had come in the + double capacity of friend and medical attendant. These two, like the crew, + were in a state of dull and languid repose. Suspended between the two + masts, in an Indian hammock, lay Featherstone, with a cigar in his mouth + and a novel in his hand, which he was pretending to read. The fourth + member of the party, Melick, was seated near the mainmast, folding some + papers in a peculiar way. His occupation at length attracted the roving + eyes of Featherstone, who poked forth his head from his hammock, and said + in a sleepy voice: + </p> + <p> + "I say, Melick, you're the most energetic fellah I ever saw. By Jove! + you're the only one aboard that's busy. What are you doing?" + </p> + <p> + "Paper boats," said Melick, in a business-like tone. + </p> + <p> + "Paper boats! By Jove!" said Featherstone. "What for?" + </p> + <p> + "I'm going to have a regatta," said Melick. "Anything to kill time, you + know." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" exclaimed Featherstone again, raising himself higher in his + hammock, "that's not a bad idea. A wegatta! By Jove! glowious! glowious! I + say, Oxenden, did you hear that?" + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean by a regatta?" asked Oxenden, lazily. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I mean a race with these paper boats. We can bet on them, you know." + </p> + <p> + At this Featherstone sat upright, with his legs dangling out of the + hammock. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" he exclaimed again. "Betting! So we can. Do you know, Melick, + old chap, I think that's a wegular piece of inspiration. A wegatta! and we + can bet on the best boat." + </p> + <p> + "But there isn't any wind," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "Well, you know, that's the fun of it," said Melick, who went solemnly on + as he spoke, folding his paper boats; "that's the fun of it. For you see + if there was a wind we should be going on ourselves, and the regatta + couldn't come off; but, as it is, the water is just right. You pick out + your boat, and lay your bet on her to race to some given point." + </p> + <p> + "A given point? But how can we find any?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, easily enough; something or anything—a bubble'll do, or we can + pitch out a bit of wood." + </p> + <p> + Upon this Featherstone descended from his perch, and came near to examine + the proceedings, while the other two, eager to take advantage of the new + excitement, soon joined him. By this time Melick had finished his paper + boats. There were four of them, and they were made of different colors, + namely, red, green, yellow, and white. + </p> + <p> + "I'll put these in the water," said Melick, "and then we can lay our bets + on them as we choose. But first let us see if there is anything that can + be taken as a point of arrival. If there isn't anything, I can pitch out a + bit of wood, in any direction which may seem best." + </p> + <p> + Saying this, he went to the side, followed by the others, and all looked + out carefully over the water. + </p> + <p> + "There's a black speck out there," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "So there is," said Featherstone. "That'll do. I wonder what it is?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, a bit of timber," said Melick. "Probably the spar of some ship." + </p> + <p> + "It don't look like a spar," said the doctor; "it's only a round spot, + like the float of some net." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it's a spar," said Melick. "It's one end of it, the rest is under + water." + </p> + <p> + The spot thus chosen was a dark, circular object, about a hundred yards + away, and certainly did look very much like the extremity of some spar, + the rest of which was under water. Whatever it was, however, it served + well enough for their present purpose, and no one took any further + interest in it, except as the point toward which the paper boats should + run in their eventful race. + </p> + <p> + Melick now let himself down over the side, and placed the paper boats on + the water as carefully as possible. After this the four stood watching the + little fleet in silence. The water was perfectly still, and there was no + perceptible wind, but there were draughts of air caused by the rise and + fall of the yacht, and these affected the tiny boats. Gradually they drew + apart, the green one drifting astern, the yellow one remaining under the + vessel, while the red and the white were carried out in the direction + where they were expected to go, with about a foot of space between them. + </p> + <p> + "Two to one on the red!" cried Featherstone, betting on the one which had + gained the lead. + </p> + <p> + "Done," said Melick, promptly taking his offer. + </p> + <p> + Oxenden made the same bet, which was taken by Melick and the doctor. + </p> + <p> + Other bets were now made as to the direction which they would take, as to + the distance by which the red would beat the white, as to the time which + would be occupied by the race, and as to fifty other things which need not + be mentioned. All took part in this; the excitement rose high and the + betting went on merrily. At length it was noticed that the white was + overhauling the red. The excitement grew intense; the betting changed its + form, but was still kept up, until at last the two paper boats seemed + blended together in one dim spot which gradually faded out of sight. + </p> + <p> + It was now necessary to determine the state of the race, so Featherstone + ordered out the boat. The four were soon embarked, and the men rowed out + toward the point which had been chosen as the end of the race. On coming + near they found the paper boats stuck together, saturated with water, and + floating limp on the surface. An animated discussion arose about this. + Some of the bets were off, but others remained an open question, and each + side insisted upon a different view of the case. In the midst of this, + Featherstone's attention was drawn to the dark spot already mentioned as + the goal of the race. + </p> + <p> + "That's a queer-looking thing," said he, suddenly. "Pull up, lads, a + little; let's see what it is. It doesn't look to me like a spar." + </p> + <p> + The others, always on the lookout for some new object of interest, were + attracted by these words, and looked closely at the thing in question. The + men pulled. The boat drew nearer. + </p> + <p> + "It's some sort of floating vessel," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "It's not a spar," said Melick, who was at the bow. + </p> + <p> + And as he said this he reached out and grasped at it. He failed to get it, + and did no more than touch it. It moved easily and sank, but soon came up + again. A second time he grasped at it, and with both hands. This time he + caught it, and then lifted it out of the water into the boat. These + proceedings had been watched with the deepest interest; and now, as this + curious floating thing made its appearance among them, they all crowded + around it in eager excitement. + </p> + <p> + "It looks like a can of preserved meat," said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "It certainly is a can," said Melick, "for it's made of metal; but as to + preserved meat, I have my doubts." + </p> + <p> + The article in question was made of metal and was cylindrical in shape. It + was soldered tight and evidently contained something. It was about + eighteen inches long and eight wide. The nature of the metal was not + easily perceptible, for it was coated with slime, and covered over about + half its surface with barnacles and sea-weed. It was not heavy, and would + have floated higher out of the water had it not been for these + encumbrances. + </p> + <p> + "It's some kind of preserved meat," said the doctor. "Perhaps something + good—game, I dare say—yes, Yorkshire game-pie. They pot all + sorts of things now." + </p> + <p> + "If it's game," said Oxenden, "it'll be rather high by this time. Man + alive! look at those weeds and shells. It must have been floating for + ages." + </p> + <p> + "It's my belief," said Featherstone, "that it's part of the provisions + laid in by Noah for his long voyage in the ark. So come, let's open it, + and see what sort of diet the antediluvians had." + </p> + <p> + "It may be liquor," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + Melick shook his head. + </p> + <p> + "No," said he; "there's something inside, but whatever it is, it isn't + liquor. It's odd, too. The thing is of foreign make, evidently. I never + saw anything like it before. It may be Chinese." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "this is getting exciting. Let's go back to + the yacht and open it." + </p> + <p> + The men rowed back to the yacht. + </p> + <p> + "It's meat of some sort," continued the doctor. "I'm certain of that. It + has come in good time. We can have it for dinner." + </p> + <p> + "You may have my share, then," said Oxenden. "I hereby give and bequeath + to you all my right, title, and interest in and to anything in the shape + of meat that may be inside." + </p> + <p> + "Meat cans," said Melick, "are never so large as that." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I don't know about that," said the doctor, "they make up pretty large + packages of pemmican for the arctic expeditions." + </p> + <p> + "But they never pack up pemmican in copper cylinders," said Melick, who + had been using his knife to scrape off the crust from the vessel. + </p> + <p> + "Copper!" exclaimed Oxenden. "Is it copper?" + </p> + <p> + "Look for yourselves," said Melick, quietly. + </p> + <p> + They all looked, and could see, where the knife had cut into the vessel, + that it was as he said. It was copper. + </p> + <p> + "It's foreign work," said Melick. "In England we make tin cans for + everything. It may be something that's drifted out from Mogadore or some + port in Morocco." + </p> + <p> + "In that case," said Oxenden, "it may contain the mangled remains of one + of the wives of some Moorish pasha." + </p> + <p> + By this time they had reached the yacht and hurried aboard. All were eager + to satisfy their curiosity. Search was made for a cold-chisel, but to no + purpose. Then Featherstone produced a knife which was used to open sardine + boxes, but after a faithful trial this proved useless. At length Melick, + who had gone off in search of something more effective, made his + appearance armed with an axe. With this he attacked the copper cylinder, + and by means of a few dexterous blows succeeded in cutting it open. Then + he looked in. + </p> + <p> + "What do you see?" asked Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "Something," said Melick, "but I can't quite make it out." + </p> + <p> + "If you can't make it out, then shake it out," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + Upon this Melick took the cylinder, turned it upside down, shook it + smartly, and then lifted it and pounded it against the deck. This served + to loosen the contents, which seemed tightly packed, but came gradually + down until at length they could be seen and drawn forth. Melick drew them + forth, and the contents of the mysterious copper cylinder resolved + themselves into two packages. + </p> + <p> + The sight of these packages only served to intensify their curiosity. If + it had been some species of food it would at once have revealed itself, + but these packages suggested something more important. What could they be? + Were there treasures inside—jewels, or golden ornaments from some + Moorish seraglio, or strange coin from far Cathay? + </p> + <p> + One of the packages was very much larger than the other. It was enclosed + in wrappers made of some coarse kind of felt, bound tight with strong + cords. The other was much smaller, and, was folded in the same material + without being bound. This Melick seized and began to open. + </p> + <p> + "Wait a minute," said Featherstone. "Let's make a bet on it. Five guineas + that it's some sort of jewels!" + </p> + <p> + "Done," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + Melick opened the package, and it was seen that Featherstone had lost. + There were no jewels, but one or two sheets of something that looked like + paper. It was not paper, however, but some vegetable product which was + used for the same purpose. The surface was smooth, but the color was + dingy, and the lines of the vegetable fibres were plainly discernible. + These sheets were covered with writing. + </p> + <p> + "Halloa!" cried Melick. "Why, this is English!" + </p> + <p> + At this the others crowded around to look on, and Featherstone in his + excitement forgot that he had lost his bet. There were three sheets, all + covered with writing—one in English, another in French, and a third + in German. It was the same message, written in these three different + languages. But at that moment they scarcely noticed this. All that they + saw was the message itself, with its mysterious meaning. + </p> + <p> + It was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "To the finder of this: + </p> + <p> + "Sir,—I am an Englishman, and have been carried by a series of + incredible events to a land from which escape is as impossible as from the + grave. I have written this and committed it to the sea, in the hope that + the ocean currents may bear it within the reach of civilized man. Oh, + unknown friend! whoever you are. I entreat you to let this message be made + known in some way to my father, Henry More, Keswick, Cumberland, England, + so that he may learn the fate of his son. The MS. accompanying this + contains an account of my adventures, which I should like to have + forwarded to him. Do this for the sake of that mercy which you may one day + wish to have shown to yourself. + </p> + <h3> + "ADAM MORE." + </h3> + <p> + "By Jove!" cried Featherstone, as he read the above, "this is really + getting to be something tremendous." + </p> + <p> + "This other package must be the manuscript," said Oxenden, "and it'll tell + all about it." + </p> + <p> + "Such a manuscript'll be better than meat," said the doctor, + sententiously. + </p> + <p> + Melick said nothing, but, opening his knife, he cut the cords and unfolded + the wrapper. He saw a great collection of leaves, just like those of the + letter, of some vegetable substance, smooth as paper, and covered with + writing. + </p> + <p> + "It looks like Egyptian papyrus," said the doctor. "That was the common + paper of antiquity." + </p> + <p> + "Never mind the Egyptian papyrus," said Featherstone, in feverish + curiosity. "Let's have the contents of the manuscript. You, Melick, read; + you're the most energetic of the lot, and when you're tired the rest of us + will take turns." + </p> + <p> + "Read? Why, it'll take a month to read all this," said Melick. + </p> + <p> + "All the better," said Featherstone; "this calm will probably last a + month, and we shall have nothing to interest us." + </p> + <p> + Melick made no further objection. He was as excited as the rest, and so he + began the reading of the manuscript. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II — ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN + </h2> + <p> + My name is Adam More. I am the son of Henry More, apothecary, Keswick, + Cumberland. I was mate of the ship Trevelyan (Bennet, master), which was + chartered by the British Government to convey convicts to Van Dieman's + Land. This was in 1843. We made our voyage without any casualty, landed + our convicts in Hobart Town, and then set forth on our return home. It was + the 17th of December when we left. From the first adverse winds prevailed, + and in order to make any progress we were obliged to keep well to the + south. At length, on the 6th of January, we sighted Desolation Island. We + found it, indeed, a desolate spot. In its vicinity we saw a multitude of + smaller islands, perhaps a thousand in number, which made navigation + difficult, and forced us to hurry away as fast as possible. But the aspect + of this dreary spot was of itself enough to repel us. There were no trees, + and the multitude of islands seemed like moss-covered rocks; while the + temperature, though in the middle of the antarctic summer, was from 38 to + 58 degrees Fahr. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +In order to get rid of these dangerous islands we stood south and +west, and at length found ourselves in south latitude 65 degrees, +longitude 60 degrees east. We were fortunate enough not to find any +ice, although we were within fifteen hundred miles of the South Pole, +and far within that impenetrable icy barrier which, in 1773, had +arrested the progress of Captain Cook. Here the wind failed us, and we +lay becalmed and drifting. The sea was open all around us, except to +the southeast, where there was a low line along the horizon +terminating in a lofty promontory; but though it looked like land we +took it for ice. All around us whales and grampuses were gambolling +and spouting in vast numbers. The weather was remarkably fine and +clear. + + For two or three days the calm continued, and we drifted along +helplessly, until at length we found ourselves within a few miles of +the promontory above mentioned. It looked like land, and seemed to be +a rocky island rising from the depths of the sea. It was, however, all +covered with ice and snow, and from this there extended eastward as +far as the eye could reach an interminable line of ice, but toward the +southwest the sea seemed open to navigation. The promontory was very +singular in shape, rising up to a peak which was at least a thousand +feet in height, and forming a striking object, easily discovered and +readily identified by any future explorer. We named it, after our +ship, Trevelyan Peak, and then felt anxious to lose sight of it +forever. But the calm continued, and at length we drifted in close +enough to see immense flocks of seals dotting the ice at the foot of +the peak. +</pre> + <p> + Upon this I proposed to Agnew, the second mate, that we should go ashore, + shoot some seals, and bring them back. This was partly for the excitement + of the hunt, and partly for the honor of landing in a place never before + trodden by the foot of man. Captain Bennet made some objections, but he + was old and cautious, and we were young and venturesome, so we laughed + away his scruples and set forth. We did not take any of the crew, owing to + the captain's objections. He said that if we chose to throw away our own + lives he could not help it, but that he would positively refuse to allow a + single man to go with us. We thought this refusal an excess of caution + amounting to positive cowardice, but were unable to change his mind. The + distance was not great, the adventure was attractive, and so the captain's + gig was lowered, and in this Agnew and I rowed ashore. We took with us a + double-barrelled rifle apiece, and also a pistol. Agnew took a glass. + </p> + <p> + We rowed for about three miles, and reached the edge of the ice, which + extended far out from the promontory. Here we landed, and secured the boat + by means of a small grappling-iron, which we thrust into the ice. We then + walked toward the promontory for about a mile, and here we found a + multitude of seals. These animals were so fearless that they made not the + slightest movement as we came up, but stared at us in an indifferent way. + We killed two or three, and then debated whether to go to the promontory + or not. Agnew was eager to go, so as to touch the actual rock; but I was + satisfied with what we had done, and was now desirous of returning. In the + midst of this I felt a flake of snow on my cheek. I started and looked up. + To my great surprise I saw that the sky had changed since I had last + noticed it. When we left the ship it was clear and blue, but now it was + overspread with dark, leaden-colored clouds, and the snow-flakes that had + fallen were ominous of evil. A snow-storm here, in the vicinity of the + ice, was too serious a thing to be disregarded. But one course now + remained, and that was an immediate return to the ship. + </p> + <p> + Each of us seized a seal and dragged it after us to the boat. We reached + it and flung them in. Just at that moment a gun sounded over the water. It + was from the ship—the signal of alarm—the summons from the + captain for our return. We saw now that she had been drifting since we + left her, and had moved southwest several miles. The row back promised to + be far harder than the pull ashore, and, what was worse, the wind was + coming up, the sea was rising, and the snow was thickening. Neither of us + said a word. We saw that our situation was very serious, and that we had + been very foolhardy; but the words were useless now. The only thing to be + done was to pull for the ship with all our strength, and that was what we + did. + </p> + <p> + So we pushed off, and rowed as we had never rowed before. Our progress was + difficult. The sea grew steadily rougher; the wind increased; the snow + thickened; and, worst of all, the day was drawing to a close. We had + miscalculated both as to distance and time. Even if it had continued calm + we should have had to row back in the dark; but now the sun was setting, + and with the darkness we had to encounter the gathering storm and the + blinding snow. We rowed in silence. At every stroke our situation grew + more serious. The wind was from the south, and therefore favored us to + some extent, and also made less of a sea than would have been produced by + a wind from any other quarter; but then this south wind brought dangers of + its own, which we were soon to feel—new dangers and worse ones. For + this south wind drove the ship farther from us, and at the same time broke + up the vast fields of ice and impelled the fractured masses northward. But + this was a danger which we did not know just then. At that time we were + rowing for the ship, and amid the darkness and the blinding snow and the + dashing waves we heard from time to time the report of signal-guns fired + from the ship to guide us back. These were our only guide, for the + darkness and the snow had drawn the ship from our sight, and we had to be + guided by our hearing only. + </p> + <p> + We were rowing for our lives, and we knew it; but every moment our + situation grew more desperate. Each new report of the gun seemed to sound + farther away. We seemed always to be rowing in the wrong direction. At + each report we had to shift the boat's course somewhat, and pull toward + the last point from which the gun seemed to sound. With all this the wind + was increasing rapidly to a gale, the sea was rising and breaking over the + boat, the snow was blinding us with its ever-thickening sleet. The + darkness deepened and at length had grown so intense that nothing whatever + could be seen—neither sea nor sky, not even the boat itself—yet + we dared not stop; we had to row. Our lives depended on our efforts. We + had to row, guided by the sound of the ship's gun, which the ever-varying + wind incessantly changed, till our minds grew all confused, and we rowed + blindly and mechanically. + </p> + <p> + So we labored for hours at the oars, and the storm continually increased, + and the sea continually rose, while the snow fell thicker and the darkness + grew intenser. The reports of the gun now grew fainter; what was worse, + they were heard at longer intervals, and this showed us that Captain + Bennet was losing heart; that he was giving us up; that he despaired of + finding us, and was now firing only an occasional gun out of a mournful + sense of duty. This thought reduced us to despair. It seemed as if all our + efforts had only served to take us farther away from the ship, and + deprived us of all motive for rowing any harder than was barely necessary + to keep the boat steady. After a time Agnew dropped his oar and began to + bail out the boat—a work which was needed; for, in spite of our + care, she had shipped many seas, and was one third full of water. He + worked away at this while I managed the boat, and then we took turns at + bailing. In this way we passed the dreary night. + </p> + <p> + Morning came at last. The wind was not so violent, but the snow was so + thick that we could only see for a little distance around us. The ship was + nowhere visible, nor were there any signs of her. The last gun had been + fired during the night. All that we could see was the outline of a gaunt + iceberg—an ominous spectacle. Not knowing what else to do we rowed + on as before, keeping in what seemed our best course, though this was mere + conjecture, and we knew all the time that we might be going wrong. There + was no compass in the boat, nor could we tell the sun's position through + the thick snow. We rowed with the wind, thinking that it was blowing + toward the north, and would carry us in that direction. We still hoped to + come within sound of the ship's gun, and kept straining our ears + incessantly to hear the wished-for report. But no such sound ever came + again, and we heard nothing except the plash of the waves and the crash of + breaking ice. Thus all that day we rowed along, resting at intervals when + exhausted, and then resuming our labors, until at length night came; and + again to the snow and ice and waves was added the horror of great + darkness. We passed that night in deep misery. We had eaten nothing since + we left the ship, but though exhausted by long fasting and severe labor, + the despair of our hearts took away all desire for food. We were worn out + with hard work, yet the cold was too great to allow us to take rest, and + we were compelled to row so as to keep ourselves from perishing. But + fatigue and drowsiness overcame us, and we often sank into sleep even + while rowing; and then after a brief slumber we would awake with benumbed + limbs to wrestle again with the oars. In this way we passed that night. + </p> + <p> + Another morning came, and we found to our great joy that the snow had + ceased. We looked eagerly around to see if there were any signs of the + ship. Nothing could be seen of her. Far away on one side rose a peak, + which looked like the place where we had landed. Judging from the wind, + which we still supposed to be southerly, the peak lay toward the + northeast; in which case we had been carried steadily, in spite of all our + efforts, toward the south. About a mile on one side of us the ice began, + and extended far away; while on the other side, at the distance of some + ten miles, there was another line of ice. We seemed to have been carried + in a southwesterly direction along a broad strait that ran into the vast + ice-fields. This discovery showed how utterly useless our labors had been; + for in spite of all, even with the wind in our favor, we had been drawn + steadily in an opposite direction. It was evident that there was some + current here, stronger than all our strength, which had brought us to this + place. + </p> + <p> + We now determined to land on the ice, and try to cook a portion of our + seals. On approaching it we noticed that there was a current which tended + to draw us past the ice in what I supposed to be a southwesterly + direction. This confirmed my worst fears. But now the labor of landing and + building a fire on the ice served to interest us for a time and divert our + thoughts. We brushed away the snow, and then broke up a box which was in + the boat, and also the stern seats. This we used very sparingly, reserving + the rest for another occasion. Then we cut portions from one of the seals, + and laid them in thin strips on the flames. The cooking was but slight, + for the meat was merely singed; but we were ravenous, and the contact of + the fire was enough to give it an attractive flavor. With this food we + were greatly refreshed; and as for drink, we had all around us an endless + extent of ice and snow. Then, taking our precious fragments of cooked + meat, we returned to the boat and put off. We could scarcely tell what to + do next, and while debating on this point we fell asleep. We slept far + into the night, then awoke benumbed with cold; then took to the oars till + we were weary; then fell asleep again, to be again awakened by the cold + and again to pull at the oars. So the night passed, and another day came. + </p> + <p> + The snow still held off, but the sky was overcast with dark, + leaden-colored clouds, and looked threatening. Ice was all around us as + before; and the open water had diminished now from ten miles to five miles + of width. The ice on one side was low, but on the opposite side it arose + to the height of one hundred feet. We saw here, as we watched the shore, + that the current which had already borne us thus far was now stronger than + ever, and was carrying us along at a rate which made all efforts of ours + against it utterly useless. And now a debate arose between us as to the + direction of this current. Agnew suddenly declared his belief that it was + running north, while I was firm in the conviction that it ran south. + </p> + <p> + "There's no use rowing any more," said Agnew. "If it runs south we can't + resist it. It's too strong. But I always like to look on the bright side, + and so I believe it runs north. In that case there is no use rowing, for + it will carry us along fast enough." + </p> + <p> + Then I proposed that we should go ashore on the ice. To this Agnew + objected, but afterward consented, at my earnest request. So we tried to + get ashore, but this time found it impossible; for the ice consisted of a + vast sheet of floating lumps, which looked like the ruin of bergs that had + been broken up in some storm. After this I had nothing to say, nor was + there anything left for us but to drift wherever the current might carry + us. + </p> + <p> + So we drifted for some days, Agnew all the time maintaining that we were + going north, while I was sure that we were going south. The sky remained + as cloudy as ever, the wind varied incessantly, and there was nothing by + which we could conjecture the points of the compass. We lived on our seal, + and for drink we chewed ice and snow. One thing was certain—the + climate was no colder. Agnew laid great stress on this. + </p> + <p> + "You see," said he, "we must be going north. If we were going south we + should be frozen stiff by this time." + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but if we were going north," said I, "we ought to find it growing + warmer." + </p> + <p> + "No," said he, "not with all this ice around us. It's the ice that keeps + the temperature in this cold state." + </p> + <p> + Argument could do no good, and so we each remained true to our belief—his + leading him to hope, and mine dragging me down to despair. At length we + finished the last fragment of the seal that we had cooked, and, finding + ourselves near some firm ice, we went ashore and cooked all that was left, + using the remainder of our wood for fuel, and all that we dared to remove + from the boat. Re-embarking with this, we drifted on as before. + </p> + <p> + Several more days passed. At last one night I was roused by Agnew. He + pointed far away to the distant horizon, where I saw a deep red glow as of + fire. We were both filled with wonder at the sight, and were utterly + unable to account for it. We knew that it could not be caused by the sun + or the moon, for it was midnight, and the cause lay on the earth and not + in the skies. It was a deep, lurid glow, extending along the horizon, and + seemed to be caused by some vast conflagration. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III — A WORLD OF FIRE AND DESOLATION + </h2> + <p> + At the sight of that deep-red glow various feelings arose within us: in me + there was new dejection; in Agnew there was stronger hope. I could not + think but that it was our ship that was on fire, and was burning before + our eyes. Agnew thought that it was some burning forest, and that it + showed our approach to some habitable and inhabited land. For hour after + hour we watched, and all the time the current drew us nearer, and the glow + grew brighter and more intense. At last we were too weak to watch any + longer, and we fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + On waking our first thoughts were about the fire, and we looked eagerly + around. It was day, but the sky was as gloomy as ever, and the fire was + there before our eyes, bright and terrible. We could now see it plainly, + and discern the cause also. The fire came from two points, at some + distance apart—two peaks rising above the horizon, from which there + burst forth flames and smoke with incessant explosions. All was now + manifest. It was no burning ship, no blazing forest, no land inhabited by + man: those blazing peaks were two volcanoes in a state of active eruption, + and at that sight I knew the worst. + </p> + <p> + "I know where we are now," I said, despairingly. + </p> + <p> + "Where?" asked Agnew. + </p> + <p> + "That," said I, "is the antarctic continent." + </p> + <p> + "The antarctic fiddlestick," said he, contemptuously. "It is far more + likely to be some volcanic island in the South Sea. There's a tremendous + volcano in the Sandwich Islands, and these are something like it." + </p> + <p> + "I believe," said I, "that these are the very volcanoes that Sir James + Ross discovered last year." + </p> + <p> + "Do you happen to know where he found them?" Agnew asked. + </p> + <p> + "I do not," I answered. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I do," said he, "and they're thousands of miles away from this. + They are south latitude 77 degrees, east longitude 167 degrees; while we, + as I guess, are about south latitude 40 degrees, east longitude 60 + degrees." + </p> + <p> + "At any rate," said I, "we're drifting straight toward them." + </p> + <p> + "So I see," said Agnew, dryly. "At any rate, the current will take us + somewhere. We shall find ourselves carried past these volcanic islands, or + through them, and then west to the Cape of Good Hope. Besides, even here + we may find land with animals and vegetation; who knows?" + </p> + <p> + "What! amid all this ice?" I cried. "Are you mad?" + </p> + <p> + "Mad?" said he; "I should certainly go mad if I hadn't hope." + </p> + <p> + "Hope!" I repeated; "I have long since given up hope." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well," said he, "enjoy your despair, and don't try to deprive me of + my consolation. My hope sustains me, and helps me to cheer you up. It + would never do, old fellow, for both of us to knock under." + </p> + <p> + I said nothing more, nor did Agnew. We drifted on, and all our thoughts + were taken up with the two volcanoes, toward which we were every moment + drawing nearer. As we approached they grew larger and larger, towering up + to a tremendous height. I had seen Vesuvius and Stromboli and AEtna and + Cotopaxi; but these appeared far larger than any of them, not excepting + the last. They rose, like the Peak of Teneriffe, abruptly from the sea, + with no intervening hills to dwarf or diminish their proportions. They + were ten or twelve miles apart, and the channel of water in which we were + drifting flowed between them. + </p> + <p> + Here the ice and snow ended. We thus came at last to land; but it was a + land that seemed more terrible than even the bleak expanse of ice and snow + that lay behind, for nothing could be seen except a vast and drear + accumulation of lava-blocks of every imaginable shape, without a trace of + vegetation—uninhabited, uninhabitable, and unpassable to man. But + just where the ice ended and the rocks began there was a long, low reef, + which projected for more than a quarter of a mile into the water, + affording the only possible landing-place within sight. Here we decided to + land, so as to rest and consider what was best to be done. + </p> + <p> + Here we landed, and walked up to where rugged lava-blocks prevented any + further progress. But at this spot our attention was suddenly arrested by + a sight of horror. It was a human figure lying prostrate, face downward. + </p> + <p> + At this sight there came over us a terrible sensation. Even Agnew's + buoyant soul shrank back, and we stared at each other with quivering lips. + It was some time before we could recover ourselves; then we went to the + figure, and stooped down to examine it. + </p> + <p> + The clothes were those of a European and a sailor; the frame was emaciated + and dried up, till it looked like a skeleton; the face was blackened and + all withered, and the bony hands were clinched tight. It was evidently + some sailor who had suffered shipwreck in these frightful solitudes, and + had drifted here to starve to death in this appalling wilderness. It was a + sight which seemed ominous of our own fate, and Agnew's boasted hope, + which had so long upheld him, now sank down into a despair as deep as my + own. What room was there now for hope, or how could we expect any other + fate than this? + </p> + <p> + At length I began to search the pockets of the deceased. + </p> + <p> + "What are you doing?" asked Agnew, in a hoarse voice. + </p> + <p> + "I'm trying to find out who he is," I said. "Perhaps there may be papers." + </p> + <p> + As I said this I felt something in the breast-pocket of his jacket, and + drew it forth. It was a leather pocket-book, mouldy and rotten like the + clothing. On opening it, it fell to pieces. There was nothing in it but a + piece of paper, also mouldy and rotten. This I unfolded with great care, + and saw writing there, which, though faded, was still legible. It was a + letter, and there were still signs of long and frequent perusals, and + marks, too, which looked as though made by tears—tears, perhaps of + the writer, perhaps of the reader: who can tell? I have preserved this + letter ever since, and I now fasten it here upon this sheet of my + manuscript. + </p> + <h3> + THE LETTER. + </h3> + <p> + "Bristol April 20. 1820. + </p> + <p> + "my darling tom + </p> + <p> + "i writ you these few lines in hast i don like youar gon a walen an in the + south sea dont go darlin tom or mebbe ill never se you agin for ave bad + drems of you darlin tom an im afraid so don go my darlin tom but come back + an take anoth ship for America baby i as wel as ever but mises is pa an as + got a new tooth an i think yo otnt go a walen o darlin tom * * * sea as + the wages was i in New York an better go thar an id like to go ther for + good for they gives good wages in America. O come back my Darlin tom and + take me to America an the baby an weel all live an love an di together + </p> + <p> + "Your loving wife Polley Reed." + </p> + <p> + I began to read this, but there came a lump in my throat, and I had to + stop. Agnew leaned on my shoulder, and we both read it in silence. He + rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and drew a long breath. Then he + walked away for a little distance, and I put the letter carefully away in + my own pocket-book. After a little while Agnew came back. + </p> + <p> + "More," said he, "do you remember any of the burial-service?" + </p> + <p> + I understood his meaning at once. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," I said, "some of it—a good deal of it, I think." + </p> + <p> + "That's good," said he. "Let's put the poor fellow under ground." + </p> + <p> + "It would be hard to do that," I said; "we'll have to bury him in the + snow." + </p> + <p> + At this Agnew went off for a little distance and clambered over the rocks. + He was not gone long. When he returned he said, "I've found some crumbled + pumice-stone; we can scoop a grave for him there." + </p> + <p> + We then raised the body and carried it to the place which Agnew had found. + So emaciated was the poor dead sailor that his remains were no heavier + than a small boy. On reaching the spot, we found the crumbled + pumice-stone. We placed the body in a crevice among the lava rocks, and + then I said what I could remember of the burial-service. After this we + carried in our hands the crumbled pumice-stone until we had covered the + body, and thus gave the poor fellow a Christian burial. + </p> + <p> + We then returned to the shore. + </p> + <p> + "More, old fellow," said Agnew, "I feel the better for this; the service + has done me good." + </p> + <p> + "And me too," said I. "It has reminded me of what I had forgotten. This + world is only a part of life. We may lose it and yet live on. There is + another world; and if we can only keep that in our minds we sha'n't be so + ready to sink into despair—that is, I sha'n't. Despair is my + weakness; you are more hopeful." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Agnew, solemnly; "but my hope thus far has referred only to + the safety of my skin. After this I shall try to think of my soul, and + cultivate, not the hope of escape, but the hope full of immortality. Yes, + More, after all we shall live, if not in England, then, let us hope, in + heaven." + </p> + <p> + There was a long silence after this—that kind of silence which one + may preserve who is at the point of death. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder how he got here?" said Agnew, at last. "The letter mentions a + whaler. No doubt the ship has been driven too far south; it has foundered; + he has escaped in a boat, either alone or with others; he has been carried + along this channel, and has landed here, afraid to go any farther." + </p> + <p> + "But his boat, what has become of that?" + </p> + <p> + "His boat! That must have gone long ago. The letter was written in 1820. + At any rate, let's look around." + </p> + <p> + We did so. After some search we found fragments of a rotted rope attached + to a piece of rock. + </p> + <p> + "That," said Agnew, "must have been fastened to the boat; and as for the + boat herself, she has long ago been swept away from this." + </p> + <p> + "What shall we do now?" I said, after a long silence. + </p> + <p> + "There's only one thing," said Agnew. "We must go on." + </p> + <p> + "Go on?" I asked, in wonder. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said he, confidently. "Will you stay here? No. Will you go + back? You can't. We must, therefore, go on. That is our only hope." + </p> + <p> + "Hope!" I cried. "Do you still talk of hope?" + </p> + <p> + "Hope?" said Agnew; "of course. Why not? There are no limits to hope, are + there? One can hope anything anywhere. It is better to die while + struggling like a man, full of hope and energy than to perish in inaction + and despair. It is better to die in the storm and furious waters than to + waste away in this awful place. So come along. Let's drift as before. + Let's see where this channel will take us. It will certainly take us + somewhere. Such a stream as this must have some outlet." + </p> + <p> + "This stream," said I, "will take us to death, and death only. The current + grows swifter every hour. I've heard some old yarn of a vast opening at + each of the poles, or one of them, into which the waters of the ocean + pour. They fall into one, and some say they go through and come out at the + other." + </p> + <p> + Agnew laughed. + </p> + <p> + "That," said he, "is a madman's dream. In the first place, I don't believe + that we are approaching the south, but the north. The warmth of the + climate here shows that. Yes, we are drawing north. We shall soon emerge + into warm waters and bright skies. So come along, and let us lose no more + time." + </p> + <p> + I made no further objection. There was nothing else to be done, and at the + very worst we could not be in greater danger while drifting on than in + remaining behind. Soon, therefore, we were again in the boat, and the + current swept us on as before. + </p> + <p> + The channel now was about four miles wide. On either side arose the lofty + volcanoes vomiting forth flames and smoke with furious explosions; vast + stones were hurled up into the air from the craters; streams of molten + lava rolled down, and at intervals there fell great showers of ashes. The + shores on either side were precipitous and rugged beyond all description, + looking like fiery lava streams which had been arrested by the flood, and + cooled into gloomy, overhanging cliffs. The lava rock was of a deep, dull + slate-color, which at a distance looked black; and the blackness which + thus succeeded to the whiteness of the snow behind us seemed like the + funeral pall of nature. Through scenes like these we drifted on, and the + volcanoes on either side of the channel towered on high with their fiery + floods of lava, their incessant explosions, their fierce outbursts of + flames, and overhead there rolled a dense black canopy of smoke—altogether + forming a terrific approach to that unknown and awful pathway upon which + we were going. So we passed this dread portal, and then there lay before + us—what? Was it a land of life or a land of death? Who could say? + </p> + <p> + It was evening when we passed through. Night came on, and the darkness was + illuminated by the fiery glow of the volcanic flames. Worn out with + fatigue, we fell asleep. So the night passed, and the current bore us on + until, at length, the morning came. We awoke, and now, for the first time + in many days, we saw the face of the sun. The clouds had at last broken, + the sky was clear, and behind us the sun was shining. That sight told us + all. It showed us where we were going. + </p> + <p> + I pointed to the sun. + </p> + <p> + "Look there," said I. "There is the sun in the northern sky—behind + us. We have been drifting steadily toward the south." + </p> + <p> + At this Agnew was silent, and sat looking back for a long time. There we + could still see the glow of the volcanic fires, though they were now many + miles away; while the sun, but lately risen, was lying on a course closer + to the horizon than we had ever seen it before. + </p> + <p> + "We are going south," said I—"to the South Pole. This swift current + can have but one ending—there may be an opening at the South Pole, + or a whirlpool like the Maelstrom." + </p> + <p> + Agnew looked around with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "All these notions," said he, "are dreams, or theories, or guesses. There + is no evidence to prove them. Why trouble yourself about a guess? You and + I can guess, and with better reason; for we have now, it seems, come + farther south than any human being who has ever lived. Do not imagine that + the surface of the earth is different at the poles from what it is + anywhere else. If we get to the South Pole we shall see there what we have + always seen—the open view of land or water, and the boundary of the + horizon. As for this current, it seems to me like the Gulf Stream, and it + evidently does an important work in the movement of the ocean waters. It + pours on through vast fields of ice on its way to other oceans, where it + will probably become united with new currents. Theories about openings at + the poles, or whirlpools, must be given up. Since the Maelstrom has been + found to be a fiction, no one need believe in any other whirlpool. For my + own part, I now believe that this current will bear us on, due south, over + the pole, and then still onward, until at last we shall find ourselves in + the South Pacific Ocean. So cheer up—don't be downhearted; there's + still hope. We have left the ice and snow behind, and already the air is + warmer. Cheer up; we may find our luck turn at any moment." + </p> + <p> + To this I had no reply to make. Agnew's confidence seemed to me to be + assumed, and certainly did not alleviate my own deep gloom, nor was the + scene around calculated to rouse me in the slightest degree out of my + despair. The channel had now lessened to a width of not more than two + miles; the shores on either side were precipitous cliffs, broken by + occasional declivities, but all of solid rock, so dark as to be almost + black, and evidently of volcanic origin. At times there arose rugged + eminences, scarred and riven, indescribably dismal and appalling. There + was not only an utter absence of life here in these abhorrent regions, but + an actual impossibility of life which was enough to make the stoutest + heart quail. The rocks looked like iron. It seemed a land of iron + penetrated by this ocean stream which had made for itself a channel, and + now bore us onward to a destination which was beyond all conjecture. + </p> + <p> + Through such scenes we drifted all that day. Night came, and in the skies + overhead there arose a brilliant display of the aurora australis, while + toward the north the volcanic fires glowed with intense lustre. That night + we slept. On awakening we noticed a change in the scene. The shores, + though still black and forbidding, were no longer precipitous, but sloped + down gradually to the water; the climate was sensibly milder, and far away + before us there arose a line of giant mountains, whose summits were + covered with ice and snow that gleamed white and purple in the rays of the + sun. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Agnew gave a cry, and pointed to the opposite shore. + </p> + <p> + "Look!" he cried—"do you see? They are men!" + </p> + <p> + I looked, and there I saw plainly some moving figures that were, beyond a + doubt, human beings. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV — THE SIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS + </h2> + <p> + The sight of human beings, thus unexpectedly found, filled us with strange + feelings—feelings which I cannot explain. The country was still + iron-bound and dark and forbidding, and the stream ran on in a strong + current, deep, black as ink, and resistless as fate; the sky behind was + lighted up by the volcanic glare which still shone from afar; and in front + the view was bounded by the icy heights of a mountain chain. Here was, + indeed, a strange country for a human habitation; and strange, indeed, + were the human beings whom we saw. + </p> + <p> + "Shall we land?" said Agnew. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said I. "Don't be hasty. The elements are sometimes kinder than + men, and I feel safer here, even in this river of death, than ashore with + such creatures as those." + </p> + <p> + Agnew made no reply. We watched the figures on the shore. We saw them + coming down, staring and gesticulating. We drew on nearer to them till we + were able to see them better. A nearer view did not improve them. They + were human beings, certainly, but of such an appalling aspect that they + could only be likened to animated mummies. They were small, thin, + shrivelled, black, with long matted hair and hideous faces. They all had + long spears, and wore about the waist short skirts that seemed to be made + of the skin of some sea-fowl. + </p> + <p> + We could not imagine how these creatures lived, or where. There were no + signs of vegetation of any kind—not a tree or a shrub. There were no + animals; but there were great flocks of birds, some of which seemed + different from anything that we had ever seen before. The long spears + which the natives carried might possibly be used for catching these, or + for fishing purposes. This thought made them seem less formidable, since + they would thus be instruments of food rather than weapons of war. + Meanwhile we drifted on as before, and the natives watched us, running + along the shore abreast of us, so as to keep up with the boat. There + seemed over a hundred of them. We could see no signs of any habitations—no + huts, however humble; but we concluded that their abodes were farther + inland. As for the natives themselves, the longer we looked at them the + more abhorrent they grew. Even the wretched aborigines of Van Dieman's + Land, who have been classed lowest in the scale of humanity, were pleasing + and congenial when compared with these, and the land looked worse than + Tierra del Fuego. It looked like a land of iron, and its inhabitants like + fiends. + </p> + <p> + Agnew again proposed to land, but I refused. + </p> + <p> + "No," I said; "I'd rather starve for a week, and live on hope. Let us + drift on. If we go on we may have hope if we choose, but if we land here + we shall lose even that. Can we hope for anything from such things as + these? Even if they prove friendly, can we live among them? To stay here + is worse than death; our only hope is to go on." + </p> + <p> + Agnew made no reply, and we drifted on for two hours, still followed by + the natives. They made no hostile demonstrations. They merely watched us, + apparently from motives of curiosity. All this time we were drawing + steadily nearer to the line of lofty mountains, which with their icy + crests rose before us like an inaccessible and impassable barrier, + apparently closing up all farther progress; nor was there any indication + of any pass or any opening, however narrow, through which the great stream + might run. Nothing was there but one unbroken wall of iron cliffs and icy + summits. At last we saw that the sloping shores grew steeper, until, about + a mile or two before us, they changed to towering cliffs that rose up on + each side for about a thousand feet above the water; here the stream ran, + and became lost to view as completely as though swallowed up by the earth. + </p> + <p> + "We can go no farther," said Agnew. "See—this stream seems to make a + plunge there into the mountains. There must be some deep canyon there with + cataracts. To go on is certain death. We must stop here, if only to + deliberate. Say, shall we risk it among these natives? After all, there is + not, perhaps, any danger among them. They are little creatures and seem + harmless. They are certainly not very good-looking; but then, you know, + appearances often deceive, and the devil's not so black as he's painted. + What do you say?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose we can do nothing else," said I. + </p> + <p> + In fact, I could see that we had reached a crisis in our fate. To go on + seemed certain death. To stop was our only alternative; and as we were + armed we should not be altogether at the mercy of these creatures. Having + made this decision we acted upon it at once, for in such a current there + was no time for delay; and so, seizing the oars, we soon brought the boat + ashore. + </p> + <p> + As we approached, the crowd of natives stood awaiting us, and looked more + repulsive than ever. We could see the emaciation of their bony frames; + their toes and fingers were like birds' claws; their eyes were small and + dull and weak, and sunken in cavernous hollows, from which they looked at + us like corpses—a horrible sight. They stood quietly, however, and + without any hostile demonstration, holding their spears carelessly resting + upon the ground. + </p> + <p> + "I don't like the looks of them," said I. "I think I had better fire a + gun." + </p> + <p> + "Why?" cried Agnew. "For Heaven's sake, man, don't hurt any of them!" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said I; "I only mean to inspire a little wholesome respect." + </p> + <p> + Saying this I fired in the air. The report rang out with long echoes, and + as the smoke swept away it showed us all the natives on the ground. They + had seated themselves with their hands crossed on their laps, and there + they sat looking at us as before, but with no manifestation of fear or + even surprise. I had expected to see them run, but there was nothing of + the kind. This puzzled us. Still, there was no time now for any further + hesitation. The current was sweeping us toward the chasm between the + cliffs, and we had to land without delay. This we did, and as I had + another barrel still loaded and a pistol, I felt that with these arms and + those of Agnew we should be able to defend ourselves. It was in this state + of mind that we landed, and secured the boat by means of the + grappling-iron. + </p> + <p> + The natives now all crowded around us, making many strange gestures, which + we did not understand. Some of them bowed low, others prostrated + themselves; on the whole these seemed like marks of respect, and it + occurred to me that they regarded us as superior beings of some sort. It + was evident that there was nothing like hostility in their minds. At the + same time, the closer survey which I now made of them filled me with + renewed horror; their meagre frames, small, watery, lack-lustre eyes, + hollow, cavernous sockets, sunken cheeks, protruding teeth, claw-like + fingers, and withered skins, all made them look more than ever like + animated mummies, and I shrank from them involuntarily, as one shrinks + from contact with a corpse. + </p> + <p> + Agnew, however, was very different, and it was evident that he felt no + repugnance whatever. He bowed and smiled at them, and shook hands with + half a dozen of them in succession. The hand-shaking was a new thing to + them, but they accepted it in a proper spirit, and renewed their bows and + prostrations. After this they all offered us their lances. This certainly + seemed like an act of peace and good-will. I shook my head and declined to + touch them; but Agnew accepted one of them, and offered his rifle in + return. The one to whom he offered it refused to take it. He seemed + immensely gratified because Agnew had taken his lance, and the others + seemed disappointed at his refusal to take theirs. But I felt my heart + quake as I saw him offer his rifle, and still more when he offered it to + one or two others, and only regained my composure as I perceived that his + offer was refused by all. + </p> + <p> + They now made motions to us to follow, and we all set forth together. + </p> + <p> + "My dear More," said Agnew, cheerily, "they're not a bad lot. They mean + well. They can't help their looks. You're too suspicious and reserved. + Let's make friends with them, and get them to help us. Do as I do." + </p> + <p> + I tried to, but found it impossible, for my repugnance was immovable. It + was like the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, earwigs, or + serpents. It was something that defied reason. These creatures seemed like + human vermin. + </p> + <p> + We marched inland for about half a mile, crossed a ridge, and came to a + valley, or rather a kind of hollow, at the other side of which we found a + cave with a smouldering fire in front. The fire was made of coal, which + must exist here somewhere. It was highly bituminous, and burned with a + great blaze. + </p> + <p> + The day was now drawing to a close; far away I could see the lurid glow of + the volcanoes, which grew brighter as the day declined: above, the skies + twinkled with innumerable stars, and the air was filled with the moan of + rushing waters. + </p> + <p> + We entered the cave. As we did so the natives heaped coal upon the fire, + and the flames arose, lighting up the interior. We found here a number of + women and children, who looked at us without either fear or curiosity. The + children looked like little dwarfs; the women were hags, hideous beyond + description. One old woman in particular, who seemed to be in authority, + was actually terrible in her awful and repulsive ugliness. A nightmare + dream never furnished forth a more frightful object. This nightmare hag + prostrated herself before each of us with such an air of self-immolation + that she looked as though she wished us to kill her at once. The rough + cave, the red light of the fire, all made the scene more awful; and a wild + thought came to me that we had actually reached, while yet living, the + infernal world, and that this was the abode of devils. Yet their actions, + it must be confessed, were far from devilish. Everyone seemed eager to + serve us. Some spread out couches formed of the skins of birds for us to + sit on; others attended to the fire; others offered us gifts of large and + beautiful feathers, together with numerous trinkets of rare and curious + workmanship. This kind attention on their part was a great puzzle to me, + and I could not help suspecting that beneath all this there must be some + sinister design. Resolving to be prepared for the worst, I quietly + reloaded the empty barrel of my rifle and watched with the utmost + vigilance. As for Agnew, he took it all in the most unsuspicious manner. + He made signs to them, shook hands with them, accepted their gifts, and + even tried to do the agreeable to the formidable hags and the child-fiends + around him. He soon attracted the chief attention, and while all looked + admiringly upon him, I was left to languish in comparative neglect. + </p> + <p> + At length a savory odor came through the cave, and a repast was spread + before us. It consisted of some large fowl that looked like a goose, but + was twice as large as the largest turkey that I had ever seen. The taste + was like that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it seemed + delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready to welcome + any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was, would not have + been unwelcome to any hungry man. It was evident that these people lived + on the flesh of birds of various sorts. All around us we saw the skins of + birds dried with the feathers on, and used for clothing, for mats, and for + ornaments. + </p> + <p> + The repast being finished, we both felt greatly strengthened and + refreshed. Agnew continued to cultivate his new acquaintances, and seeing + me holding back, he said, + </p> + <p> + "More, old fellow, these good people give me to understand that there is + another place better than this, and want me to go with them. Will you go?" + </p> + <p> + At this a great fear seized me. + </p> + <p> + "Don't go!" I cried—"don't go! We are close by the boat here, and if + anything happens we can easily get to it." + </p> + <p> + Agnew laughed in my face. + </p> + <p> + "Why, you don't mean to tell me," said he, "that you are still suspicious, + and after that dinner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm us, would they + feast us in this style? Nonsense, man! Drop your suspicions and come + along." + </p> + <p> + I shook my head obstinately. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said he, "if I thought there was anything in your suspicions I + would stay by you; but I'm confident they mean nothing but kindness, so + I'm going off to see the place." + </p> + <p> + "You'll be back again?" said I. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said he, "of course I'll come back, and sleep here." + </p> + <p> + With these words he left, and nearly all the people accompanied him. I was + left behind with the women and children and about a dozen men. These men + busied themselves with some work over bird-skins; the women were occupied + with some other work over feathers. No one took any notice of me. There + did not seem to be any restraint upon me, nor was I watched in any way. + Once the nightmare hag came and offered me a small roasted fowl, about the + size of a woodcock. I declined it, but at the same time this delicate + attention certainly surprised me. + </p> + <p> + I was now beginning to struggle with some success against my feelings of + abhorrence, when suddenly I caught sight of something which chased away + every other thought, and made my blood turn cold in my veins. It was + something outside. At the mouth of the cave—by the fire which was + still blazing bright, and lighting up the scene—I saw four men who + had just come to the cave: they were carrying something which I at first + supposed to be a sick or wounded companion. On reaching the fire they put + it down, and I saw, with a thrill of dismay, that their burden was neither + sick nor wounded, but dead, for the corpse lay rigid as they had placed + it. Then I saw the nightmare hag approach it with a knife. An awful + thought came to me—the crowning horror! The thought soon proved to + be but too well founded. The nightmare hag began to cut, and in an instant + had detached the arm of the corpse, which she thrust among the coals in + the very place where lately she had cooked the fowl. Then she went back + for more. + </p> + <p> + For a moment my brain reeled, and I gasped for breath. Then I rose and + staggered out, I know not how. No one tried to stop me, nor did anyone + follow me; and, for my part, I was ready to blow out the brains of the + first who dared to approach me. In this way I reached the open air, and + passed by the hag and the four men as they were busy at their awful work. + But at this point I was observed and followed. A number of men and women + came after me, jabbering their uncouth language and gesticulating. I + warned them off, angrily. They persisted, and though none of them were + armed, yet I saw that they were unwilling to have me leave the cave, and I + supposed that they would try to prevent me by force. + </p> + <p> + The absence of Agnew made my position a difficult one. Had it not been for + this I would have burst through them and fled to the boat; but as long as + he was away I felt bound to wait; and though I longed to fly, I could not + for his sake. The boat seemed to be a haven of rest. I longed to be in her + once more, and drift away, even if it should be to my death. Nature was + here less terrible than man; and it seemed better to drown in the waters, + to perish amid rocks and whirlpools, than to linger here amid such horrors + as these. These people were not like human beings. The vilest and lowest + savages that I had ever seen were not so odious as these. A herd of + monkeys would be far more congenial, a flock of wolves less abhorrent. + They had the caricature of the human form; they were the lowest of + humanity; their speech was a mockery of language; their faces devilish, + their kindness a cunning pretence; and most hideous of all was the + nightmare hag that prepared the cannibal repast. + </p> + <p> + I could not begin hostilities, for I had to wait for Agnew; so I stood and + looked, and then walked away for a little distance. They followed me + closely, with eager words and gesticulations, though as yet no one touched + me or threatened me. Their tone seemed rather one of persuasion. After a + few paces I stood still, with all of them around me. The horrible repast + showed plainly all that was in store for us. They received us kindly and + fed us well only to devote us to the most abhorrent of deaths. Agnew, in + his mad confidence, was only insuring his own doom. He was putting himself + completely in the power of devils, who were incapable of pity and + strangers to humanity. To make friends with such fiends was impossible, + and I felt sure that our only plan was to rule by terror—to seize, + to slay, to conquer. But still I had to wait for him, and did not dare to + resort to violence while he was absent; so I waited, while the savages + gathered round me, contenting themselves with guarding me, and neither + touching me nor threatening me. And all this time the hag went on, intent + on her preparation of the horrible repast. + </p> + <p> + While standing there looking, listening, waiting for Agnew, I noticed many + things. Far away the volcanoes blazed, and the northern sky was red with a + lurid light. There, too, higher up, the moon was shining overhead, the sky + was gleaming with stars; and all over the heavens there shone the lustre + of the aurora australis, brighter than any I had ever seen—surpassing + the moon and illuminating all. It lighted up the haggard faces of the + devils around me, and it again seemed to me as though I had died and gone + to the land of woe—an iron land, a land of despair, with lurid fires + all aglow and faces of fear. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, there burst upon my ears the report of a gun, which sounded like + a thunder-peal, and echoed in long reverberations. At once I understood + it. My fears had proved true. These savages had enticed Agnew away to + destroy him. In an instant I burst through the crowd around me, and ran + wildly in the direction of that sound, calling his name, as I ran, at the + top of my voice. + </p> + <p> + I heard a loud cry; then another report. I hurried on, shouting his name + in a kind of frenzy. The strange courage of these savages had already + impressed me deeply. They did not fear our guns. They were all attacking + him, and he was alone, fighting for his life. + </p> + <p> + Then there was another report; it was his pistol. I still ran on, and + still shouted to him. + </p> + <p> + At last I received an answer. He had perhaps heard me, and was answering, + or, at any rate, he was warning me. + </p> + <p> + "More," he cried, "fly, fly, fly to the boat! Save yourself!" + </p> + <p> + "Where are you?" I cried, as I still rushed on. + </p> + <p> + "Fly, More, fly! Save yourself! You can't save me. I'm lost. Fly for your + life!" + </p> + <p> + Judging from his cries, he did not seem far away. I hurried on. I could + see nothing of him. All the time the savages followed me. None were armed; + but it seemed to me that they were preparing to fling themselves upon me + and overpower me with their numbers. They would capture me alive, I + thought, bind me, and carry me back, reserving me for a future time! + </p> + <p> + I turned and waved them back. They took no notice of my gesture. Then I + ran on once more. They followed. They could not run so fast as I did, and + so I gained on them rapidly, still shouting to Agnew. But there was no + response. I ran backward and forward, crossing and recrossing, doubling + and turning, pursued all the time by the savages. At last, in rage and + despair, I fired upon them, and one of them fell. But, to my dismay, the + others did not seem to care one whit; they did not stop for one moment, + but pursued as before. + </p> + <p> + My situation was now plain in all its truth. They had enticed Agnew away; + they had attacked him. He had fought, and had been overpowered. He had + tried to give me warning. His last words had been for me to fly—to + fly: yes, for he well knew that it was better far for me to go to death + through the raging torrent than to meet the fate which had fallen upon + himself. For him there was now no more hope. That he was lost was plain. + If he were still alive he would call to me; but his voice had been + silenced for some time. All was over, and that noble heart that had + withstood so bravely and cheerily the rigors of the storm, and the horrors + of our desperate voyage, had been stilled in death by the vilest of + miscreants. + </p> + <p> + I paused for a moment. Even though Agnew was dead, I could not bear to + leave him, but felt as though I ought to share his fate. The savages came + nearer. At their approach I hesitated no longer. That fate was too + terrible: I must fly. + </p> + <p> + But before I fled I turned in fury to wreak vengeance upon them for their + crimes. Full of rage and despair, I discharged my remaining rifle-barrel + into the midst of the crowd. Then I fled toward the boat. On the way I had + a frightful thought that she might have been sent adrift; but, on + approaching the place, I found her there just as I had left her. The + savages, with their usual fearlessness, still pursued. For a moment I + stood on the shore, with the grapple in my hand and the boat close by, and + as they came near I discharged my pistol into the midst of them. Then I + sprang into the boat; the swift current bore me away, and in a few minutes + the crowd of pursuing demons disappeared from view. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V — THE TORRENT SWEEPING UNDER THE MOUNTAINS + </h2> + <p> + The boat drifted on. The light given by the aurora and the low moon seemed + to grow fainter; and as I looked behind I saw that the distant glow from + the volcanic fires had become more brilliant in the increasing darkness. + The sides of the channel grew steeper, until at last they became rocky + precipices, rising to an unknown height. The channel itself grew narrower, + till from a width of two miles it had contracted to a tenth of those + dimensions; but with this lessening width the waters seemed to rush far + more swiftly. Here I drifted helplessly, and saw the gloomy, rocky cliffs + sweep past me as I was hurled onward on the breast of the tremendous + flood. I was in despair. The fate of Agnew had prepared me for my own, and + I was only thankful that my fate, since it was inevitable, would be less + appalling. Death seemed certain, and my chief thought now was as to the + moment when it would come. I was prepared. I felt that I could meet it + calmly, sternly, even thankfully; far better was a death here amid the + roar of waters than at the hands of those abhorrent beings by whose + treachery my friend had fallen. + </p> + <p> + As I went on, the precipices rose higher and seemed to overhang, the + channel grew narrower, the light grew fainter, until at last all around me + grew dark. I was floating at the bottom of a vast chasm, where the sides + seemed to rise precipitously for thousands of feet, where neither watery + flood nor rocky wall was visible, and where, far above, I could see the + line of sky between the summits of the cliffs, and watch the glowing + stars. And as I watched them there came to me the thought that this was my + last sight on earth, and I could only hope that the life which was so + swiftly approaching its end might live again somewhere among those + glittering orbs. So I thought; and with these thoughts I drifted on, I + cannot tell how long, until at length there appeared a vast black mass, + where the open sky above me terminated, and where the lustre of the stars + and the light of the heavens were all swallowed up in utter darkness. + </p> + <p> + This, then, I thought, is the end. Here, amid this darkness, I must make + the awful plunge and find my death I fell upon my knees in the bottom of + the boat and prayed. As I knelt there the boat drew nearer, the black mass + grew blacker. The current swept me on. There were no breakers; there was + no phosphorescent sparkle of seething waters, and no whiteness of foam. I + thought that I was on the brink of some tremendous cataract a thousand + times deeper than Niagara; some fall where the waters plunged into the + depths of the earth; and where, gathering for the terrific descent, all + other movements—all dashings and writhings and twistings—were + obliterated and lost in the one overwhelming onward rush. Suddenly all + grew dark—dark beyond all expression; the sky above was in a moment + snatched from view; I had been flung into some tremendous cavern; and + there, on my knees, with terror in my heart, I waited for death. + </p> + <p> + The moments passed, and death delayed to come. The awful plunge was still + put off; and though I remained on my knees and waited long, still the end + came not. The waters seemed still, the boat motionless. It was borne upon + the surface of a vast stream as smooth as glass; but who could tell how + deep that stream was, or how wide? At length I rose from my knees and sank + down upon the seat of the boat, and tried to peer through the gloom. In + vain. Nothing was visible. It was the very blackness of darkness. I + listened, but heard nothing save a deep, dull, droning sound, which seemed + to fill all the air and make it all tremulous with its vibrations. I tried + to collect my thoughts. I recalled that old theory which had been in my + mind before this, and which I had mentioned to Agnew. This was the notion + that at each pole there is a vast opening; that into one of them all the + waters of the ocean pour themselves, and, after passing through the earth, + come out at the other pole, to pass about its surface in innumerable + streams. It was a wild fancy, which I had laughed at under other + circumstances, but which now occurred to me once more, when I was + overwhelmed with despair, and my mind was weakened by the horrors which I + had experienced; and I had a vague fear that I had been drawn into the + very channel through which the ocean waters flowed in their course to that + terrific, that unparalleled abyss. Still, there was as yet no sign + whatever of anything like a descent, for the boat was on even keel, and + perfectly level as before, and it was impossible for me to tell whether I + was moving swiftly or slowly, or standing perfectly still; for in that + darkness there were no visible objects by which I could find out the rate + of my progress; and as those who go up in balloons are utterly insensible + of motion, so was I on those calm but swift waters. + </p> + <p> + At length there came into view something which arrested my attention and + engrossed all my thoughts. It was faint glow that at first caught my gaze; + and, on turning to see it better, I saw a round red spot glowing like + fire. I had not seen this before. It looked like the moon when it rises + from behind clouds, and glows red and lurid from the horizon; and so this + glowed, but not with the steady light of the moon, for the light was + fitful, and sometimes flashed into a baleful brightness, which soon + subsided into a dimmer lustre. New alarm arose within me, for this new + sight suggested something more terrible than anything that I had thus far + thought of. This, then, I thought, was to be the end of my voyage; this + was my goal—a pit of fire, into which I should be hurled! Would it + be well, I thought, to wait for such a fate, and experience such a + death-agony? Would it not be better for me to take my own life before I + should know the worst? I took my pistol and loaded it, so as to be + prepared, but hesitated to use it until my fate should be more apparent. + So I sat, holding my pistol, prepared to use it, watching the light, and + awaiting the time when the glowing fires should make all further hope + impossible. But time passed, and the light grew no brighter; on the + contrary, it seemed to grow fainter. There was also another change. + Instead of shining before me, it appeared more on my left. From this it + went on changing its position until at length it was astern. All the time + it continued to grow fainter, and it seemed certain that I was moving away + from it rather than toward it. In the midst of this there occurred a new + thought, which seemed to account for this light—this was, that it + arose from these same volcanoes which had illuminated the northern sky + when I was ashore, and followed me still with their glare. I had been + carried into this darkness, through some vast opening which now lay behind + me, disclosing the red volcano glow, and this it was that caused that + roundness and resemblance to the moon. I saw that I was still moving on + away from that light as before, and that its changing position was due to + the turning of the boat as the water drifted it along, now stern foremost, + now sidewise, and again bow foremost. From this it seemed plainly evident + that the waters had borne me into some vast cavern of unknown extent, + which went under the mountains—a subterranean channel, whose issue I + could not conjecture. Was this the beginning of that course which should + ultimately become a plunge deep down into some unutterable abyss? or might + I ever hope to emerge again into the light of day—perhaps in some + other ocean—some land of ice and frost and eternal night? But the + old theory of the flow of water through the earth had taken hold of me and + could not be shaken off. I knew some scientific men held the opinion that + the earth's interior is a mass of molten rock and pent-up fire, and that + the earth itself had once been a burning orb, which had cooled down at the + surface; yet, after all, this was only a theory, and there were other + theories which were totally different. As a boy I had read wild works of + fiction about lands in the interior of the earth, with a sun at the + centre, which gave them the light of a perpetual day. These, I knew, were + only the creations of fiction; yet, after all, it seemed possible that the + earth might contain vast hollow spaces in its interior—realms of + eternal darkness, caverns in comparison with which the hugest caves on the + surface were but the tiniest cells. I was now being borne on to these. In + that case there might be no sudden plunge, after all. The stream might run + on for many thousand miles through this terrific cavern gloom, in + accordance with natural laws; and I might thus live, and drift on in this + darkness, until I should die a lingering death of horror and despair. + </p> + <p> + There was no possible way of forming any estimate as to speed. All was + dark, and even the glow behind was fading away; nor could I make any + conjecture whatever as to the size of the channel. At the opening it had + been contracted and narrow; but here it might have expanded itself to + miles, and its vaulted top might reach almost to the summit of the lofty + mountains. While sight thus failed me, sound was equally unavailing, for + it was always the same—a sustained and unintermittent roar, a low, + droning sound, deep and terrible, with no variations of dashing breakers + or rushing rapids or falling cataracts. Vague thoughts of final escape + came and went; but in such a situation hope could not be sustained. The + thick darkness oppressed the soul; and at length even the glow of the + distant volcanoes, which had been gradually diminishing, grew dimmer and + fainter, and finally faded out altogether. That seemed to me to be my last + sight of earthly things. After this nothing was left. There was no longer + for me such a thing as sight; there was nothing but darkness—perpetual + and eternal night. I was buried in a cavern of rushing waters, to which + there would be no end, where I should be borne onward helplessly by the + resistless tide to a mysterious and an appalling doom. + </p> + <p> + The darkness grew so intolerable that I longed for something to dispel it, + if only for a moment. I struck a match. The air was still, and the flame + flashed out, lighting up the boat and showing the black water around me. + This made me eager to see more. I loaded both barrels of the rifle, + keeping my pistol for another purpose, and then fired one of them. There + was a tremendous report, that rang in my ears like a hundred + thunder-volleys, and rolled and reverberated far along, and died away in + endless echoes. The flash lighted up the scene for an instant, and for an + instant only; like the sudden lightning, it revealed all around. I saw a + wide expanse of water, black as ink—a Stygian pool; but no rocks + were visible, and it seemed as though I had been carried into a + subterranean sea. + </p> + <p> + I loaded the empty barrel and waited. The flash of light had revealed + nothing, yet it had distracted my thoughts, and the work of reloading was + an additional distraction. Anything was better than inaction. I did not + wish to waste my ammunition, yet I thought that an occasional shot might + serve some good purpose, if it was only to afford me some relief from + despair. + </p> + <p> + And now, as I sat with the rifle in my hands, I was aware of a sound—new, + exciting, different altogether from the murmur of innumerable waters that + filled my ears, and in sharp contrast with the droning echoes of the + rushing flood. It was a sound that spoke of life. I heard quick, heavy + pantings, as of some great living thing; and with this there came the + noise of regular movements in the water, and the foaming and gurgling of + waves. It was as though some living, breathing creature were here, not far + away, moving through these midnight waters; and with this discovery there + came a new fear—the fear of pursuit. I thought that some sea-monster + had scented me in my boat, and had started to attack me. This new fear + aroused me to action. It was a danger quite unlike any other which I had + ever known; yet the fear which it inspired was a feeling that roused me to + action, and prompted me, even though the coming danger might be as sure as + death, to rise against it and resist to the last. So I stood up with my + rifle and listened, with all my soul in my sense of hearing. The sounds + arose more plainly. They had come nearer. They were immediately in front. + I raised my rifle and took aim. Then in quick succession two reports + thundered out with tremendous uproar and interminable echoes, but the long + reverberations were unheeded in the blaze of sudden light and the vision + that was revealed. For there full before me I saw, though but for an + instant, a tremendous sight. It was a vast monster, moving in the waters + against the stream and toward the boat. Its head was raised high, its eyes + were inflamed with a baleful light, its jaws, opened wide, bristled with + sharp teeth, and it had a long neck joined to a body of enormous bulk, + with a tail that lashed all the water into foam. It was but for an instant + that I saw it, and then with a sudden plunge the monster dived, while at + the same moment all was as dark as before. + </p> + <p> + Full of terror and excitement, I loaded my rifle again and waited, + listening for a renewal of the noise. I felt sure that the monster, balked + of his prey, would return with redoubled fury, and that I should have to + renew the conflict. I felt that the dangers of the subterranean passage + and of the rushing waters had passed away, and that a new peril had arisen + from the assault of this monster of the deep. Nor was it this one alone + that was to be dreaded. Where one was, others were sure to be; and if this + one should pass me by it would only leave me to be assailed by monsters of + the same kind, and these would probably increase in number as I advanced + farther into this realm of darkness. And yet, in spite of these grisly + thoughts, I felt less of horror than before, for the fear which I had was + now associated with action; and as I stood waiting for the onset and + listening for the approach of the enemy, the excitement that ensued was a + positive relief from the dull despair into which I had sunk but a moment + before. + </p> + <p> + Yet, though I waited for a new attack, I waited in vain. The monster did + not come back. Either the flash and the noise had terrified him, or the + bullets had hit him, or else in his vastness he had been indifferent to so + feeble a creature as myself; but whatever may have been the cause, he did + not emerge again out of the darkness and silence into which he had sunk. + For a long time I stood waiting; then I sat down, still watchful, still + listening, but without any result, until at length I began to think that + there was no chance of any new attack. Indeed, it seemed now as though + there had been no attack at all, but that the monster had been swimming at + random without any thought of me, in which case my rifle-flashes had + terrified him more than his fearful form had terrified me. On the whole + this incident had greatly benefited me. It had roused me from my despair. + I grew reckless, and felt a disposition to acquiesce in whatever fate + might have in store for me. + </p> + <p> + And now, worn out with fatigue and exhausted from long watchfulness and + anxiety, I sank down in the bottom of the boat and fell into a deep sleep. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI — THE NEW WORLD + </h2> + <p> + How long I slept I do not know. My sleep was profound, yet disturbed by + troubled dreams, in which I lived over again all the eventful scenes of + the past; and these were all intermingled in the wildest confusion. The + cannibals beckoned to us from the peak, and we landed between the two + volcanoes. There the body of the dead sailor received us, and afterward + chased us to the boat. Then came snow and volcanic eruptions, and we + drifted amid icebergs and molten lava until we entered an iron portal and + plunged into darkness. Here there were vast swimming monsters and burning + orbs of fire and thunderous cataracts falling from inconceivable heights, + and the sweep of immeasurable tides and the circling of infinite + whirlpools; while in my ears there rang the never-ending roar of + remorseless waters that came after us, with all their waves and billows + rolling upon us. It was a dream in which all the material terrors of the + past were renewed; but these were all as nothing when compared with a + certain deep underlying feeling that possessed my soul—a sense of + loss irretrievable, an expectation of impending doom, a drear and + immitigable despair. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of this I awoke. It was with a sudden start, and I looked all + around in speechless bewilderment. The first thing of which I was + conscious was a great blaze of light—light so lately lost, and + supposed to be lost forever, but now filling all the universe—bright, + brilliant, glowing bringing hope and joy and gladness, with all the + splendor of deep blue skies and the multitudinous laughter of ocean waves + that danced and sparkled in the sun. I flung up my arms and laughed aloud. + Then I burst into tears, and falling on my knees, I thanked the Almighty + Ruler of the skies for this marvellous deliverance. + </p> + <p> + Rising from my knees I looked around, and once more amazement overwhelmed + me. I saw a long line of mountains towering up to immeasurable heights, + their summits covered with eternal ice and snow. There the sun blazed low + in the sky, elevated but a few degrees above the mountain crests, which + gleamed in gold and purple under its fiery rays. The sun seemed enlarged + to unusual dimensions, and the mountains ran away on every side like the + segment of some infinite circle. At the base of the mountains lay a land + all green with vegetation, where cultivated fields were visible, and + vineyards and orchards and groves, together with forests of palm and all + manner of trees of every variety of hue, which ran up the sides of the + mountains till they reached the limits of vegetation and the regions of + snow and ice. + </p> + <p> + Here in all directions there were unmistakable signs of human life—the + outlines of populous cities and busy towns and hamlets; roads winding far + away along the plain or up the mountain-sides, and mighty works of + industry in the shape of massive structures, terraced slopes, long rows of + arches, ponderous pyramids, and battlemented walls. + </p> + <p> + From the land I turned to the sea. I saw before me an expanse of water + intensely blue—an extent so vast that never before in all my ocean + voyages had anything appeared at all comparable with it. Out at sea, + wherever I had been, the water had always limited the view; the horizon + had never seemed far away; ships soon sank below it, and the visible + surface of the earth was thus always contracted; but here, to my + bewilderment, the horizon appeared to be removed to an immeasurable + distance and raised high in the air, while the waters were prolonged + endlessly. Starting from where I was, they went away to inconceivable + distances, and the view before me seemed like a watery declivity reaching + for a thousand miles, till it approached the horizon far up in the sky. + Nor was it any delusion of the senses that caused this unparalleled + spectacle. I was familiar with the phenomena of the mirage, and knew well + that there was nothing of that kind here; for the mirage always shows + great surfaces of stillness, or a regular vibration—glassy tides and + indistinct distances; but here everything was sharply defined in the clear + atmosphere: the sky overhung a deep blue vault; the waves danced and + sparkled in the sun; the waters rolled and foamed on every side; and the + fresh breeze, as it blew over the ocean, brought with it such exhilarating + influences that it acted upon me like some reviving cordial. + </p> + <p> + From the works of nature I turned to those of man. These were visible + everywhere: on the land, in cities and cultivated fields and mighty + constructions; on the sea, in floating craft, which appeared wherever I + turned my eyes—boats like those of fishermen, ships long and low, + some like galleys, propelled by a hundred oars, others provided with one + huge square-sail, which enabled them to run before the wind. They were + unlike any ships which I had ever seen; for neither in the Mediterranean + nor in Chinese waters were there any craft like these, and they reminded + me rather of those ancient galleys which I had seen in pictures. + </p> + <p> + I was lost in wonder as to where I was, and what land this could be to + which I had been brought. I had not plunged into the interior of the + earth, but I had been carried under the mountains, and had emerged again + into the glad light of the sun. Could it be possible, I thought, that + Agnew's hope had been realized, and that I had been carried into the warm + regions of the South Pacific Ocean? Yet in the South Pacific there could + be no place like this—no immeasurable expanse of waters, no horizon + raised mountain high. It seemed like a vast basin-shaped world, for all + around me the surface appeared to rise, and I was in what looked like a + depression; yet I knew that the basin and the depression were an illusion, + and that this appearance was due to the immense extent of level surface + with the environment of lofty mountains. I had crossed the antarctic + circle; I had been borne onward for an immense distance. Over all the + known surface of the earth no one had ever seen anything like this; there + were but two places where such an immeasurable plain was possible, and + those were at the flattened poles. Where I was I now knew well. I had + reached the antarctic pole. Here the earth was flat—an immense level + with no roundness to lessen the reach of the horizon but an almost even + surface that gave an unimpeded view for hundreds of miles. + </p> + <p> + The subterranean channel had rushed through the mountains and had carried + me here. Here came all the waters of the Northern ocean pouring into this + vast polar sea, perhaps to issue forth from it by some similar passage. + Here, then, was the South Pole—a world by itself: and how different + from that terrible, that iron land on the other side of the mountains!—not + a world of ice and frost, but one of beauty and light, with a climate that + was almost tropical in its warmth, and lands that were covered with the + rank luxuriance of a teeming vegetable life. I had passed from that outer + world to this inner one, and the passage was from death unto life, from + agony and despair to sunlight and splendor and joy. Above all, in all + around me that which most impressed me now was the rich and superabundant + life, and a warmth of air which made me think of India. It was an amazing + and an unaccountable thing, and I could only attribute it to the + flattening of the poles, which brought the surface nearer to the supposed + central fires of the earth, and therefore created a heat as great as that + of the equatorial regions. Here I found a tropical climate—a land + warmed not by the sun, but from the earth itself. Or another cause might + be found in the warm ocean currents. Whatever the true one might be, I was + utterly unable to form a conjecture. + </p> + <p> + But I had no time for such speculations as these. After the first emotions + of wonder and admiration had somewhat subsided, I began to experience + other sensations. I began to remember that I had eaten nothing for a + length of time that I had no means of calculating, and to look around to + see if there was any way of satisfying my hunger. The question arose now, + What was to be done? After my recent terrible experience I naturally + shrank from again committing myself to the tender mercies of strange + tribes; yet further thought and examination showed me that the people of + this strange land must be very different from those frightful savages on + the other side of the mountains. Everywhere I beheld the manifest signs of + cultivation and civilization. Still, I knew that even civilized people + would not necessarily be any kinder than savages, and that I might be + seized and flung into hopeless imprisonment or slavery. + </p> + <p> + So I hesitated, yet what could I do? My hunger was beginning to be + insupportable. I had reached a place where I had to choose between + starvation on the one hand, or a venture among these people on the other. + To go back was impossible. Who could breast those waters in the tremendous + subterranean channel, or force his way back through such appalling + dangers? Or, if that were possible, who could ever hope to breast those + mighty currents beyond, or work his way amid everlasting ice and + immeasurable seas? No; return was impossible. I had been flung into this + world of wonders, and here would be my home for the remainder of my days; + though I could not now imagine whether those days would be passed in peace + or in bitter slavery and sorrow. Yet the decision must be made and the + risk must be run. It must be so. I must land here, venture among these + people, and trust in that Providence which had hitherto sustained me. + </p> + <p> + Having thus resolved at all hazards to try my fate, I rowed in toward the + shore. Thus far I had seen galleys passing and small boats, but they had + taken no notice of me, for the reason that they were too far away to + perceive anything about me that differed from any other boat; but now, as + I rowed, I noticed a galley coming down toward me. She seemed to be going + in toward the shore at the very point at which I was aiming, and her + course and mine must soon meet if I continued to row. After some + hesitation I concluded to make signals to her, so as to attract attention; + for, now that I had resolved to venture among the people here, I was + anxious to end my suspense as soon as possible. So I continued rowing, and + gradually drew nearer. The galley was propelled by oars, of which there + were fifty on either side. The stem was raised, and covered in like a + cabin. At length I ceased rowing, and sat watching her. I soon saw that I + was noticed, but this did not occur till the galley was close by me—so + close, indeed, that I thought they would pass without perceiving me. I + raised my hands, waved them, and gave a cry. The galley at once stopped, a + boat was lowered, and some men descended and rowed toward me. + </p> + <p> + They were men of strange appearance—very small in stature and + slender in frame. Their hair was black and straight, their features were + quite regular, and their general expression was one of great gentleness. I + was surprised to notice that they kept their eyes almost closed, as though + they were weak and troubled by the glare of the sun. With their + half-closed eyes they blinked at me, and then one who appeared to be their + chief spoke to me. I understood not a word; and then I answered him in + English, which, of course, was equally unintelligible to him. I then made + signs, pointing to the mountains and endeavoring to make known to him that + I had come from beyond them—that I had suffered shipwreck, that I + had drifted here, and that I needed assistance. Of all this it was quite + evident that they understood nothing except the fact that I needed help. + The moment that they comprehended this they took me in tow and rowed back + to the galley. + </p> + <p> + I found the galley to be about one hundred and fifty feet in length. For + about two thirds of this length forward it was open and filled with seats, + where there were about a hundred rowers, who all looked like those that I + had first seen, all being of small stature, slender frames, and, moreover, + all being apparently distressed by the sunlight. There was in all of them + the same mild and gentle expression. In complexion and general outline of + features they were not unlike Arabs, but they were entirely destitute of + that hardness and austerity which the latter have. They all had beards, + which were dressed in a peculiar way in plaits. Their costume varied. The + rowers wore a coarse tunic, with a girdle of rope. The officers wore + tunics of fine cloth and very elegant mantles, richly embroidered, and + with borders of down. They all wore broad-brimmed hats, and the one who + seemed to be chief had on his some golden ornaments. + </p> + <p> + Here once more I tried to explain to them who I was. They looked at me, + examining me all over, inspecting my gun, pistol, coat, trousers, boots, + and hat, and talking all the time among themselves. They did not touch me, + but merely showed the natural curiosity which is felt at the sight of a + foreigner who has appeared unexpectedly. There was a scrupulous delicacy + and a careful and even ceremonious politeness in their attitude toward me + which was at once amazing and delightful. All fear and anxiety had now + left me; in the gentle manners and amiable faces of these people I saw + enough to assure me of kind treatment; and in my deep joy and gratitude + for this even my hunger was for a time forgotten. + </p> + <p> + At length the chief motioned to me to follow him. He led the way to the + cabin, where, opening the door, he entered, and I followed, after which + the others came in also and then the door was shut. At first I could see + nothing. There were no windows whatever, and only one or two slight + crevices through which the light came. After a time my eyes grew more + accustomed to the darkness, and I could see that the cabin was a spacious + compartment, adorned with rich hangings of some unknown material. There + was a large table and seats. Taking me by the hand, the chief led me to + this, where I seated myself, while the others remained standing. Then some + of them went away, and soon returned with food and drink. The food was of + different kinds—some tasting like goose, others like turkey, others + like partridge. It was all the flesh of fowls, though, judging from the + slices before me, they must have been of great size. I wondered much at + the behavior of the officers of the ship, who all, and the chief himself + more than all, stood and waited upon me; but it was a new world, and I + supposed that this must be the fashion; so I made no objections, but + accepted the situation and ate with a thankful heart. + </p> + <p> + As the first keenness of my appetite was satisfied I had more leisure to + make observations. I noticed that the eyes of my new friends no longer + blinked; they were wide open; and, so far as I could make them out, their + faces were much improved. Weakness of eyes seemed common among these + people, and therefore the officers had their cabin darkened, while the + unfortunate rowers had to labor in the blazing sun. Such was my + conclusion, and the fact reminded me of the miserable fellahin of Egypt, + who have ophthalmia from the blazing sun and burning sand. + </p> + <p> + After the repast they brought me water in a basin, and all stood around + me. One held the basin, another a towel, another a flask, another took a + sponge and proceeded to wash my face and hands. This was all strange to + me, yet there was nothing left for me but submission. Then the chief, who + had stood looking on with a smile on his face took off his rich furred + mantle and handed it to me. I was half inclined to refuse it, but was + afraid of giving offence, so I accepted it, and he himself fastened it + around my shoulders. The others seemed actually to envy the chief, as + though he had gained some uncommon good-fortune. Then they offered me + various drinks, of which I tasted several kinds. Some were sweet waters of + different flavors, others tasted like mild wine, one was a fermented + drink, light, sweet, and very agreeable to the palate. I now wished to + show my generous entertainers that I was grateful; so I raised my cup, + bowed to all of them, particularly the chief, and drank their health. They + all watched this ceremony with very sober faces, and I could not quite + make out whether they took my meaning or not. They certainly did not look + pleased, and it seemed to me as though they felt hurt at any expression of + gratitude, so I concluded for the future to abstain from all such + demonstrations. + </p> + <p> + Yet with every moment the manners of these people grew more bewildering. + It was strange, indeed, for me to find myself so suddenly the centre of + interest and of generous intentions. For a moment the thought occurred to + me that they regarded me as some wonderful being with superior powers, and + were trying to propitiate me by these services; yet I soon saw that these + services were not at all acts of propitiation; they looked rather like + those loving and profuse attentions which a family showers down upon some + dear one long absent and at last returned, and with this my wonder grew + greater than ever. + </p> + <p> + The galley had long since resumed her progress. I heard the steady beat of + the oars as they all moved in time, and at length the motion ceased. The + chief then signed to me and went out. I followed, and the rest came after. + And now as I emerged from the gloom of the cabin, I found myself once more + in the glorious light of day, and saw that we had reached the land. The + galley was hauled up alongside a stone quay, and on the shore there were + buildings and walls and trees and people. The chief went ashore at once + and I accompanied him. We walked for some distance along a road with stone + walls on either side, from behind which there arose trees that from a + distance had looked like palms. I now found them to be giant ferns, + arching overhead with their broad fanlike leaves and branches in dense + masses, making the roadway quite dark in the shadow. Astonished as I was + at the sight of these trees, I soon forgot them in a still more + astonishing sight, for after going onward about a hundred paces I stopped, + and found myself in a wide space where four cross-roads met. Here there + were three birds of gigantic stature. They had vast bodies, short legs, + short necks, and seemed as large as an ordinary-sized ox. Their wings were + short, and evidently could not be used for flight; their beaks were like + that of a sea-gull; each one had a man on his back, and was harnessed to a + car. The chief motioned to me to enter one of these cars. I did so. He + followed, and thereupon the driver started the bird, which set forth with + long, rapid strides, at a pace fast as that of a trotting horse. So + astonished was I that for some time I did not notice anything else; but at + length, when my first feeling had subsided, I began to regard other + objects. All the way the dense fern foliage arched overhead, throwing down + deep shadows. They grew on either side in dense rows, but between their + stalks I could see the country beyond, which lay all bright in the + sunlight. + </p> + <p> + Here were broad fields, all green with verdure; farther away arose clumps + of tree-ferns; at every step of the way new vistas opened; amid the + verdure and the foliage were the roofs of structures that looked like + pavilions, and more massive edifices with pyramidal roofs. Our road + constantly ascended, and at length we came to a crossing. This was a wide + terrace at the slope of the mountain; on the lower side was a row of + massive stone edifices with pyramidal roofs, while on the upper there were + portals which seemed to open into excavated caverns. Here, too, on either + side arose the giant ferns, overarching and darkening the terrace with + their deep shadow. From this point I looked back, and through the trunks + of the tree-ferns I could see fields and pavilions and the pyramidal roofs + of massive edifices, and broad, verdant slopes, while in the distance + there were peeps of the boundless sea. We continued on our way without + stopping, and passed several successive terraces like the first, with the + same caverns on the upper side and massive edifices on the lower, until at + last the ascent ended at the fifth terrace, and here we turned to the + left. Now the view became more varied. The tree-ferns arose on either + side, arching overhead; on my right were the portals that opened into + caverns, on my left solid and massive houses, built of great blocks of + stone, with pyramidal roofs. As far as I could judge, I was in a city + built on the slope of a mountain, with its streets formed thus of + successive terraces and their connecting cross-ways, one half its + habitations consisting of caverns, while the other half were pavilions and + massive stone structures. Few people, however, were to be seen. + Occasionally I saw one or two groping along with their eyes half shut, + seeking the darkest shadows; and it seemed to me that this extraordinary + race of men had some natural and universal peculiarity of eyesight which + made them shun the sunlight, and seek the darkness of caves and of dense, + overshadowing foliage. + </p> + <p> + At length we came to a place where the terrace ran back till it formed a + semicircle against the mountain slope, when several vast portals appeared. + Here there was a large space, where the tree-ferns grew in long lines + crossing each other, and making a denser shade than usual. On the lower + side were several stone edifices of immense size; and in the middle of the + place there arose a singular structure, shaped like a half pyramid, with + three sides sloping, and the fourth perpendicular, flat on the top, which + was approached by a flight of steps. We now went on until we reached the + central portal of the range of caverns, and here we stopped. The chief got + out and beckoned to me. I followed. He then led the way into the cavern, + while I, full of wonder, walked behind him. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII — SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCEPTICISM + </h2> + <p> + Thus far Melick had been reading the manuscript, but at this point he was + interrupted by the announcement that dinner was ready. Upon this he + stopped abruptly; for on board the Falcon dinner was the great event of + the day, and in its presence even the manuscript had to be laid aside. + Before long they were all seated around the dining-table in the sumptuous + cabin, prepared to discuss the repast which had been served up by the + genius of the French chef whom Lord Featherstone had brought with him. + </p> + <p> + Let us pause here for a moment to take a minuter survey of these four + friends. In the first place, there was Lord Featherstone himself, young, + handsome, languid, good-natured to a fault, with plenty of muscle if he + chose to exert it, and plenty of brain if he chose to make use of it—a + man who had become weary of the monotony of high life, and, like many of + his order, was fond of seeking relief from the ennui of prosperity amid + the excitements of the sea. Next to him was Dr. Congreve, a middle-aged + man, with iron-gray hair, short beard and mustache, short nose, gray eyes, + with spectacles, and stoutish body. Next came Noel Oxenden, late of + Trinity College, Cambridge, a college friend of Featherstone's—a + tall man, with a refined and intellectual face and reserved manner. + Finally, there was Otto Melick, a litterateur from London, about thirty + years of age, with a wiry and muscular frame, and the restless manner of + one who lives in a perpetual fidget. + </p> + <p> + For some time nothing was said; they partook of the repast in silence; but + at length it became evident that they were thinking of the mysterious + manuscript. Featherstone was the first to speak. + </p> + <p> + "A deuced queer sort of thing this, too," said he, "this manuscript. I + can't quite make it out. Who ever dreamed of people living at the South + Pole—and in a warm climate, too? Then it seems deuced odd, too, that + we should pick up this copper cylinder with the manuscript. I hardly know + what to think about it." + </p> + <p> + Melick smiled. "Why, it isn't much to see through," said he. + </p> + <p> + "See through what?" said the doctor, hastily, pricking up his ears at + this, and peering keenly at Melick through his spectacles. + </p> + <p> + "Why, the manuscript, of course." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the doctor, "what is it that you see? What do you make out of + it?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, anyone can see," said Melick, "that it's a transparent hoax, that's + all. You don't mean to say, I hope, that you really regard it in any other + light?" + </p> + <p> + "A transparent hoax!" repeated the doctor. "Will you please state why you + regard it in that light?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Melick. "Some fellow wanted to get up a sensation novel + and introduce it to the world with a great flourish of trumpets, and so he + has taken this way of going about it. You see, he has counted on its being + picked up, and perhaps published. After this he would come forward and own + the authorship." + </p> + <p> + "And what good would that do?" asked the doctor, mildly. "He couldn't + prove the authorship, and he couldn't get the copyright." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, of course not; but he would gain notoriety, and that would give him a + great sale for his next effort." + </p> + <p> + The doctor smiled. "See here, Melick," said he, "you've a very vivid + imagination, my dear fellow; but come, let us discuss this for a little + while in a common-sense way. Now how long should you suppose that this + manuscript has been afloat?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, a few months or so," said Melick. + </p> + <p> + "A few months!" said the doctor. "A few years you mean. Why, man, there + are successive layers of barnacles on that copper cylinder which show a + submersion of at least three years, perhaps more." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove! yes," remarked Featherstone. "Your sensation novelist must have + been a lunatic if he chose that way of publishing a book." + </p> + <p> + "Then, again," continued the doctor, "how did it get here?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, easily enough," answered Melick. "The ocean currents brought it." + </p> + <p> + "The ocean currents!" repeated the doctor. "That's a very vague + expression. What do you mean? Of course it has been brought here by the + ocean currents." + </p> + <p> + "Why, if it were thrown off the coast of England it would be carried away, + in the ordinary course of things, and might make the tour of the world." + </p> + <p> + "The ocean currents," said the doctor, "have undoubtedly brought this to + us. Of that I shall have more to say presently—but just now, in + reference to your notion of a sensation novelist, and an English origin, + let me ask your opinion of the material on which it is written. Did you + ever see anything like it before? Is it paper?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Melick; "it is evidently some vegetable substance. No doubt the + writer has had it prepared for this very purpose, so as to make it look + natural." + </p> + <p> + "Do you know what is is?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Then I'll tell you; it's papyrus." + </p> + <p> + "Papyrus?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, actual papyrus. You can find but little of that in existence at the + present day. It is only to be found here and there in museums. I know it + perfectly well, however, and saw what it was at the first glance. Now, I + hold that a sensation novelist would never have thought of papyrus. If he + didn't wish to use paper, he could have found a dozen other things. I + don't see how he could have found anyone able to prepare such a substance + as this for writing. It must have come from a country where it is actually + in use. Now, mark you, the papyrus-plant may still be found growing wild + on the banks of the upper Nile, and also in Sicily, and it is made use of + for ropes and other things of that sort. But as to making writing material + out of it, that is hardly possible for the art is lost. The ancient + process was very elaborate and this manuscript is written on leaves which + resembled in a marvellous manner those of the Egyptian papyrus books. + There are two rolls at Marseilles which I have seen and examined, and they + are identical with this. Now these papyrus leaves indicate much mechanical + skill, and have a professional look. They seem like the work of an + experienced manufacturer." + </p> + <p> + "I don't see," said Melick, obstinately, "why one shouldn't get papyrus + now and have it made up into writing material." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that's out of the question," said the doctor. "How could it ever + enter into anyone's head? How could your mere sensation-monger procure the + raw material? That of itself would be a work of immense difficulty. How + could he get it made up? That would be impossible. But, apart from this, + just consider the strong internal evidence that there is as to the + authenticity of the manuscript. Now, in the first place, there is the + description of Desolation Island, which is perfectly accurate. But it is + on his narrative beyond this that I lay chief stress. I can prove that the + statements here are corroborated by those of Captain Ross in his account + of that great voyage from which he returned not very long ago." + </p> + <p> + The doctor, who had been talking with much enthusiasm, paused here to take + breath, and then went on: + </p> + <p> + "I happen to know all about that voyage, for I read a full report of it + just before we started, and you can see for yourselves whether this + manuscript is credible or not. + </p> + <p> + "Captain James Clarke Ross was sent forth on his expedition in 1839. On + January 1, 1841, he passed the antarctic circle in 178 degrees east + longitude. On the 11th he discovered land in 70 degrees 41' south + latitude, 172 degrees 36' east longitude. He found that the land was a + continuous coast, trending southward, and rising to peaks of ten thousand + feet in height, all covered with ice and snow. On the 12th he landed and + took possession in the name of the Queen. After this he continued his + course as far as 78 degrees 4' south latitude, tracing a coast-line of six + hundred miles. Observe, now how all this coincides with More's narrative. + Well, I now come to the crowning statement. In 77 degrees 32' south + latitude, 167 degrees east longitude, he came in sight of two enormous + volcanoes over twelve thousand feet in height. One of these was in an + active state of eruption. To this he gave the name of Mount Erebus. The + other was quiet; it was of somewhat less height, and he gave it the name + of Mount Terror. Mark, now, how wonderfully this resembles More's account. + Well, just here his progress was arrested by a barrier which presented a + perpendicular wall of over a hundred and fifty feet in height, along which + he coasted for some distance. On the following year he penetrated six + miles farther south, namely, 78 degrees 11' south latitude, 161 degrees + 27' west longitude. At this point he was again stopped by the impassable + cliffs, which arose here like an eternal barrier, while beyond them he saw + a long line of lofty mountains covered with ice and snow." + </p> + <p> + "Did you hear the result of the American expedition?" asked Melick. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied the doctor. "Wilkes pretends to have found a continent, but + his account of it makes it quite evident to my mind that he saw nothing + but ice. I believe that Wilkes's antarctic continent will some day be + penetrated by ships, which will sail for hundreds of miles farther south. + All that is wanted is a favorable season. But mark the coincidence between + Ross's report and More's manuscript. This must have been written at least + three years ago, and the writer could not have known anything about Ross's + discoveries. Above all, he could not have thought of those two volcanoes + unless he had seen them." + </p> + <p> + "But these volcanoes mentioned by More are not the Erebus and Terror, are + they?" said Lord Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "Of course not; they are on the other side of the world." + </p> + <p> + "The whole story," said Melick, "may have been written by one of Ross's + men and thrown overboard. If I'd been on that expedition I should probably + have written it to beguile the time." + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said the doctor; "and you would also have manufactured the + papyrus and the copper cylinder on board to beguile the time." + </p> + <p> + "I dare say the writer picked up that papyrus and the copper cylinder in + China or Japan, and made use of it in this way." + </p> + <p> + "Where do you make out the position of More's volcanoes?" asked + Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "It is difficult to make it out accurately," said the doctor. "More gives + no data. In fact he had none to give. He couldn't take any observations." + </p> + <p> + "The fact is," said Melick, "it's not a sailor's yarn at all. No sailor + would ever express himself in that way. That's what struck me from the + first. It has the ring of a confounded sensation-monger all through." + </p> + <p> + The doctor elevated his eyebrows, but took no notice of this. + </p> + <p> + "You see," he continued, addressing himself to the others, "Desolation + Island is in 50 degrees south latitude and 70 degrees east longitude. As I + make out, More's course led him over about ten degrees of longitude in a + southwest course. That course depended altogether upon the ocean currents. + Now there is a great antarctic drift-current, which flows round the Cape + of Good Hope and divides there, one half flowing past the east coast of + Africa and the other setting across the Indian Ocean. Then it unites with + a current which flows round the south of Van Dieman's Land, which also + divides, and the southernmost current is supposed to cross the Pacific + until it strikes Cape Horn, around which it flows, dividing as before. Now + my theory is, that south of Desolation Island—I don't know how far—there + is a great current setting toward the South Pole, and running southwest + through degrees of longitude 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, east of Greenwich; + and finally sweeping on, it would reach More's volcanoes at a point which + I should judge to be about 80 degrees south latitude and 10 degrees west + longitude. There it passes between the volcanoes and bursts through the + vast mountain barrier by a subterranean way, which has been formed for it + in past ages by some primeval convulsion of nature. After this it probably + sweeps around the great South Polar ocean, and emerges at the opposite + side, not far from the volcanoes Erebus and Terror." + </p> + <p> + Here the doctor paused, and looked around with some self-complacency. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said Melick, "if you take that tone, you have us all at your mercy. + I know no more about the geography of the antarctic circle than I do of + the moon. I simply criticize from a literary point of view, and I don't + like his underground cavern with the stream running through it. It sounds + like one of the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. Nor do I like his + description; he evidently is writing for effect. Besides, his style is + vicious; it is too stilted. Finally, he has recourse to the stale device + of a sea-serpent." + </p> + <p> + "A sea-serpent!" repeated the doctor. "Well, for my part I feel by no + means inclined to sneer at a sea-serpent. Its existence cannot be proved, + yet it cannot be pooh-poohed. Every schoolboy knows that the waters of the + sea were once filled with monsters more tremendous than the greatest + sea-serpent that has ever been imagined. The plesiosaurus, with its + snakelike head, if it existed now, would be called a sea-serpent. Some of + these so-called fossil animals may have their representatives still living + in the remoter parts of the world. Think of the recently discovered + ornithorhynchus of Australia!" + </p> + <p> + "If you please, I'd really much rather not," said Melick with a gesture of + despair. "I haven't the honor of the gentleman's acquaintance." + </p> + <p> + "Well, what do you think of his notice of the sun, and the long light, and + his low position on the horizon?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that's all right," said Melick. "Anyone who chose to get up this + thing would of course read up about the polar day, and all that. Everyone + knows that at the poles there is a six-months' day, followed by a + six-months' night." + </p> + <p> + "You are a determined sceptic," said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "How is it about the polar day?" asked Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the doctor, "at the poles themselves there is one day of six + months, during which the sun never sets, and one night of six months, + during which he never rises. In the spaces between the polar circles the + quantities of the continuous day and continuous night vary in accordance + with the distance from the pole. At the north point of Nova Zembla, 75 + degrees north latitude, there is uninterrupted light from May 1st to + August 12th, and uninterrupted darkness from November 8th to February 9th. + At the arctic circle at the summer solstice the day is twenty-four hours + long. At the antarctic circle at the same time the night is twenty-four + hours long." + </p> + <p> + Upon this Melick filled the doctor's wine-glass with a great deal of + ceremony. + </p> + <p> + "After all those statistics," he said, "you must feel rather dry. You + should take a drink before venturing any further." + </p> + <p> + The doctor made no reply, but raised the glass to his lips and swallowed + the wine in an abstracted way. + </p> + <p> + "The thing that struck me most," said Oxenden, "in all that has been read + thus far, is the flatness of the South Pole, and the peculiar effect which + this produces on the landscape." + </p> + <p> + "I must say," added Melick, "that the writer has got hold of a very good + idea there, and has taken care to put it forward in a very prominent + fashion." + </p> + <p> + "What is the difference," asked Oxenden, "between the two diameters of the + earth, the polar and the equatorial? Is it known?" + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" said Featherstone, "that's the very question I was going to + ask. I've always heard that the earth is flattened at the poles, but never + knew how much. Is there any way by which people can find out?" + </p> + <p> + The doctor drew a long breath, and beamed upon the company with a + benevolent smile. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said he; "I can answer that question, if you care to know and + won't feel bored." + </p> + <p> + "Answer it, then, my dear fellow, by all means," said Featherstone, in his + most languid tone. + </p> + <p> + "There are two ways," said the doctor, "by which the polar compression of + the earth has been found out. One is by the measurement of arcs on the + earth's surface; the other is by experiments with pendulums or weights + with regard to the earth's gravity at different places. The former of + these methods is, perhaps, the more satisfactory. Measurements of arcs + have been made on a very extensive scale in different parts of the world—in + England, France, Lapland, Peru, and India. Mr. Ivory, who devoted himself + for years to an exhaustive examination of the subject, has deduced that + the equatorial radius of the earth is over 3962 miles, and the polar + radius over 3949 miles. This makes the depression at either pole upward of + thirteen miles. A depression of over thirteen miles, as you must plainly + see, should produce strange results in the scenery at the poles. Of + course, if there are mountains, no difference would be noticed between + this and any other part of the earth's surface; but if there is water, + why, we ought to expect some such state of things as More describes. The + gravitation test has also been tried, with very nearly the same result. + The surface of the earth at the equator, being farthest from the centre of + gravity, indicates the least weight in bodies; but at the poles, where the + surface is nearest the centre of gravity, there must be the greatest + weight. It is found, in fact, that the weight of bodies increases in + passing from the equator to the poles. By experiments made in this way the + polar compression is ascertained to be the same as I have mentioned." + </p> + <p> + "What effect would this have on the climate at the poles?" asked Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "That's a complicated question," said the doctor. "In answer to that we + must leave ascertained facts and trust to theories, unless, indeed, we + accept as valid the statements of this remarkable manuscript. For my own + part, I see no reason why it should not be as More says. Remember, this + polar world is thirteen miles nearer to the centre of the earth. Whether + this should affect the climate or not, depends upon the nature of the + earth's interior. That interior, according to the popular theory of the + present day is a mass of fire. This theory affirms that the earth was once + a red-hot mass, which has cooled down; but the cooling process has only + taken place on the surface, leaving the interior still a molten mass of + matter in a state of intense heat and combustion. At the poles the surface + is thus thirteen miles nearer to these tremendous fires. Of course it may + be supposed that the earth's crust is of about equal thickness on all + parts; yet still, even if this be so, thirteen miles ought to make some + difference. Now at the North Pole there seem to be causes at work to + counterbalance the effect of the internal heat, chiefly in the enormous + accumulation of polar ice which probably hems it in on every side; and + though many believe in an open polar sea of warm water at the North Pole, + yet still the effect of vast ice-masses and of cold submarine currents + must be to render the climate severe. But at the South Pole it is + different. The observations of Ross and of More show us that there is a + chain of mountains of immense height, which seem to encircle the pole. If + this be so, and I see no reason to disbelieve it, then the ice of the + outer seas must be kept away altogether from that strange inner sea of + which More speaks. Ross saw the volcanoes Erebus and Terror; More saw two + others. How many more there may be it is impossible to say; but all this + shows that the effect of the earth's internal fires is very manifest in + that region, and More has penetrated to a secluded world, which lies apart + by itself, free from the influence of ice-masses, left to feel the effect + of the internal fires, and possessing what is virtually a tropical + climate." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Melick, "there is no theory however wild and fantastic, which + some man of science will not be ready to support and to fortify by endless + arguments, all of the most plausible kind. For my own part, I still + believe More and his south polar world to be no more authentic than + Sindbad the Sailor." + </p> + <p> + But the others evidently sympathized with the doctor's view, and regarded + Melick as carrying his scepticism to an absurd excess. + </p> + <p> + "How large do you suppose this south polar ocean to be?" asked + Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to answer that question exactly," said the doctor. "It + may be, as More hints, a thousand miles in extent, or only five hundred, + or two hundred. For my own part, however, I feel like taking More's + statements at their utmost value; and the idea that I have gathered from + his narrative is that of a vast sea like the Mediterranean, surrounded by + impassable mountains, by great and fertile countries, peopled with an + immense variety of animals, with a fauna and flora quite unlike those of + the rest of the world; and, above all, with great nations possessing a + rare and unique civilization, and belonging to a race altogether different + from any of the known races of men." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Melick, "that at least is the idea which the writer of the + manuscript tries to convey." + </p> + <p> + By this time they had finished dinner. + </p> + <p> + "And now," said Featherstone, "let's have some more of the manuscript. + Melick is tired of it, I dare say. I would relieve him, but I'm an + infernally bad reader. Doctor, what do you say? Will you read the next + instalment!" + </p> + <p> + "With all my heart," said the doctor, briskly. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then," said Featherstone; "we will all be your attentive + hearers." + </p> + <p> + And now the doctor took up the manuscript and began to read. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII — THE CAVE-DWELLERS + </h2> + <p> + The cavern into which the chief led me was very spacious, but had no light + except that which entered through the portal. It was with difficulty that + I could see anything, but I found that there were many people here moving + about, all as intent upon their own pursuits as those which one encounters + in the streets of our cities. As we went on farther the darkness + increased, until at last I lost sight of the chief altogether, and he had + to come back and lead me. After going a little farther we came to a long, + broad passage-way like a subterranean street, about twenty feet in width, + and as many in height. Here there were discernible a few twinkling lamps, + which served to make the darkness less intense and enabled me to see the + shadowy figures around. These were numerous, and all seemed busy, though + what their occupation might be I could not guess. I was amazed at the + extent of these caverns, and at the multitude of the people. I saw also + that from the nature of their eyes the sunlight distressed them, and in + this cavern gloom they found their most congenial dwelling-place. From + what I had thus far seen, this extraordinary people shrank from the + sunlight; and when they had to move abroad they passed over roads which + were darkened as much as possible by the deep shadows of mighty ferns, + while for the most part they remained in dark caverns, in which they lived + and moved and had their being. It was a puzzle to me whether the weakness + of their eyes had caused this dislike of light, or the habit of + cave-dwelling had caused this weakness of eyes. Here, in this darkness, + where there was but a faint twinkle from the feeble lamps, their eyes + seemed to serve them as well as mine did in the outer light of day; and + the chief, who outside had moved with an uncertain step, and had blinked + painfully at objects with his eyes almost closed, now appeared to be in + his proper element; and while I hesitated like a blind man and groped + along with a faltering step, he guided me, and seemed to see everything + with perfect vision. + </p> + <p> + At length we stopped, and the chief raised up a thick, heavy mat which + hung like an unwieldly curtain in front of a doorway. This the chief + lifted. At once a blaze of light burst forth, gleaming into the dark, and + appearing to blind him. His eyes closed. He held up the veil for me to + pass through. I did so. He followed, and then groped his way slowly along, + while I accompanied and assisted him. + </p> + <p> + I now found myself in a large grotto with an arched roof, from which was + suspended an enormous lamp, either golden or gilded. All around were + numerous lamps. The walls were adorned with rich hangings; couches were + here, with soft cushions, and divans and ottomans; soft mats were on the + floor, and everything gave indications of luxury and wealth. Other doors, + covered with overhanging mats, seemed to lead out of this grotto. To one + of these the chief walked, and raising the mat he led the way into another + grotto like the last, with the same bright lights and the same adornments, + but of smaller size. Here I saw someone who at once took up all my + attention. + </p> + <p> + It was a young maiden. Her face and form, but especially her eyes, showed + her to be of quite a different race from these others. To me she was of + medium height, yet she was taller than any of the people here that I had + hitherto seen. Her complexion was much lighter; her hair was dark, + luxuriant, and wavy, and arranged in a coiffure secured with a golden + band. Her features were of a different cast from those of the people here, + for they were regular in outline and of exquisite beauty; her nose was + straight; she had a short upper lip, arched eyebrows finely pencilled, + thin lips, and well-rounded chin. But the chief contrast was in her eyes. + These were large, dark, liquid, with long lashes, and with a splendid glow + in their lustrous depths. She stood looking at me with her face full of + amazement; and as I caught the gaze of her glorious eyes I rejoiced that I + had at last found one who lived in the light and loved it—one who + did not blink like a bat, but looked me full in the face, and allowed me + to see all her soul revealed. The chief, who still was pained by the glare + of light, kept his eyes covered, and said a few hasty words to the maiden. + After this he hurried away, leaving me there. + </p> + <p> + The maiden stood for a moment looking at me. As the chief spoke to her a + change came over her face. She looked at me in silence, with an expression + of sad and mournful interest, which seemed to increase every moment. At + length she approached and said something in the same strange language + which the chief had used. I shook my head and replied in English, + whereupon she shook her head with a look of perplexity. Then, anxious to + conciliate her, I held out my hand. She looked at it in some surprise. + Upon this I took her hand, and pressed it to my lips, feeling, however, + somewhat doubtful as to the way in which she might receive such an + advance. To my great delight she accepted it in a friendly spirit, and + seemed to consider it my foreign fashion of showing friendship and + respect. She smiled and nodded, and pointed to my gun, which thus far I + had carried in my hand. I smiled and laid it down. Then she pointed to a + seat. I sat down, and then she seated herself close by me, and we looked + at each other in mutual wonder and mutual inquiry. + </p> + <p> + I was full of amazement at thus meeting with so exquisite a being, and + lost myself in conjectures as to her race, her office, and her position + here. Who was she, or what? She was unlike the others, and reminded me of + those Oriental beauties whose portraits I had seen in annuals and + illustrated books. Her costume was in keeping with such a character. She + wore a long tunic that reached from the neck to the ground, secured at the + waist with a golden girdle; the sleeves were long and loose; over this she + had a long mantle; on her feet were light slippers, white and glistening. + All about her, in her room and in her costume, spoke of light and splendor + and luxury. To these others who shrank so from the light she could not be + related in any way. The respect with which she was treated by the chief, + the peculiar splendor of her apartments, seemed to indicate some high + rank. Was she, then, the queen of the land? Was she a princess? I could + not tell. At any rate, whatever she was, she seemed anxious to show me the + utmost attention. Her manner was full of dignity and sweet graciousness, + and she appeared particularly anxious to make herself understood. At first + she spoke in a language that sounded like that of the chief, and was full + of gutturals and broad vowels; afterward she spoke in another that was far + more euphonious. I, on the other hand spoke in English and in French; but + of course I was as unintelligible to her as she was to me. + </p> + <p> + Language was, therefore, of no use. It was necessary to go back to first + principles and make use of signs, or try to gain the most elementary words + of her language; so first of all I pointed to her, and tried to indicate + that I wanted to know her name. She caught my meaning at once, and, + pointing to herself, she looked fixedly at me and said, "Almah, Almah!" + </p> + <p> + I repeated these words after her, saying, "Almah, Almah!" She smiled and + nodded, and then pointed to me with a look of inquiry that plainly asked + for my name. I said "Adam More." She repeated this, and it sounded like + "A-tam-or." But as she spoke this slowly her smile died away. She looked + anxious and troubled, and once more that expression of wondering sadness + came over her face. She repeated my name over and over in this way with a + mournful intonation that thrilled through me, and excited forebodings of + evil. "Atamor, Atamor!" And always after that she called me "Atamor." + </p> + <p> + But now she sat for some time, looking at me with a face full of pity and + distress. At this I was greatly astonished; for but a moment before she + had been full of smiles, and it was as though something in my name had + excited sorrowful thoughts. Yet how could that be, since she could never + by any possibility have heard my name before? The beautiful Almah seemed + to be not altogether happy, or why should she be so quick to sadness? + There was a mystery about all this which was quite unaccountable. + </p> + <p> + It was a singular situation, and one which excited within me feelings of + unutterable delight. This light and splendor, this warmth and peace—what + a contrast it offered to the scenes through which I had but lately passed! + Those scenes of horror, of ice and snow, of storm and tempest, of cold and + hunger, of riven cliff and furious ocean stream, and, above all, that + crowning agony in the bleak iron-land of the cannibals—from all + these I had escaped. I had been drawn down under the earth to experience + the terrors of that unspeakable passage, and had at last emerged to light + and life, to joy and hope. In this grotto I had found the culmination of + all happiness. It was like a fairy realm; and here was one whose very look + was enough to inspire the most despairing soul with hope and peace and + happiness. The only thing that was now left to trouble me was this + mournful face of Almah. Why did she look at me with such sad interest and + such melancholy meaning? Did she know of any evil fate in store for me? + Yet how could there be any evil fate to be feared from people who had + received me with such unparalleled generosity? No, it could not be; so I + resolved to try to bring back again the smile that had faded out of her + face. + </p> + <p> + I pointed to her, and said, "Almah." + </p> + <p> + She said, "Atam-or." + </p> + <p> + And the smile did not come back, but the sadness remained in her face. + </p> + <p> + My eager desire now was to learn her language, and I resolved at once to + acquire as many words and phrases as possible. I began by asking the names + of things, such as "seat," "table," "mat," "coat," "hat," "shoe," "lamp," + "floor," "wall," and all the common objects around. She gave all the + names, and soon became so deeply interested that her sadness departed, and + the smile came back once more. For my own part, I was always rather quick + at learning languages. I had a correct ear and a retentive memory; in my + wanderings round the world I had picked up a smattering of many languages, + such as French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, German, Hindoostanee, and a few + others. The words which I learned from Almah had a remote resemblance to + Arabic; and, in fact, my knowledge of Arabic was actually of some + assistance, though how it was that these people should have a language + with that resemblance was certainly a mystery, and I did not try to solve + it. The beautiful Almah soon grew immensely interested in my efforts to + learn, and also in the English words which I gave when I pointed to any + object. + </p> + <p> + Thus I pointed to myself, and said "Man," then pointing to her, I said, + "Woman." She laughed, and pointing to me said "Iz," and pointing to + herself said, "Izza." Then I pointed to the row of lights, and said + "Light;" she did the same, and said, "Or." Then her face grew mournful, + and she pointed to me, saying "Atam-or." It struck me then that there was + some chance resemblance between "or," the word meaning "light," and one of + the syllables of my name as she pronounced it, and that this might cause + her sadness; but as I could make out nothing of this, I dismissed the + thought, and went on with my questions. This took up the time, until at + length someone appeared who looked like a servant. He said something, + whereupon Almah arose and beckoned to me to follow. I did so, and we went + to a neighboring apartment, where there was spread a bounteous repast. + Here we sat and ate, and Almah told me the names of all the dishes. After + dinner we returned to the room. + </p> + <p> + It was a singular and a delightful position. I was left alone with the + beautiful Almah, who herself showed the utmost graciousness and the + kindest interest in me. I could not understand it, nor did I try to; it + was enough that I had such a happy lot. For hours we thus were together, + and I learned many words. To insure remembrance, I wrote them down in my + memorandum-book with a pencil and both of these were regarded by Almah + with greatest curiosity. She felt the paper, inspected it, touched it with + her tongue, and seemed to admire it greatly; but the pencil excited still + greater admiration. I signed to her to write in the book. She did so, but + the characters were quite unlike anything that I had ever seen. They were + not joined like our writing and like Arabic letters, but were separate + like our printed type, and were formed in an irregular manner. She then + showed me a book made of a strange substance. It was filled with + characters like those which she had just written. The leaves were not at + all like paper, but seemed like some vegetable product, such as the leaves + of a plant or the bark of a tree. They were very thin, very smooth, all + cut into regular size, and fastened together by means of rings. This + manuscript is written upon the same material. I afterward found that it + was universally used here, and was made of a reed that grows in marshes. + </p> + <p> + Here in these vast caverns there was no way by which I could tell the + progress of time, but Almah had her own way of finding out when the hours + of wakeful life were over. She arose and said, "Salonla." This I afterward + found out to be common salutation of the country. I said it after her. She + then left me. Shortly afterward a servant appeared, who took me to a room, + which I understood to be mine. Here I found everything that I could wish, + either for comfort or luxury; and as I felt fatigue, I flung myself upon + the soft bed of down, and soon was sound asleep. + </p> + <p> + I slept for a long time. When I awoke I heard sounds in the distance, and + knew that people were moving. Here in these caverns there was no + difference between day and night, but, by modes of which I was ignorant, a + regular succession was observed of waking times and sleeping times. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX — THE CAVERN OF THE DEAD + </h2> + <p> + On going forth into the outer grotto I saw the table spread with a + sumptuous repast, and the apartment in a blaze of light. Almah was not + here; and though some servants made signs for me to eat, yet I could not + until I should see whether she was coming or not. I had to wait for a long + time, however; and while I was waiting the chief entered, shading his eyes + with his hand from the painful light. He bowed low with the most profound + courtesy, saying, "Salonla," to which I responded in the same way. He + seemed much pleased at this, and made a few remarks, which I did not + understand; whereupon, anxious to lose no time in learning the language, I + repeated to him all the words I knew, and asked after others. I pointed to + him and asked his name. He said, "Kohen." This, however, I afterward found + was not a name, but a title. The "Kohen" did not remain long, for the + light was painful. After his departure I was alone for some time, and at + length Almah made her appearance. I sprang to meet her, full of joy, and + took her hand in both of mine and pressed it warmly. She smiled, and + appeared quite free from the melancholy of the previous day. + </p> + <p> + We ate our breakfast together, after which we went out into the world of + light, groping our way along through the dark passages amid the busy + crowd. Almah could see better than I in the darkness; but she was far from + seeing well, and did not move with that easy step and perfect certainty + which all the others showed. Like me, she was a child of light, and the + darkness was distressing to her. As we went on we were seen by all, but + were apparently not considered prisoners. On the contrary, all looked at + us with the deepest respect, and bowed low or moved aside, and + occasionally made little offerings of fruit or flowers to one or the other + of us. It seemed to me that we were treated with equal distinction; and if + Almah was their queen, I, their guest, was regarded with equal honor. + Whatever her rank might be, however, she was to all appearance the most + absolute mistress of her own actions, and moved about among all these + people with the independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank. + </p> + <p> + At length we emerged into the open air. Here the contrast to the cavern + gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and splendor, so + that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which had seemed so dark + when I was here before, it now appeared light and cheerful. Almah turned + to the right, and we walked along the terrace. But few people were + visible. They shrank from the light, and kept themselves in the caverns. + Then after a few steps we came to the base of a tall half-pyramid, the + summit of which was above the tops of the trees. I pointed to this, as + though I wished to go up. Almah hesitated for a moment, and seemed to + shrink back, but at length, overcoming her reluctance, began the ascent. A + flight of stony steps led up. On reaching the top, I found it about thirty + feet long by fifteen wide, with a high stone table in the middle. At that + moment, however, I scarce noticed the pyramid summit, and I only describe + it now because I was fated before long to see it with different feelings. + What I then noticed was the vast and wondrous display of all the glories + of nature that burst at once upon my view. There was that same boundless + sea, rising up high toward the horizon, as I had seen it before, and + suggesting infinite extent. There were the blue waters breaking into foam, + the ships traversing the deep, the far-encircling shores green in + vegetation, the high rampart of ice-bound mountains that shut in the land, + making it a world by itself. There was the sun, low on the horizon, which + it traversed on its long orbit, lighting up all these scenes till the + six-months day should end and the six-months night begin. + </p> + <p> + For a long time I stood feasting my eyes upon all this splendor, and at + length turned to see whether Almah shared my feelings. One look was + enough. She stood absorbed in the scene, as though she were drinking in + deep draughts of all this matchless beauty. I felt amazed at this; I saw + how different she seemed from the others, and could not account for it. + But as yet I knew too little of the language to question her, and could + only hope for a future explanation when I had learned more. + </p> + <p> + We descended at length and walked about the terrace and up and down the + side streets. All were the same as I had noticed before—terraced + streets, with caverns on one side and massive stone structures on the + other. I saw deep channels, which were used as drains to carry down + mountain torrents. I did not see all at this first walk, but I inspected + the whole city in many subsequent walks until its outlines were all + familiar. I found it about a mile long and about half a mile wide, + constructed in a series of terraces, which rose one above another in a + hollow of the mountains round a harbor of the sea. On my walks I met with + but few people on the streets, and they all seemed troubled with the + light. I saw also occasionally some more of those great birds, the name of + which I learned from Almah; it was "opkuk." + </p> + <p> + For some time my life went on most delightfully. I found myself surrounded + with every comfort and luxury. Almah was my constant associate, and all + around regarded us with the profoundest respect. The people were the + mildest, most gentle, and most generous that I had ever seen. The Kohen + seemed to pass most of his time in making new contrivances for my + happiness. This strange people, in their dealings with me and with one + another, seemed animated by a universal desire to do kindly acts; and the + only possible objection against them was their singular love of darkness. + </p> + <p> + My freedom was absolute. No one watched me. Almah and I could go where we + chose. So far as I could perceive, we were quite at liberty, if we wished, + to take a boat and escape over the sea. It seemed also quite likely that + if we had ordered out a galley and a gang of oarsmen, we should have been + supplied with all that we might want in the most cheerful manner. Such a + thought, however, was absurd. Flight! Why should I think of flying? + </p> + <p> + I had long ago lost all idea of time; and here, where it was for the + present perpetual day, I was more at a loss than ever. I supposed that it + was somewhere in the month of March, but whether at the beginning or the + end I could not tell. The people had a regular system of wake-time and + sleep-time, by which they ordered their lives; but whether these + respective times were longer or shorter than the days and nights at home I + could not tell at that time, though I afterward learned all about it. On + the whole, I was perfectly content—nay, more, perfectly happy; more + so, indeed, than ever in my life, and quite willing to forget home and + friends and everything in the society of Almah. While in her company there + was always one purpose upon which I was most intent, and that was to + master the language. I made rapid progress, and while she was absent I + sought out others, especially the Kohen, with whom to practice. The Kohen + was always most eager to aid me in every conceivable way or to any + conceivable thing; and he had such a gentle manner and showed such + generous qualities that I soon learned to regard him with positive + affection. + </p> + <p> + Almah was always absent for several hours after I rose in the morning, and + when she made her appearance it was with the face and manner of one who + had returned from some unpleasant task. It always took some time for her + to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed. I soon felt a deep + curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and office here, and as my + knowledge of the language increased I began to question her. My first + attempts were vain. She looked at me with indescribable mournfulness and + shook her head. This, however, only confirmed me in my suspicions that her + duties, whatever they might be, were of a painful nature; so I urged her + to tell me, and asked her as well as I could if I might not share them or + help her in some way. To all this, however, she only returned sighs and + mournful looks for an answer. It seemed to me, from her manner and from + the general behavior of the people, that there was no express prohibition + on my learning anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after + this, I besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she + refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more of + the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and effect, + until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections. + </p> + <p> + "It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I do + not wish to lessen your happiness. But you must know all soon; and so, if + you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you may come the + next jom." + </p> + <p> + This meant the next day, jom being the division of time corresponding with + our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot all + about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next jom I arose sooner + than usual and went forth. I found Almah waiting for me. She looked + troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile. + </p> + <p> + "You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you still + wish it, why, I will take you with me." + </p> + <p> + At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went through + the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep. Then we + went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day which here knew + no night, but prolonged itself into months. For a while Almah stood + looking forth between the trees to where the bright sunlight sparkled on + the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to the left. I followed. On + coming to the next portal she went in. I followed, and found myself in a + rough cavern, dark and forbidding. Traversing this we came to an inner + doorway, closed with a heavy mat. This she raised, and passed through, + while I went in after her. + </p> + <p> + I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which + served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous extent. + Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a hundred feet. + Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone steps. All around, as + far as I could see in the obscure light, there were niches in the walls, + each one containing a figure with a light burning at its feet. I took them + for statues. Almah pointed in silence to one of these which was nearest, + and I went up close so as to see it. + </p> + <p> + The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no statue + that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelled human form—a hideous + sight. It was dark and dried; it was fixed in a sitting posture, with its + hands resting on its knees, and its hollow eyes looking forward. On its + head was the mockery of a wreath of flowers, while from its heart there + projected the handle and half of the blade of a knife which had been + thrust there. What was the meaning of this knife? It seemed to tell of a + violent death. Yet the flowers must surely be a mark of honor. A violent + death with honor, and the embalmed remains—these things suggested + nothing else than the horrid thought of a human sacrifice. I looked away + with eager and terrible curiosity. I saw all the niches, hundreds upon + hundreds, all filled with these fearful occupants. I turned again with a + sinking heart to Almah. Her face was full of anguish. + </p> + <p> + "This is my duty," said she. "Every jom I must come here and crown these + victims with fresh flowers." + </p> + <p> + A feeling of sickening horror overwhelmed me. Almah had spoken these words + and stood looking at me with a face of woe. This, then, was that daily + task from which she was wont to return in such sadness—an abhorrent + task to her, and one to which familiarity had never reconciled her. What + was she doing here? What dark fate was it that thus bound this child of + light to these children of darkness? or why was she thus compelled to + perform a service from which all her nature revolted? I read in her face + at this moment a horror equal to my own; and at the sight of her distress + my own was lessened, and there arose within me a profound sympathy and a + strong desire to do something to alleviate her misery. + </p> + <p> + "This is no place for you," continued Almah. "Go, and I will soon join + you." + </p> + <p> + "No," said I, using her language after my own broken fashion—"no, I + will not go—I will stay, I will help, if you will permit." + </p> + <p> + She looked at me earnestly, and seemed to see that my resolution was + firmly fixed, and that I was not to be dissuaded from it. + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said she; "if you do stay and help me, it will be a great + relief." + </p> + <p> + With these simple words she proceeded to carry out her work. At the foot + of the pyramid there was a heap of wreaths made out of fresh flowers, and + these were to be placed by her on the heads of the embalmed corpses. + </p> + <p> + "This work," said she, "is considered here the highest and most honorable + that can be performed. It is given to me out of kindness, and they cannot + understand that I can have any other feelings in the performance than + those of joy and exultation—here among the dead and in the dark." + </p> + <p> + I said nothing, but followed and watched her, carrying the wreaths and + supplying her. She went to each niche in succession, and after taking the + wreath off each corpse she placed a fresh one on, saying a brief formula + at each act. By keeping her supplied with wreaths I was able to lighten + her task, so much so that, whereas it usually occupied her more than two + hours, on the present occasion it was finished in less than half an hour. + She informed me that those which she crowned were the corpses of men who + had been sacrificed during the present season—by season meaning the + six months of light; and that though many more were here, yet they wore + crowns of gold. At the end of ten years they were removed to public + sepulchres. The number of those which had to be crowned by her was about a + hundred. Her work was only to crown them, the labor of collecting the + flowers and weaving the wreaths and attending to the lamps being performed + by others. + </p> + <p> + I left this place with Almah, sad and depressed. She had not told me why + these victims had been sacrificed, nor did I feel inclined to ask. A dark + suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath all their amiable + ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of a frightful kind; and + that beyond all my present brightness and happiness there might be a fate + awaiting me too horrible for thought. Yet I did not wish to borrow + trouble. What I had seen and heard was quite enough for one occasion. I + was anxious, rather, to forget it all. Nor did Almah's words or manner in + any way reassure me. She was silent and sad and preoccupied. It was as + though she knew the worst, and knowing it, dared not speak; as though + there was something more horrible which she dared not reveal. For my part, + I feared it so that I dared not ask. It was enough for me just then to + know that my mild and self-denying and generous entertainers were addicted + to the abhorrent custom of human sacrifices. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X — THE SACRED HUNT + </h2> + <p> + On that very jom the Kohen informed me that they were about to set forth + on the "sacred hunt," an event which always occurred toward the end of the + season, and he kindly invited me to go. I, eager to find any relief from + the horrible thoughts that had taken possession of me, and full of longing + for active exertion, at once accepted the invitation. I was delighted to + hear Almah say that she too was going; and I learned at the same time that + in this strange land the women were as fond of hunting as the men, and + that on such occasions their presence was expected. + </p> + <p> + The sacred hunt was certainly a strange one. I saw that it was to take + place on the water; for a great crowd, numbering over a hundred, went down + to the harbor and embarked on board a galley, on which there were a + hundred others, who served as rowers. The hunters were all armed with + long, light javelins and short swords. Some of these were offered to me, + for as yet no one supposed that my rifle and pistol were instruments of + destruction, or anything else than ornaments. My refusal to accept their + weapons created some surprise, but with their usual civility they did not + press their offers further. It was evident that this hunting expedition + was only made in obedience to some hallowed custom; for the light of the + sun pained their eyes, and all their movements were made with uncertainty + and hesitation. With these a hunt by sunlight is the same as a hunt by + night would be with us. There was the same confusion and awkwardness. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen was in command. At his word the galley started, and the rowers + pulled out to sea with long, regular strokes. I was anxious to know what + the expedition was aimed at, and what were the animals that we expected to + get; but I could not make out Almah's explanations. Her words suggested + something of vague terror, vast proportions, and indescribable ferocity; + but my ignorance of the language prevented me from learning anything more. + </p> + <p> + We went along the coast for a few miles, and then came to the mouth of a + great river, which seemed to flow from among the mountains. The current + was exceedingly swift, and as I looked back it seemed to me that it must + be the very stream which had borne me here into this remote world. I + afterward found out that this was so—that this stream emerges from + among the mountains, flowing from an unknown source. It was over this that + I had been borne in my sleep, after I had emerged from the subterranean + darkness, and it was by this current that I had been carried into the open + sea. As we crossed the estuary of this river I saw that the shores on + either side were low, and covered with the rankest vegetation; giant trees + of fern, vast reeds and grasses, all arose here in a dense growth + impassable to man. Upon the shallow shores the surf was breaking; and here + in the tide I saw objects which I at first supposed to be rocks, but + afterward found out to be living things. They looked like alligators, but + were far larger than the largest alligators known to us, besides being of + far more terrific aspect. Toward these the galley was directed, and I now + saw with surprise that these were the objects of the sacred hunt. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, as the galley was moving along at half-speed, there arose out of + the water a thing that looked like the folds of a giant hairy serpent, + which, however, proved to be the long neck of an incredible monster, whose + immense body soon afterward appeared above the water. With huge fins he + propelled himself toward us; and his head, twenty feet in the air, was + poised as though about to attack. The head was like that of an alligator, + the open jaws showed a fearful array of sharp teeth, the eyes were + fiercely glowing, the long neck was covered with a coarse, shaggy mane, + while the top of the body, which was out of the water, was incased in an + impenetrable cuirass of bone. Such a monster as this seemed unassailable, + especially by men who had no missile weapons, and whose eyes were so dim + and weak. I therefore expected that the galley would turn and fly from the + attack, for the monster itself seemed as large as our vessel; but there + was not the slightest thought of flight. On the contrary, every man was on + the alert; some sprang to the bow and stood there, awaiting the first + shock; others, amidship, stood waiting for the orders of the Kohen. + Meanwhile the monster approached, and at length, with a sweep of his long + neck, came down upon the dense crowd at the bows. A dozen frail lances + were broken against his horny head, a half-dozen wretches were seized and + terribly torn by those remorseless jaws. Still none fled. All rushed + forward, and with lances, axes, knives, and ropes they sought to destroy + the enemy. Numbers of them strove to seize his long neck. In the ardor of + the fight the rowers dropped their oars and hurried to the scene, to take + part in the struggle. The slaughter was sickening, but not a man quailed. + Never had I dreamed of such blind and desperate courage as was now + displayed before my horror-stricken eyes. Each sought to outdo the other. + They had managed to throw ropes around the monster's neck, by which he was + held close to the galley. His fierce movements seemed likely to drag us + all down under the water; and his long neck, free from restraint, writhed + and twisted among the struggling crowd of fighting men, in the midst of + whom was the Kohen, as desperate and as fearless as any. + </p> + <p> + All this had taken place in a very short space of time, and I had scarce + been able to comprehend the full meaning of it all. As for Almah, she + stood pale and trembling, with a face of horror. At last it seemed to me + that every man of them would be destroyed, and that they were all throwing + their lives away to no purpose whatever. Above all, my heart was wrung for + the Kohen, who was there in the midst of his people, lifting his frail and + puny arm against the monster. I could endure inaction no longer. I had + brought my arms with me, as usual; and now, as the monster raised his + head, I took aim at his eye and fired. The report rang out in thunder. + Almah gave a shriek, and amid the smoke I saw the long, snake-like neck of + the monster sweeping about madly among the men. In the water his vast tail + was lashing the surface of the sea, and churning it into foam. Here I once + more took aim immediately under the fore-fin, where there was no scaly + covering. Once more I fired. This time it was with fatal effect; and after + one or two convulsive movements the monster, with a low, deep bellow, let + his head fall and gasped out his life. + </p> + <p> + I hurried forward. There lay the frightful head, with its long neck and + shaggy mane, while all around was a hideous spectacle. The destruction of + life had been awful. Nineteen were dead, and twenty-eight were wounded, + writhing in every gradation of agony, some horribly mangled. The rest + stood staring at me in astonishment, not understanding those peals of + thunder that had laid the monster low. There was no terror or awe, however—nothing + more than surprise; and the Kohen, whose clothes were torn into shreds and + covered with blood, looked at me in bewilderment. I said to him, out of my + small stock of words, that the wounded ought at once to be cared for. At + this he turned away and made some remarks to his men. + </p> + <p> + I now stood ready to lend my own services, if needful. I expected to take + a part in the tender attentions which were the due of these gallant souls, + who had exhibited such matchless valor; these men who thought nothing of + life, but flung it away at the command of their chief without dreaming of + flight or of hesitation. Thus I stood looking on in an expectant attitude, + when there came a moment in which I was simply petrified with horror; for + the Kohen drew his knife, stooped over the wounded man nearest him, and + then stabbed him to the heart with a mortal wound. The others all + proceeded to do the same, and they did it in the coolest and most + business-like manner, without any passion, without any feeling of any + kind, and, indeed, with a certain air of gratification, as though they + were performing some peculiarly high and sacred duty. The mildness and + benevolence of their faces seemed actually heightened, and the + perpetration of this unutterable atrocity seemed to affect these people in + the same way in which the performance of acts of humanity might affect us. + </p> + <p> + For my own part, I stood for a few moments actually motionless from + perplexity and horror; then, with a shriek, I rushed forward as if to + prevent it; but I was too late. The unutterable deed was done, and the + unfortunate wounded, without an exception, lay dead beside their slain + companions. As for myself, I was only regarded with fresh wonder, and they + all stood blinking at me with their half-closed eyes. Suddenly the Kohen + fell prostrate on his knees before me, and bowing his head handed me his + bloody knife. + </p> + <p> + "Atam-or," said he, "give me also the blessing of darkness and death!" + </p> + <p> + At these strange words, following such actions, I could say nothing. I was + more bewildered than ever, and horror and bewilderment made me dumb. I + turned away and went aft to Almah, who had seen it all. She looked at me + with an anxious gaze, as if to learn what the effect of all this had been + on me. I could not speak a word, but with a vague sense of the necessity + of self-preservation, I loaded my rifle, and tried in vain to make out + what might be the meaning of this union of gentleness and kindness with + atrocious cruelty. Meanwhile, the men all went to work upon various tasks. + Some secured lines about the monster so as to tow it astern; others busied + themselves with the corpses, collecting them and arranging them in rows. + At length we returned, towing the monster astern. + </p> + <p> + I could not speak until I was back again in the lighted rooms and alone + with Almah; then I told her, as well as I could, the horror that I felt. + </p> + <p> + "It was honor to those brave men," said she. + </p> + <p> + "Honor!" said I. "What! to kill them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said she; "it is so with these people; with them death is the + highest blessing. They all love death and seek after it. To die for + another is immortal glory. To kill the wounded was to show that they had + died for others. The wounded wished it themselves. You saw how they all + sought after death. These people were too generous and kind-hearted to + refuse to kill them after they had received wounds." + </p> + <p> + At this my perplexity grew deeper than ever, for such an explanation as + this only served to make the mystery greater. + </p> + <p> + "Here," said she, "no one understands what it is to fear death. They all + love it and long for it; but everyone wishes above all to die for others. + This is their highest blessing. To die a natural death in bed is avoided + if possible." + </p> + <p> + All this was incomprehensible. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me, Almah," I said—"you hate darkness as I do—do you not + fear death?" + </p> + <p> + "I fear it above all things," said Almah. "To me it is the horror of life; + it is the chief of terrors." + </p> + <p> + "So it is with me," said I. "In my country we call death the King of + Terrors." + </p> + <p> + "Here," said Almah, "they call death the Lord of Joy." + </p> + <p> + Not long after, the Kohen came in, looking as quiet, as gentle, and as + amiable as ever. He showed some curiosity about my rifle, which he called + a sepet-ram, or "rod of thunder." Almah also showed curiosity. I did not + care to explain the process of loading it to the Kohen, though Almah had + seen me load it in the galley, and I left him to suppose that it was used + in some mysterious way. I cautioned him not to handle it carelessly, but + found that this caution only made him the more eager to handle it, since + the prospect of an accident found an irresistible attraction. I would not + let it go out of my own hands, however; and the Kohen, whose self-denial + was always most wonderful to me, at once checked his curiosity. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI — THE SWAMP MONSTER + </h2> + <p> + A few joms after, I was informed by the Kohen that there was to be another + sacred hunt. At first I felt inclined to refuse, but on learning that + Almah was going, I resolved to go also; for Almah, though generally + mistress of her actions, had nevertheless certain duties to perform, and + among these was the necessity of accompanying hunting-parties. I did not + yet understand her position here, nor had I heard from her yet how it was + that she was so different from the rest of them. That was all to be + learned at a future time. For the present I had to be satisfied with + knowing that she belonged to a different nation, who spoke a different + language, and that all her thoughts and feelings were totally different + from those of the people among whom she was living. She loved the light, + she feared death, and she had never been able in the slightest degree to + reconcile herself to the habits of these people. This I could readily + understand, for to me it seemed as though they lived in opposition to + nature itself. + </p> + <p> + We went out into the daylight, and then I saw a sight which filled me with + amazement. I saw a flock of birds larger than even the opkuks. They were + called "opmahera." They seemed as tall as giraffes, and their long legs + indicated great powers of running. Their wings were very short, and not + adapted for flight. They were very tractable, and were harnessed for + riding in a peculiar way; lines like reins were fastened to the wings, and + the driver, who sat close by the neck, guided the bird in this way. Each + bird carried two men, but for Almah and me there was a bird apiece. An + iron prod was also taken by each driver as a spur. I did not find out + until afterward how to drive. At that time the prospect of so novel a ride + was such an exciting one that I forgot everything else. The birds seemed + quiet and docile. I took it for granted that mine was well trained, and + would go with the others of his own accord. We all mounted by means of a + stone platform which stood by the pyramid, and soon were on our way. + </p> + <p> + The speed was amazing; the fastest race-horse at home is slow compared + with this. It was as swift as an ordinary railway train, if not more so. + For some minutes the novelty of my situation took away all other thoughts, + and I held the reins in my hands without knowing how to use them. But this + mattered not, for the well-trained bird kept on after the others, while + Almah on her bird was close behind me. The pace, as I said, was + tremendous, yet no easier motion can be imagined. The bird bounded along + with immense leaps, with wings outstretched, but its feet touched the + ground so lightly that the motion seemed almost equal to flying. We did + not confine ourselves to the roads, for the birds were capable of going + over any kind of country in a straight line. On this occasion we passed + over wide fields and rocky mountain ridges and deep swamps and sand wastes + at the same speed, until at length we reached a vast forest of dense + tree-ferns, where the whole band stopped for a short time, after which we + took up a new direction, moving on more slowly. The forest grew up out of + a swamp, which extended as far as the eye could reach from the sea to the + mountains. Along the edge of this forest we went for some time, until at + length there came a rushing, crackling sound, as of something moving there + among the trees, crushing down everything in its progress. We halted, and + did not have to wait long; for soon, not far away, there emerged from the + thick forest a figure of incredible size and most hideous aspect. + </p> + <p> + It looked like one of those fabled dragons such as may be seen in + pictures, but without wings. It was nearly a hundred feet in length, with + a stout body and a long tail, covered all over with impenetrable scales. + It hind-legs were rather longer than its fore-legs, and it moved its huge + body with ease and rapidity. Its feet were armed with formidable claws. + But its head was most terrific. It was a vast mass of bone, with enormous + eyes that glared like fire; its jaws opened to the width of six or eight + feet, and were furnished with rows of sharp teeth, while at the extremity + of its nose there was a tusk several feet long, like the horn of a + rhinoceros, curving backward. All this I took in at the first glance, and + the next instant the whole band of hunters, with their usual recklessness, + flung themselves upon the monster. + </p> + <p> + For a short time all was the wildest confusion—an intermingling of + birds and men, with the writhing and roaring beast. With his huge claws + and his curved horn and his wide jaws he dealt death and destruction all + around; yet still the assailants kept at their work. Many leaped down to + the ground and rushed close up to the monster, thrusting their lances into + the softer and more unprotected parts of his body; while others, guiding + their birds with marvellous dexterity, assailed him on all sides. The + birds, too, were kept well to their work; nor did they exhibit any fear. + It was not until they were wounded that they sought to fly. Still, the + contest seemed too unequal. The sacrifice of life was horrible. I saw men + and birds literally torn to pieces before my eyes. Nevertheless, the utter + fearlessness of the assailants confounded me. In spite of the slaughter, + fresh crowds rushed on. They clambered over his back, and strove to drive + their lances under his bony cuirass. In the midst of them I saw the Kohen. + By some means he had reached the animal's back, and was crawling along, + holding by the coarse shaggy mane. At length he stopped, and with a sudden + effort thrust his lance into the monster's eye. The vast beast gave a low + and terrible howl; his immense tail went flying all about; in his pain he + rolled over and over, crushing underneath him in his awful struggles all + who were nearest. I could no longer be inactive. I raised my rifle, and as + the beast in his writhings exposed his belly I took aim at the soft flesh + just inside his left fore-leg, and fired both barrels. + </p> + <p> + At that instant my bird gave a wild, shrill scream and a vast bound into + the air, and then away it went like the wind—away, I know not where. + That first bound had nearly jerked me off; but I managed to avoid this and + now instinctively clung with all my might to the bird's neck, still + holding my rifle. The speed of the bird was twice as great as it had been + before—as the speed of a runaway horse surpasses that of the same + horse when trotting at his ordinary rate and under control. I could + scarcely make out where I was going. Rocks, hills, swamps, fields, trees, + sand, and sea all seemed to flash past in one confused assemblage, and the + only thought in my mind was that I was being carried to some remote + wilderness, to be flung there bruised and maimed among the rocks, to + perish helplessly. Every moment I expected to be thrown, for the progress + of the bird was not only inconceivably swift, but it also gave immense + leaps into the air; and it was only its easy mode of lighting on the + ground after each leap that saved me from being hurled off. As it was, + however, I clung instinctively to the bird's neck, until at last it came + to a stop so suddenly that my hands slipped, and I fell to the ground. + </p> + <p> + I was senseless for I know not how long. When at last I revived I found + myself propped up against a bank, and Almah bathing my head with cold + water. Fortunately, I had received no hurt. In falling I had struck on my + head, but it was against the soft turf, and though I was stunned, yet on + regaining my senses no further inconvenience was experienced. The presence + of Almah was soon explained. The report of the rifle had startled her bird + also, which had bounded away in terror like mine; but Almah understood how + to guide him, and managed to keep him after me, so as to be of assistance + in case of need. She had been close behind all the time, and had stopped + when I fell, and come to my assistance. + </p> + <p> + The place was a slope looking out upon an arm of the sea, and apparently + remote from human abode. The scenery was exquisitely beautiful. A little + distance off we saw the edge of the forest; the open country was dotted + with clumps of trees; on the other side of the arm of the sea was an easy + declivity covered with trees of luxuriant foliage and vast dimensions; + farther away on one side rose the icy summits of impassable mountains; on + the other side there extended the blue expanse of the boundless sea. The + spot where I lay was over-shadowed by the dense foliage of a tree which + was unlike anything that I had ever seen, and seemed like some exaggerated + grass; at our feet a brook ran murmuring to the shore; in the air and all + around were innumerable birds. + </p> + <p> + The situation in which I found myself seemed inexpressibly sweet, and all + the more so from the gentle face of Almah. Would it not be well, I + thought, to remain here? Why should Almah go back to her repulsive duties? + Why should we return to those children of blood, who loved death and + darkness? Here we might pass our days together unmolested. The genial + climate would afford us warmth; we needed no shelter except the trees, and + as for food, there were the birds of the air in innumerable flocks. + </p> + <p> + I proposed this to her; she smiled sadly. "You forget," said she, "this + season of light will not last much longer. In a few more joms the dark + season will begin, and then we should perish in a place like this." + </p> + <p> + "Are there no caverns here?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no. This country has no inhabitants. It is full of fierce wild beasts. + We should be destroyed before one jom." + </p> + <p> + "But must we go back?" said I. "You have a country. Where is it? See, here + are these birds. They are swift. They can carry us anywhere. Come, let us + fly, and you can return to your own country." + </p> + <p> + Almah shook her head. "These birds," said she, "cannot go over the sea, or + through these endless forests. My country can only be reached by sea." + </p> + <p> + "Can we not hurry back, seize a boat, and go? I know how to sail over the + water without oars." + </p> + <p> + "We certainly might leave the country; but there is another difficulty. + The dark season is coming, and we should never be able to find our way. + Besides, the sea is full of monsters, and you and I would perish." + </p> + <p> + "At any rate, let us try. I have my sepet-ram." + </p> + <p> + "We could never find our way." + </p> + <p> + "Only tell me," said I, "where it lies, and I will go by the stars." + </p> + <p> + "The trouble is," said she, "that even if we did succeed in reaching my + land, I should be sent back again; for I was sent here as a sacred + hostage, and I have been here four seasons." + </p> + <p> + But in the midst of this conversation a sound arrested our attention—heavy, + puffing, snorting sound, as of some living thing. Hastily I started up, + rifle in hand, and looked; and as I looked I felt my nerves thrill with + horror. There, close by the shore, I saw a vast form—a living thing—full + sixty feet in length. It had a body like that of an elephant, the head of + a crocodile, and enormous glaring eyes. Its immense body was covered with + impenetrable armor, and was supported on legs long enough to allow it to + run with great speed. It differed in many respects from the monster of the + swamp—the legs being longer, the tail shorter and thinner, and its + head and jaws larger and longer. I shrank back, thinking of seizing Almah + and hiding. But I saw that she had already taken the alarm, and with more + presence of mind than I had she had hurried to the birds, who were + standing near, and had made them lie down. As I turned, she beckoned to me + without a word. I hurried to her. She told me to mount. I did so at once; + she did the same. Scarce had we mounted than the monster perceived us, and + with a terrible bellow came rushing toward us. Almah drove her goad deep + into her bird, which at once rose and went off like the wind, and mine + started to follow. The vast monster came on. His roar sounded close + behind, and I heard the clash of his tremendous jaws; but the swift bird + with a bound snatched me from his grasp, and bore me far away out of his + reach. Away I went like the wind. Almah was ahead, looking back from time + to time, and waving her hand joyously. So we went on, returning on our + course at a speed almost as great as that with which we had come. By this + time the novelty had in part worn away, and the easy motion gave me + confidence. I noticed that we were travelling a wild, uninhabited, and + rocky district by the sea-side. Before me the country spread far away, + interspersed with groves, terminating in forests, and bounded in the far + distance by mountains. The country here was so rough that it seemed as if + nothing could pass over it except such creatures as these—the + opmaheras. + </p> + <p> + At length we arrived at the spot which we had left—the scene of the + hunt. We could see it from afar, for the opmaheras stood quietly around, + and the men were busy elsewhere. As we drew nearer I saw the vast body of + the monster. They had succeeded in killing it, yet—oh heavens, at + what a cost! One half of all the party lay dead. The rest were unharmed, + and among these was the Kohen. He greeted me with a melancholy smile. That + melancholy smile, however, was not caused by the sad fate of his brave + companions, but, as I afterward learned, simply and solely because he + himself had not gained his death. When I saw that there were no wounded, a + dark suspicion came over me that the wounded had again been put to death. + I did not care to ask. The truth was too terrible to hear, and I felt glad + that accident had drawn me away. It was all a dark and dreadful mystery. + These people were the most gentle, the most self-sacrificing, and the most + generous in the world; yet their strange and unnatural love of death made + them capable of endless atrocities. Life and light seemed to them as + actual evils, and death and darkness the only things worthy of regard. + </p> + <p> + Almah told me that they were going to bring the monster home, and had sent + for opkuks to drag it along. The dead were also to be fetched back. There + was no further necessity for us to remain, and so we returned at once. + </p> + <p> + On the way, Almah said, "Do not use the sepet-ram again. You can do no + good with it. You must not make it common. Keep it. The time may come when + you will need it: you are not fond of death." + </p> + <p> + I shuddered. + </p> + <p> + "Never forget," she said, "that here death is considered the chief + blessing. It is useless for you to interfere in their ways. You cannot + change them." + </p> + <p> + Some more joms passed. The bodies were embalmed, and Almah had more + victims to crown with garlands in the horrible cheder nebilin. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII — THE BALEFUL SACRIFICE + </h2> + <p> + I resolved to go on no more sacred hunts. I was sickened at the horrible + cruelty, the needless slaughter, the mad self-sacrifice which + distinguished them. I was overwhelmed with horror at the merciless + destruction of brave comrades, whose wounds, so gallantly received, should + have been enough to inspire pity even in a heart of stone. The gentleness, + the incessant kindness, the matchless generosity of these people seemed + all a mockery. What availed it all when the same hand that heaped favors + upon me, the guest, could deal death without compunction upon friends and + relatives? It seemed quite possible for the Kohen to kill his own child, + or cut the throat of his wife, if the humor seized him. And how long could + I hope to be spared among a people who had this insane thirst for blood? + </p> + <p> + Some more joms had passed, and the light season had almost ended. The sun + had been sinking lower and lower. The time had at last come when only a + portion of his disk would be visible for a little while above the hills, + and then he would be seen no more for six months of our time. This was the + dark season, and, as I had already learned, its advent was always hailed + with joy and celebrated with solemn services, for the dark season freed + them from their long confinement, permitted them to go abroad, to travel + by sea and land, to carry on their great works, to indulge in all their + most important labors and favorite amusements. The Kohen asked me to be + present at the great festival, and I gladly consented. There seemed to be + nothing in this that could be repellent. As I was anxious to witness some + of their purely religious ceremonies, I wished to go. When I told Almah, + she looked sad, but said nothing. I wondered at this, and asked her if she + was going. She informed me that she would have to go, whereupon I assured + her that this was an additional reason why I should go. + </p> + <p> + I went with Almah. The Kohen attended us with his usual kind and gracious + consideration. It seemed almost as though he was our servant. He took us + to a place where we could be seated, although all the others were + standing. Almah wished to refuse, but I prevailed upon her to sit down, + and she did so. + </p> + <p> + The scene was upon the semicircular terrace in front of the cavern, and we + were seated upon a stone platform beside the chief portal. A vast crowd + was gathered in front. Before us arose the half-pyramid of which I have + already spoken. The light was faint. It came from the disk of the sun, + which was partly visible over the icy crest of the distant mountains. Far + away the sea was visible, rising high over the tops of the trees, while + overhead the brighter stars were plainly discernible. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen ascended the pyramid, and others followed. At the base there was + a crowd of men, with emaciated forms and faces, and coarse, squalid + attire, who looked like the most abject paupers, and seemed the lowest in + the land. As the Kohen reached the summit there arose a strange sound—a + mournful, plaintive chant, which seemed to be sung chiefly by the paupers + at the base of the pyramid. The words of this chant I could not make out, + but the melancholy strain affected me in spite of myself. There was no + particular tune, and nothing like harmony; but the effect of so many + voices uniting in this strain was very powerful and altogether + indescribable. In the midst of this I saw the crowd parting asunder so as + to make way for something; and through the passage thus formed I saw a + number of youths in long robes, who advanced to the pyramid, singing as + they went. Then they ascended the steps, two by two, still singing, and at + length reached the summit, where they arranged themselves in order. There + were thirty of them and they arranged themselves in three rows of ten + each, and as they stood they never ceased to sing, while the paupers below + joined in the strain. + </p> + <p> + And now the sun was almost hidden, and there was only the faintest line + from the upper edge of his disk perceptible over the icy mountain-tops. + The light was a softened twilight glow. It was to be the last sight of the + sun for six months, and this was the spectacle upon which he threw his + parting beam. So the sun passed away, and then there came the beginning of + the long dark season. At first, however, there was rather twilight than + darkness, and this twilight continued long. All this only served to + heighten the effect of this striking scene; and as the light faded away, I + looked with increasing curiosity upon the group at the top of the pyramid. + Almah was silent. I half turned, and said something to her about the + beauty of the view. She said nothing, but looked at me with such an + expression that I was filled with amazement. I saw in her face something + like a dreadful anticipation—something that spoke of coming evil. + The feeling was communicated to me, and I turned my eyes back to the group + on the pyramid with vague fears in my soul. + </p> + <p> + Those fears were but too well founded, for now the dread ceremony began. + The Kohen drew his knife, and placed himself at the head of the stone + table. One of the youths came forward, stepped upon it, and lay down on + his back with his head toward the Kohen. The mournful chant still went on. + Then the Kohen raised his knife and plunged it into the heart of the + youth. I sat for a moment rooted to the spot; then a groan burst from me + in spite of myself. Almah caught my hands in hers, which were as cold as + ice. + </p> + <p> + "Be firm," she said, "or we are both lost. Be firm, Atam-or!" + </p> + <p> + "I must go," said I, and I tried to rise. + </p> + <p> + "Don't move," she said, "for your life! We are lost if you move. Keep + still—restrain yourself—shut your eyes." + </p> + <p> + I tried to do so, but could not. There was a horrible fascination about + the scene which forced me to look and see all. The Kohen took the victim, + and drawing it from the altar, threw it over the precipice to the ground + beneath. Then a loud shout burst forth from the great crowd. "Sibgu + Sibgin! Ranenu! Hodu lecosck!" which means, "Sacrifice the victims! + Rejoice! Give thanks to darkness!" + </p> + <p> + Then another of the youths went forward amid the singing, and laid himself + down to meet the same fate; and again the corpse was flung from the top of + the pyramid, and again the shout arose. All the others came forward in the + same manner. Oh, horrible, horrible, thrice horrible spectacle! I do not + remember how I endured it. I sat there with Almah, trying to restrain + myself as she had entreated me, more for her sake than for my own, a prey + to every feeling of horror, anguish, and despair. How it all ended I do + not know, nor do I know how I got away from the place; for I only remember + coming back to my senses in the lighted grotto, with Almah bending + anxiously over me. + </p> + <p> + After this there remained a dark mystery and an ever-present horror. I + found myself among a people who were at once the gentlest of the human + race and the most blood-thirsty—the kindest and the most cruel. This + mild, amiable, and self-sacrificing Kohen, how was it possible that he + should transform himself to a fiend incarnate? And for me and for Almah, + what possible hope could there be? What fate might they have in reserve + for us? Of what avail was all this profound respect, this incessant desire + to please, this attention to our slightest wish, this comfort and luxury + and splendor, this freedom of speech and action? Was it anything better + than a mockery? Might it not be the shallow kindness of the priest to the + victim reserved for the sacrifice? Was it, after all, in any degree better + than the kindness of the cannibal savages on those drear outer shores who + received us with such hospitality, but only that they might destroy us at + last? Might they not all belong to the same race, dwelling as they did in + caverns, shunning the sunlight, and blending kindness with cruelty? It was + an awful thought! + </p> + <p> + Yet I had one consolation. Almah was with me, and so long as she was + spared to me I could endure this life. I tried for her sake to resist the + feelings that were coming over me. I saw that she too was a prey to + ever-deepening sadness. She felt as I did, and this despair of soul might + wreck her young life if there were no alleviation. And so I sought to + alleviate her distress and to banish her sadness. The songs of these + people had much impressed me; and one day, as I talked about this with + Almah, she brought forth a musical instrument of peculiar shape, which was + not unlike a guitar, though the shape was square and there were a dozen + strings. Upon this she played, singing at the same time some songs of a + plaintive character. An idea now occurred to me to have an instrument made + according to my own plans, which should be nothing less than a violin. + Almah was delighted at the proposal, and at once found a very clever + workman, who under my direction succeeded in producing one which served my + purpose well. I was a good violinist, and in this I was able to find + solace for myself and for Almah for many a long hour. + </p> + <p> + The first time that I played was memorable. As the tones floated through + the air they caught the ears of those outside, and soon great numbers came + into the apartment, listening in amazement and in rapt attention. Even the + painful light was disregarded in the pleasure of this most novel + sensation, and I perceived that if the sense of sight was deficient among + them, that of hearing was sufficiently acute. I played many times, and + sometimes sang from among the songs of different nations; but those which + these people liked best were the Irish and Scottish melodies—those + matchless strains created by the genius of the Celtic race, and handed + down from immemorial ages through long generations. In these there was + nothing artificial, nothing transient. They were the utterance of the + human heart, and in them there was that touch of nature which makes all + men kin. These were the immortal passions which shall never cease to + affect the soul of man, and which had power even here; the strains of + love, of sadness, and of pathos were sweet and enticing to this gentle + race; for in their mild manners and their outburst of cruelty they seemed + to be not unlike the very race which had created this music, since the + Celt is at once gentle and blood-thirsty. + </p> + <p> + I played "Tara," "Bonnie Doon," "The Last Rose of Summer," "The Land of + the Leal," "Auld Lang Syne," "Lochaber." They stood entranced, listening + with all their souls. They seemed to hunger and thirst after this music, + and the strains of the inspired Celtic race seemed to come to them like + the revelation of the glory of heaven. Then I played more lively airs. + Some I played a second time, singing the words. They seemed eager to have + the same one played often. At last a grisly thought came to me: it was + that they would learn these sweet strains, and put their own words to them + so as to use them at the awful sacrifices. After that I would play no + more. + </p> + <p> + It is a land of tender love and remorseless cruelty. Music is all-powerful + to awaken the one, but powerless to abate the other; and the eyes that + weep over the pathetic strains of "Lochaber" can gaze without a tear upon + the death-agonies of a slaughtered friend. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII — THE AWFUL "MISTA KOSEK" + </h2> + <p> + The terrible sacrifice marked the end of the light season. The dark season + had now begun, which would last for half the coming year. No more sunlight + would now be visible, save at first for a few joms, when at certain times + the glare would be seen shooting up above the icy crests of the mountains. + Now the people all moved out of the caverns into the stone houses on the + opposite side of the terraces, and the busy throng transferred themselves + and their occupations to the open air. This with them was the season of + activity, when all their most important affairs were undertaken and + carried out; the season, too, of enjoyment, when all the chief sports and + festivals took place. Then the outer world all awoke to life; the streets + were thronged, fleets of galleys came forth from their moorings, and the + sounds of labor and of pleasure, of toil and revelry, arose into the + darkened skies. Then the city was a city of the living, no longer silent, + but full of bustle, and the caverns were frequented but little. This + cavern life was only tolerable during the light season, when the sun-glare + was over the land; but now, when the beneficent and grateful darkness + pervaded all things, the outer world was infinitely more agreeable. + </p> + <p> + To me, however, the arrival of the dark season brought only additional + gloom. I could not get rid of the thought that I was reserved for some + horrible fate, in which Almah might also be involved. We were both aliens + here, in a nation of kind-hearted and amiable miscreants—of + generous, refined, and most self-denying fiends; of men who were highly + civilized, yet utterly wrong-headed and irreclaimable in their + blood-thirsty cruelty. The stain of blood-guiltiness was over all the + land. What was I, that I could hope to be spared? The hope was madness, + and I did not pretend to indulge it. + </p> + <p> + The only consolation was Almah. The manners of these people were such that + we were still left as unconstrained as ever in our movements, and always, + wherever we went, we encountered nothing but amiable smiles and courteous + offices. Everyone was always eager to do anything for us—to give, to + go, to act, to speak, as though we were the most honored of guests, the + pride of the city. The Kohen was untiring in his efforts to please. He was + in the habit of making presents every time he came to see me, and on each + occasion the present was of a different kind; at one time it was a new + robe of curiously wrought feathers, at another some beautiful gem, at + another some rare fruit. He also made incessant efforts to render my + situation pleasant, and was delighted at my rapid progress in acquiring + the language. + </p> + <p> + On the jom following the sacrifice I accompanied Almah as she went to her + daily task, and after it was over I asked when the new victims would be + placed here. "How long does it take to embalm them?" I added. + </p> + <p> + Almah looked at me earnestly. "They will not bring them here; they will + not embalm them," said she. + </p> + <p> + "Why not?" I asked; "what will they do with them?" + </p> + <p> + "Do not ask," said she. "It will pain you to know." + </p> + <p> + In spite of repeated solicitation she refused to give me any satisfaction. + I felt deeply moved at her words and her looks. What was it, I wondered, + that could give me pain? or what could there still be that could excite + fear in me, who had learned and seen so much? I could not imagine. It was + evidently some disposal of the bodies of the victims—that was plain. + Turning this over in my mind, with vague conjectures as to Almah's + meaning, I left her and walked along the terrace until I came to the next + cavern. This had never been open before, and I now entered through + curiosity to see what it might be. I saw a vast cavern, quite as large as + the cheder nebilin, full of people, who seemed to be engaged in decorating + it. Hundreds were at work, and they had brought immense tree-ferns, which + were placed on either side in long rows, with their branches meeting and + interlacing at the top. It looked like the interior of some great Gothic + cathedral at night, and the few twinkling lights that were scattered here + and there made the shadowy outline just visible to me. + </p> + <p> + I asked one of the bystanders what this might be, and he told me that it + was the Mista Kosek, which means the "Feast of Darkness," from which I + gathered that they were about to celebrate the advent of the dark season + with a feast. From what I knew of their character this seemed quite + intelligible, and there was much beauty and taste in the arrangements. All + were industrious and orderly, and each one seemed most eager to assist his + neighbor. Indeed, there seemed to be a friendly rivalry in this which at + times amounted to positive violence; for more than once when a man was + seen carrying too large a burden, someone else would insist on taking it + from him. At first these altercations seemed exactly like the quarrels of + workmen at home, but a closer inspection showed that it was merely the + persistent effort of one to help another. + </p> + <p> + I learned that the feast was to take place as soon as the hall was + decorated, and that it would be attended by a great multitude. I felt a + great interest in it. There seemed something of poetic beauty in this mode + of welcoming the advent of a welcome season, and it served to mitigate the + horrible remembrance of that other celebration, upon which I could not + think without a shudder. I thought that it would be pleasant to join with + them here, and resolved to ask Almah to come with me, so that she might + explain the meaning of the ceremonies. Full of this thought, I went to her + and told her my wish. She looked at me with a face full of amazement and + misery. In great surprise I questioned her eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Ask me nothing," said she. "I will answer nothing; but do not think of + it. Do not go near it. Stay in your room till the fearful repast is over." + </p> + <p> + "Fearful? How is it fearful?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "Everything here is fearful," said Almah, with a sigh. "Every season it + grows worse, and I shall grow at length to hate life and love death as + these people do. They can never understand us, and we can never understand + them. Oh, if I could but once more stand in my own dear native land but + for one moment—to see once more the scenes and the faces that I love + so well! Oh, how different is this land from mine! Here all is dark, all + is terrible. There the people love the light and rejoice in the glorious + sun, and when the dark season comes they wait, and have no other desire + than long day. There we live under the sky, in the eye of the sun. We + build our houses, and when the dark season comes we fill them with lamps + that make a blaze like the sun itself." + </p> + <p> + "We must try to escape," I said, in a low voice. + </p> + <p> + "Escape!" said she. "That is easy enough. We might go now; but where?" + </p> + <p> + "Back," said I, "to your own country. See, the sky is dotted with stars: I + can find my way by them." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said she, "if I could only tell you where to go; but I cannot. My + country lies somewhere over the sea, but where, I know not. Over the sea + there are many lands, and we might reach one even worse than this." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," said I, "the Kohen might allow us to go away to your country, + and send us there. He is most generous and most amiable. He seems to spend + most of his time in efforts to make us happy. There must be many seamen in + this nation who know the way. It would be worth trying." + </p> + <p> + Almah shook her head. "You do not understand these people," said she. + "Their ruling passion is the hatred of self, and therefore they are eager + to confer benefits on others. The only hope of life that I have for you + and for myself is in this, that if they kill us they will lose their most + agreeable occupation. They value us most highly, because we take + everything that is given us. You and I now possess as our own property all + this city and all its buildings, and all the people have made themselves + our slaves." + </p> + <p> + At this I was utterly bewildered. + </p> + <p> + "I don't understand," said I. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose not," said Almah; "but you will understand better after you + have been here longer. At any rate, you can see for yourself that the + ruling passion here is self-denial and the good of others. Everyone is + intent upon this, from the Kohen up to the most squalid pauper." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Up</i> to the most squalid pauper?" said I. "I do not understand you. + You mean <i>down</i> to the most squalid pauper." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Almah; "I mean what I say. In this country the paupers form the + most honored and envied class." + </p> + <p> + "This is beyond my comprehension," said I. "But if this is really so, and + if these people pretend to be our slaves, why may we not order out a + galley and go?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well, with you in your land, if a master were to order his slaves to + cut his throat and poison his children and burn his house, would the + slaves obey?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not." + </p> + <p> + "Well, our slaves here would not—in fact could not—obey a + command that would be shocking to their natures. They think that we are in + the best of all lands, and my request to be sent home would be utterly + monstrous." + </p> + <p> + "I suppose," said I, "they would kill us if we asked them to do so?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Almah; "for they think death the greatest blessing." + </p> + <p> + "And if at the point of death we should beg for life, would they spare + us?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not," said Almah. "Would you kill a man who asked for death? No + more would these people spare a man who asked for life." + </p> + <p> + All this was so utterly incomprehensible that I could pursue the subject + no further. I saw, however, that Almah was wretched, dejected, and + suffering greatly from home-sickness. Gladly would I have taken her and + started off on a desperate flight by sea or land—gladly would I have + dared every peril, although I well knew what tremendous perils there were; + but she would not consent, and believed the attempt to be useless. I could + only wait, therefore, and indulge the hope that at last a chance of escape + might one day come, of which she would be willing to avail herself. + </p> + <p> + Almah utterly refused to go to the feast, and entreated me not to go; but + this only served to increase my curiosity, and I determined to see it for + myself, whatever it was. She had seen it, and why should not I? Whatever + it might be, my nerves could surely stand the shock as well as hers. + Besides, I was anxious to know the very worst; and if there was anything + that could surpass in atrocity what I had already witnessed, it were + better that I should not remain in ignorance of it. + </p> + <p> + So at length, leaving Almah, I returned to the hall of the feast. I found + there a vast multitude, which seemed to comprise the whole city—men, + women, children, all were there. Long tables were laid out. The people + were all standing an waiting. A choir was singing plaintive strains that + sounded like the chant of the sacrifice. Those nearest me regarded me with + their usual amiable smiles, and wished to conduct me to some place of + honor; but I did not care about taking part in this feast. I wished to be + a mere spectator, nothing more. I walked past and came to the next cavern. + This seemed to be quite as large as the other. There was a crowd of people + here also, and at one end there blazed an enormous fire. It was a furnace + that seemed to be used for cooking the food of this banquet, and there was + a thick steam rising from an immense cauldron, while the air was filled + with an odor like that of a kitchen. + </p> + <p> + All this I took in at a glance, and at the same instant I saw something + else. There were several very long tables, which stood at the sides of the + cavern and in the middle, and upon each of these I saw lying certain + things covered over with cloths. The shape of these was more than + suggestive—it told me all. It was a sight of horror—awful, + tremendous, unspeakable! For a moment I stood motionless staring; then all + the cavern seemed to swim around me. I reeled, I fell, and sank into + nothingness. + </p> + <p> + When I revived I was in the lighted grotto, lying on a couch, with Almah + bending over me. Her face was full of tenderest anxiety, yet there was + also apparent a certain solemn gloom that well accorded with my own + feelings. As I looked at her she drew a long breath, and buried her face + in her hands. + </p> + <p> + After a time my recollection returned, and all came back to me. I rose to + a sitting posture. + </p> + <p> + "Do not rise yet," said Almah, anxiously; "you are weak." + </p> + <p> + "No," said I; "I am as strong as ever; but I'm afraid that you are + weaker." + </p> + <p> + Almah shuddered. + </p> + <p> + "If you had told me exactly what it was, I would not have gone." + </p> + <p> + "I could not tell you," said she. "It is too terrible to name. Even the + thought is intolerable. I told you not to go. Why did you go?" + </p> + <p> + She spoke in accents of tender reproach, and there were tears in her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "I did not think of anything so hideous as that," said I. "I thought that + there might be a sacrifice, but nothing worse." + </p> + <p> + I now learned that when I fainted I had been raised most tenderly, and the + Kohen himself came with me as I was carried back, and he thought that + Almah would be my most agreeable nurse. The Kohen was most kind and + sympathetic, and all the people vied with one another in their efforts to + assist me—so much so that there was the greatest confusion. It was + only by Almah's express entreaty that they retired and left me with her. + </p> + <p> + Here was a new phase in the character of this mysterious people. Could I + ever hope to understand them? Where other people are cruel to strangers, + or at best indifferent, these are eager in their acts of kindness; they + exhibit the most unbounded hospitality, the most lavish generosity, the + most self-denying care and attention; where others would be offended at + the intrusion of a stranger, and enraged at his unconquerable disgust, + these people had no feeling save pity, sympathy, and a desire to alleviate + his distress. And yet—oh, and yet!—oh, thought of horror!—what + was this that I had seen? The abhorrent savages in the outer wilderness + were surely of the same race as these. They too received us kindly, they + too lavished upon us their hospitality, and yet there followed the horror + of that frightful repast. Here there had been kindness and generosity and + affectionate attention, to be succeeded by deeds without a name. Ah me! + what an hour that was! And yet it was as nothing compared to what lay + before me in the future. + </p> + <p> + But the subject was one of which I dared not speak—one from which I + had to force my thoughts away. I took the violin and played "Lochaber" + till Almah wept, and I had to put it away. Then I begged her to play or + sing. She brought an instrument like a lute, and upon this she played some + melancholy strains. At length the Kohen came in. His mild, benevolent face + never exhibited more gentle and affectionate sympathy than now. He seated + himself, and with eyes half closed, as usual, talked much; and yet, with a + native delicacy which always distinguished this extraordinary man, he made + no allusion to the awful Mista Kosek. For my own part, I could not speak. + I was absent-minded, overwhelmed with gloom and despair, and at the same + time full of aversion toward him and all his race. One question, however, + I had to put. + </p> + <p> + "Who were the victims of the Mista Kosek?" + </p> + <p> + "They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims of + the sacrifice." + </p> + <p> + I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's + lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his usual + consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV — I LEARN MY DOOM + </h2> + <p> + Horror is a feeling that cannot last long; human nature is incapable of + supporting it. Sadness, whether from bereavement, or disappointment, or + misfortune of any kind, may linger on through life. In my case, however, + the milder and more enduring feeling of sadness had no sufficient cause + for existence. The sights which I had seen inspired horror, and horror + only. But when the first rush of this feeling had passed there came a + reaction. Calmness followed, and then all the circumstances of my life + here conspired to perpetuate that calm. For here all on the surface was + pleasant and beautiful; all the people were amiable and courteous and most + generous. I had light and luxury and amusements. Around me there were + thousands of faces, all greeting me with cordial affection, and thousands + of hands all ready to perform my slightest wish. Above all, there was + Almah. Everything combined to make her most dear to me. My life had been + such that I never before had seen anyone whom I loved; and here Almah was + the one congenial associate in a whole world of aliens: she was beautiful + and gentle and sympathetic, and I loved her dearly, even before I + understood what my feelings were. One day I learned all, and found that + she was more precious to me than all the world. + </p> + <p> + It was one jom when she did not make her appearance as usual. On asking + after her I learned that she was ill. At this intelligence there came over + me a feeling of sickening anxiety and fear. Almah ill! What if it should + prove serious? Could I endure life here without her sweet companionship? + Of what value was life without her? And as I asked myself these questions + I learned that Almah had become dearer to me than life itself, and that in + her was all the sunshine of my existence. While she was absent, life was + nothing; all its value, all its light, its flavor, its beauty, were gone. + I felt utterly crushed. I forgot all else save her illness, and all that I + had endured seemed as nothing when compared with this. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of my own anxiety I was surprised to find that the whole + community was most profoundly agitated. Among all classes there seemed to + be but one thought—her illness. I could overhear them talking I + could see them wait outside to hear about her. It seemed to be the one + subject of interest, beside which all others were forgotten. The Kohen was + absorbed in her case; all the physicians of the city were more or less + engaged in her behalf; and there came forward as volunteers every woman in + the place who had any knowledge of sick-duties. I was somewhat perplexed, + however, at their manner. They were certainly agitated and intensely + interested, yet not exactly sad. Indeed, from what I heard it seemed as + though this strange people regarded sickness as rather a blessing than + otherwise. This, however, did not interfere in the slightest degree with + the most intense interest in her, and the most assiduous attention. The + Kohen in particular was devoted to her. He was absent-minded, silent, and + full of care. On the whole, I felt more than ever puzzled, and less able + than ever to understand these people. I loved them, yet loathed them; for + the Kohen I had at once affection and horror. He looked like an anxious + father, full of tenderest love for a sick child—full also of + delicate sympathy with me; and yet I knew all the time that he was quite + capable of plunging the sacrificial knife in Almah's heart and of eating + her afterward. + </p> + <p> + But my own thoughts were all of Almah. I learned how dear she was. With + her the brightness of life had passed; without her existence would be + intolerable. Her sweet voice, her tender and gracious manner, her soft + touch, her tender, affectionate smile, her mournful yet trustful look—oh, + heavens! would all these be mine no more? I could not endure the thought. + At first I wandered about, seeking rest and finding none; and at length I + sat in my own room, and passed the time in listening, in questioning the + attendants, in wondering what I should do if she should be taken from me. + </p> + <p> + At length on one blessed jom, the Kohen came to me with a bright smile. + </p> + <p> + "Our darling Almah is better," said he. "Eat, I beseech you. She is very + dear to all of us, and we have all felt for her and for you. But now all + danger is past. The physicians say that she will soon be well." There were + tears in his eyes as he spoke. It may have been caused by the bright + light, but I attributed this to his loving heart, and I forgot that he was + a cannibal. I took his hands in mine and pressed them in deep emotion. He + looked at me with a sweet and gentle smile. + </p> + <p> + "I see it all," said he, in a low voice—"you love her, Atam-or." + </p> + <p> + I pressed his hands harder, but said nothing. Indeed, I could not trust + myself to speak. + </p> + <p> + "I knew it," said he; "it is but natural. You are both of a different race + from us; you are both much alike, and in full sympathy with one another. + This draws you together. When I first saw you I thought that you would be + a fit companion for her here—that you would lessen her gloom, and + that she would be pleasant to you. I found out soon that I was right, and + I felt glad, for you at once showed the fullest sympathy with one another. + Never till you came was Almah happy with us; but since you have come she + has been a different being, and there has been a joyousness in her manner + that I never saw before. You have made her forget how to weep; and as for + yourself, I hope she has made your life in this strange land seem less + painful, Atam-or." + </p> + <p> + At all this I was so full of amazement that I could not say one word. + </p> + <p> + "Pardon me," continued he, "if I have said anything that may seem like an + intrusion upon your secret and most sacred feelings. I could not have said + it had it not been for the deep affection I feel for Almah and for you, + and for the reason that I am just now more moved than usual, and have less + control over my feelings." + </p> + <p> + Saying this, he pressed my hand and left me. It was not the custom here to + shake hands, but with his usual amiability he had adopted my custom, and + used it as naturally as though he had been to the manner born. + </p> + <p> + I was encouraged now. The mild Kohen came often to cheer me. He talked + much about Almah—about her sweet and gracious disposition, the love + that all felt for her, the deep and intense interest which her illness had + aroused. In all this he seemed more like a man of my own race than before, + and in his eager desire for her recovery he failed to exhibit that love + for death which was his nature. So it seemed: yet this desire for her + recovery did not arise out of any lack of love for death; its true cause I + was to learn afterward; and I was to know that if he desired Almah's + recovery now, it was only that she might live long enough to encounter + death in a more terrific form. But just then all this was unknown, and I + judged him by myself. + </p> + <p> + At last I learned that she was much better, and would be out on the + following jom. This intelligence filled me with a fever of eager + anticipation, so great that I could think of nothing else. Sleep was + impossible. I could only wait, and try as best I might to quell my + impatience. At last the time came. I sat waiting. The curtain was drawn + aside. I sprang up, and, hurrying toward her, I caught her in my arms and + wept for joy. Ah me, how pale she looked! She bore still the marks of her + illness. She seemed deeply embarrassed and agitated at the fervor of my + greeting; while I, instead of apologizing or trying to excuse myself, only + grew more agitated still. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Almah," I cried. "I should have died if you had not come back to me! + Oh, Almah, I love you better than life and I never knew how dearly I loved + you till I thought that I had lost you! Oh, forgive me, but I must tell + you—and don't weep, darling." + </p> + <p> + She was weeping as I spoke. She said nothing, but twined her arms around + my neck and wept on my breast. After this we had much to say that we had + never mentioned before. I cannot tell the sweet words that she said to me; + but I now learned that she had loved me from the first—when I came + to her in her loneliness, when she was homesick and heartsick; and I came, + a kindred nature, of a race more like her own; and she saw in me the only + one of all around her whom it was possible not to detest, and therefore + she loved me. + </p> + <p> + We had many things to say to one another, and long exchanges of confidence + to make. She now for the first time told me all the sorrow that she had + endured in her captivity—sorrow which she had kept silent and shut + up deep within her breast. At first her life here had been so terrible + that it had brought her down nearly to death. After this she had sunk into + dull despair; she had grown familiar with horrors and lived in a state of + unnatural calm. From this my arrival had roused her. The display of + feeling on my part had brought back all her old self, and roused anew all + those feelings which in her had become dormant. The darkness, the + bloodshed, the sacrifices, all these affected me as they had once affected + her. I had the same fear of death which she had. When I had gone with her + to the cheder nebilin, when I had used my sepet-ram to save life, she had + perceived in me feelings and impulses to which all her own nature + responded. Finally, when I asked about the Mista Kosek, she warned me not + to go. When I did go she was with me in thought and suffered all that I + felt, until the moment when I was brought back and laid senseless at her + feet. + </p> + <p> + "Then," said Almah, "I felt the full meaning of all that lies before us." + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean by that?" I asked, anxiously. "You speak as though there + were something yet—worse than what has already been; yet nothing can + possibly be worse. We have seen the worst; let us now try to shake off + these grisly thoughts, and be happy with one another. Your strength will + soon be back, and while we have one another we can be happy even in this + gloom." + </p> + <p> + "Ah me," said Almah, "it would be better now to die. I could die happy + now, since I know that you love me." + </p> + <p> + "Death!" said I; "do not talk of it—do not mention that word. It is + more abhorrent than ever. No, Almah, let us live and love—let us + hope—let us fly." + </p> + <p> + "Impossible!" said she, in a mournful voice. "We cannot fly. There is no + hope. We must face the future, and make up our minds to bear our fate." + </p> + <p> + "Fate!" I repeated, looking at her in wonder and in deep concern. "What do + you mean by our fate? Is there anything more which you know and which I + have not heard?" + </p> + <p> + "You have heard nothing," said she, slowly; "and all that you have seen + and heard is as nothing compared with what lies before us. For you and for + me there is a fate—inconceivable, abhorrent, tremendous!—a + fate of which I dare not speak or even think, and from which there is no + escape whatever." + </p> + <p> + As Almah said this she looked at me with an expression in which terror and + anguish were striving with love. Her cheeks, which shortly before had + flushed rosy red in sweet confusion, were now pallid, her lips ashen; her + eyes were full of a wild despair. I looked at her in wonder, and could not + say a word. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or," said she, "I am afraid of death!" + </p> + <p> + "Almah," said I, "why will you speak of death? What is this fate which you + fear so much?" + </p> + <p> + "It is this," said she hurriedly and with a shudder, "you and I are + singled out. I have been reserved for years until one should be found who + might be joined with me. You came. I saw it all at once. I have known it—dreaded + it—tried to fight against it. But it was of no use. Oh, Atam-or, our + love means death; for the very fact that you love me and I love you seals + our doom!" + </p> + <p> + "Our doom? What doom?" + </p> + <p> + "The sacrifice!" exclaimed Almah, with another shudder. In her voice and + look there was a terrible meaning, which I could not fail to take. I + understood it now, and my blood curdled in my veins. Almah clung to me + despairingly. + </p> + <p> + "Do not leave me!" she cried—"do not leave me! I have no one but + you. The sacrifice, the sacrifice! It is our doom the great sacrifice—at + the end of the dark season. It is at the amir. We must go there to meet + our doom." + </p> + <p> + "The amir?" I asked; "what is that?" + </p> + <p> + "It is the metropolis," said she. + </p> + <p> + I was utterly overwhelmed, yet still I tried to console her; but the + attempt was vain. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she cried, "you will not understand. The sacrifice is but a part—it + is but the beginning. Death is terrible; yet it may be endured—if + there is only death. But oh!—oh think!—think of that which + comes after—the Mista Kosek!" + </p> + <p> + Now the full meaning flashed upon me, and I saw it all. In an instant + there arose in my mind the awful sacrifice on the pyramid and the + unutterable horror of the Mista Kosek. Oh, horror, horror, horror! Oh, + hideous abomination and deed without a name! I could not speak. I caught + her in my arms, and we both wept passionately. + </p> + <p> + The happiness of our love was now darkened by this tremendous cloud that + lowered before us. The shock of this discovery was overpowering, and some + time elapsed before I could rally from it. Though Almah's love was sweet + beyond expression, and though as the time passed I saw that every jom she + regained more and more of her former health and strength, still I could + not forget what had been revealed. We were happy with one another, yet our + happiness was clouded, and amid the brightness of our love there was ever + present the dread spectre of our appalling doom. + </p> + <p> + These feelings, however, grew fainter. Hope is ever ready to arise; and I + began to think that these people, though given to evil ways, were after + all kind-hearted, and might listen to entreaty. Above all, there was the + Kohen, so benevolent, so self-denying, so amiable, so sympathetic. I could + not forget all that he had said during Almah's illness, and it seemed more + than probable that an appeal to his better nature might not be without + effect. I said as much to Almah. + </p> + <p> + "The Kohen," said she; "why, he can do nothing." + </p> + <p> + "Why not? He is the chief man here, and ought to have great influence." + </p> + <p> + "You don't understand," said she, with a sigh. "The Kohen is the lowest + and least influential man in the city." + </p> + <p> + "Why, who are influential if he is not?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "The paupers," said Almah. + </p> + <p> + "The paupers!" I exclaimed, in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Almah. "Here among these people the paupers form the most + honored, influential, and envied portion of the community." + </p> + <p> + This was incomprehensible. Almah tried to explain, but to no purpose, and + I determined to talk to the Kohen. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV — THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE + </h2> + <p> + I determined to talk to the Kohen, and try for myself whether he might not + be accessible to pity. This greatest of cannibals might, indeed, have his + little peculiarities, I thought, and who has not?—yet at bottom he + seemed full of tender and benevolent feeling; and as he evidently spent + his whole time in the endeavor to make us happy, it seemed not unlikely + that he might do something for our happiness in a case where our very + existence was at stake. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen listened with deep attention as I stated my case. I did this + fully and frankly. I talked of my love for Almah and of Almah's love for + me; our hope that we might be united so as to live happily in reciprocal + affection; and I was going on to speak of the dread that was in my heart + when he interrupted me: + </p> + <p> + "You speak of being united," said he. "You talk strangely. Of course you + mean that you wish to be separated." + </p> + <p> + "Separated!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean? Of course we wish to be + united." + </p> + <p> + The Kohen stared at me as I said this with the look of one who was quite + puzzled; and I then went on to speak of the fate that was before us, and + to entreat his sympathy and his aid that we might be saved from so hideous + a doom. To all these words the Kohen listened with an air of amazement, as + though I were saying incomprehensible things. + </p> + <p> + "You have a gentle and an affectionate nature," I said—"a nature + full of sympathy with others, and noble self-denial." + </p> + <p> + "Of course," said the Kohen, quickly, as though glad to get hold of + something which he could understand, "of course we are all so, for we are + so made. It is our nature. Who is there who is not self-denying? No one + can help that." + </p> + <p> + This sounded strange indeed; but I did not care to criticize it. I came to + my purpose direct and said, + </p> + <p> + "Save us from our fate." + </p> + <p> + "Your fate?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, from death—that death of horror." + </p> + <p> + "Death?—horror? What do you mean by horror?" said the Kohen, in an + amazement that was sincere and unfeigned. "I cannot comprehend your + meaning. It seems as though you actually dislike death; but that is not + conceivable. It cannot be possible that you fear death." + </p> + <p> + "Fear death!" I exclaimed, "I do—I do. Who is there that does not + fear it?" + </p> + <p> + The Kohen stared. + </p> + <p> + "I do not understand you," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Do you not understand," said I, "that death is abhorrent to humanity?" + </p> + <p> + "Abhorrent!" said the Kohen; "that is impossible. Is it not the highest + blessing? Who is there that does not long for death? Death is the greatest + blessing, the chief desire of man—the highest aim. And you—are + you not to be envied in having your felicity so near? above all, in having + such a death as that which is appointed for you—so noble, so + sublime? You must be mad; your happiness has turned your head." + </p> + <p> + All this seemed like hideous mockery, and I stared at the Kohen with a + gaze that probably strengthened his opinion of my madness. + </p> + <p> + "Do you love death?" I asked at length, in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Love death? What a question! Of course I love death—all men do; who + does not? Is it not human nature? Do we not instinctively fly to meet it + whenever we can? Do we not rush into the jaws of sea-monsters, or throw + ourselves within their grasp? Who does not feel within him this intense + longing after death as the strongest passion of his heart?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know—I don't know," said I. "You are of a different race; I + do not understand what you say. But I belong to a race that fears death. I + fear death and love life; and I entreat you, I implore you to help me now + in my distress, and assist me so that I may save my life and that of + Almah." + </p> + <p> + "I—I help you!" said the Kohen, in new amazement. "Why do you come + to me—to me, of all men? Why, I am nothing here. And help you to + live—to live! Who ever heard of such a thing?" + </p> + <p> + And the Kohen looked at me with the same astonishment which I should + evince if a man should ask me to help him to die. + </p> + <p> + Still, I persisted in my entreaty for his help. + </p> + <p> + "Such a request," said he, "is revolting; you must be mad. Such a request + outrages all the instincts of humanity. And even if I could do such + violence to my own nature as to help you to such a thing, how do you think + I could face my fellow-men, or how could I endure the terrible punishment + which would fall upon me?" + </p> + <p> + "Punishment!" said I. "What! would you be punished?" + </p> + <p> + "Punished!" said the Kohen. "That, of course, would be inevitable. I + should be esteemed an unnatural monster and the chief of criminals. My lot + in life now is painful enough; but in this case my punishment would + involve me in evils without end. Riches would be poured upon me; I should + be raised to the rank of Kohen Gadol; I should be removed farther away + than ever from the pauper class—so far, indeed, that all hope in + life would be over. I should be made the first and noblest and richest in + all the land." + </p> + <p> + He spoke these words just as if he had said, "the lowest, meanest, + poorest, and most infamous." It sounded like fresh mockery, and I could + not believe but that he was amusing himself at my expense. + </p> + <p> + "This is cruel," said I. "You are mocking me." + </p> + <p> + "Cruel?—cruel?" said he; "what is cruel? You mean that such a fate + would be cruel for me." + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said I; "but alas! I see we cannot understand one another." + </p> + <p> + "No," said the Kohen, musingly, as he looked at me. "No, it seems not; but + tell me, Atam-or, is it possible that you really fear death—that you + really love life?" + </p> + <p> + "Fear death!—love life!" I cried. "Who does not? Who can help it? + Why do you ask me that?" + </p> + <p> + The Kohen clasped his hands in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "If you really fear death," said he, "what possible thing is there left to + love or to hope for? What, then, do you think the highest blessing of + man?" + </p> + <p> + "Long life," said I, "and riches and requited love." + </p> + <p> + At this the Kohen started back, and stared at me as though I were a raving + madman. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, holy shades of night!" he exclaimed. "What is that you say? What do + you mean?" + </p> + <p> + "We can never understand one another, I fear," said I. "The love of life + must necessarily be the strongest passion of man. We are so made. We give + up everything for life. A long life is everywhere considered as the + highest blessing; and there is no one who is willing to die, no matter + what his suffering may be. Riches also are desired by all, for poverty is + the direst curse that can embitter life; and as to requited love, surely + that is the sweetest, purest, and most divine joy that the human heart may + know." + </p> + <p> + At this the Kohen burst forth in a strain of high excitement: + </p> + <p> + "Oh, sacred cavern gloom! Oh, divine darkness! Oh, impenetrable abysses of + night! What, oh, what is this! Oh, Atam-or, are you mad? Alas! it must be + so. Joy has turned your brain; you are quite demented. You call good evil, + and evil good; our light is your darkness, and our darkness your light. + Yet surely you cannot be altogether insane. Come, come, let us look + further. How is it! Try now to recall your reason. A long life—a + life, and a long one! Surely there can be no human being in a healthy + state of nature who wishes to prolong his life; and as to riches, it is + possible that anyone exists who really and honestly desires riches? + Impossible! And requited love! Oh, Atam-or, you are mad to-day! You are + always strange, but now you have quite taken leave of your senses. I + cannot but love you, and yet I can never understand you. Tell me, and tell + me truly, what is it that you consider evils, if these things that you + have mentioned are not the very worst?" + </p> + <p> + He seemed deeply in earnest and much moved. I could not understand him, + but could only answer his questions with simple conciseness. + </p> + <p> + "Poverty, sickness, and death," said I, "are evils; but the worst of all + evils is unrequited love." + </p> + <p> + At these words the Kohen made a gesture of despair. + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to understand this," said he. "You talk calmly; you have + not the air of a madman. If your fellow-countrymen are all like you, then + your race is an incomprehensible one. Why, death is the greatest blessing. + We all long for it; it is the end of our being. As for riches, they are a + curse, abhorred by all. Above all, as to love, we shrink from the thought + of requital. Death is our chief blessing, poverty our greatest happiness, + and unrequited love the sweetest lot of man." + </p> + <p> + All this sounded like the ravings of a lunatic, yet the Kohen was not mad. + It seemed also like the mockery of some teasing demon; but the gentle and + self-denying Kohen was no teasing demon, and mockery with him was + impossible. I was therefore more bewildered than ever at this reiteration + of sentiments that were so utterly incomprehensible. He, on the other + hand, seemed as astonished at my sentiments and as bewildered, and we + could find no common ground on which to meet. + </p> + <p> + "I remember now," said the Kohen, in a musing tone, "having heard of some + strange folk at the Amir, who profess to feel as you say you feel, but no + one believes that they are in earnest; for although they may even bring + themselves to think that they are in earnest in their professions, yet + after all everyone thinks that they are self-deceived. For you see, in the + first place, these feelings which you profess are utterly unnatural. We + are so made that we cannot help loving death; it is a sort of instinct. We + are also created in such a way that we cannot help longing after poverty. + The pauper must always, among all men, be the most envied of mortals. + Nature, too, has made us such that the passion of love, when it arises, is + so vehement, so all-consuming that it must always struggle to avoid + requital. This is the reason why, when two people find that they love each + other, they always separate and avoid one another for the rest of their + lives. This is human nature. We cannot help it; and it is this that + distinguishes us from the animals. Why, if men were to feel as you say you + feel, they would be mere animals. Animals fear death; animals love to + accumulate such things as they prize; animals, when they love, go in + pairs, and remain with one another. But man, with his intellect, would not + be man if he loved life and desired riches and sought for requited love." + </p> + <p> + I sank back in despair. "You cannot mean all this," I said. + </p> + <p> + He threw at me a piteous glance. "What else can you believe or feel?" said + he. + </p> + <p> + "The very opposite. We are so made that we hate and fear death; to us he + is the King of Terrors. Poverty is terrible also, since it is associated + with want and woe; it is, therefore, natural to man to strive after + riches. As to the passion of love, that is so vehement that the first and + only thought is requital. Unrequited love is anguish beyond expression—anguish + so severe that the heart will often break under it." + </p> + <p> + The Kohen clasped his hands in new bewilderment. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot understand," said he. "A madman might imagine that he loved life + and desired riches; but as to love, why even a madman could not think of + requital, for the very nature of the passion of love is the most utter + self-surrender, and a shrinking from all requital; wherefore, the feeling + that leads one to desire requital cannot be love. I do not know what it + can be—indeed, I never heard of such a thing before, and the annals + of the human race make no mention of such a feeling. For what is love? It + is the ardent outflow of the whole being—the yearning of one human + heart to lavish all its treasures upon another. Love is more than + self-denial; it is self-surrender and utter self-abnegation. Love gives + all away, and cannot possibly receive anything in return. A requital of + love would mean selfishness, which would be self-contradiction. The more + one loves, the more he must shrink from requital." + </p> + <p> + "What!" cried I, "among you do lovers never marry?" + </p> + <p> + "Lovers marry? Never!" + </p> + <p> + "Do married people never love one another?" + </p> + <p> + The Kohen shook his head. + </p> + <p> + "It unfortunately sometimes happens so," said he, "and then the result is, + of course, distressing. For the children's sake the parents will often + remain with one another, but in many cases they separate. No one can tell + the misery that ensues where a husband and wife love one another." + </p> + <p> + The conversation grew insupportable. I could not follow the Kohen in what + seemed the wildest and maddest flights of fancy that ever were known; so I + began to talk of other things, and gradually the Kohen was drawn to speak + of his own life. The account which he gave of himself was not one whit + less strange than his previous remarks, and for this reason I add it here. + </p> + <p> + "I was born," said he, "in the most enviable of positions. My father and + mother were among the poorest in the land. Both died when I was a child, + and I never saw them. I grew up in the open fields and public caverns, + along with the most esteemed paupers. But, unfortunately for me, there was + something wanting in my natural disposition. I loved death, of course, and + poverty, too, very strongly; but I did not have that eager and energetic + passion which is so desirable, nor was I watchful enough over my blessed + estate of poverty. Surrounded as I was by those who were only too ready to + take advantage of my ignorance or want of vigilance, I soon fell into evil + ways, and gradually, in spite of myself, I found wealth pouring in upon + me. Designing men succeeded in winning my consent to receive their + possessions; and so I gradually fell away from that lofty position in + which I was born. I grew richer and richer. My friends warned me, but in + vain. I was too weak to resist; in fact, I lacked moral fibre, and had + never learned how to say 'No.' So I went on, descending lower and lower in + the scale of being. I became a capitalist, an Athon, a general officer, + and finally Kohen. + </p> + <p> + "At length, on one eventful day, I learned that one of my associates had + by a long course of reckless folly become the richest man in all the + country. He had become Athon, Melek, and at last Kohen Gadol. It was a + terrible shock, but I trust a salutary one. I at once resolved to reform. + That resolution I have steadily kept, and have at least saved myself from + descending any lower. It is true, I can hardly hope to become what I once + was. It is only too easy to grow rich; and, you know, poverty once + forfeited can never return except in rare instances. I have, however, + succeeded in getting rid of most of my wealth, chiefly through the + fortunate advent of Almah and afterward of yourself. This, I confess, has + been my salvation. Neither of you had any scruples about accepting what + was bestowed, and so I did not feel as though I was doing you any wrong in + giving you all I had in the world. Most of the people of this city have + taken advantage of your extraordinary indifference to wealth, and have + made themselves paupers at your expense. I had already become your slave, + and had received the promise of being elevated to the rank of scullion in + the cavern of the Mista Kosek. But now, since this event of your love for + Almah, I hope to gain far more. I am almost certain of being made a + pauper, and I think I can almost venture to hope some day for the honor of + a public death." + </p> + <p> + To such a story I had nothing to say. It was sheer madness; yet it was + terribly suggestive, and showed how utterly hopeless was my effort to + secure the assistance of such a man toward my escape from death. + </p> + <p> + "A public death!" I said, grimly. "That will be very fortunate! And do you + think that you will gain the dignity of being eaten up afterward?" + </p> + <p> + The Kohen shook his head in all seriousness. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said he; "that would be far beyond my deserts. That is an honor + which is only bestowed upon the most distinguished." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI — THE KOSEKIN + </h2> + <p> + These people call themselves the Kosekin. Their chief characteristic, or, + at least, their most prominent one, is their love of darkness, which + perhaps is due to their habit of dwelling in caves. Another feeling, + equally strong and perhaps connected with this, is their love of death and + dislike of life. This is visible in many ways, and affects all their + character. It leads to a passionate self-denial, an incessant effort to + benefit others at their own expense. Each one hates life and longs for + death. He, therefore, hates riches, and all things that are associated + with life. + </p> + <p> + Among the Kosekin everyone makes perpetual efforts to serve others, which, + however, are perpetually baffled by the unselfishness of these others. + People thus spend years in trying to overreach one another, so as to make + others richer than themselves. In a race each one tries to keep behind; + but as this leads to confusion, there is then a universal effort for each + one to be first, so as to put his neighbor in the honorable position of + the rear. It is the same way in a hunt. Each one presses forward, so as to + honor his companion by leaving him behind. Instead of injuring, everyone + tries to benefit his neighbor. When one has been benefited by another, he + is filled with a passion which may be called Kosekin revenge—namely, + a sleepless and vehement desire to bestow some adequate and corresponding + benefit on the other. Feuds are thus kept up among families and wars among + nations. For no one is willing to accept from another any kindness, any + gift, or any honor, and all are continually on the watch to prevent + themselves from being overreached in this way. Those who are less watchful + than others are overwhelmed with gifts by designing men, who wish to + attain to the pauper class. The position of Almah and myself illustrates + this. Our ignorance of the blessings and honors of poverty led us to + receive whatever was offered us. Taking advantage of our innocence and + ignorance, the whole city thereupon proceeded to bestow their property + upon us, and all became paupers through our fortunate arrival. + </p> + <p> + No one ever injures another unless by accident, and when this occurs it + affords the highest joy to the injured party. He has now a claim on the + injurer; he gets him into his power, is able to confer benefits on him and + force upon him all that he wishes. The unhappy injurer, thus punished by + the reception of wealth, finds himself helpless; and where the injury is + great, the injured man may bestow upon the other all his wealth and attain + to the envied condition of a pauper. + </p> + <p> + Among the Kosekin the sick are objects of the highest regard. All classes + vie with one another in their attentions. The rich send their luxuries; + the paupers, however, not having anything to give, go themselves and wait + on them and nurse them. For this there is no help, and the rich grumble, + but can do nothing. The sick are thus sought out incessantly, and most + carefully tended. When they die there is great rejoicing, since death is a + blessing; but the nurses labor hard to preserve them in life, so as to + prolong the enjoyment of the high privilege of nursing. Of all sick the + incurable are most honored, since they require nursing always. Children + also are highly honored and esteemed, and the aged too, since both classes + require the care of others and must be the recipients of favors which all + are anxious to bestow. Those who suffer from contagious diseases are more + sought after than any other class, for in waiting on these there is the + chance of gaining the blessing of death; indeed, in these cases much + trouble is usually experienced from the rush of those who insist on + offering their services. + </p> + <p> + For it must never be forgotten that the Kosekin love death as we love + life; and this accounts for all those ceremonies which to me were so + abhorrent, especially the scenes of the Mista Kosek. To them a dead human + body is no more than the dead body of a bird: there is no awe felt, no + sense of sanctity, of superstitious horror; and so I learned, with a + shudder, that the hate of life is a far worse thing than the fear of + death. This desire for death is, then, a master-passion, and is the key to + all their words and acts. They rejoice over the death of friends, since + those friends have gained the greatest of blessings; they rejoice also at + the birth of children, since those who are born will one day gain the + bliss of death. + </p> + <p> + For a couple to fall in love is the signal for mutual self-surrender. Each + insists on giving up the loved one; and the more passionate the love is, + the more eager is the desire to have the loved one married to someone + else. Lovers have died broken-hearted from being compelled to marry one + another. Poets here among the Kosekin celebrate unhappy love which has met + with this end. These poets also celebrate defeats instead of victories, + since it is considered glorious for one nation to sacrifice itself to + another; but to this there are important limitations, as we shall see. + Poets also celebrate street-sweepers, scavengers, lamp-lighters, laborers, + and above all, paupers, and pass by as unworthy of notice the authors, + Meleks, and Kohens of the land. + </p> + <p> + The paupers here form the most honorable class. Next to these are the + laborers. These have strikes as with us; but it is always for harder work, + longer hours, or smaller pay. The contest between capital and labor rages, + but the conditions are reversed; for the grumbling capitalist complains + that the laborer will not take as much pay as he ought to while the + laborer thinks the capitalist too persistent in his efforts to force money + upon him. + </p> + <p> + Here among the Kosekin the wealthy class forms the mass of the people, + while the aristocratic few consist of the paupers. These are greatly + envied by the others, and have many advantages. The cares and burdens of + wealth, as well as wealth itself, are here considered a curse, and from + all these the paupers are exempt. There is a perpetual effort on the part + of the wealthy to induce the paupers to accept gifts, just as among us the + poor try to rob the rich. Among the wealthy there is a great and incessant + murmur at the obstinacy of the paupers. Secret movements are sometimes set + on foot which aim at a redistribution of property and a levelling of all + classes, so as to reduce the haughty paupers to the same condition as the + mass of the nation. More than once there has been a violent attempt at a + revolution, so as to force wealth on the paupers; but as a general thing + these movements have been put down and their leaders severely punished. + The paupers have shown no mercy in their hour of triumph; they have not + conceded one jot to the public demand, and the unhappy conspirators have + been condemned to increased wealth and luxury, while the leaders have been + made Meleks and Kohens. Thus there are among the Kosekin the unfortunate + many who are cursed with wealth, and the fortunate few who are blessed + with poverty. These walk while the others ride, and from their squalid + huts look proudly and contemptuously upon the palaces of their unfortunate + fellow-countrymen. + </p> + <p> + The love of death leads to perpetual efforts on the part of each to lay + down his life for another. This is a grave difficulty in hunts and + battles. Confined prisoners dare not fly, for in such an event the guards + kill themselves. This leads to fresh rigors in the captivity of the + prisoners in case of their recapture, for they are overwhelmed with fresh + luxuries and increased splendors. Finally, if a prisoner persist and is + recaptured, he is solemnly put to death, not, as with us, by way of + severity, but as the last and greatest honor. Here extremes meet; and + death, whether for honor or dishonor, is all the same—death—and + is reserved for desperate cases. But among the Kosekin this lofty destiny + is somewhat embittered by the agonizing thought on the part of the + prisoner, who thus gains it, that his wretched family must be doomed, not, + as with us, to poverty and want, but, on the contrary, to boundless wealth + and splendor. + </p> + <p> + Among so strange a people it seemed singular to me what offences could + possibly be committed which could be regarded and punished as crimes. + These, however, I soon found out. Instead of robbers, the Kosekin punished + the secret bestowers of their wealth on others. This is regarded as a very + grave offence. Analogous to our crime of piracy is the forcible arrest of + ships at sea and the transfer to them of valuables. Sometimes the Kosekin + pirates give themselves up as slaves. Kidnapping, assault, highway + robbery, and crimes of violence have their parallel here in cases where a + strong man, meeting a weaker, forces himself upon him as his slave or + compels him to take his purse. If the weaker refuse, the assailant + threatens to kill himself, which act would lay the other under obligations + to receive punishment from the state in the shape of gifts and honors, or + at least subject him to unpleasant inquiries. Murder has its counterpart + among the Kosekin in cases where one man meets another, forces money on + him, and kills himself. Forgery occurs where one uses another's name so as + to confer money on him. + </p> + <p> + There are many other crimes, all of which are severely punished. The worse + the offence is, the better is the offender treated. Among the Kosekin + capital punishment is imprisonment amid the greatest splendor, where the + prisoner is treated like a king, and has many palaces and great retinues; + for that which we consider the highest they regard as the lowest, and with + them the chief post of honor is what we would call the lowest menial + office. Of course, among such a people, any suffering from want is + unknown, except when it is voluntary. The pauper class, with all their + great privileges, have this restriction, that they are forced to receive + enough for food and clothing. Some, indeed, manage by living in + out-of-the-way places to deprive themselves of these, and have been known + to die of starvation; but this is regarded as dishonorable, as taking an + undue advantage of a great position, and where it can be proved, the + children and relatives of the offender are severely punished according to + the Kosekin fashion. + </p> + <p> + State politics here move, like individual affairs, upon the great + principle of contempt for earthly things. The state is willing to destroy + itself for the good of other states; but as other states are in the same + position, nothing can result. In times of war the object of each army is + to honor the other and benefit it by giving it the glory of defeat. The + contest is thus most fierce. The Kosekin, through their passionate love of + death, are terrible in battle; and when they are also animated by the + desire to confer glory on their enemies by defeating them, they generally + succeed in their aim. This makes them almost always victorious, and when + they are not so not a soul returns alive. Their state of mind is peculiar. + If they are defeated they rejoice, since defeat is their chief glory; but + if they are victorious they rejoice still more in the benevolent thought + that they have conferred upon the enemy the joy, the glory, and the honor + of defeat. + </p> + <p> + Here all shrink from governing others. The highest wish of each is to + serve. The Meleks and Kohens, whom I at first considered the highest, are + really the lowest orders; next to these come the authors, then the + merchants, then farmers, then artisans, then laborers, and, finally, the + highest rank is reached in the paupers. Happy the aristocratic, the + haughty, the envied paupers! The same thing is seen in their armies. The + privates here are highest in rank, and the officers come next in different + graduations. These officers, however, have the command and the charge of + affairs as with us; yet this is consistent with their position, for here + to obey is considered nobler than to command. In the fleet the rowers are + the highest class; next come the fighting-men; and lowest of all are the + officers. War arises from motives as peculiar as those which give rise to + private feuds; as, for instance, where one nation tries to force a + province upon another; where they try to make each other greater; where + they try to benefit unduly each other's commerce; where one may have a + smaller fleet or army than has been agreed on, or where an ambassador has + been presented with gifts, or received too great honor or attention. + </p> + <p> + In such a country as this, where riches are disliked and despised, I could + not imagine how people could be induced to engage in trade. This, however, + was soon explained. The laborers and artisans have to perform their daily + work, so as to enable the community to live and move and have its being. + Their impelling motive is the high one of benefiting others most directly. + They refuse anything but the very smallest pay, and insist on giving for + this the utmost possible labor. Tradesmen also have to supply the + community with articles of all sorts; merchants have to sail their ships + to the same end—all being animated by the desire of effecting the + good of others. Each one tries not to make money, but to lose it; but as + the competition is sharp and universal, this is difficult, and the larger + portion are unsuccessful. The purchasers are eager to pay as much as + possible, and the merchants and traders grow rich in spite of their utmost + endeavors. The wealthy classes go into business so as to lose money, but + in this they seldom succeed. It has been calculated that only two per cent + in every community succeed in reaching the pauper class. The tendency is + for all the labors of the working-class to be ultimately turned upon the + unfortunate wealthy class. The workmen being the creators of wealth, and + refusing to take adequate pay, cause a final accumulation of the wealth of + the community in the hands of the mass of the non-producers, who thus are + fixed in their unhappy position, and can hope for no escape except by + death. The farmers till the ground, the fishermen fish, the laborers toil, + and the wealth thus created is pushed from these incessantly till it all + falls upon the lowest class—namely, the rich, including Athons, + Meleks, and Kohens. It is a burden that is often too heavy to be borne; + but there is no help for it, and the better-minded seek to cultivate + resignation. + </p> + <p> + Women and men are in every respect absolutely equal, holding precisely the + same offices and doing the same work. In general, however, it is observed + that women are a little less fond of death than men, and a little less + unwilling to receive gifts. For this reason they are very numerous among + the wealthy class, and abound in the offices of administration. Women + serve in the army and navy as well as men, and from their lack of ambition + or energetic perseverance they are usually relegated to the lower ranks, + such as officers and generals. To my mind it seemed as though the women + were in all the offices of honor and dignity, but in reality it was the + very opposite. The same is true in the family. The husbands insist on + giving everything to the wives and doing everything for them. The wives + are therefore universally the rulers of the household while the husbands + have an apparently subordinate, but, to the Kosekin, a more honorable + position. + </p> + <p> + As to the religion of the Kosekin, I could make nothing of it. They + believe that after death they go to what they call the world of darkness. + The death they long for leads to the darkness that they love; and the + death and the darkness are eternal. Still, they persist in saying that the + death and the darkness together form a state of bliss. They are eloquent + about the happiness that awaits them there in the sunless land—the + world of darkness; but for my own part, it always seemed to me a state of + nothingness. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII — BELIEF AND UNBELIEF + </h2> + <p> + The doctor was here interrupted by Featherstone, who, with a yawn, + informed him that it was eleven o'clock, and that human endurance had its + limits. Upon this the doctor rolled up the manuscript and put it aside for + the night, after which supper was ordered. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Featherstone, "what do you think of this last?" + </p> + <p> + "It contains some very remarkable statements," said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "There are certainly monsters enough in it," said Melick— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.'" +</pre> + <p> + "Well, why not?" said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "It seems to me," said Melick, "that the writer of this has peopled his + world with creatures that resemble the fossil animals more than anything + else." + </p> + <p> + "The so-called fossil animals," said the doctor, "may not be extinct. + There are fossil specimens of animals that still have living + representatives. There is no reason why many of those supposed to be + extinct may not be alive now. It is well known that many very remarkable + animals have become extinct within a comparatively recent period. These + great birds, of which More speaks, seem to me to belong to these classes. + The dodo was in existence fifty years ago, the moa about a hundred years + ago. These great birds, together with others, such as the epiornis and + palapteryx, have disappeared, not through the ordinary course of nature, + but by the hand of man. Even in our hemisphere they may yet be found. Who + can tell but that the moa or the dodo may yet be lurking somewhere here in + the interior of Madagascar, of Borneo, or of Papua?" + </p> + <p> + "Can you make out anything about those great birds?" asked Featherstone. + "Do they resemble anything that exists now, or has ever existed?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, yes, I think so," said the doctor. "Unfortunately, More is not at + all close or accurate in his descriptions; he has a decidedly unscientific + mind, and so one cannot feel sure; yet from his general statements I think + I can decide pretty nearly upon the nature and the scientific name of each + one of his birds and animals. It is quite evident to me that most of these + animals belong to races that no longer exist among us, and that this world + at the South Pole has many characteristics which are like those of what is + known as the Coal Period. I allude in particular to the vast forests of + fern, of gigantic grasses and reeds. At the same time the general climate + and the atmosphere seem like what we may find in the tropics at present. + It is evident that in More's world various epochs are represented, and + that animals of different ages are living side by side." + </p> + <p> + "What do you think of the opkuk?" asked Featherstone, with a yawn. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I hardly know." + </p> + <p> + "Why, it must be a dodo, of course," said Melick, "only magnified." + </p> + <p> + "That," said the doctor, gravely, "is a thought that naturally suggests + itself; but then the opkuk is certainly far larger than the dodo." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, More put on his magnifying-glasses just then." + </p> + <p> + "The dodo," continued the doctor, taking no notice of this, "in other + respects corresponds with More's description of the opkuk. Clusius and + Bontius give good descriptions and there is a well-known picture of one in + the British Museum. It is a massive, clumsy bird, ungraceful in its form + with heavy movements, wings too short for flight, little or no tail, and + down rather than feathers. The body, according to Bontius, is as big as + that of the African ostrich, but the legs are very short. It has a large + head, great black eyes, long bluish-white bill, ending in a beak like that + of a vulture, yellow legs, thick and short, four toes on each foot solid, + long, and armed with sharp black claws. The flesh particularly on the + breast, is fat and esculent. Now, all this corresponds with More's + account, except as to the size of the two, for the opkuks are as large as + oxen." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that's nothing," said Melick; "I'm determined to stand up for the + dodo." With this he burst forth singing— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Oh, the dodo once lived, but he doesn't live now; + Yet why should a cloud overshadow our brow? + The loss of that bird ne'er should trouble our brains, + For though he is gone, still our claret remains. + Sing do-do—jolly do-do! + Hurrah! in his name let our cups overflow." +</pre> + <p> + "As for your definition, doctor," continued Melick, "I'll give you one + worth a dozen of yours: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Twas a mighty bird; those strong, short legs were never known to fail, + And he felt a glory of pride while thinking of that little tail, + And his beak was marked with vigor, curving like a wondrous hook; + Thick and ugly was his body—such a form as made one look!" +</pre> + <p> + "Melick," said Featherstone, "you're a volatile youth. You mustn't mind + him, doctor. He's a professional cynic, sceptic, and scoffer. Oxenden and + I, however, are open to conviction, and want to know more about those + birds and beasts. Can you make anything out of the opmahera?" + </p> + <p> + The doctor swallowed a glass of wine, and replied: + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes; there are many birds, each of which may be the opmahera. There's + the fossil bird of Massachusetts, of which nothing is left but the + footprints; but some of these are eighteen inches in length, and show a + stride of two yards. The bird belonged to the order of the Grallae, and + may have been ten or twelve feet in height. Then there is the Gastornis + parisiensis, which was as tall as an ostrich, as big as an ox, and belongs + to the same order as the other. Then there is the Palapteryx, of which + remains have been found in New Zealand, which was seven or eight feet in + height. But the one which to my mind is the real counterpart of the + opmahera is the Dinornis gigantea, whose remains are also found in New + Zealand. It is the largest bird known, with long legs, a long neck, and + short wings, useless for flight. One specimen that has been found is + upward of thirteen feet in height. There is no reason why some should not + have been much taller. More compares its height to that of a giraffe. The + Maoris call this bird the Moa, and their legends and traditions are full + of mention of it. When they first came to the island, six or seven hundred + years ago, they found these vast birds everywhere, and hunted them for + food. To my mind the dinornis is the opmahera of More. As to riding on + them, that is likely enough; for ostriches are used for this purpose, and + the dinornis must have been far stronger and fleeter than the ostrich. It + is possible that some of these birds may still be living in the remoter + parts of our hemisphere." + </p> + <p> + "What about those monsters," asked Featherstone, "that More speaks of in + the sacred hunt?" + </p> + <p> + "I think," said the doctor, "that I understand pretty well what they were, + and can identify them all. As the galley passed the estuary of that great + river, you remember that he mentions seeing them on the shore. One may + have been the Ichthyosaurus. This, as the name implies, is a fish-lizard. + It has the head of a lizard, the snout of a dolphin, the teeth of an + alligator, enormous eyes, whose membrane is strengthened by a bony frame, + the vertebrae of fishes, sternum and shoulder-bones like those of the + lizard, and the fins of a whale. Bayle calls it the whale of the saurians. + Another may have been the Cheirotherium. On account of the hand-shaped + marks made by its paws, Owen thinks that it was akin to the frogs; but it + was a formidable monster, with head and jaws of a crocodile. Another may + have been the Teleosaurus, which resembled our alligators. It was + thirty-five feet in length. Then there was the Hylaeosaurus, a monster + twenty-five feet in length, with a cuirass of bony plates." + </p> + <p> + "But none of these correspond with More's description of the monster that + fought with the galley." + </p> + <p> + "No," said the doctor, "I am coming to that now. That monster could have + been no other than the Plesiosaurus, one of the most wonderful animals + that has ever existed. Imagine a thing with the head of a lizard, the + teeth of a crocodile, the neck of a swan, the trunk and tail of a + quadruped, and the fins of a whale. Imagine a whale with its head and neck + consisting of a serpent, with the strength of the former and the malignant + fury of the latter, and then you will have the plesiosaurus. It was an + aquatic animal, yet it had to remain near or on the surface of the water, + while its long, serpent-like neck enabled it to reach its prey above or + below with swift, far-reaching darts. Yet it had no armor, and could not + have been at all a match for the ichthyosaurus. More's account shows, + however, that it was a fearful enemy for man to encounter." + </p> + <p> + "He seems to have been less formidable than that beast which they + encountered in the swamp. Have you any idea what that was?" + </p> + <p> + "I think it can have been no other than the Iguanodon," said the doctor. + "The remains of this animal show that it must have been the most gigantic + of all primeval saurians. Judging from existing remains its length was not + less than sixty feet, and larger ones may have existed. It stood high on + its legs; the hind ones were larger than the fore. The feet were massive + and armed with tremendous claws. It lived on the land and fed on herbage. + It had a horny, spiky ridge all along its back. Its tail was nearly as + long as its body. Its head was short, its jaws enormous, furnished with + teeth of a very elaborate structure, and on its muzzle it carried a curved + horn. Such a beast as this might well have caused all that destruction of + life on the part of his desperate assailants of which More speaks. + </p> + <p> + "Then there was another animal," continued the doctor, who was evidently + discoursing upon a favorite topic. "It was the one that came suddenly upon + More while he was resting with Almah after his flight with the run-away + bird. That I take to be the Megalosaurus. This animal was a monster of + tremendous size and strength. Cuvier thought that it might have been + seventy feet in length. It was carnivorous, and therefore more ferocious + than the iguanodon, and more ready to attack. Its head was like that of a + crocodile, its body massive like that of an elephant, yet larger; its tail + was small, and it stood high on its legs, so that it could run with great + speed. It was not covered with bony armor, but had probably a hide thick + enough to serve the purpose of shell or bone. Its teeth were constructed + so as to cut with their edges, and the movement of the jaws produced the + combined effect of knife and saw, while their inward curve rendered + impossible the escape of prey that had once been caught. It probably + frequented the river banks, where it fed upon reptiles of smaller size + which inhabited the same places. + </p> + <p> + "More," continued the doctor, "is too general in his descriptions. He has + not a scientific mind, and he gives but few data; yet I can bring before + myself very easily all the scenes which he describes, particularly that + one in which the megalosaurus approaches, and he rushes to mount the + dinoris so as to escape. I see that river, with its trees and shrubs, all + unknown now except in museums—the vegetation of the Coal Period—the + lepidodendron, the lepidostrobus, the pecopteris, the neuropteris, the + lonchopteris, the odontopteris, the sphenopteris, the cyclopteris, the + sigellaria veniformis, the sphenophyllium, the calamites—" + </p> + <p> + Melick started to his feet. + </p> + <p> + "There, there!" he cried, "hold hard, doctor. Talking of calamities, what + greater calamity can there be than such a torrent of unknown words? Talk + English, doctor, and we shall be able to appreciate you; but to make your + jokes, your conundrums, and your brilliant witticisms in a foreign + language isn't fair to us, and does no credit either to your head or your + heart." + </p> + <p> + The doctor elevated his eyebrows, and took no notice of Melick's ill-timed + levity. + </p> + <p> + "All these stories of strange animals," said Oxenden, "may be very + interesting, doctor, but I must say that I am far more struck by the + account of the people themselves. I wonder whether they are an aboriginal + race, or descendants of the same stock from which we came?" + </p> + <p> + "I should say," remarked the doctor, confidently, "that they are, beyond a + doubt, an aboriginal and autochthonous race." + </p> + <p> + "I differ from you altogether," said Oxenden, calmly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said the doctor, "there can be no doubt about it. Their complexion, + small stature, and peculiar eyes—their love of darkness, their + singular characteristics, both physical and moral, all go to show that + they can have no connection with the races in our part of the earth." + </p> + <p> + "Their peculiar eyes," said Oxenden, "are no doubt produced by dwelling in + caves for many generations." + </p> + <p> + "On the contrary," said the doctor, "it is their peculiarity of eye that + makes them dwell in caves." + </p> + <p> + "You are mistaking the cause for the effect, doctor." + </p> + <p> + "Not at all; it is you who are making that mistake." + </p> + <p> + "It's the old debate," said Melick. "As the poet has it: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Which was first, the egg or the hen? + Tell me, I pray, ye learned men!'" +</pre> + <p> + "There are the eyeless fishes of the great cave of Kentucky," said + Oxenden, "whose eyes have become extinct from living in the dark." + </p> + <p> + "No," cried the doctor; "the fish that have arisen in that lake have never + needed eyes, and have never had them." + </p> + <p> + Oxenden laughed. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said he, "I'll discuss the question with you on different grounds + altogether, and I will show clearly that these men, these bearded men, + must belong to a stock that is nearly related to our own, or, at least, + that they belong to a race of men with whom we are all very familiar." + </p> + <p> + "I should like very much to have you try it," said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said Oxenden. "In the first place, I take their language." + </p> + <p> + "Their language!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. More has given us very many words in their language. Now he himself + says that these words had an Arabic sound. He was slightly acquainted with + that language. What will you say if I tell you that these words are still + more like Hebrew?" + </p> + <p> + "Hebrew!" exclaimed the doctor, in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Hebrew," said Oxenden. "They are all very much like Hebrew words, + and the difference is not greater than that which exists between the words + of any two languages of the Aryan family." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if you come to philology I'll throw up the sponge," said the doctor. + "Yet I should like to hear what you have to say on that point." + </p> + <p> + "The languages of the Aryan family," said Oxenden, "have the same general + characteristics, and in all of them the differences that exist in their + most common words are subject to the action of a regular law. The action + of the law is best seen in the changes which take place in the mutes. + These changes are indicated in a summary and comprehensive way by means of + what is called 'Grimm's Law.' Take Latin and English, for instance. + 'Grimm's Law' tells us, among other things, that in Latin and in that part + of English which is of Teutonic origin, a large number of words are + essentially the same, and differ merely in certain phonetic changes. Take + the word 'father.' In Latin, as also in Greek, it is 'pater.' Now the + Latin 'p' in English becomes 'f;' that is, the thin mute becomes the + aspirated mute. The same change may be seen in the Latin 'piscis,' which + in English is 'fish,' and the Greek '[pi upsilon rho]' which in English is + 'fire.' Again, if the Latin or Greek word begins with an aspirate, the + English word begins with a medial; thus the Latin 'f' is found responsive + to the English 'b,' as in Latin 'fagus,' English 'beech,' Latin 'fero,' + English 'bear.' Again, if the Latin or Greek has the medial, the English + has the thin, as in Latin 'duo,' English 'two,' Latin 'genu,' English + 'knee.' Now, I find that in many of the words which More mentions this + same 'Grimm's Law' will apply; and I am inclined to think that if they + were spelled with perfect accuracy they would show the same relation + between the Kosekin language and the Hebrew that there is between the + Saxon English and the Latin." + </p> + <p> + The doctor gave a heavy sigh. + </p> + <p> + "You're out of my depth, Oxenden," said he. "I'm nothing of a + philologist." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" said Featherstone, "I like this. This is equal to your list of + the plants of the Coal Period, doctor. But I say, Oxenden, while you are + about it, why don't you give us a little dose of Anglo-Saxon and Sanscrit? + By Jove! the fellow has Bopp by heart, and yet he expects us to argue with + him." + </p> + <p> + "I have it!" cried Melick. "The Kosekin are the lost Ten Tribes. Oxenden + is feeling his way to that. He is going to make them out to be all Hebrew; + and then, of course, the only conclusion will be that they are the Ten + Tribes, who after a life of strange vicissitudes have pulled up at the + South Pole. It's a wonder More didn't think of that—or the writer of + this yarn, whoever he may be. Well, for my part, I always took a deep + interest in the lost Ten Tribes, and thought them a fine body of men." + </p> + <p> + "Don't think they've got much of the Jew about them," said Featherstone, + languidly. "They hate riches and all that, you know. Break a Jew's heart + to hear of all that property wasted, and money going a-begging. Not a bad + idea, though, that of theirs about money. Too much money's a howwid baw, + by Jove!" + </p> + <p> + "Well," continued Oxenden, calmly resuming, and taking no notice of these + interruptions, "I can give you word after word that More has mentioned + which corresponds to a kindred Hebrew word in accordance with 'Grimm's + Law.' For instance, Kosekin 'Op,' Hebrew 'Oph;' Kosekin 'Athon,' Hebrew + 'Adon;' Kosekin 'Salon,' Hebrew 'Shalom.' They are more like Hebrew than + Arabic, just as Anglo-Saxon words are more like Latin or Greek than + Sanscrit." + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah!" cried Melick, "we've got him to Sanscrit at last! Now, Oxenden, + my boy, trot out the 'Hitopadesa,' the 'Megha Dhuta,' the 'Rig Veda.' + Quote 'Beowulf' and Caedmon. Gives us a little Zeno, and wind up with + 'Lalla Rookh' in modern Persian." + </p> + <p> + "So I conclude," said Oxenden, calmly, ignoring Melick, "that the Kosekin + are a Semitic people. Their complexion and their beards show them to be + akin to the Caucasian race, and their language proves beyond the shadow of + a doubt that they belong to the Semitic branch of that race. It is + impossible for an autochthonous people to have such a language." + </p> + <p> + "But how," cried the doctor—"how in the name of wonder did they get + to the South Pole?" + </p> + <p> + "Easily enough," interrupted Melick—"Shem landed there from Noah's + ark, and left some of his children to colonize the country. That's as + plain as a pikestaff. I think, on the whole, that this idea is better than + the other one about the Ten Tribes. At any rate they are both mine, and I + warn all present to keep their hands off them, for on my return I intend + to take out a copyright." + </p> + <p> + "There's another thing," continued Oxenden, "which is of immense + importance, and that is their habit of cave-dwelling. I am inclined to + think that they resorted to cave-dwelling at first from some hereditary + instinct or other, and that their eyes and their whole morals have become + affected by this mode of life. Now, as to ornamented caverns, we have many + examples—caverns adorned with a splendor fully equal to anything + among the Kosekin. There are in India the great Behar caves, the splendid + Karli temple with its magnificent sculptures and imposing architecture, + and the cavern-temples of Elephanta; there are the subterranean works in + Egypt, the temple of Dendera in particular; in Petra we have the case of + an entire city excavated from the rocky mountains; yet, after all, these + do not bear upon the point in question, for they are isolated cases; and + even Petra, though it contained a city, did not contain a nation. But + there is a case, and one which is well known, that bears directly upon + this question, and gives us the connecting link between the Kosekin and + their Semitic brethren in the northern hemisphere." + </p> + <p> + "What is that?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "The Troglodytes," said Oxenden, with impressive solemnity. + </p> + <p> + "Well, and what do you make out of the Troglodytes?" + </p> + <p> + "I will explain," said Oxenden. "The name Troglodytes is given to various + tribes of men, but those best known and celebrated under this name once + inhabited the shores of the Red Sea, both on the Arabian and the Egyptian + side. They belonged to the Arabian race, and were consequently a Semitic + people. Mark that, for it is a point of the utmost importance. Now, these + Troglodytes all lived in caverns, which were formed partly by art and + partly by nature, although art must have had most to do with the + construction of such vast subterranean works. They lived in great + communities in caverns, and they had long tunnels passing from one + community to another. Here also they kept their cattle. Some of these + people have survived even to our own age; for Bruce, the Abyssinian + traveller, saw them in Nubia. + </p> + <p> + "The earliest writer who mentions the Troglodytes was Agatharcides, of + Cnidos. According to him they were chiefly herdsmen. Their food was the + flesh of cattle, and their drink a mixture of milk and blood. They dressed + in the skins of cattle; they tattooed their bodies. They were very swift + of foot, and were able to run down wild beasts in the hunt. They were also + greatly given to robbery, and caravans passing to and fro had to guard + against them. + </p> + <p> + "One feature in their character has to my mind a strange significance, and + that is their feelings with regard to death. It was not the Kosekin love + of death, yet it was something which must certainly be considered as + approximating to it. For Agatharcides says that in their burials they were + accustomed to fasten the corpse to a stake, and then gathering round, to + pelt it with stones amid shouts of laughter and wild merriment. They also + used to strangle the old and infirm, so as to deliver them from the evils + of life. These Troglodytes, then, were a nation of cave-dwellers, loving + the dark—not exactly loving death, yet at any rate regarding it with + merriment and pleasure; and so I cannot help seeing a connection between + them and the Kosekin." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the doctor, "but how did they get to the South Pole?" + </p> + <p> + "That," said Oxenden, "is a question which I do not feel bound to answer." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it is easy enough to answer that," said Melick. "They, of course, dug + through the earth." + </p> + <p> + Oxenden gave a groan. + </p> + <p> + "I think I'll turn in for the night," said he, rising. Upon this the + others rose also and followed his example. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning the calm still continued. None of the party rose + until very late, and then over the breakfast-table they discussed the + manuscript once more, each from his own point of view, Melick still + asserting a contemptuous scepticism—Oxenden and the doctor giving + reasons for their faith, and Featherstone listening without saying much on + either side. + </p> + <p> + At length it was proposed to resume the reading of the manuscript, which + task would now devolve upon Oxenden. They adjourned to the deck, where all + disposed themselves in easy attitudes to listen to the continuation of + More's narrative. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII — A VOYAGE OVER THE POLE + </h2> + <p> + The discovery of our love had brought a crisis in our fate for me and + Almah. The Kohen hailed it with joy, for now was the time when he would be + able to present us to the Kohen Gadol. Our doom was certain and + inevitable. We were to be taken to the amir; we were to be kept until the + end of the dark season, and then we were both to be publicly sacrificed. + After this our bodies were to be set apart for the hideous rites of the + Mista Kosek. Such was the fate that lay before us. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen was now anxious to take us to the amir. I might possibly have + persuaded him to postpone our departure, but I saw no use in that. It + seemed better to go, for it was possible that amid new scenes and among + new people there might be hope. This, too, seemed probable to Almah, who + was quite anxious to go. The Kohen pressed forward the preparations, and + at length a galley was ready for us. + </p> + <p> + This galley was about three hundred feet in length and fifty in width, but + not more than six feet in depth. It was like a long raft. The rowers, two + hundred in number, sat on a level with the water, one hundred on each + side. The oars were small, being not more than twelve feet in length, but + made of very light, tough material, with very broad blades. The galley was + steered with broad-bladed paddles at both ends. There was no mast or sail. + Astern was a light poop, surrounded by a pavilion, and forward there was + another. At the bow there was a projecting platform, used chiefly in + fighting the thannin, or sea-monsters, and also in war. There were no + masts or flags or gay streamers; no brilliant colors; all was intensely + black, and the ornaments were of the same hue. + </p> + <p> + We were now treated with greater reverence than ever, for we were looked + upon as the recipients of the highest honor that could fall to any of the + Kosekin—namely, the envied dignity of a public death. As we embarked + the whole city lined the public ways, and watched us from the quays, from + boats, and from other galleys. Songs were sung by a chosen choir of + paupers, and to the sound of this plaintive strain we moved out to sea. + </p> + <p> + "This will be a great journey for me," said the Kohen, as we left the + port. "I hope to be made a pauper at least, and perhaps gain the honor of + a public death. I have known people who have gained death for less. There + was an Athon last year who attacked a pehmet with forty men and one + hundred and twenty rowers. All were killed or drowned except himself. In + reward for this he gained the mudecheb, or death recompense. In addition + to this he was set apart for the Mista Kosek." + </p> + <p> + "Then, with you, when a man procures the death of others he is honored?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, yes; how could it be otherwise?" said the Kohen. "Is it not the same + with you? Have you not told me incredible things about your people, among + which there were a few that seemed natural and intelligible? Among these + was your system of honoring above all men those who procure the death of + the largest number. You, with your pretended fear of death, wish to meet + it in battle as eagerly as we do, and your most renowned men are those who + have sent most to death." + </p> + <p> + To this strange remark I had no answer to make. + </p> + <p> + The air out at sea now grew chillier. The Kohen noticed it also, and + offered me his cloak, which I refused. He seemed surprised, and smiled. + </p> + <p> + "You are growing like one of us," said he. "You will soon learn that the + greatest happiness in life is to do good to others and sacrifice yourself. + You already show this in part. When you are with Almah you act like one of + the Kosekin. You watch her to see and anticipate her slightest wish; you + are eager to give her everything. She, on the other hand, is equally eager + to give up all to you. Each one of you is willing to lay down life for the + other. You would gladly rush upon death to save her from harm, much as you + pretend to fear death; and so I see that with Almah you will soon learn + how sweet a thing death may be." + </p> + <p> + "To live without her," said I, "would be so bitter that death with her + would indeed be sweet. If I could save her life by laying down my own, + death would be sweeter still; and not one of you Kosekin would meet it so + gladly." + </p> + <p> + The Kosekin smiled joyously. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou hast + transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of us + altogether. For see, how is it now? You pretend to love riches and life, + and yet you are ready to give up everything for Almah." + </p> + <p> + "Gladly, gladly!" I exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," he said, "all that you have—you would gladly lavish on her, + and would rejoice to make yourself a pauper for her sweet sake. You also + would rejoice equally to give up life for her. Is it not so?" + </p> + <p> + "It is," said I. + </p> + <p> + "Then I see by this that Almah has awakened within you your true human + nature. Thus far it has lain dormant; it has been concealed under a + thousand false and unnatural habits, arising from your strange native + customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where + nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and with + Almah you are like the Kosekin. Soon you will learn new lessons, and will + find out that there is a new and a final self-abnegation in perfect love; + and your love will never rest till you have separated yourself from Almah, + so that love can have its perfect work." + </p> + <p> + The sea now opened wide before us, rising up high as if half-way to the + zenith, giving the impression of a vast ascent to endless distances. + Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy outlines of the + mountains; above was the sky, all clear, with faint aurora-flashes and + gleaming stars. Hand-in-hand with Almah I stood and pointed out the + constellations as we marked them while she told me of the different + divisions known among the Kosekin as well as her own people. There, high + in the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not exactly at the pole, nor + yet of very great brightness, but still sufficiently noticeable. + </p> + <p> + Looking back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phoenix and the Crane; higher + up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was the + beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were the + Sword-fish and the Flying-fish. Turning to look forward, we beheld a more + splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between the Centaur, + which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there blazed the bright + stars of the Southern Cross—a constellation, if not the brightest, + at least the most conspicuous and attractive in all the heavens. All + around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then, over the stern, + gleamed the splendid lustre of Achernar, on the left the brilliant glow of + Alpha Robur and Canopus, and low down before us the bright light of Argo. + It was a scene full of splendor and fascination. After a time a change + came over the sky: the aurora-flashes, at first faint, gradually increased + in brilliancy till the stars grew dim, and all the sky, wherever the eye + might turn from the horizon to the zenith, seemed filled with lustrous + flames of every conceivable hue. Colossal beams radiated from the pole + toward the horizon till the central light was dissipated, and there + remained encircling us an infinite colonnade of flaming pillars that + towered to the stars. These were all in motion, running upon one another, + incessantly shifting and changing; new scenes forever succeeded to old; + pillars were transformed to pyramids, pyramids to fiery bars; these in + their turn were transformed to other shapes, and all the while one tint of + innumerable hues overspread the entire circle of the sky. + </p> + <p> + Our voyage occupied several joms; but our progress was continuous, for + different sets of rowers relieved one another at regular intervals. On the + second jom a storm broke out. The sky had been gathering clouds during + sleeping-time, and when we awoke we found the sea all lashed to fury, + while all around the darkness was intense. The storm grew steadily worse; + the lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, and at length the sea was so + heavy that rowing was impossible. Upon this the oars were all taken in, + and the galley lay tossing upon the furious sea, amid waves that + continually beat upon her. + </p> + <p> + And now a scene ensued that filled me with amazement, and took away all my + thoughts from the storm. It seemed impossible that so frail a bark could + stand the fury of the waves. Destruction was inevitable, and I was + expecting to see the usual signs of grief and despair—wondering, + too, how these rowers would preserve their subordination. But I had + forgotten in my excitement the strange nature of the Kosekin. Instead of + terror there was joy, instead of wild despair there was peace and serene + delight. + </p> + <p> + The lightning-flashes revealed a wonderful scene. There were all the + rowers, each one upon his seat, and from them all there came forth a chant + which was full of triumph, like a song of public welcome to some great + national hero, or a song of joy over victory. The officers embraced one + another and exchanged words of delight. The Kohen, after embracing all the + others, turned to me, and, forgetting my foreign ways, exclaimed, in a + tone of enthusiastic delight, + </p> + <p> + "We are destroyed! Death is near! Rejoice!" + </p> + <p> + Accustomed as I was to the perils of the sea, I had learned to face death + without flinching. Almah, too, was calm, for to her this death seemed + preferable to that darker fate which awaited us; but the words of the + Kohen jarred upon my feelings. + </p> + <p> + "Do you not intend to do anything to save the ship?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + He laughed joyously. + </p> + <p> + "There's no occasion," said he. "When the oars are taken in we always + begin to rejoice. And why not? Death is near—it is almost certain. + Why should we do anything to distract our minds and mar our joy? For oh, + dear friend, the glorious time has come when we can give up life—life, + with all its toils, its burdens, its endless bitternesses, its perpetual + evils. Now we shall have no more suffering from vexatious and oppressive + riches, from troublesome honors, from a surplus of food, from luxuries and + delicacies, and all the ills of life." + </p> + <p> + "But what is the use of being born at all?" I asked, in a wonder that + never ceased to rise at every fresh display of Kosekin feeling. + </p> + <p> + "The use?" said the Kohen. "Why, if we were not born, how could we know + the bliss of dying, or enjoy the sweetness of death? Death is the end of + being—the one sweet hope and crown and glory of life, the one desire + and hope of every living man. The blessing is denied to none. Rejoice with + me, oh Atam-or! you will soon know its blessedness as well as I." + </p> + <p> + He turned away. I held Almah in my arms, and we watched the storm by the + lightning-flashes and waited for the end. But the end came not. The galley + was light, broad, and buoyant as a life-boat; at the same time it was so + strongly constructed that there was scarcely any twist or contortion in + the sinewy fabric. So we floated buoyantly and safely upon the summit of + vast waves, and a storm that would have destroyed a ship of the European + fashion scarcely injured this in the slightest degree. It was an + indestructible as a raft and as buoyant as a bubble; so we rode out the + gale, and the death which the Kosekin invoked did not come at all. + </p> + <p> + The storm was but short-lived; the clouds dispersed, and soon went + scudding over the sky; the sea went down. The rowers had to take their + oars once more, and the reaction that followed upon their recent rejoicing + was visible in universal gloom and dejection. As the clouds dispersed the + aurora lights came out more splendid than ever, and showed nothing but + melancholy faces. The rowers pulled with no life or animation; the + officers stood about sighing and lamenting; Almah and I were the only ones + that rejoiced over this escape from death. + </p> + <p> + Joms passed. We saw other sights; we met with galleys and saw many ships + about the sea. Some were moved by sails only; these were merchant ships, + but they had only square sails, and could not sail in any other way than + before the wind. Once or twice I caught glimpses of vast shadowy objects + in the air. I was startled and terrified; for, great as were the wonders + of this strange region, I had not yet suspected that the air itself might + have denizens as tremendous as the land or the sea. Yet so it was, and + afterward during the voyage I saw them often. One in particular was so + near that I observed it with ease. It came flying along in the same course + with us, at a height of about fifty feet from the water. It was a + frightful monster, with a long body and vast wings like those a bat. Its + progress was swift, and it soon passed out of sight. To Almah the monster + created no surprise; she was familiar with them, and told me that they + were very abundant here, but that they never were known to attack ships. + She informed me that they were capable of being tamed if caught when + young, though in her country they were never made use of. The name given + by the Kosekin to these monsters is athaleb. + </p> + <p> + At length we drew near to our destination. We reached a large harbor at + the end of a vast bay: here the mountains extended around, and before us + there arose terrace after terrace of twinkling lights running away to + immense distances. It looked like a city of a million inhabitants, though + it may have contained far less than that. By the brilliant aurora light I + could see that it was in general shape and form precisely like the city + that we had left, though far larger and more populous. The harbor was full + of ships and boats of all sorts, some lying at the stone quays, others + leaving port, others entering. Galleys passed and repassed, and merchant + ships with their clumsy sails, and small fishing-boats. From afar arose + the deep hum of a vast multitude and the low roar that always ascends from + a popular city. + </p> + <p> + The galley hauled alongside her wharf, and we found ourselves at length in + the mighty amir of the Kosekin. The Kohen alone landed; the rest remained + on board, and Almah and I with them. + </p> + <p> + Other galleys were here. On the wharf workmen were moving about. Just + beyond were caverns that looked like warehouses. Above these was a + terraced street, where a vast multitude moved to and fro—a living + tide as crowded and as busy as that in Cheapside. + </p> + <p> + After what seemed a long time the Kohen returned. This time he came with a + number of people, all of whom were in cars drawn by opkuks. Half were men + and half women. These came aboard, and it seemed as though we were to be + separated; for the women took Almah, while the men took me. Upon this I + entreated the Kohen not to separate us. I informed him that we were both + of a different race from his, that we did not understand their ways; we + should be miserable if separated. + </p> + <p> + I spoke long and with all the entreaty possible to one with my limited + acquaintance with the language. My words evidently impressed them: some of + them even wept. + </p> + <p> + "You make us sad," said the Kohen. "Willingly would we do everything that + you bid, for we are your slaves; but the state law prevents. Still, in + your case, the law will be modified; for you are in such honor here that + you may be considered as beyond the laws. For the present, at least, we + cannot separate you." + </p> + <p> + These words brought much consolation. After this we landed, and Almah and + I were still together. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX — THE WONDERS OF THE "AMIR" + </h2> + <p> + We were drawn on cars up to the first terraced street, and here we found + the vast multitude which we had seen from a distance. Crossing this + street, we ascended and came to another precisely like it; then, still + going on, we came to a third. Here there was an immense space, not + overgrown with trees like the streets, but perfectly open. In the midst + arose a lofty pyramid, and as I looked at it I could not refrain from + shuddering; for it looked like the public altar, upon which in due time I + should be compelled to make my appearance, and be offered up as a victim + to the terrific superstitions of the Kosekin. + </p> + <p> + Crossing this great square, we came to a vast portal, which opened into a + cavern with twinkling lights. The city itself extended above this, for we + could see the terraced streets rising above our heads; but here our + progress ended at the great cavern in the chief square, opposite the + pyramid. + </p> + <p> + On entering the cavern we traversed an antechamber, and then passing on we + reached a vast dome, of dimensions so great that I could perceive no end + in that gloom. The twinkling lights served only to disclose the darkness + and to indicate the immensity of the cavern. In the midst there arose two + enormous columns, which were lost in the gloom above. + </p> + <p> + It was only by passing through this that we learned its great extent. We + at length came to the other end, and here we saw numerous passages leading + away. The Kohen led us through one of these, and after passing through + several other domes of smaller dimensions we at length reached an + apartment where we stopped. This place was furnished with couches and + hangings, and lighted with flaming lamps. The light was distressing to + those who had accompanied us, and many of them left, while the few who + remained had to cover their eyes. Here we found that all preparations had + been made. The apartments were all illuminated, though our love of light + never ceased to be a matter of amazement to the Kosekin, and a bounteous + repast was spread for us. But the Kohen and the others found the light + intolerable, and soon left us to ourselves. + </p> + <p> + After the repast some women appeared to take Almah to her chamber, and, + with the usual kindness of the Kosekin, they assured her that she would + not be expected to obey the law of separation, but that she was to remain + here, where she would be always within reach of me. + </p> + <p> + After her departure there came to visit me the lowest man in all the land + of the Kosekin, though, according to our view, he would be esteemed the + highest. This was the Kohen Gadol. His history had already been told me. I + had learned that through lack of Kosekin virtue he had gradually sunk to + this position, and now was compelled to hold in his hands more wealth, + power, and display than any other man in the nation. + </p> + <p> + He was a man of singular appearance. The light was not so troublesome to + him as to the others—he merely kept his eyes shaded; but he regarded + me with a keen look of inquiry that was suggestive of shrewdness and + cunning. I confess it was with a feeling of relief that I made this + discovery; for I longed to find someone among this singular people who was + selfish, who feared death, who loved life, who loved riches, and had + something in common with me. This I thought I perceived in the shrewd, + cunning face of the Kohen Gadol, and I was glad; for I saw that while he + could not possibly be more dangerous to me than those self-sacrificing, + self-denying cannibals whom I had thus far known, he might prove of some + assistance, and might help me to devise means of escape. If I could only + find someone who was a coward, and selfish and avaricious—if this + Kohen Gadol could but be he—how much brighter my life would be! And + so there happened to me an incredible thing, that my highest wish was now + to find in the Kohen Gadol cowardice, avarice, and selfishness. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen was accompanied by a young female, richly attired, who, I + afterward learned, was his daughter. Her name was Layelah, and she filled + the office of Malca, which signifies queen; and though honorable with us + above all, is among the Kosekin the lowest in the land. Layelah was so + beautiful that I looked at her in amazement. She was very tall for one of + the Kosekin, which made her stature equal to that of an ordinary girl with + us; her hair was rich, dark and luxuriant, gathered about her head in + great masses and bound by a golden band. Her features were delicate and + perfect in their outline; her expression was noble and commanding. Her + eyes were utterly unlike those of the other Kosekin; the upper lids had a + slight droop, but that was all, and that was the nearest approach to the + national blink. Her first entrance into the room seemed to dazzle her, and + she shaded her eyes for a few moments, but after that she looked at me + fixedly, and seemed to suffer no more inconvenience than I did. The + perfect liberty of women among the Kosekin made this visit from her quite + as natural as that of her father; and though she said but little on this + occasion, she was an attentive listener and close observer. + </p> + <p> + Their visit was long, for they were evidently full of curiosity. They had + heard much about me and wished to see more. It was the first time that I + had found among the Kosekin the slightest desire to know where I had come + from. Hitherto all had been content with the knowledge that I was a + foreigner. Now, however, I found in the Kohen Gadol and Layelah a + curiosity that was most eager and intense. They questioned me about my + country, about the great world beyond the mountains, about the way in + which I had come here, about the manners and customs of my countrymen. + They were eager to know about those great nations of which I spoke, who + loved light and life; about men who loved themselves better than others; + of that world where men feared death and loved life, and sought after + riches and lived in the light. + </p> + <p> + The sleeping-time came and passed, and my visitors were still full of + eager questionings. It was Layelah who at last thought of the lateness of + the hour. At a word from her the Kohen Gadol rose, with many apologies, + and prepared to go. But before he left he said: + </p> + <p> + "When I was a child I was shipwrecked, and was taken up a ship which + conveyed me to a nation beyond the sea. There I grew up to manhood. I + learned their language and manners and customs, and when I returned home I + found myself an alien here: I do not love darkness or death, I do not hate + riches, and the result is that I am what I am. If I were like the rest of + my countrymen, my lot would make me miserable; but as it is I prefer it to + any other, and consider myself not the lowest but the greatest in the + land. My daughter is like me, and instead of being ashamed of her station + she is proud of it, and would not give it up even to become a pauper. I + will see you again. I have much to say." + </p> + <p> + With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving me + more hopeful than I had been for a long time. + </p> + <p> + For many joms following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and from + Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these other + visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other Kosekin, + that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she might wish to + be with me. Their visits were always long, and we had much to say; but + what I lost of sleep I always made up on the following jom. The Kohen + Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face, interested me greatly; but Layelah, + with her proud face and air of command, was a positive wonder. + </p> + <p> + I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of advanced + views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical," it matters + not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings differed from + those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal to a revolution in + politics and morals. + </p> + <p> + The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without + which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but they + were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had to suffer + the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with vast wealth, + compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to have enormous + retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and in religion. Even + this, however, had not changed the sentiments of the condemned, and I + learned that they were laboring incessantly, notwithstanding their severe + punishment, to disseminate their peculiar doctrines. These were formulated + as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 1. A man should not love others better than himself. + 2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of. + 3. Other things are to be preferred to death. + 4. Poverty is not the best state for man. + 5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness. + 6. Lovers may sometimes marry. + 7. To serve is not more honorable than to command. + 8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory. + 9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence. + 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of + wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich. +</pre> + <p> + These articles were considered both by the Kohen Gadol and by Layelah to + be remarkable for their audacity, and were altogether too advanced for + mention by any except the chosen few. With the multitude he had to deal + differently, and had to work his way by concealing his opinions. He had + made a great conspiracy, in which he was still engaged, and had gained + immense numbers of adherents by allowing them to give him their whole + wealth. Through his assistance many Athons and Kohens and Meleks had + become artisans laborers, and even paupers; but all were bound by him to + the strictest secrecy. If anyone should divulge the secret, it would be + ruin to him and to many others; for they would at once be punished by the + bestowal of the extremest wealth, by degradation to the rank of rulers and + commanders, and by the severest rigors of luxury, power, splendor, and + magnificence known among the Kosekin. Overwhelmed thus with the cares of + government, crushed under the weight of authority and autocratic rule, + surrounded by countless slaves all ready to die for them, their lives + would be embittered and their punishment would be more than they could + bear. But the philosophic Kohen Gadol dared all these punishments, and + pursued his way calmly and pertinaciously. + </p> + <p> + Nothing surprised the Kohen Gadol so much as the manner in which I + received his confidences. He half expected to startle me by his boldness, + but was himself confounded by my words. I told him that in my country self + was the chief consideration, self-preservation the law of nature; death + the King of Terrors; wealth the object of universal search, poverty the + worst of evils; unrequited love nothing less than anguish and despair; to + command others the highest glory; victory, honor; defeat, intolerable + shame; and other things of the same sort, all of which sounded in his + ears, as he said, with such tremendous force that they were like peals of + thunder. He shook his head despondently; he could not believe that such + views as mine could ever be attained to among the Kosekin. But Layelah was + bolder, and with all a woman's impetuosity grasped at my fullest meaning + and held it firm. + </p> + <p> + "He is right," said Layelah—"the heaven-born Atam-or. He shall be + our teacher. The rich shall be esteemed, the poor shall be down-trodden; + to rule over others shall be glorious, to serve shall be base; victory + shall be an honor, defeat a shame; selfishness, self-seeking, luxury, and + indulgence shall be virtues; poverty, want, and squalor shall be things of + abhorrence and contempt." + </p> + <p> + The face of Layelah glowed with enthusiasm as she said these words, and I + saw in her a daring, intrepid, and high-hearted woman, full of a woman's + headlong impetuosity and disregard of consequences. In me she saw one who + seemed to her like a prophet and teacher of a new order of things, and her + whole soul responded to the principles which I announced. It required + immense strength of mind and firmness of soul to separate herself from the + prevalent sentiment of her nation; and though nature had done much for her + in giving her a larger portion of original selfishness than was common to + her people, still she was a child of the Kosekin, and her daring was all + the more remarkable. And so she went further than her father, and adopted + my extreme views when he shrank back, and dared more unflinchingly the + extremest rigors of the national law, and all that the Kosekin could + inflict in the way of wealth, luxury, supreme command, palatial abodes, + vast retinues of slaves, and the immense degradation of the queenly + office. + </p> + <p> + I spoke to her in a warning voice about her rashness. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said she, "I have counted the cost, and am ready to accept all that + they can inflict. I embrace the good cause, and will not give it up—no, + not even if they could increase my wealth a thousand-fold, and sentence me + to live a hundred seasons. I can bear their utmost inflictions of wealth, + power, magnificence; I could even bear being condemned to live forever in + the light. Oh, my friend, it is the conviction of right and the support of + conscience that strengthens one to bear the greatest evils that man can + inflict." + </p> + <p> + From these words it was evident to me that Layelah was a true child of the + Kosekin; for though she was of advanced sentiments she still used the + language of her people, and spoke of the punishments of the law as though + they were punishments in reality. Now, to me and to Almah these so-called + punishments seemed rewards. + </p> + <p> + It was impossible for me to avoid feeling a very strong regard for this + enthusiastic and beautiful girl; all the more, indeed, because she evinced + such an undisguised admiration for me. She evidently considered me some + superior being, from some superior race; and although my broken and faulty + way of speaking the language was something of a trial, still she seemed to + consider every word I uttered as a maxim of the highest wisdom. The + tritest of truths, the commonest of platitudes, the most familiar of + proverbs or old saws current among us were eagerly seized by Layelah, and + accepted as truths almost divine—as new doctrines for the guidance + of the human race. These she would discuss with me; she would put them + into better and more striking language, and ask for my opinion. Then she + would write them down. + </p> + <p> + For the Kosekin knew the art of writing. They had an alphabet of their + own, which was at once simple and very scientific. There were no vowels, + but only consonant sounds, the vowels being supplied in reading, just as + if one should write the words fthr or dghtr, and read them father and + daughter. Their letters were as follows: P, K, T, B, G, D, F, Ch, Th, M, + L, N, S, H, R. There were also three others, which have no equivalents in + English. + </p> + <p> + It soon became evident to me that Layelah had a complete ascendancy over + her father; that she was not only the Malca of the amir, but the presiding + spirit and the chief administrative genius of the whole nation of the + Kosekin. She seemed to be a new Semiramis—one who might + revolutionize an empire and introduce a new order of things. Such, indeed, + was her high ambition, and she plainly avowed it to me; but what was more, + she frankly informed me that she regarded me as a Heaven-sent teacher—as + one who in this darkness could tell her of the nations of light—who + could instruct her in the wisdom of other and greater races, and help her + to accomplish her grand designs. + </p> + <p> + As for Almah, she seemed quite beneath the notice of the aspiring Layelah. + She never noticed her, she never spoke of her, and she always made her + visits to me after Almah had gone. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX — THE DARK MAIDEN LAYELAH + </h2> + <p> + Layelah at length began to make pointed remarks about Almah. + </p> + <p> + "She loves you," said she, "and you love her. How is it that you do not + give each other up?" + </p> + <p> + "I would die rather than give up Almah," said I. + </p> + <p> + Layelah smiled. "That sounds strange to the Kosekin," said she, "for here + to give up your love and to die are both esteemed the greatest possible + blessings. But Almah should give you up. It is the women with us who make + the beginning. Women generally fall in love first, and it is expected that + they will tell their love first. The delicacy of a woman's feelings makes + this natural, for if a man tells his love to a woman who does not love + him, it shocks her modesty; while if a woman tells a man, he has no + modesty to shock." + </p> + <p> + "That is strange," said I; "but suppose the man does not love the woman?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, no woman wants to be loved; she only wants to love." + </p> + <p> + At this I felt somewhat bewildered. + </p> + <p> + "That," said Layelah, "is unrequited love, which is the chief blessing + here, though for my part I am a philosopher, and would wish when I love to + be loved in return." + </p> + <p> + "And then," said I, "if so, would you give up your lover, in accordance + with the custom of your country?" + </p> + <p> + Layelah's dark eyes rested on me for a moment with a glance of intense + earnestness and profound meaning. She drew a long breath, and then said, + in a low, tremulous voice, + </p> + <p> + "Never!" + </p> + <p> + Layelah was constantly with me, and at length used to come at an earlier + time, when Almah was present. Her manner toward Almah was full of the + usual Kosekin courtesy and gracious cordiality. She was still intent upon + learning from me the manners, customs, and principles of action of the + race to which I belonged. She had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and + her curiosity extended to all of those great inventions which are the + wonder of Christendom. Locomotives and steamboats were described to her + under the names of "horses of fire" and "ships of fire"; printing was + "letters of power"; the electric telegraph, "messages of lightning"; the + organ, "lute of giants," and so on. Yet, in spite of the eagerness with + which she made her inquiries, and the diligence with which she noted all + down, I could see that there was in her mind something lying beneath it + all—a far more earnest purpose, and a far more personal one, than + the pursuit of useful knowledge. + </p> + <p> + Layelah was watchful of Almah; she seemed studying her to see how far this + woman of another race differed from the Kosekin. She would often turn from + me and talk with Almah for a long time, questioning her about her people + and their ways. Almah's manner was somewhat reserved, and it was rendered + somewhat more so from the fact that her mind was always full of the + prospect of our impending doom. Each jom as it came and went brought us + nearer to that awful time, and the hour was surely coming when we should + be taken to the outer square and to the top of the pyramid of sacrifice. + </p> + <p> + Once Layelah sat for some time silent and involved in thought. At length + she began to speak to me. + </p> + <p> + "Almah," said she, "is very different from us. She loves you and you love + her. She ought to give you up. Almah, you ought to give up Atam-or, since + you love him." + </p> + <p> + Almah looked confused, and made some reply to the effect that she belonged + to a different race with different customs. + </p> + <p> + "But you should follow our customs. You are one of us now. You can easily + find another who will take him." + </p> + <p> + Almah threw a piteous glance at me and said nothing. + </p> + <p> + "I," said Layelah, "will take him." + </p> + <p> + She spoke these words with an air of magnanimity, as though putting it in + the light of a favor to Almah; but Almah did not make any reply, and after + some silence Layelah spoke of something else. + </p> + <p> + Not long after we were alone together, and Layelah returned to the + subject. She referred to Almah's want of sympathy with the manners of the + Kosekin, and asserted that she ought to aim after a separation. + </p> + <p> + "I love her," said I, with great warmth, "and will never give her up." + </p> + <p> + "But she must give you up; it is the woman's place to take the first step. + I should be willing to take you." + </p> + <p> + As Layelah said this she looked at me very earnestly, as if anxious to see + how I accepted this offer. It was for me a most embarrassing moment. I + loved Almah, but Layelah also was most agreeable, and I liked her very + much; indeed, so much so that I could not bear to say anything that might + hurt her feelings. Among all the Kosekin there was not one who was not + infinitely inferior to her in my eyes. Still, I loved Almah, and I told + her so again, thinking that in this way I might repel her without giving + offence. + </p> + <p> + But Layelah was quite ready with her reply. + </p> + <p> + "If you love Almah," said she, "that is the very reason why you should + marry me." + </p> + <p> + This made me feel more embarrassed than ever. + </p> + <p> + I stammered something about my own feelings—the manners and customs + of my race—and the fear that I had of acting against my own + principles. "Besides," I added, "I'm afraid it would make you unhappy." + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said Layelah, briskly; "on the contrary, it would make me very + happy indeed." + </p> + <p> + I began to be more and more aghast at this tremendous frankness, and was + utterly at a loss what to say. + </p> + <p> + "My father," continued Layelah, "is different from the other Kosekin, and + so am I. I seek requital for love, and do not think it an evil." + </p> + <p> + A sudden thought now suggested itself, and I caught at it as a last + resort. + </p> + <p> + "You have," said I, "some lover among the Kosekin. Why do you not marry + him?" + </p> + <p> + Layelah smiled. + </p> + <p> + "I have no lover that I love," said she, "among the Kosekin." + </p> + <p> + My feeble effort was thus a miserable failure. I was about saying + something concerning the Kosekin alphabet or something else of an equally + appropriate nature, when she prevented me. + </p> + <p> + "Atam-or," said she, in a low voice. + </p> + <p> + "Layelah," said I, with my mind full of confusion. + </p> + <p> + "I love you!" + </p> + <p> + She sat looking at me with her beautiful face all aglow her dark eyes + fixed on mine with an intense and eager gaze. I looked at her and said not + one single word. Layelah was the first to break the awkward silence. + </p> + <p> + "You love Almah, Atam-or; but say, do you not love me? You smile at me, + you meet me always when I come with warm greetings, and you seem to enjoy + yourself in my society. Say, Atam-or, do you not love me?" + </p> + <p> + This was a perilous and a tremendous moment. The fact is, I did like + Layelah very much indeed, and I wanted to tell her so; but my ignorance of + the language did not allow me to observe those nice distinctions of + meaning which exist between the words "like" and "love." I knew no other + word than the one Kosekin word meaning "love," and could not think of any + meaning "like." It was, therefore, a very trying position for me. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Layelah," said I, floundering and stammering in my confusion, "I + love you; I—" + </p> + <p> + But here I was interrupted without waiting for any further words; the + beautiful creature flung her arms around me and clung to me with a fond + embrace. As for me, I was utterly confounded, bewildered, and desperate. I + thought of my darling Almah, whom alone I loved. It seemed at that moment + as though I was not only false to her, but as if I was even endangering + her life. My only thought now was to clear up my meaning. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Layelah," said I, as I sat with her arms around me, and with my own + around her slender waist, "I do not want to hurt your feelings." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or! oh, my love! never, never did I know such bliss as this." + </p> + <p> + Here again I was overwhelmed, but I still persisted in my effort. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Layelah," said I, "I love Almah most dearly and most tenderly." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or, why speak of that? I know it well. And so by our Kosekin law + you give her up; among us, lovers never marry. So you take me, your own + Layelah, and you will have me for your bride; and my love for you is ten + thousand times stronger than that of the cold and melancholy Almah. She + may marry my papa." + </p> + <p> + This suggestion filled me with dismay. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said I. "Never, never will I give up Almah!" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not," said Layelah; "you do not give her up—she gives you + up." + </p> + <p> + "She never will," said I. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said Layelah; "I will tell her that you wish it." + </p> + <p> + "I do not wish it," said I. "I love her, and will never give her up." + </p> + <p> + "It's all the same," said Layelah. "You cannot marry her at all. No one + will marry you. You and Almah are victims and the State has given you the + matchless honor of death. Common people who love one another may marry if + they choose, and take the punishment which the law assigns but illustrious + victims who love cannot marry, and so, my Atam-or, you have only me." + </p> + <p> + I need not say that all this was excessively embarrassing I was certainly + fond of Layelah, and liked her too much to hurt her feelings. Had I been + one of the Kosekin I might perhaps have managed better; but being a + European, a man of the Aryan race—being such, and sitting there with + the beautiful Layelah lavishing all her affections upon me—why, it + stands to reason that I could not have the heart to wound her feelings in + any way. I was taken at an utter disadvantage. Never in my life had I + heard of women taking the initiative. Layelah had proposed to me, she + would not listen to refusal, and I had not the heart to wound her. I had + made all the fight I could by persisting in asserting my love for Almah, + but all my assertions were brushed lightly aside as trivial things. + </p> + <p> + Let any gentleman put himself in my situation, and ask himself what he + would do. What would he do if such a thing could happen to him at home? + But there such a thing could not happen, and so there is no use in + supposing an impossible case. At any rate I think I deserve sympathy. Who + could keep his presence of mind under such circumstances? With us a young + lady who loves one man can easily repel another suitor; but here it was + very different, for how could I repel Layelah? Could I turn upon her and + say "Unhand me"? Could I say "Away! I am another's"? Of course I couldn't; + and what's worse, if I had said such things Layelah would have smiled me + down into silence. The fact is, it doesn't do for women to take the + initiative—it's not fair. I had stood a good deal among the Kosekin. + Their love of darkness, their passion for death, their contempt of riches, + their yearning after unrequited love, their human sacrifices, their + cannibalism, all had more or less become familiar to me, and I had learned + to acquiesce in silence; but now when it came to this—that a woman + should propose to a man—it really was more than a fellow could + stand. I felt this at that moment very forcibly; but then the worst of it + was that Layelah was so confoundedly pretty, and had such a nice way with + her, that hang me if I knew what to say. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Layelah was not silent; she had all her wits about her. + </p> + <p> + "Dear papa," said she, "would make such a nice husband for Almah. He is a + widower, you know. I could easily persuade him to marry her. He always + does whatever I ask him to do." + </p> + <p> + "But victims cannot marry, you said." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Layelah, sweetly, "they cannot marry one another, but Almah may + marry dear papa, and then you and I can be married, and it will be all + very nice indeed." + </p> + <p> + At this I started away. + </p> + <p> + "No," said I, indignantly, "it won't be nice. I'm engaged to be married to + Almah, and I'm not going to give her up." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, but she gives you up, you know," said Layelah, quietly. + </p> + <p> + "Well, but I'm not going to be given up." + </p> + <p> + "Why, how unreasonable you are, you foolish boy!" said Layelah, in her + most caressing manner. "You have nothing at all to do with it." + </p> + <p> + At this I was in fresh despair, and then a new thought came, which I + seized upon. + </p> + <p> + "See here," said I, "why can't I marry both of you? I'm engaged to Almah, + and I love her better than all the world. Let me marry her and you too." + </p> + <p> + At this Layelah laughed long and merrily. Peal after peal of laughter, + musical and most merry, burst from her. It was contagious; I could not + help joining in, and so we both sat laughing. It was a long time before we + regained our self-control. + </p> + <p> + "Why, that's downright bigamy!" exclaimed Layelah with fresh laughter. + "Why, Atam-or, you're mad!" and so she went off again in fresh peals of + laughter. It was evident that my proposal was not at all shocking, but + simply comical, ridiculous, and inconceivable in its absurdity. It was to + her what the remark of some despairing beauty would be among us who, when + pressed by two lovers should express a confused willingness to marry both. + It was evident that Layelah accepted it as a ludicrous jest. + </p> + <p> + Laughter was all very well, of course; but I was serious and felt that I + ought not to part with Layelah without some better understanding, and so I + once more made an effort. + </p> + <p> + "All this," said I, in a mournful tone, "is a mere mockery. What have I to + say about love and marriage? If you loved me as you say, you would not + laugh, but weep. You forget what I am. What am I? A victim, and doomed—doomed + to a hideous fate—a fate of horror unutterable. You cannot even + begin to imagine the anguish with which I look forward to that fate which + impends over me and Almah. Marriage—idle word! What have I to do + with marriage? What has Almah? There is only one marriage before us—the + dread marriage with death! Why talk of love to the dying? The tremendous + ordeal, the sacrifice, is before us and after that there remains the + hideous Mista Kosek!" + </p> + <p> + At this Layelah sprang up, with her whole face and attitude full of life + and energy. + </p> + <p> + "I know, I know," said she, quickly; "I have arranged for all. Your life + shall be saved. Do you think that I have consented to your death? Never! + You are mine. I will save you. I will show you what we can do. You shall + escape." + </p> + <p> + "Can you really save me?" I cried. + </p> + <p> + "I can." + </p> + <p> + "What! in spite of the whole nation?" + </p> + <p> + Layelah laughed scornfully. + </p> + <p> + "I can save you," said she. "We can fly. There are other nations beside + ours. We can find some land among the Gojin where we can live in peace. + The Gojin are not like us." + </p> + <p> + "But Almah?" said I. + </p> + <p> + The face of Layelah clouded. + </p> + <p> + "I can only save you," said she. + </p> + <p> + "Then I will stay and die with Almah," said I, obstinately. + </p> + <p> + "What!" said Layelah, "do you not fear death?" + </p> + <p> + "Of course I do," said I; "but I'd rather die than lose Almah." + </p> + <p> + "But it's impossible to save both of you." + </p> + <p> + "Then leave me and save Almah," said I. + </p> + <p> + "What! would you give up your life for Almah?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, and a thousand lives," said I. + </p> + <p> + "Why," said Layelah, "now you talk just like the Kosekin. You might as + well be one of us. You love death for the sake of Almah. Why not be more + like the Kosekin, and seek after a separation from Almah?" + </p> + <p> + Layelah was not at all offended at my declaration of love for Almah. She + uttered these words in a lively tone, and then said that it was time for + her to go. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI — THE FLYING MONSTER + </h2> + <p> + I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled me with + excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awake I + thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might be Layelah's plan + of escape, for I might then make use of it to save Almah. I determined to + find out all about it on the following jom—to question her as to the + lands of the Gojin, to learn all her purpose. It might be that I could + make use of that very plan to save Almah; but if not, why then I was + resolved to remain and meet my fate with her. If Layelah could be induced + to take both of us, I was of course resolved to go, trusting to chance as + to the claims of Layelah upon me, and determined at all hazards to be + faithful to Almah; but if she should positively refuse to save Almah, then + I thought it possible that I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of + escape something of which I might avail myself. I could not imagine what + it was, but it seemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, + especially for a desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by + means of some boat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could + make use of a sail so as to elude pursuit, and could guide myself by the + stars. The only thing that I wanted to know was the situation of the lands + of the Gojin. + </p> + <p> + On the following jom the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite early and + spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devoting himself + in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me that Layelah had + obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and that the old villain + actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah. To Almah herself I + had said nothing whatever about the proposal of Layelah, so that she was + quite ignorant of the intentions of her companion; but it was excessively + annoying to me to see such proceedings going on under my own eyes. At the + same time I felt that it would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; + and I was also quite sure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted + from me by anyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. + It was very trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, my + jealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party of philosophical + Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibals whom I first met. + As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of any disturbance in my + mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, as inquisitive, and as + affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, and devoted herself to me + with an abandon that was quite irresistible. + </p> + <p> + After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she was alone. + </p> + <p> + "I have come," said she, "to show you the way in which we can escape, + whenever you decide to do so." + </p> + <p> + It was the thing above all others which I wished to know, and therefore I + questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of my questions she only + replied that she would show me, and I might judge for myself. + </p> + <p> + Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleries and + vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was the sleeping-time, and + only those were visible who had some duties which kept them up later than + usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feebly illuminated the general gloom. + At length we came to an immense cavern, which was darker than ever, and + without any lamps at all. Through a vast portal, which was closed with a + barred gateway, the beams of the brilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed + something of the interior. + </p> + <p> + Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stood waiting by + her side, wondering what means of escape could be found in this cavern. As + I stood I heard through the still air the sound as of living things. For a + time I saw nothing, but at length I descried a vast, shadowy form moving + forward toward the portal, where the darkness was less. It was a form of + portentous size and fearful shape, and I could not make out at first the + nature of it. It surpassed all that I had ever seen. Its head was large + and its jaws long, armed with rows of terrible teeth like those of a + crocodile. Its body was of great size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as + to maintain itself in an upright attitude, and in that position its height + was over twelve feet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has + yet to be told. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I saw + descending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings, which + shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about as fast as + that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemed like some + enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yet again like one of + those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but in whose actual existence + I had never believed. Yet here I saw one living and moving before me—an + actual dragon, with the exception of a tail; for that appendage, which + plays so great a part in all the pictures of dragons, had no place here. + This beast had but a short caudal appendage, and all its terrors lay in + its jaws and in its wings. + </p> + <p> + For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I + shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb." + </p> + <p> + "But won't it—won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole." + </p> + <p> + At this I shrank away still farther. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, + besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at feeding-time. + But this one is very tame. There are three or four others in here, and all + as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up nearer; don't be afraid. These + athalebs are easily tamed." + </p> + <p> + "How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an incredulous + tone. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are + taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service here + for a hundred seasons and more." + </p> + <p> + At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer to + the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no means + reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than ever, for I + could see that all its body was covered with scales. On its neck and back + was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of its vast arms was + enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood near; but the coolness + of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up, as a boy would go up to a + tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous back, and the monster bent + down his terrible head and seemed pleased. + </p> + <p> + "This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping." + </p> + <p> + "This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his back, + and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him." + </p> + <p> + "What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back—"fly! Do you mean to say that + you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is harness + here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see him harnessed?" + </p> + <p> + "Very much indeed," said I. + </p> + <p> + Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The + huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two long + straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting tip of + each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which there was + attached a grappling-iron. + </p> + <p> + "We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with these reins. + When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looks dull now, + but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle he would be off like + the wind." + </p> + <p> + "But can he carry both of us?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "Easily," said Layelah. "He can carry three persons without fatigue." + </p> + <p> + "Could you mount on his back now, and show me how you sit?" + </p> + <p> + Layelah readily assented, and mounted with the greatest ease, seating + herself on the broadest part of the back between the wings. + </p> + <p> + "Here," said she, "is room for you. Will you not come?" + </p> + <p> + For an instant I hesitated; but then the sight of her, seated there as + coolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed up also, + though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monster was + abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself close behind + Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with the grapple + just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she went on to explain + the whole process by which the mighty monster was guided through the air. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb than all + fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, and how + docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with the greatest + ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat. "Familiarity + breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror had passed away, I felt + perfect confidence, and under the encouragement of Layelah I had become + like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first is terrified by the sight of + the elephant, but soon gains courage enough to mount upon his back. With + my new-found courage and presence of mind I listened most attentively to + all of Layelah's explanations, and watched most closely the construction + and fastening of the harness; for the thought had occurred to me that this + athaleb might be of avail in another way—that if I did not fly with + Layelah, I might fly with Almah. This thought was only of a vague and + shadowy character—a dim suggestion, the carrying out of which I + scarce dared to think possible; still, it was in my mind, and had + sufficient power over me to make me very curious as to the plans of + Layelah. I determined to find out where she proposed to go, and how far; + to ask her about the dangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It + seemed, I confess, rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use + them for another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me + at that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and + honorable. + </p> + <p> + "Here," said Layelah—"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. The + athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear + that they will put you to death—a land where the people love light + and life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to go + now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be far + away." + </p> + <p> + She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to be + beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her proposal + away with a question: + </p> + <p> + "How far is it," I asked, "to that land?" + </p> + <p> + "It is too far for one flight," said Layelah. "We go first over the sea + till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where there are + mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb on fish, which + are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his way there well, for he + goes there once every season for a certain sacred ceremony. He has done + this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows his way there and back + perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when we leave Magones, in reaching + the land of the Orin." + </p> + <p> + "The Orin?" I repeated. "Who are they?" + </p> + <p> + "They are a people among the Gojin who love life and light. It is their + land that I wish to reach, if possible." + </p> + <p> + "Where is it?" I asked, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot explain," said Layelah. "I can only trust to my own skill, and + hope to find the place. We may have to pass over different lands of the + Gojin, and if so we may be in danger." + </p> + <p> + "What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?" I + asked. + </p> + <p> + "To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize of + death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the Kosekin." + </p> + <p> + "Is Magones barren?" + </p> + <p> + "It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains and + wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the middle of + the sea." + </p> + <p> + "How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence. + </p> + <p> + "From here?—why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that + is all." + </p> + <p> + "But shall we not be prevented?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone is + eager to help his neighbor." + </p> + <p> + "But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing for + flight, would they not stop me?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + I was amazed at this. + </p> + <p> + "But," said I, "am I not a victim—preserved for the great + sacrifice?" + </p> + <p> + "You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like. + Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the highest + honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high dignity, and + no one dreams that you are anxious to escape." + </p> + <p> + "But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not." + </p> + <p> + "What would they do for a victim?" + </p> + <p> + "They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some + distinguished pauper." + </p> + <p> + "But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at my + entreaty?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty. That's a + question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of such a base + act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to help each other + to such a fate." + </p> + <p> + "But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not pursue + me?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no." + </p> + <p> + "Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens—these are not worthy of the + honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to + this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who are + chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich and + powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed." + </p> + <p> + "Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in that + way?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible. On the + contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the very uttermost, + and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and blessings which can + possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible for them to allow you to + become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am Malca, and therefore the + lowest in the land—pitied and commiserated by the haughty pauper + class, who shake their heads at the thought of one like me. All the people + shower upon me incessantly new gifts and new offices. If my present love + of light and life were generally known, they would punish me by giving me + new contributions of wealth and new offices and powers, which I do not + want." + </p> + <p> + "But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now." + </p> + <p> + "Why, what do you want?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "You!" said she, with a sweet smile. + </p> + <p> + I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might + divert the conversation. + </p> + <p> + Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing tone: + </p> + <p> + "As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you love + her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that I ever + really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to say, I feel as + though I should like to give her the immense blessing of death, and that + is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the Kosekin. Do you + understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?" + </p> + <p> + I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent effort. + </p> + <p> + "Are there any other athalebs here?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes." + </p> + <p> + "How many?" + </p> + <p> + "Four." + </p> + <p> + "Are they all as tame as this?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes, all quite as tame; there is no difference whatever." + </p> + <p> + Upon this I left the back of the athaleb, and Layelah also descended, + after which she proceeded to show me the other monsters. At length she + unharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII — ESCAPE + </h2> + <p> + On the following jom I told everything to Almah. I told her that Layelah + was urging me to fly with her, and that I had found out all about her + plans. I described the athalebs, informed her about the direction which we + were to take, the island of fire, and the country of the Orin. At this + intelligence Almah was filled with delight, and for the first time since + we had come to the amir there were smiles of joy upon her face. She needed + no persuasion. She was ready to set forth whenever it was fitting, and to + risk everything upon this enterprise. She felt as I did, and thought that + the wildest attempt was better than this dull inaction. + </p> + <p> + Death was before us here, and every jom as it passed only brought it + nearer. True, we were treated with the utmost kindness, we lived in royal + splendor, we had enormous retinues; but all this was a miserable mockery, + since it all served as the prelude to our inevitable doom. For that doom + it was hard indeed to wait. Anything was better. Far better would it be to + risk all the dangers of this unusual and amazing flight, to brave the + terrors of that drear isle of fire, Magones; better to perish there of + starvation, or to be killed by the hands of hostile Gojin, than to wait + here and be destroyed at last by the sacrificial knife of these smiling, + generous, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing fiends; to be killed—ay, + and afterward borne to the tremendous Mista Kosek. + </p> + <p> + There was a difficulty with Layelah that had to be guarded against: in the + first place that she might not suspect, and again that we might choose our + time of escape when she would not be at all likely to find us out. We + resolved to make our attempt without any further delay. Layelah was with + us for the greater part of that jom, and the Kohen Gadol also gave us much + of his company. Layelah did not seem to have any suspicions whatever of my + secret purpose; for she was as bright, as amiable, and as devoted to me as + ever, while the Kohen Gadol sought as before to make himself agreeable to + Almah. I did not think fit to tell her about Layelah's proposal, and + therefore she was quite ignorant of the secret plans of the Kohen Gadol, + evidently attributing his attention to the unfailing amiability of the + Kosekin. + </p> + <p> + Layelah came again after Almah had retired, and spent the time in trying + to persuade me to fly with her. The beautiful girl was certainly never + more engaging, nor was she ever more tender. Had it not been for Almah it + would have been impossible to resist such sweet persuasions; but as it was + I did resist. Layelah, however, was not at all discouraged, nor did she + lose any of her amiability; but when she took leave it was with a smile + and sweet words of forgiveness on her lips for what she called my cruelty. + After she left I remained for a time with a painful sense of helplessness. + The fact is my European training did not fit me for encountering such a + state of things as existed among the Kosekin. It's very easy to be + faithful to one's own true-love in England, when other fair ladies hold + aloof and wait to be sought; but here among the Kosekin, women have as + much liberty in making love as men, and there is no law or custom about + it. If a woman chooses she can pay the most desperate attentions, and play + the part of a distracted lover to her heart's content. In most cases the + women actually take the initiative, as they are more impressible and + impulsive than men; and so it was that Layelah made me the object of her + persistent assault—acting all the time, too, in accordance with the + custom of the country, and thus having no thought whatever of indelicacy, + since, according to the Kosekin, she was acting simply in accordance with + the rights of every woman. Now, where a woman is urged by one ardent lover + to dismiss her other lover, she may sometimes find it difficult to play + her part satisfactorily; but in my case I did not play my part + satisfactorily at all; the ordeal was too hard, and I was utterly unable + to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of character which the + occasion demanded. + </p> + <p> + Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have said, + with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time succeeded + in regaining my presence of mind. + </p> + <p> + Almah was waiting, and she soon joined me. We gathered a few articles for + the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which I had not + used here, and then we set forth. Leaving our apartments we traversed the + long passages, and at length came to the cavern of the athalebs. We met + several people on the way, who looked at us with smiles, but made no other + sign. It was evident that they had no commission to watch us, and that + thus far Layelah's information was correct. + </p> + <p> + Upon entering the cavern of the athalebs my first feeling was one of + helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever in my own powers of + managing these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could harness + them; but the emergency was a pressing one, and there was no help for it. + I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my chief desire was + to secure one of the athalebs. The faint light served to disclose nothing + but gloom; and I waited for a while, hoping that one of them would come + forward as before. But waiting did no good, for no movement was made, and + I had to try what I could do myself to rouse them. So I walked farther in + toward the back part of the cavern, peering through the gloom, while Almah + remained near the entrance. + </p> + <p> + As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone moving. I thought it + was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peering through the gloom, + when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work which I + could not make out. For a moment I stood in amazement and despair, for it + seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man would at once divine my + intent. While I stood thus he turned and gave me a very courteous + greeting, after which, in the usual manner of the Kosekin, he asked me + with much amiability what he could do for me. I muttered something about + seeing the athalebs, upon which he informed me that he would show them to + me with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low position + of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post involving duties like + those of ostlers or grooms among us, but which here indicated high rank + and honor. He was proud of his title of "Epet," which means servant, and + more than usually obliging. I at once took advantage of his complaisance, + and requested him to show me the athalebs. Upon this he led the way + farther on, where I could see through the gloom the shadowy outlines of + four monsters, all of which were resting in an upright posture against the + wall, with their claws fixed on a shelf of rock. They looked more than + ever like dragons, or rather like enormous bats, for their wings were + disclosed hanging in loose leathern folds. + </p> + <p> + "Can they be roused," I asked, "and made to move?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said the Epet, and without waiting for any further request he + proceeded to pull at the loose fan-like wing of the nearest one. The + monster drew himself together, gave a flutter with his wings, and then + moved back from the wall. + </p> + <p> + "Make him walk," said I, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + The Epet at this pulled upon his wing once more, and the athaleb moved + forward. + </p> + <p> + "Bring him to the portal, so that I may see him," said I. + </p> + <p> + The Epet, still holding the athaleb's wing, pulled at him, and thus guided + him toward the portal. I was amazed at the docility of this terrific + monster; yet, after all, I thought that it was no more astonishing than + the docility of the elephant, which in like manner allows itself to be + guided by the slightest pressure. A child may lead a vast elephant with + ease, and here with equal ease the Epet led the athaleb. He led him up + near to the portal, where the aurora light beamed through far brighter + than the brightest moon, and disclosed all the vast proportions of the + monster. I stood and looked on for some time in silence, quite at a loss + what to do next. + </p> + <p> + And now Layelah's words occurred to me as to the perfect willingness of + the Kosekin to do anything which one might wish. She had insisted on it + that they would not prevent our flight, and had given me to understand + that they would even assist me if I should ask them. This is what now + occurred to me, and I determined to make a trial. So I said: + </p> + <p> + "I should like to fly in the air on the athaleb. Will you harness him?" + </p> + <p> + I confess it was with some trepidation that I said this, but the feeling + was soon dissipated. The Epet heard my words with perfect coolness, as + though they conveyed the most natural request in the world, and then + proceeded to obey me, just as at home a servant might hear and obey his + master, who might say, "I should like to take a ride; will you harness the + bay mare?" + </p> + <p> + So the Epet proceeded to harness the athaleb, and I watched him in + silence; but it was the silence of deep suspense, and my heart throbbed + painfully. There was yet much to be risked. The gates had to be opened. + Others might interfere. Layelah might come. All these thoughts occurred to + me as I watched the Epet; and though the labor of harnessing the athaleb + was simple and soon performed, still the time seemed long. So the collar + was secured around the neck of the athaleb, with the grapple attached, and + the lines were fastened to the wings, and then Almah and I mounted. + </p> + <p> + The Epet now stood waiting for further orders. + </p> + <p> + "Open the gates," said I. + </p> + <p> + The Epet did so. + </p> + <p> + Almah was seated on the back of the athaleb before me, holding on to the + coarse mane; I, just behind, held the reins in my hand. The gates were + opened wide. A few people outside, roused by the noise of the opening + gates, stood and looked on. They had evidently no other feeling but + curiosity. + </p> + <p> + All was now ready and the way was open, but there was an unexpected + difficulty—the athaleb would not start, and I did not know how to + make him. I had once more to apply for help to the Epet. + </p> + <p> + "How am I to make him start?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "Pull at the collar to make him start, and pull at both reins to make him + stop," said the Epet. + </p> + <p> + Upon this I pulled at the collar. + </p> + <p> + The athaleb obeyed at once. He rose almost erect, and moved out through + the gate. It was difficult to hold on, but we did so. On reaching the + terrace outside, the athaleb expanded his vast wings, which spread out + over a space of full fifty feet, and then with vigorous motions raised + himself in the air. + </p> + <p> + It was a moment full of terror to both of us; the strange sensation of + rising in the air, the quivering muscles of the athaleb at the working of + the enormous pinions, the tremendous display of strength, all combined to + overwhelm me with a sense of utter helplessness. With one hand I clung to + the stiff mane of the monster; with the other I held Almah, who was also + grasping the athaleb's hair; and thus for some time all thought was taken + up in the one purpose of holding on. But at length the athaleb lay in the + air in a perfectly horizontal position; the beat of the wings grew more + slow and even, the muscular exertion more steady and sustained. We both + began to regain some degree of confidence, and at length I raised myself + up and looked around. + </p> + <p> + It did not seem long since we had left; but already the city was far + behind, rising with its long, crescent terraces, sparkling and twinkling + with innumerable lights. We had passed beyond the bay; the harbor was + behind us, the open sea before us, the deep water beneath. The athaleb + flew low, not more than a hundred feet above the water, and maintained + that distance all the time. It seemed, indeed, as if he might drop into + the water at any time; but this was only fancy, for he was perfect master + of all his movement and his flight was swift and well sustained. + </p> + <p> + Overhead the sky was filled with the glory of the aurora beams, which + spread everywhere, flashing out from the zenith and illuminating the earth + with a glow brighter than that of the brightest moon; beneath, the dark + waters of the sea extended, with the waves breaking into foam, and + traversed by galleys, by merchant-ships, and by the navies of the Kosekin. + Far away the surface of the sea spread, with that marvellous appearance of + an endless ascent, as though for a thousand miles, rising thus until it + terminated half-way up the sky; and so it rose up on every side, so that I + seemed to be at the bottom of a basin-shaped world—an immense and + immeasurable hollow—a world unparalleled and unintelligible. Far + away, at almost infinite distances, arose the long lines of mountains, + which, crowned with ice, gleamed in the aurora light, and seemed like a + barrier that made forever impossible all ingress and egress. + </p> + <p> + On and on we sped. At length we grew perfectly accustomed to the + situation, the motion was so easy and our seats were so secure. There were + no obstacles in our way, no roughness along our path; for that pathway was + the smooth air, and in such a path there could be no interruption, no jerk + or jar. After the first terror had passed there remained no longer any + necessity for holding on—we could sit and look around with perfect + freedom; and at length I rose to my feet, and Almah stood beside me, and + thus we stood for a long time, with all our souls kindled into glowing + enthusiasm by the excitement of that adventurous flight, and the splendors + of that unequalled scene. + </p> + <p> + At length the aurora light grew dim. Then came forth the stars, glowing + and burning in the black sky. Beneath there was nothing visible but the + darkness of the water, spotted with phosphorescent points, while all + around a wall of gloom arose which shut out from view the distant shores. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I was aware of a noise like the beat of vast wings, and these + wings were not those of our athaleb. At first I thought it was the + fluttering of a sail, but it was too regular and too long continued for + that. At length I saw through the gloom a vast shadowy form in the air + behind us, and at once the knowledge of the truth flashed upon me. It was + another monster flying in pursuit! + </p> + <p> + Were we pursued? Were there men on his back? Should I resist? I held my + rifle poised, and was resolved to resist at all hazards. Almah saw it all, + and said nothing. She perceived the danger, and in her eyes I saw that + she, like me, would prefer death to surrender. The monster came nearer and + nearer, until at last I could see that he was alone, and that none were on + his back. But now another fear arose. He might attack our athaleb, and in + that way endanger us. He must be prevented from coming nearer; yet to fire + the rifle was a serious matter. I had once before I learned the danger of + firing under such circumstances, when my opmahera had fled in terror at + the report, and did not wish to experience the danger which might arise + from a panic-stricken athaleb; and so as I stood there I waved my arms and + gesticulated violently. The pursuing athaleb seemed frightened at such an + unusual occurrence, for he veered off, and soon was lost in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII — THE ISLAND OF FIRE + </h2> + <p> + At last there appeared before us what seemed like a long line of dull-red + fires, and as we looked we could see bursts of flame at fitful intervals, + which shone out for a few moments and then died away. Upon this now our + whole attention was fixed; for it seemed as though we were approaching our + destination, and that this place was the Island of Fire—a name + which, from present appearances, was fully justified. As we went on and + drew steadily nearer, the mass of glowing fire grew larger and brighter, + and what at first had seemed a line was broken up into different parts, + one of which far surpassed the others. This was higher in the air, and its + shape was that of a long, thin, sloping line, with a burning, glowing + globule at each end. It seemed like lava running down from the crater of a + volcano, and this appearance was made certainty on a nearer approach; for + we saw at the upper point, which seemed the crater, an outburst of flame, + followed by a new flow of the fiery stream. In other places there were + similar fires, but they were less bright, either because they were smaller + or more remote. + </p> + <p> + At length we heard beneath us the roar of breakers, and saw long white + lines of surf beating upon the shore. Our athaleb now descended and + alighted; we clambered to the ground, and I, taking the grapple, fixed it + securely between two sharp rocks. We were at last on Magones, the Island + of Fire. + </p> + <p> + The brightness of the aurora light had left us, but it needed not this to + show us the dismal nature of the land to which we had come. It was a land + of horror, where there was nothing but the abomination of desolation—a + land overstrewn with blasted fragments of fractured lava-blocks, + intermixed with sand, from which there arose black precipices and giant + mountains that poured forth rivers of fire and showers of ashes and sheets + of flame. A tremendous peak arose before us, with a crest of fire and + sides streaked with red torrents of molten lava; between us and it there + spread away a vast expanse of impassable rocks—a scene of ruin and + savage wildness which cannot be described, and all around was the same + drear and appalling prospect. Here in the night-season—the season of + darkness and of awful gloom—we stood in this land of woe; and not + one single sign appeared of life save the life that we had brought with + us. As for food, it was vain to think of it. To search after it would be + useless. It seemed, indeed, impossible to move from the spot where we + were. Every moment presented some new discovery which added to the horror + of Magones. + </p> + <p> + But Almah was weary, for our flight had been long, and she wished to rest. + So I found a place for her where there was some sand between two rocks, + and here she lay down and went to sleep. I sat at a little distance off on + a shelf of the rock, with my back against it, and here, after a little + time, I also went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + At length we awoke. But what a waking! There was no morning dawn, no + blessed returning light to greet our eyes. We opened our eyes to the same + scenes upon which we had closed them, and the darkness was still deep and + dense around us. Over us both there was a sense of utter depression, and I + was so deeply plunged into it that I found it impossible to rouse myself, + even for the sake of saying words of cheer to Almah. I had brought a few + fragments of food, and upon these we made our breakfast; but there was the + athaleb to feed, and for him I found nothing, nor could I think of + anything—unless he could feed upon rocks and sand. Yet food for him + was a matter of the highest consequence, for he was all our support and + stay and hope; and if the monster were deprived of food he might turn upon + us and satisfy upon us his ravenous appetite. These thoughts were painful + indeed, and added to my despondency. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I heard the sound of running water. I started away toward the + place from which the sound came, and found, only a little distance off, a + small brook trickling along on its way to the shore. I called Almah, and + we both drank and were refreshed. + </p> + <p> + This showed an easy way to get to the shore, and I determined to go there + to see if there were any fish to be found. Shell-fish might be there, or + the carcasses of dead fish thrown up by the sea, upon which the athaleb + might feed. I left my pistol with Almah, telling her to fire it if she + heard me fire, for I was afraid of losing my way, and therefore took this + precaution. I left it lying on the rock full-cocked, and directed her to + point it in the air and pull the trigger. It was necessary to take these + precautions, as of course she was quite ignorant of its nature. After this + I left her and tried to follow the torrent. + </p> + <p> + This, however, I soon found to be impossible, for the brook on reaching a + huge rock plunged underneath it and became lost to view. I then went + toward the shore as well as I could—now climbing over sharp rocks, + now going round them, until at length after immense labor I succeeded in + reaching the water. Here the scene was almost as wild as the one I had + left. There was no beach whatever—nothing but a vast extent of wild + fragments of fractured lava-blocks, which were evidently the result of + some comparatively recent convulsion of nature, for their edges were still + sharp, and the water had not worn even those which were within its grasp + to anything like roundness, or to anything else than the jagged and + shattered outlines which had originally belonged to them. All the shore + thus consisted of vast rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in foam. + </p> + <p> + Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore for a long + distance, but without seeing any change. I was unwilling to go back + baffled, yet I was at length compelled to do so. But the necessity of + feeding the athaleb was pressing, and I saw that our only course now would + be to mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other. But where + could we go? That I could not imagine, and could only conclude to trust + altogether to the instinct of the athaleb, which might guide him to places + where he might obtain food. Such a course would involve great risk for we + might be carried into the midst of vast flocks of these monsters; yet + there was nothing else to be done. + </p> + <p> + I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the sea. At length + I found a place where the walking was somewhat easier, and went in this + way up into the island and away from the sea. It seemed to lead in the + direction where I wished to go. At length it seemed as if I had walked far + enough, yet I could see no signs of Almah. I shouted, but there was no + answer. I shouted again and again, but with the like result. Then I fired + my rifle and listened. In response there came the report of the pistol far + away behind me. It was evident that in coming back along the shore I had + passed by the place where Almah was. There was nothing now left but to + retrace my steps and this I accordingly did. I went back to the shore, and + returned on my steps, shouting all the time, until at length I was + rejoiced to hear the answering shout of Almah. After this it was easy to + reach her. + </p> + <p> + We now took up the grapple and once more mounted. The athaleb, eager to be + off, raised himself quickly in the air, and soon our late resting-place + was far behind. His flight was now different from what it was before. Then + he stood off in one straight line for a certain fixed destination, as + though under some guidance; for though I did not direct him, still his + long training had taught him to fly to Magones. But now training and + guidance were both wanting, and the athaleb was left to the impulse of his + hunger and the guidance of his instinct; so he flew no longer in one + undeviating straight line, but rose high, and bent his head down low, and + flew and soared in vast circles, even as I have seen a vulture or a condor + sweep about while searching for food. All the while we were drawing + farther and farther away from the spot which we had left. + </p> + <p> + We passed the lofty volcano; we saw more plainly the rivers of molten + lava; we passed vast cliffs and bleak mountains, all of which were more + terrific than all that we had left behind. Now the darkness lessened, for + the aurora was brightening in the sky, and gathering up swiftly and + gloriously all its innumerable beams, and flashing forth its lustrous glow + upon the world. To us this was equal to the return of day; it was like a + blessed dawn. Light had come, and we rejoiced and were exceeding glad. + </p> + <p> + Now we saw before us, far beyond the black precipices, a broad bay with + sloping shores, and a wide beach which seemed like a beach of sand. The + surf broke here, but beyond the surf was the gentle sandy declivity, and + beyond this there appeared the shores, still rocky and barren and + desolate, but far preferable to what we had left behind. Far away in the + interior arose lofty mountains and volcanoes, while behind us flamed the + burning peak which we had passed. + </p> + <p> + Here the athaleb wheeled in long, circuitous flights, which grew lower and + lower, until at length he descended upon the sandy beach, where I saw a + vast sea-monster lying dead. It had evidently been thrown up here by the + sea. It was like one of those monsters which I had seen from the galley of + the Kohen at the time of the sacred hunt. By this the athaleb descended, + and at once began to devour it, tearing out vast masses of flesh, and + exhibiting such voracity and strength of jaw that I could scarcely bear to + look upon the sight. I fastened the grapple securely to the head of the + dead monster, and leaving the athaleb to feed upon it, Almah and I went up + the beach. + </p> + <p> + On our way we found rocks covered with sea-weed, and here we sought after + shell-fish. Our search was at length rewarded, for suddenly I stumbled + upon a place where I found some lobsters. I grasped two of these, but the + others escaped. Here at last I had found signs of life, but they were of + the sea rather than of the shore. Delighted with my prey, I hastened to + Almah to show them to her. She recognized them at once, and I saw that + they were familiar to her. I then spoke of eating them, but at this + proposal she recoiled in horror. She could not give any reason for her + repugnance, but merely said that among her people they were regarded as + something equivalent to vermin, and I found that she would no more think + of eating one than I would think of eating a rat. Upon this I had to throw + them away, and we once more resumed our search. + </p> + <p> + At last we came to a place where numbers of dead fish lay on the sand. + Nearer the water they were more fresh, and not at all objectionable. I + picked up a few which looked like our common smelt, and found that Almah + had no objection to these. But now the question arose how to cook them; + neither of us could eat them raw. A fire was necessary, yet a fire was + impossible; for on the whole island there was probably not one single + combustible thing. Our discovery, therefore, seemed to have done us but + little good, and we seemed destined to starvation, when fortunately a + happy thought suggested itself. In walking along I saw far away the glow + of some lava which had flowed to the shore at the end of the sandy beach, + and was probably cooling down at the water's edge. Here, then, was a + natural fire, which might serve us better than any contrivance of our own, + and toward this we at once proceeded. It was about two miles away; but the + beach was smooth, and we reached the place without any difficulty. + </p> + <p> + Here we found the edge of that lava flood which seemed eternally + descending from the crater beyond. The edge which was nearest the water + was black; and the liquid fire, as it rolled down, curled over this in a + fantastic shape, cooling and hardening into the form which it thus + assumed. Here, after some search, I found a crevice where I could approach + the fire, and I laid the fish upon a crimson rock, which was cooling and + hardening into the shape of a vast ledge of lava. In this way, by the aid + of nature, the fish were broiled, and we made our repast. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing here to invite a longer stay, and we soon returned to + the athaleb. We found the monster, gorged with food, asleep, resting upon + his hind legs, with his breast supported against the vast carcass. Almah + called it a jantannin. It was about sixty feet in length and twenty in + thickness, with a vast horny head, ponderous jaws, and back covered with + scales. Its eyes were of prodigious size, and it had the appearance of a + crocodile, with the vast size of a whale. It was unlike a crocodile, + however; for it had fins rather than paws, and must have been as clumsy on + the land as a seal or a walrus. It lay on its side, and the athaleb had + fed itself from the uncovered flesh of its belly. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing here to induce us to stay, and so we wandered along the + beach in the other direction. On our right was the bay; on our left the + rocky shore, which, beginning at the beach, ran back into the country, a + waste of impassable rocks, where not a tree or plant or blade of grass + relieved the appalling desolation. Once or twice we made an attempt to + penetrate into the country, where openings appeared. These openings seemed + like the beds of dried-up torrents. We were able to walk but a few paces + for invariably we would come to some immense blocks of rock, which barred + all farther progress. In this way we explored the beach for miles, until + it terminated in a savage promontory that rose abruptly from the sea + against which the huge billows broke in thunder. + </p> + <p> + Then we retraced our steps, and again reached the spot where the athaleb + was asleep by the jantannin. Almah was now too weary to walk any farther, + nor was it desirable to do so; for, indeed, we had traversed all that + could be visited. On one side of the beach was the sea, on the other the + impassable rocks; at one end the promontory, at the other the lava fires. + There was nothing more for us to do but to wait here until the athaleb + should awake, and then our actions would depend upon what we might now + decide. + </p> + <p> + This was the question that was now before us, and this we began to + consider. We both felt the most unspeakable aversion for the island, and + to remain here any longer was impossible. We would once more have to mount + the athaleb, and proceed to some other shore. But where? Ah! there was the + question! Not on the island, for it did not seem possible that in all its + extent there could be one single spot capable of affording a + resting-place. Layelah's information with regard to Magones had made that + much plain. I had not taken in her full meaning, but now mine eyes had + seen it. Yet where else could we go? Almah could not tell where under the + sky lay that land which she loved; I could not guess where to go to find + the land of the Orin. Even if I did know, I did not feel able to guide the + course of the athaleb; and I felt sure that if we were to mount again, the + mighty monster would wing his flight back to the very place from which we + had escaped—the amir. These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We + felt that we had gained nothing by our flight, and that our future was + dark indeed. The only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the + course of the athaleb in some different direction altogether, so that we + should not be carried back to the Kosekin. + </p> + <p> + And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this jom, we thought of sleep. + Almah lay down upon the sand, and I seated myself, leaning against a rock, + a little distance off, having first reloaded my rifle and pistol. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV — RECAPTURE + </h2> + <p> + How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep there sounded + voices, which at first intermingled themselves with my dreams, but + gradually became separate and sounded from without, rousing me from my + slumbers. I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw was so + amazing that in an instant all sleep left me. I started to my feet, and + gazed in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me. + </p> + <p> + The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed + everything—the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantannin, the + promontory, all—more plainly and more luminously than before; but it + was not any of these things that now excited my attention and rendered me + dumb. I saw Almah standing there at a little distance, with despairing + face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while immediately before me, + regarding me with a keen glance and an air of triumph, was Layelah. + </p> + <p> + "Ataesmzori alonla," said she, with a sweet smile, giving me the usual + salutation of the Kosekin. + </p> + <p> + I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as before, looking + first at her and then at Almah. + </p> + <p> + The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the Kosekin, + excited me to madness. I seized my rifle, and raised it as if to take aim; + but Almah, who understood the movement, cried to me: + </p> + <p> + "Put down your sepet-ram, Atam-or! you can do nothing for me. The Kosekin + are too numerous." + </p> + <p> + "Sepet-ram!" said Layelah; "what do you mean by that? If your sepet-ram + has any power, do not try to use it, Atam-or, or else I shall have to + order my followers to give to Almah the blessing of death." + </p> + <p> + At this my rifle was lowered: the whole truth flashed upon me, and I saw, + too, the madness of resistance. I might kill one or two, but the rest + would do as Layelah said, and I should speedily be disarmed. Well I knew + how powerless were the thunders of my fire-arms to terrify these Kosekin; + for the prospect of death would only rouse them to a mad enthusiasm, and + they would all rush upon me as they would rush upon a jantannin—to + slay and be slain. The odds were too great. A crowd of Europeans could be + held in check far more easily than these death-loving Kosekin. The whole + truth was thus plain: we were prisoners, and were at their mercy. + </p> + <p> + Layelah showed no excitement or anger whatever. She looked and spoke in + her usual gracious and amiable fashion, with a sweet smile on her face. + </p> + <p> + "We knew," said she, "that you would be in distress in this desolate + place, and that you would not know where to go from Magones; and so we + have come, full of the most eager desire to relieve your wants. We have + brought with us food and drink, and are ready to do everything for you + that you may desire. We have had great trouble in finding you, and have + coursed over the shores for vast distances, and far over the interior, but + our athalebs found you at last by their scent. And we rejoice to have + found you in time, and that you are both so well, for we have been afraid + that you had been suffering. Nay, Atam-or, do not thank us; thanks are + distasteful to the Kosekin: these brave followers of mine will all be + amply rewarded for this, for they will all be made paupers; but as for + myself, I want no higher reward than the delightful thought that I have + saved you from suffering." + </p> + <p> + The beautiful, smiling Layelah, who addressed me in this way with her + sweet voice, was certainly not to be treated as an enemy. Against her a + rifle could not be levelled; she would have looked at me with the same + sweet smile, and that smile would have melted all my resolution. Nor could + I even persist in my determination to remain. Remain! For what? For utter + despair! And yet where else could we go? + </p> + <p> + "You do not know where lie the lands of the Orin," said Layelah. "The + athaleb does not know. You could not guide him if you did know. You are + helpless on his back. The art of driving an athaleb is difficult, and + cannot be learned without long and severe practice. My fear was that the + athaleb might break away from you and return, leaving you to perish here. + Had you tried to leave this place he would have brought you back to the + amir." + </p> + <p> + To this I said nothing—partly because it was so true that I had no + answer to make, and partly also out of deep mortification and dejection. + My pride was wounded at being thus so easily baffled by a girl like + Layelah, and all my grief was stirred by the sadness of Almah. In her eyes + there seemed even now the look of one who sees death inevitable, and the + glance she gave to me was like an eternal farewell. + </p> + <p> + Almah now spoke, addressing herself to Layelah. + </p> + <p> + "Death," said she, in a voice of indescribable mournfulness, "is better + here than with you. We would rather die here than go back. Let us, I pray + you, receive the blessing of death here. Let us be paupers and exiles, and + die on Magones." + </p> + <p> + Layelah heard this, and stood for a moment in deep thought. + </p> + <p> + "No one but a stranger," said she at length, "would ask such a favor as + that. Do you not know that what you ask is among the very highest honors + of the Kosekin? Who am I that I can venture to grant such a request as + that? Ask for anything in my power, and I will be glad to grant it. I have + already arranged that you shall be separated from Atam-or; and that, + surely, is a high privilege. I might consent to bind you hand and foot, + after the manner of the more distinguished Asirin; you may also be + blindfolded if you wish it. I might even promise, after we return to the + amir, to keep you confined in utter darkness, with barely sufficient food + to keep you alive until the time of the sacrifice; in short, there is no + blessing known among the Kosekin that I will not give so long as it is in + my power. And so, beloved Almah," continued Layelah, "you have every + reason for happiness; you have all the highest blessings known among the + Kosekin: separation from your lover, poverty, want, darkness; and, + finally, the prospect of inevitable death ever before you as the crowning + glory of your lot." + </p> + <p> + These words seemed to the Kosekin the very excess of magnanimity, and + involuntary murmurs of admiration escaped them; although it is just + possible that they murmured at the greatness of the favor that was + offered. But to me it sounded like fiendish mockery, and to Almah it + sounded the same; for a groan escaped her, her fortitude gave way, she + sank on her knees, buried her head in her hands, and wept. + </p> + <p> + "Almah," cried I, in a fury, "we will not go back—we will not be + separated! I will destroy all the athalebs, and we shall all perish here + together. At least, you and I will not be separated." + </p> + <p> + At this Almah started up. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said she—"no; let us go back. Here we have nothing but + death." + </p> + <p> + "But we have death also at the amir, and a more terrible one," said I. + </p> + <p> + "If you kill the athalebs," said Layelah, "I will give Almah the blessing + of death." + </p> + <p> + At this I recoiled in horror, and my resolution again gave way. + </p> + <p> + "You have some mysterious power of conferring death," continued Layelah, + "with what Almah calls your sepet-ram; but do not kill the athalebs, for + it will do you no good. Almah would then receive the blessing of death. My + followers, these noble Kosekin, would rejoice in thus gaining exile and + death on Magones. As for myself, it would be my highest happiness to be + here alone with you. With you I should live for a few sweet joms, and with + you I should die; so go on—kill the athalebs if you wish." + </p> + <p> + "Do not!" cried Almah—"do not! There is no hope. We are their + prisoners, and our only hope is in submission." + </p> + <p> + Upon this all further thought of resistance left me, and I stood in + silence, stolidly waiting for their action. As I looked around I noticed a + movement near the jantannin, and saw several athalebs there, which were + devouring its flesh. I now went over to Almah and spoke with her. We were + both full of despair. It seemed as though we might never meet again. We + were to be separated now; but who could say whether we should be permitted + to see each other after leaving this place? We had but little to say. I + held her in my arms, regardless of the presence of others; and these, + seeing our emotion, at once moved away, with the usual delicacy of the + Kosekin, and followed Layelah to the jantannin to see about the athalebs. + </p> + <p> + At last our interview was terminated. Layelah came and informed us that + all was ready for our departure. We walked sadly to the place, and found + the athalebs crouched to receive their riders. There were four beside + ours. Layelah informed me that I was to go with her, and Almah was to go + on another athaleb. I entreated her to let Almah go with me; but she + declined, saying that our athaleb could only carry two, as he seemed + fatigued, and it would not be safe to overload him for so long a flight. I + told her that Almah and I could go together on the same athaleb; but she + objected on the ground of my ignorance of driving. And so, remonstrances + and objections being alike useless, I was compelled to yield to the + arrangements that had been made. Almah mounted on another athaleb. I + mounted with Layelah, and then the great monsters expanded their mighty + wings, rose into the air, and soon were speeding over the waters. + </p> + <p> + We went on in silence for some time. I was too despondent to say a word, + and all my thoughts turned toward Almah, who was now separated from me—perhaps + forever. The other athalebs went ahead, at long intervals apart, flying in + a straight line, while ours was last. Layelah said nothing. She sat in + front of me; her back was turned toward me; she held in her hands the + reins, which hung quite loose at first, but after a while she drew them + up, and seemed to be directing our course. For some time I did not notice + anything in particular, for my eyes were fixed upon the athaleb + immediately before us, upon which was seated the loved form of Almah, + which I could easily recognize. But our athaleb flew slowly, and I noticed + that we were falling behind. I said this to Layelah, but she only remarked + that it was fatigued with its long journey. To this I objected that the + others had made as long a journey, and insisted that she should draw + nearer. This she at first refused to do; but at length, as I grew + persistent, she complied, or pretended to do so. In spite of this, + however, we again fell behind, and I noticed that this always happened + when the reins were drawn tight. On making this discovery I suddenly + seized both reins and let them trail loose, whereupon the athaleb at once + showed a perceptible increase of speed, which proved that there was no + fatigue in him whatever. This I said to Layelah. + </p> + <p> + She acquiesced with a sweet smile, and taking the reins again, she sat + around so as to face me, and said: + </p> + <p> + "You are very quick. It is no use to try to deceive you, Atam-or: I wish + to fall behind." + </p> + <p> + "Why?" + </p> + <p> + "To save you." + </p> + <p> + "To save me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. I can take you to the land of the Orin. Now is the time to escape + from death. If you go back you must surely die; but now, if you will be + guided by me, I can take you to the land of the Orin. There they all hate + death, they love life, they live in the light. There you will find those + who are like yourself; there you can love and be happy." + </p> + <p> + "But what of Almah?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + Layelah made a pretty gesture of despair. + </p> + <p> + "You are always talking of Almah," said she. "What is Almah to you? She is + cold, dull, sad! She never will speak. Let her go." + </p> + <p> + "Never!" said I. "Almah is worth more than all the world to me." + </p> + <p> + Layelah sighed. + </p> + <p> + "I can never, never, never," said she, "get from you the least little bit + of a kind word—even after all that I have done for you, and when you + know that I would lie down and let you trample me under your feet if it + gave you any pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that is not the question at all," said I. "You are asking me to leave + Almah—to be false to her—and I cannot." + </p> + <p> + "Among the Kosekin," said Layelah, "it is the highest happiness for lovers + to give one another up." + </p> + <p> + "I am not one of the Kosekin," said I. "I cannot let her go away—I + cannot let her go back to the amir—to meet death alone. If she dies + she shall see me by her side, ready to die with her." + </p> + <p> + At this Layelah laughed merrily. + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible," said she, "that you believe that? Do you not know that + if Almah goes back alone she will not die?" + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, she can only die when you are in her company. She has lived for + years among us, and we have waited for someone to appear whom she might + love, so that we might give them both the blessing of death. If that one + should leave her, Almah could not receive the blessing. She would be + compelled to live longer, until some other lover should appear. Now, by + going with me to the land of the Orin, you will save Almah's life—and + as for Almah, why, she will be happy—and dear papa is quite willing + to marry her. You must see, therefore, dear Atam-or, that my plan is the + very best that can be thought of for all of us, and above all for Almah." + </p> + <p> + This, however, was intolerable; and I could not consent to desert Almah, + even if by doing so I should save her life. My own nature revolted from + it. Still it was not a thing which I could dismiss on the instant. The + safety of Almah's life, indeed, required consideration; but then the + thought came of her wonder at my desertion. Would she not think me false? + Would not the thought of my falsity be worse than death? + </p> + <p> + "No," said I, "I will not leave her—not even to save her life. Even + among us there are things worse than death. Almah would rather die by the + sacrificial knife than linger on with a broken heart." + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said Layelah, sweetly; "she will rejoice that you are safe. Do + you not see that while you are together death is inevitable, but if you + separate you may both live and be happy?" + </p> + <p> + "But she will think me dead," said I, as a new idea occurred. "She will + think that some accident has befallen me." + </p> + <p> + "Oh no, she won't," said Layelah; "she will think that you have gone off + with me." + </p> + <p> + "Then that will be worse, and I would rather die, and have her die with + me, than live and have her think me false." + </p> + <p> + "You are very, very obstinate," said Layelah, sweetly. + </p> + <p> + I made no reply. During this conversation I had been too intent upon + Layelah's words to notice the athalebs before me; but now as I looked up I + saw that we had fallen far behind, and that Layelah had headed our athaleb + in a new direction. Upon this I once more snatched the reins from her, and + tried to return to our former course. This, however, I was utterly unable + to do. + </p> + <p> + Layelah laughed. + </p> + <p> + "You will have to let me guide our course," said she. "You can do nothing. + The athaleb will now go in a straight line to the land of the Orin." + </p> + <p> + Upon this I started up in wild excitement. + </p> + <p> + "Never, never, never!" I cried, in a fury. "I will not; I will destroy + this athaleb and perish in the water!" + </p> + <p> + As I said this I raised my rifle. + </p> + <p> + "What are you going to do?" cried Layelah, in accents of fear. + </p> + <p> + "Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!" + </p> + <p> + Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a + smile. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, when + we have started for the land of the Orin?" + </p> + <p> + "We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish in + the sea!" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb. You are no more than + an insect; your rod is a weak thing, and will break on his iron frame." + </p> + <p> + It was evident that Layelah had not the slightest idea of the powers of my + rifle. There was no hesitation on my part. I took aim with the rifle. At + that moment I was desperate. I thought of nothing but the swift flight of + the athaleb, which was bearing me away forever from Almah. I could not + endure that thought, and still less could I endure the thought that she + should believe me false. It was therefore in a wild passion of rage and + despair that I levelled my rifle, taking aim as well as I could at what + seemed a vital part under the wing. The motion of the wing rendered this + difficult, however, and I hesitated a moment, so as to make sure. All this + time Layelah stood looking at me with a smile on her rosy lips and a merry + twinkle in her eyes—evidently regarding my words as empty threats + and my act as a vain pretence, and utterly unprepared for what was to + follow. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I fired both barrels in quick succession. The reports rang out in + thunder over the sea. The athaleb gave a wild, appalling shriek, and fell + straight down into the water, fluttering vainly with one wing, while the + other hung down useless. A shriek of horror burst from Layelah. She + started back, and fell from her standing-place into the waves beneath. The + next instant we were all in the water together—the athaleb writhing + and lashing the water into foam, while I involuntarily clung to his coarse + mane, and expected death every moment. + </p> + <p> + But death did not come; for the athaleb did not sink, but floated with his + back out of the water, the right pinion being sunk underneath and useless, + and the left struggling vainly with the sea. But after a time he folded up + the left wing and drew it close in to his side, and propelled himself with + his long hind-legs. His right wing was broken, but he did not seem to have + suffered any other injury. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I heard a cry behind me: + </p> + <p> + "Atam-or! oh, Atam-or!" + </p> + <p> + I looked around and saw Layelah. She was swimming in the water, and seemed + exhausted. In the agitation of the past few moments I had lost sight of + her, and had thought that she was drowned; but now the sight of her roused + me from my stupor and brought me back to myself. She was swimming, yet her + strokes were weak and her face was full of despair. In an instant I had + flung off my coat, rolled up the rifle and pistol in its folds, and sprung + into the water. A few strokes brought me to Layelah. A moment more and I + should have been too late. I held her head out of water, told her not to + struggle, and then struck out to go back. It would have been impossible + for me to do this, encumbered with such a load, had I not fortunately + perceived the floating wing of the athaleb close beside me. This I seized, + and by means of it drew myself with Layelah alongside; after which I + succeeded in putting her on the back of the animal, and soon followed + myself. + </p> + <p> + The terror of the rifle had overwhelmed her, and the suddenness of the + catastrophe had almost killed her. She had struggled in the water for a + long time, and had called to me in vain. Now she was quite exhausted, and + lay in my arms trembling and sobbing. I spoke to her encouragingly, and + wrapped her in my coat, and rubbed her hands and feet, until at last she + began to recover. Then she wept quietly for a long time; then the weeping + fit passed away. She looked up with a smile, and in her face there was + unutterable gratitude. + </p> + <p> + "Atam-or," said she, "I never loved death like the rest of the Kosekin; + but now—but now—I feel that death with you would be sweet." + </p> + <p> + Then tears came to her eyes, and I found tears coming to my own, so that I + had to stoop down and kiss away the tears of Layelah. As I did so she + twined both her arms around my neck, held me close to her, and sighed. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or, death with you is sweet! And now you cannot reproach me— + You have done this yourself, with your terrible power; and you have saved + my life to let me die with you. You do not hate me, then, Atam-or, do you? + Just speak once to a poor little girl, and say that you do not hate her!" + </p> + <p> + All this was very pitiable. What man that had a heart in his breast could + listen unmoved to words like these, or look without emotion upon one so + beautiful, so gentle, and so tender? It was no longer Layelah in triumph + with whom I had to do, but Layelah in distress: the light banter, the + teasing, mocking smile, the kindling eye, the ready laugh—all were + gone. There was nothing now but mournful tenderness—the timid appeal + of one who dreaded a repulse, the glance of deep affection, the + abandonment of love. + </p> + <p> + I held Layelah in my arms, and I thought of nothing now but words of + consolation for her. Life seemed over; death seemed inevitable; and there, + on the back of the athaleb, we floated on the waters and waited for our + doom. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV — FALLING, LIKE ICARUS, INTO THE SEA + </h2> + <p> + The aurora light, which had flamed brightly, was now extinct, and darkness + was upon the face of the deep, where we floated on the back of the + monster. He swam, forcing himself onward with his hind-legs, with one + broad wing folded up close. Had both been folded up the athaleb could have + swum rapidly; but the broken wing lay expanded over the water, tossing + with the waves, so that our progress was but slight. Had it not been for + this, the athaleb's own instinct might have served to guide him toward + some shore which we might have hoped to reach before life was extinct; but + as it was, all thought of reaching any shore was out of the question, and + there arose before us only the prospect of death—a death, too, which + must be lingering and painful and cruel. Thus amid the darkness we + floated, and the waves dashed around us, and the athaleb never ceased to + struggle in the water, trying to force his way onward. It seemed sweet at + that moment to have Layelah with me, for what could have been more + horrible than loneliness amid those black waters? and Layelah's mind was + made up to meet death with joy, so that her mood conveyed itself to me. + And I thought that since death was inevitable it were better to meet it + thus, and in this way end my life—not amid the horrors of the + sacrifice and the Mista Kosek, but in a way which seemed natural to a + seafaring man like myself, and with which I had long familiarized my + thoughts. For I had fallen upon a world and among people which were all + alien and unintelligible to me; and to live on would only open the way to + new and worse calamities. There was peace also in the thought that my + death would snatch the prospect of death from Almah. She would now be + safe. It was only when we were together as lovers that death threatened + her; but now since I was removed she could resume her former life, and she + might remember me only as an episode in that life. That she would remember + me I felt sure, and that she would weep for me and mourn after me was + undeniable; but time as it passed would surely alleviate that grief, and + Almah would live and be happy. Perhaps she might yet regain her native + land and rejoin her loved kindred, whom she would tell of the stranger + from an unknown shore who had loved her, and through whose death she had + gained her life. Such were the thoughts that filled my mind as I floated + over the black water with darkness all around, as I held Layelah in my + arms, with my coat wrapped around her, and murmured in her ear tender + words of consolation and sympathy. + </p> + <p> + A long, long time had passed—but how long I know not—when + suddenly Layelah gave a cry, and started up on her knees, with her head + bent forward listening intently. I too listened, and I could distinctly + hear the sound of breakers. + </p> + <p> + It was evident that we were approaching some shore; and, from what I + remembered of the shore of Magones, such a shore meant death, and death + alone. We stood up and tried to peer through the gloom. At length we saw a + whole line of breakers, and beyond all was black. We waited anxiously in + that position, and drew steadily nearer. It was evident that the athaleb + was desirous of reaching that shore, and we could do nothing but await the + result. + </p> + <p> + But the athaleb had his wits about him, and swam along on a line with the + breakers for some distance, until at length an opening appeared, into + which he directed his course. Passing through this we reached still water, + which seemed like a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef. The athaleb swam on + farther, and at length we saw before us an island with a broad, sandy + beach, beyond which was the shadowy outline of a forest. Here the monster + landed, and dragged himself wearily upon the sand, where he spread his + vast bulk out, and lay panting heavily. We dismounted—I first, so as + to assist Layelah; and then it seemed as if death were postponed for a + time, since we had reached this place where the rich and rank vegetation + spoke of nothing but vigorous life. + </p> + <p> + Fortune had indeed dealt strangely with me. I had fled with Almah, and + with her had reached one desolate shore, and now I found myself with + Layelah upon another shore, desolate also, but not a savage wilderness. + This lonely island, ringed with the black ocean waters, was the abode of a + life of its own, and there was nothing here to crush the soul into a + horror of despair like that which was caused by the tremendous scenes on + Magones. + </p> + <p> + In an instant Layelah revived from her gloom. She looked around, clapped + her little hands, laughed aloud, and danced for joy. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Atam-or," she cried, "see—see the trees, see the grass, the + bushes! This is a land of wonder. As for food, you can call it down from + the sky with your sepet-ram, or we can find it on the rocks. Oh, Atam-or! + life is better than death, and we can live here, and we can be happy. This + shall be better to us than the lands of the Orin, for we shall be alone, + and we shall be all in all to one another." + </p> + <p> + I could not help laughing, and I said: + </p> + <p> + "Layelah, this is not the language of the Kosekin. You should at once go + to the other side of this island, and sit down and wait for death." + </p> + <p> + "Never," said Layelah; "you are mine, Atam-or, and I never will leave you. + If you wish me to die for you, I will gladly lay down my life; but I will + not leave you. I love you, Atam-or; and now, whether it be life or death, + it is all the same so long as I have you." + </p> + <p> + Our submersion in the sea and our long exposure afterward had chilled both + of us, but Layelah felt it most. She was shivering in her wet clothes in + spite of my coat which I insisted on her wearing, and I determined, if + possible, to kindle a fire. Fortunately my powder was dry, for I had + thrown off my flask with my coat before jumping into the sea, and thus I + had the means of creating fire. I rubbed wet powder over my handkerchief, + and then gathered some dried sticks and moss. After this I found some dead + trees, the boughs of which were dry and brittle, and in the exercise I + soon grew warm, and had the satisfaction of seeing a great heap of fagots + accumulating. I fired my pistol into the handkerchief, which, being + saturated with powder, caught the fire, and this I blew into a flame among + the dried moss. A bright fire now sprang up and blazed high in the air; + while I, in order to have an ample supply of fuel, continued to gather it + for a long time. At length, as I came back, I saw Layelah lying on the + sand in front of the fire, sound asleep. I was glad of this, for she was + weary, and had seemed so weak and tremulous that I had felt anxious; so + now I arranged my coat over her carefully, and then sat down for a time to + think over this new turn which my fortune had taken. + </p> + <p> + This island was certainly very unlike Magones, yet I had no surety but + that it might be equally destitute of food. This was the first question, + and I could not think of sleep until I had found out more about the place. + The aurora light, which constantly brightens and lessens in this strange + world, was now shining gloriously, and I set forth to explore the island. + The beach was of fine sand all the way. The water was smooth, and shut in + on every side by an outer reef against which the sea-waves broke + incessantly. As I walked I soon perceived what the island was; for I had + often seen such places before in the South Pacific. It was, in fact, a + coral islet, with a reef of rocks encircling it on every side. The + vegetation, however, was unlike anything in the world beyond; for it + consisted of many varieties of tree-ferns, that looked like palms, and + giant grasses, and bamboo. The island was but small, and the entire + circuit was not over a mile. I saw nothing that looked like food, nor did + it seem likely that in so small a place there could be enough sustenance + for us. Our only hope would be from the sea, yet even here I could see no + signs of any sort of shell-fish. On the whole the prospect was + discouraging, and I returned to the starting-point with a feeling of + dejection; but this feeling did not trouble me much at that time: my chief + thought was of rest, and I flung myself down on the sand and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + I was awakened by a cry from Layelah. Starting up, I saw her standing and + looking into the sky. She was intensely excited. As soon as she saw me she + rushed toward me and burst into tears, while I, full of wonder, could only + stare upward. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried Layelah, "they've turned back—they've found us! We shall + have to leave our dear, lovely island. Oh, Atam-or, I shall lose you now; + for never, never, never again will you have one thought of love for your + poor Layelah!" + </p> + <p> + With these words she clung sobbing to me. For my part I do not remember + what I said to soothe her, for the sight above was so amazing that it took + up all my attention. The aurora shone bright, and in the sky I saw two + vast objects wheeling and circling, as if about to descend. I recognized + them at once as athalebs; but as their backs were hid from view by their + immense wings, I could not make out whether they were wanderers about to + alight of their own accord, or guided here by riders—perhaps by the + Kosekin from whom we had been parted. + </p> + <p> + This much at least I remember. I said to Layelah that these athalebs were + wild ones, which had come here because they saw or scented our wounded + one; but Layelah shook her head with mournful meaning. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said she; "Almah has come back for you. This fire-light has + guided them. If you had not made the fire they never, never, never could + have found us; but now all is lost." + </p> + <p> + There was no time for conversation or discussion. The athalebs drew + swiftly nearer and nearer, descending in long circuits, until at length + they touched the ground not far away on the wide sandy beach. Then we saw + people on their backs, and among them was Almah. We hurried toward them, + and Almah rushed into my arms, to the great disgust of Layelah, for she + was close beside me and saw it all. She gave an exclamation of grief and + despair, and hurried away. + </p> + <p> + From Almah I learned that our disappearance had caused alarm; that two of + the athalebs had come back in search of us; that they had been to Magones, + and had searched over the seas, and were just about giving us up as lost, + when the fire-light had attracted their attention and drawn them here. + </p> + <p> + I said nothing at that time about the cause of our disappearance, but + merely remarked that the athaleb had fallen into the sea and swam here. + This was sufficient. They had to remain here for some time longer to rest + their athalebs. At length we prepared to depart. Our wounded athaleb was + left behind to take care of himself. I was taken with Almah, and Layelah + went on the other. We were thus separated; and so we set forth upon our + return, and at length arrived at the amir. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI — GRIMM'S LAW AGAIN + </h2> + <p> + Dinner was now announced, and Oxenden laid the manuscript aside; whereupon + they adjourned to the cabin, where they proceeded to discuss both the + repast and the manuscript. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Featherstone, "More's story seems to be approaching a crisis. + What do you think of it now, Melick? Do you still think it a sensational + novel?" + </p> + <p> + "Partly so," said Melick; "but it would be nearer the mark to call it a + satirical romance." + </p> + <p> + "Why not a scientific romance?" + </p> + <p> + "Because there's precious little science in it, but a good deal of quiet + satire." + </p> + <p> + "Satire on what?" asked Featherstone. "I'll be hanged if I can see it." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well," said Melick, "on things in general. The satire is directed + against the restlessness of humanity; its impulses, feelings, hopes, and + fears—all that men do and feel and suffer. It mocks us by exhibiting + a new race of men, animated by passions and impulses which are directly + the opposite of ours, and yet no nearer happiness than we are. It shows us + a world where our evil is made a good, and our good an evil; there all + that we consider a blessing is had in abundance—prolonged and + perpetual sunlight, riches, power, fame—and yet these things are + despised, and the people, turning away from them, imagine that they can + find happiness in poverty, darkness, death, and unrequited love. The + writer thus mocks at all our dearest passions and strongest desires; and + his general aim is to show that the mere search for happiness per se is a + vulgar thing, and must always result in utter nothingness. The writer also + teaches the great lesson that the happiness of man consists not in + external surroundings, but in the internal feelings, and that heaven + itself is not a place, but a state. It is the old lesson which Milton + extorted from Satan: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'What matter where, if I be still the same—' +</pre> + <p> + "Or again: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'The mind is its own place, and of itself + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven—'" +</pre> + <p> + "That's good too," cried Oxenden. "That reminds me of the German + commentators who find in the Agamemnon of AEschylus or the OEdipus of + Sophocles or the Hamlet of Shakespeare motives and purposes of which the + authors could never have dreamed, and give us a metaphysical, + beer-and-tobacco, High-Dutch Clytemnestra or Antigone or Lady Macbeth. No, + my boy, More was a simple sailor, and had no idea of satirizing anything." + </p> + <p> + "How, then, do you account for the perpetual undercurrent of meaning and + innuendo that may be found in every line?" + </p> + <p> + "I deny that there is anything of the sort," said Oxenden. "It is a plain + narrative of facts; but the facts are themselves such that they give a new + coloring to the facts of our own life. They are in such profound + antithesis to European ways that we consider them as being written merely + to indicate that difference. It is like the Germania of Tacitus, which + many critics still hold to be a satire on Roman ways, while as a matter of + fact it is simply a narrative of German manners and customs." + </p> + <p> + "I hope," cried Melick, "that you do not mean to compare this awful rot + and rubbish to the Germania of Tacitus?" + </p> + <p> + "By no means," said Oxenden; "I merely asserted that in one respect they + were analogous. You forced on the allusion to the Germania by calling this + 'rot and rubbish' a satirical romance." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well," said Melick, "I only referred to the intention of the writer. + His plan is one thing and his execution quite another. His plan is not + bad, but he fails utterly in his execution. The style is detestable. If he + had written in the style of a plain seaman, and told a simple unvarnished + tale, it would have been all right. In order to carry out properly such a + plan as this the writer should take Defoe as his model, or, still better, + Dean Swift. Gulliver's Travels and Robinson Crusoe show what can be done + in this way, and form a standard by which all other attempts must be + judged. But this writer is tawdry; he has the worst vices of the + sensational school—he shows everywhere marks of haste, gross + carelessness, and universal feebleness. When he gets hold of a good fancy, + he lacks the patience that is necessary in order to work it up in an + effective way. He is a gross plagiarist, and over and over again violates + in the most glaring manner all the ordinary proprieties of style. What can + be more absurd, for instance, than the language which he puts into the + mouth of Layelah? Not content with making her talk like a sentimental + boarding-school, bread-and-butter English miss, he actually forgets + himself so far as to put in her mouth a threadbare joke, which everyone + has heard since childhood." + </p> + <p> + "What is that?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that silly speech about the athaleb swallowing its victuals whole." + </p> + <p> + "What's the matter with that?" asked Oxenden. "It's merely a chance + resemblance. In translating her words into English they fell by accident + into that shape. No one but you would find fault with them. Would it have + been better if he had translated her words into the scientific phraseology + which the doctor made use of with regard to the ichthyosaurus? He might + have made it this way: 'Does it bite?' 'No; it swallows its food without + mastication.' Would that have been better? Besides, it's all very well to + talk of imitating Defoe and Swift; but suppose he couldn't do it?" + </p> + <p> + "Then he shouldn't have written the book." + </p> + <p> + "In that case how could his father have heard about his adventures?" + </p> + <p> + "His father!" exclaimed Melick. "Do you mean to say that you still accept + all this as bona fide?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to say," retorted Oxenden, "that you still have any doubt + about the authenticity of this remarkable manuscript?" + </p> + <p> + At this each looked at the other; Melick elevated his eyebrows, and + Oxenden shrugged his shoulders, but each seemed unable to find words to + express his amazement at the other's stupidity, and so they took refuge in + silence. + </p> + <p> + "What do you understand by this athaleb, doctor?" asked Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "The athaleb?" said the doctor. "Why, it is clearly the pterodactyl." + </p> + <p> + "By-the-bye," interrupted Oxenden, "do please take notice of that name. It + affords another exemplification of 'Grimm's Law.' The Hebrew word is + 'ataleph,' and means bat. The Kosekin word is 'athaleb.' Here you see the + thin letter of Hebrew represented by the aspirated letter of the Kosekin + language, while the aspirated Hebrew is represented by the Kosekin + medial." + </p> + <p> + "Too true," exclaimed Melick, in a tone of deep conviction; "and now, + Oxenden, won't you sing us a song?" + </p> + <p> + "Nonsense," said Featherstone; "let the doctor tell us about the athaleb." + </p> + <p> + "Well," resumed the doctor, "as I was saying, it must be undoubtedly the + pterodactyl. It is a most extraordinary animal, and is a species of flying + lizard, although differing from the lizard in many respects. It has the + head and neck of a bird, the trunk and tail of an ordinary mammal, the + jaws and teeth of a reptile, and the wings of a bat. Owen describes one + whose sweep of wings exceeded twenty feet, and many have been found of + every gradation of size down to that of a bat. There is no reason why they + should not be as large as More says; and I for my part do not suspect him + of exaggeration. Some have supposed that a late, lingering individual may + have suggested the idea of the fabulous dragon—an idea which seems + to be in the minds of nearly all the human race, for in the early records + of many nations we find the destruction of dragons assigned to their gods + and heroes. The figure of the pterodactyl represents pretty closely that + which is given to the dragons. It is not impossible that they may have + existed into the period which we call prehistoric, and that monsters far + larger than any which we have yet discovered may have lingered until the + time when man began to increase upon the earth, to spread over its + surface, and to carve upon wood and stone representations of the most + striking objects around him. When the living pterodactyls had disappeared + the memory of them was preserved; some new features were added, and the + imagination went so far as to endow them with the power of belching forth + smoke and flames. Thus the dragon idea pervaded the minds of men, and + instead of a natural animal it became a fabulous one. + </p> + <p> + "The fingers of the forelegs were of the ordinary dimensions, and + terminated with crooked nails, and these were probably used to suspend + themselves from trees. When in repose it rested on its hind legs like a + bird, and held its neck curving behind, so that its enormous head should + not disturb its equilibrium. The size and form of the feet, of the leg, + and of the thigh prove that they could hold themselves erect with + firmness, their wings folded, and move about in this way like birds, just + as More describes them as doing. Like birds they could also perch on + trees, and could crawl like bats and lizards along the rocks and cliffs. + </p> + <p> + "Some think that they were covered with scales, but I am of the opinion + that they had a horny hide, with a ridge of hair running down their backs—in + which opinion I am sustained by More's account. The smaller kinds were + undoubtedly insectivorous, but the larger ones must have been carnivorous, + and probably fed largely on fish." + </p> + <p> + "Well, at any rate," said Melick, gravely, "this athaleb solves the + difficult question as to how the Troglodytes emigrated to the South Pole." + </p> + <p> + "How?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "Why, they must have gone there on athalebs! Your friends the pterodactyls + probably lingered longest among the Troglodytes, who, seeing that they + were rapidly dying out, concluded to depart to another and a better world. + One beauty of this theory is that it cannot possibly be disproved; another + is that it satisfies all the requirements of the case; a third is that it + accounts for the disappearance of the pterodactyls in our world, and their + appearance at the South Pole; and there are forty or fifty other facts, + all included in this theory, which I have not time just now to enumerate, + but will try to do so after we have finished reading the manuscript. I + will only add that the athaleb must be regarded as another link which + binds the Kosekin to the Semitic race." + </p> + <p> + "Another link?" said Oxenden. "That I already have; and it is one that + carries conviction with it." + </p> + <p> + "All your arguments invariably do, my dear fellow." + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "The Kosekin alphabet," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "I can't see how you can make anything out of that," said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, I can easily explain," replied Oxenden. "In the first place we + must take the old Hebrew alphabet. I will write down the letters in their + order first." + </p> + <p> + Saying this he hastily jotted down some letters on a piece of paper, and + showed to the doctor the following: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Labials. Palatals. Linguals. + A B C (or G) D + E F Ch (or H) Dh (or Th) + I Liquids, L M N + O P K T +</pre> + <p> + "That," said he, "is substantially the order of the old Hebrew alphabet." + </p> + <p> + "But," said the doctor, "the Kosekin alphabet differs in its order + altogether from that." + </p> + <p> + "That very difference can be shown to be all the stronger proof of a + connection between them," said Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "I should like to know how." + </p> + <p> + "The fact is," said Oxenden, "these letters are represented differently in + the two languages in exact accordance with Grimm's Law." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "Grimm's Law again!" + </p> + <p> + "According to that law," continued Oxenden, "the letters of the alphabet + ought to change their order. Now let us leave out the vowels and linguals, + and deal only with the mutes. First, we have in the Hebrew alphabet the + medials B, G, and D. Very well; in the Kosekin we have standing first the + thin letters, or tenues, according to Grimm's Law, namely, P, K, T. Next + we have in the Hebrew the aspirates F, Ch, Dh. In the Kosekin alphabet we + have corresponding to them the medials B, G, D. Next we have in the Hebrew + the tenues, or thin letters P, K, T. In the Kosekin we have the + corresponding aspirates F, Ch, Th. The vowels, liquids, and sibilants need + not be regarded just here, for the proof from the mutes is sufficient to + satisfy any reasonable man." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Melick, "I for one am thoroughly satisfied, and don't need + another single word. The fact is, I never knew before the all-sufficient + nature of Grimm's Law. Why, it can unlock any mystery! When I get home I + must buy one—a tame one, if possible—and keep him with me + always. It is more useful to a literary man than to any other. It is said + that with a knowledge of Grimm's Law a man may wander through the world + from Iceland to Ceylon, and converse pleasantly in all the Indo-European + languages. More must have had Grimm's Law stowed away somewhere about him; + and that's the reason why he escaped the icebergs, the volcanoes, the + cannibals, the subterranean channel monster, and arrived at last safe and + sound in the land of the Kosekin. What I want is Grimm's Law—a nice + tidy one, well trained, in good working order, and kind in harness; and + the moment I get one I intend to go to the land of the Kosekin myself." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII — OXENDEN PREACHES A SERMON + </h2> + <p> + "Magones," said the doctor, "is clearly a volcanic island, and, taken in + connection with the other volcanoes around, shows how active must be the + subterranean fires at the South Pole. It seems probable to me that the + numerous caves of the Kosekin were originally fissures in the mountains, + formed by convulsions of nature; and also that the places excavated by man + must consist of soft volcanic rock, such as pumice-stone, or rather tufa, + easily worked, and remaining permanently in any shape into which it may be + fashioned. As to Magones, it seems another Iceland; for there are the same + wild and hideous desolation, the same impassable wildernesses, and the + same universal scenes of ruin, lighted up by the baleful and tremendous + volcanic fires." + </p> + <p> + "But what of that little island on which they landed?" asked Featherstone. + "That, surely, was not volcanic." + </p> + <p> + "No," said the doctor; "that must have been a coral island." + </p> + <p> + "By-the-bye, is it really true," asked Featherstone, "that these coral + islands are the work of little insects?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, they may be called insects," replied the doctor; "they are living + zoophytes of most minute dimensions, which, however, compensate for their + smallness of size by their inconceivable numbers. Small as these are they + have accomplished infinitely more than all that ever was done by the + ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, the pterodactyl, and the whole tribe of + monsters that once filled the earth. Immense districts and whole mountains + have been built up by these minute creatures. They have been at work for + ages, and are still at work. It is principally in the South Seas that + their labors are carried on. Near the Maldive Islands they have formed a + mass whose volume is equal to the Alps. Around New Caledonia they have + built a barrier of reefs four hundred miles in length, and another along + the northeast coast of Australia a thousand miles in length. In the + Pacific Ocean, islands, reefs, and islets innumerable have been + constructed by them, which extend for an immense distance. + </p> + <p> + "The coral islands are called 'atolls.' They are nearly always circular, + with a depression in the centre. They are originally made ring-shaped, but + the action of the ocean serves to throw fragments of rock into the inner + depression, which thus fills up; firm land appears; the rock crumbles into + soil; the winds and birds and currents bring seeds here, and soon the new + island is covered with verdure. These little creatures have played a part + in the past quite as important as in the present. All Germany rests upon a + bank of coral; and they seem to have been most active during the Oolitic + Period." + </p> + <p> + "How do the creatures act?" asked Featherstone. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody knows," replied the doctor. + </p> + <p> + A silence now followed, which was at last broken by Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "After all," said he, "these monsters and marvels of nature form the least + interesting feature in the land of the Kosekin. To me the people + themselves are the chief subject of interest. Where did they get that + strange, all-pervading love of death, which is as strong in them as love + of life is in us?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, they got it from the imagination of the writer of the manuscript," + interrupted Melick. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it's easy to answer it from your point of view; yet from my point of + view it is more difficult. I sometimes think that it may be the strong + spirituality of the Semitic race, carried out under exceptionally + favorable circumstances to the ultimate results; for the Semitic race more + than all others thought little of this life, and turned their affections + to the life that lives beyond this. The Kosekin may thus have had a + spiritual development of their own, which ended in this. + </p> + <p> + "Yet there may be another reason for it, and I sometimes think that the + Kosekin may be nearer to the truth than we are. We have by nature a strong + love of life—it is our dominant feeling—but yet there is in + the minds of all men a deep underlying conviction of the vanity of life, + and the worthlessness. In all ages and among all races the best, the + purest, and the wisest have taught this truth—that human life is not + a blessing; that the evil predominates over the good; and that our best + hope is to gain a spirit of acquiescence with its inevitable ills. All + philosophy and all religions teach us this one solemn truth, that in this + life the evil surpasses the good. It has always been so. Suffering has + been the lot of all living things, from the giant of the primeval swamps + down to the smallest zoophyte. It is far more so with man. Some favored + classes in every age may furnish forth a few individuals who may perhaps + lead lives of self-indulgence and luxury; but to the mass of mankind life + has ever been, and must ever be, a prolonged scene of labor intermingled + with suffering. The great Indian religions, whether Brahmanic or + Buddhistic, teach as their cardinal doctrine that life is an evil. + Buddhism is more pronounced in this, for it teaches more emphatically than + even the Kosekin that the chief end of man is to get rid of the curse of + life and gain the bliss of Nirvana, or annihilation. True, it does not + take so practical a form as among the Kosekin, yet it is believed by + one-third of the human race as the foundation of the religion in which + they live and die. We need not go to the Kosekin, however, for such maxims + as these. The intelligent Hindoos, the Chinese, the Japanese, with many + other nations, all cling firmly to this belief. Sakyamoum Gautama Buddha, + the son and heir of a mighty monarch, penetrated with the conviction of + the misery of life, left his throne, embraced a life of voluntary poverty, + want, and misery, so that he might find his way to a better state—the + end before him being this, that he might ultimately escape from the curse + of existence. He lived till old age, gained innumerable followers, and + left to them as a solemn legacy the maxim that not to exist is better than + to exist; that death is better than life. Since his day millions of his + followers have upheld his principles and lived his life. Even among the + joyous Greeks we find this feeling at times bursting forth it comes when + we least expect it, and not even a Kosekin poet could express this view + more forcibly than Sophocles in the OEdipus at Colonus: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Not to be born surpasses every lot; + And the next best lot by far, when one is born + Is to go back whence he came as soon as possible; + For while youth is present bringing vain follies, + What woes does it not have, what ills does it not bear— + Murders, factions, strife, war, envy, + But the extreme of misery is attained by loathsome old age— + Old age, strengthless, unsociable, friendless, + Where all evils upon evils dwell together.'" +</pre> + <p> + "I'll give you the words of a later poet," said Melick, "who takes a + different view of the case. I think I'll sing them, with your permission." + </p> + <p> + Melick swallowed a glass of wine and then sang the following: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'They may rail at this life: from the hour I began it + I found it a life full of kindness and bliss, + And until they can show me some happier planet, + More social and bright, I'll content me with this. + As long as the world has such lips and such eyes + As before me this moment enraptured I see, + They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies, + But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.' +</pre> + <p> + "What a pity it is," continued Melick, "that the writer of this manuscript + had not the philological, theological, sociological, geological, + palaeological, ontological, ornithological, and all the other logical + attainments of yourself and the doctor! He could then have given us a + complete view of the nature of the Kosekin, morally and physically; he + could have treated of the geology of the soil, the ethnology of the + people, and could have unfolded before us a full and comprehensive view of + their philosophy and religion, and could have crammed his manuscript with + statistics. I wonder why he didn't do it even as it was. It must have been + a strong temptation." + </p> + <p> + "More," said Oxenden, with deep impressiveness, "was a simple-minded + though somewhat emotional sailor, and merely wrote in the hope that his + story might one day meet the eyes of his father. I certainly should like + to find some more accurate statements about the science, philosophy, and + religion of the Kosekin; yet, after all, such things could not be + expected." + </p> + <p> + "Why not?" said Melick; "it was easy enough for him." + </p> + <p> + "How?" asked Oxenden. + </p> + <p> + "Why, he had only to step into the British Museum, and in a couple of + hours he could have crammed up on all those points in science, philosophy, + ethnology, and theology, about which you are so anxious to know." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Featherstone, "suppose we continue our reading? I believe it + is my turn now. I sha'n't be able to hold out so long as you did, Oxenden, + but I'll do what I can." + </p> + <p> + Saying this, Featherstone took the manuscript and went on to read. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII — IN PRISON + </h2> + <p> + It was with hearts full of the gloomiest forebodings that we returned to + the amir, and these we soon found to be fully justified. The athalebs + descended at that point from which they had risen—namely, on the + terrace immediately in front of the cavern where they had been confined. + We then dismounted, and Layelah with the Kosekin guards accompanied us to + our former chambers. There she left us, saying that a communication would + be sent to us. + </p> + <p> + We were now left to our own conjectures. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder what they will do to us?" said I. + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to tell," said Almah. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose," said I, "they will punish us in some way; but then punishment + among the Kosekin is what seems honor and reward to me. Perhaps they will + spare our lives, for that in their eyes ought to be the severest + punishment and the deepest disgrace imaginable." + </p> + <p> + Almah sighed. + </p> + <p> + "The Kosekin do not always act in this matter as one would suppose," said + she. "It is quite likely that they may dread our escaping, and may + conclude to sacrifice us at once." + </p> + <p> + On the next jom I had a visit from the Kohen Gadol. He informed me that + the paupers had held a Council of State, in which they had made a special + examination of our late flight. He and Layelah had both been examined, as + well as the Kosekin who had gone after us; but Layelah's testimony was by + far the most important. + </p> + <p> + The Council of State gathered from Layelah's report that we had fled to + Magones for the especial purpose of gaining the most blessed of deaths; + that she pursued us in the interest of the state; and that we on her + arrival had generously surrendered our own selfish desires, and had at + once returned. + </p> + <p> + We learned that much gratification was felt by the council, and also + expressed, at Layelah's account and at our action. + </p> + <p> + First, at our eager love of death, which was so natural in their eyes; + secondly, at the skill which we had shown in selecting Magones; and + finally, at our generosity in giving up so readily the blessed prospect of + exile and want and death, so as to come back to the amir. Had we been + Kosekin our acts would have been natural enough; but, being foreigners, it + was considered more admirable in us, and it seemed to show that we were + equal to the Kosekin themselves. It was felt, however, that in our eager + rush after death we had been somewhat selfish; but as this probably arose + from our ignorance of the law, it might be overlooked. On the whole it was + decided that we ought to be rewarded, and that, too, with the greatest + benefits that the Kosekin could bestow. What these benefits were the Kohen + Gadol could not say; and thus we were left, as before, in the greatest + possible anxiety. We still dreaded the worst. The highest honors of these + men might well awaken apprehension; for they thought that the chief + blessings were poverty and darkness and death. + </p> + <p> + Layelah next came to see me. She was as amiable as ever, and showed no + resentment at all. She gave me an account of what had happened at the + Council of State, which was the same as what I had heard from the Kohen + Gadol. + </p> + <p> + I asked her why she had made such a report of us. + </p> + <p> + "To conciliate their good-will," said Layelah. "For if they thought that + you had really fled from death from a love of life, they would have felt + such contempt for you that serious harm might have happened." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said I; "but among the Kosekin what you call harm would probably + have been just what I want. I should like to be viewed with contempt, and + considered unworthy of death and the Mista Kosek, and other such honors." + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said Layelah; "but that doesn't follow; for you see the paupers + love death so intensely that they long to bestow it on all; and if they + knew that you were afraid of it, they would be tempted to bestow it upon + you immediately, just to show you how delightful a thing it is. And that + was the very thing that I was trying to guard against." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said I, "and what is the result? Do you know what their decision + is?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Layelah. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" I asked, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + Layelah hesitated. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" I cried again, full of impatience. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid it will not sound very pleasant to you," said Layelah, "but at + any rate your life is spared for the present. They have decided to give + you what they call the greatest possible honors and distinctions." + </p> + <p> + Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. For my part these words + sounded ominous, and were full of the darkest meaning. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me all," I said; "don't keep me in suspense." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Layelah, "I'm afraid you will think it hard; but I must tell + you. I will tell it, therefore, as briefly and formally as possible. + </p> + <p> + "First, then, they have decreed the blessing of separation. You and Almah + must now be parted, since this is regarded as the highest bliss of lovers. + </p> + <p> + "Secondly, they have decreed the blessing of poverty. All these luxuries + will be taken away, and you will be raised to an equality in this respect + with the great paupers. + </p> + <p> + "Thirdly, you are to have the blessing of darkness. You are to be removed + from this troublesome and vexatious light, which here is regarded as a + curse, and henceforth live without it. + </p> + <p> + "Fourthly, the next decree is the high reward of imprisonment. You are to + be delivered from the evils of liberty, and shut up in a dark cavern, from + which it will be impossible to escape or to communicate with anyone + outside. + </p> + <p> + "Fifthly, you are to associate with the greatest of the paupers, the class + that is the most honored and influential. You will be present at all their + highest councils, and will have the privilege of perpetual intercourse + with those reverend men. They will tell you of the joys of poverty, the + happiness of darkness, and the bliss of death." + </p> + <p> + Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. + </p> + <p> + "Is there anything more?" I gasped. + </p> + <p> + "No," said she. "Is not that enough? Some were in favor of bestowing + immediate death, but they were outvoted by the others. You surely cannot + regret that." + </p> + <p> + Layelah's words sounded like the words of a mocking demon. Yet she did not + wish to distress me; she had merely stated my sentence in formal language, + without any attempt to soften its tremendous import. As for me, I was + overwhelmed with despair. There was but one thought in my mind—it + was not of myself, but of Almah. + </p> + <p> + "And Almah?" I cried. + </p> + <p> + "Almah," said Layelah—"she will have the same; you are both included + in the same sentence." + </p> + <p> + At this a groan burst from me. Horror overwhelmed me. I threw myself down + upon the floor and covered my face with my hands. All was lost! Our fate—Almah's + fate—was darkness, imprisonment, and death. Could anything be + imagined that might mitigate such woes as these? Could anything be + conceived of as more horrible? Yes; there remained something more, and + this was announced by Layelah. + </p> + <p> + "Finally," said she, "it has been decreed that you shall not only have the + blessing of death, but that you shall have the rare honor of belonging to + the chosen few who are reserved for the Mista Kosek. Thus far this had not + been granted. It was esteemed too high an honor for strangers; but now, by + an exercise of unparalleled liberality, the Grand Council of Paupers have + added this, as the last and best, to the high honors and rewards which + they have decreed for you and Almah." + </p> + <p> + To this I had nothing to say; I was stupefied with horror. To such words + what answer could be made? At that moment I could think of nothing but + this tremendous sentence—this infliction of appalling woes under the + miserable name of blessings! I could not think of Layelah; nor did I try + to conjecture what her motives might be in thus coming to me as the + messenger of evil. I could not find space amid my despair for speculations + as to her own part in this, or stop to consider whether she was acting the + part of a mere messenger, or was influenced by resentment or revenge. All + this was far away from my thoughts; for all my mind was filled with the + dread sentence of the Council of Paupers and the baleful prospect of the + woes that awaited us. + </p> + <p> + On the next jom I saw Almah. She had already learned the awful tidings. + She met me with a face of despair; for there was no longer any hope, and + all that remained for us was a last farewell. After this we parted, and + each of us was taken to our respective prison. + </p> + <p> + I was taken along dark passages until I came to a cavern with a low, dark + portal. Upon entering I found the darkness deeper than usual, and there + was only one solitary lamp, which diffused but a feeble ray through the + gloom. The size of the place could not be made out. I saw here a group of + human beings, and by the feeble ray of the lamp I perceived that they were + wan and thin and emaciated, with scant clothing, all in rags, squalor, + misery, and dirt; with coarse hair matted together, and long nails and + shaggy beards. They reminded me in their personal appearance of the + cannibals of the outer shore. These hideous beings all gathered around me, + blinking at me with their bleary eyes and grinning with their abominable + faces, and then each one embraced me. The filth, squalor, and unutterable + foulness of these wretches all combined to fill my soul with loathing, and + the inconceivable horror of that embrace wellnigh overwhelmed me. Yet, + after all, it was surpassed by the horror of the thought that Almah might + be at that very moment undergoing the same experience; and for her such a + thing must be worse than for me. + </p> + <p> + I retreated as far as possible from them, deep into the thick darkness, + and sat down. No convicted felon at the last hour of life, no prisoner in + the dungeons of the Inquisition, ever could have suffered more mental + agony than I did at that moment. The blessings, the awful blessings of the + Kosekin were descending upon my miserable head—separation from + Almah, squalor and dirt, imprisonment, the society of these filthy + creatures, darkness, the shadow of death, and beyond all the tremendous + horrors of the Mista Kosek! + </p> + <p> + I do not know how the time passed, for at first I was almost stupefied + with despair; nor could I ever grow reconciled to the society of these + wretches, scarce human, who were with me. Some food was offered me—filthy + stuff, which I refused. My refusal excited warm commendation; but I was + warned against starving myself, as that was against the law. In my despair + I thought of my pistol and rifle, which I still kept with me—of + using these against my jailors, and bursting forth; but this wild impulse + soon passed away, for its utter hopelessness was manifest. My only hope, + if hope it was, lay in waiting, and it was not impossible that I might see + Almah again, if only once. + </p> + <p> + Joms passed away, I know not how. The Chief Pauper, who is the greatest + man in the land of the Kosekin, made several attempts to converse with me, + and was evidently very condescending and magnanimous in his own eyes; but + I did not meet his advances graciously—he was too abhorrent. He was + a hideous wretch, with eyes nearly closed and bleary, thick, matted hair, + and fiendish expression—in short, a devil incarnate in rags and + squalor. + </p> + <p> + But as the joms passed I found it difficult to repel my associates. They + were always inflicting their society upon me, and thrusting on me nasty + little acts of kindness. The Chief Pauper was more persistent than all, + with his chatter and his disgusting civilities. He was evidently glad to + get hold of a fresh subject for his talkative genius; he was a very + garrulous cannibal, and perhaps my being a foreigner made me more + interesting in his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The chief topic of his discourse was death. He hated life, loved death, + longed for it in all its forms, whether arising from disease or from + violence. He was an amateur in corpses, and had a larger experience in + dead bodies than any other man in the nation. + </p> + <p> + I could not help asking him once why he did not kill himself, and be done + with it. + </p> + <p> + "That," said he, "is not allowed. The temptation to kill one's self is one + of the strongest that human nature can experience, but it is one that we + must struggle against, of course, for it is against all law. The greatest + blessing must not be seized. It must be given by nature or man. Those who + violate the blessed mystery of death are infamous." + </p> + <p> + He assured me that he had all his life cultivated the loftiest feelings of + love to others. His greatest happiness consisted in doing good to others, + especially in killing them. The blessing of death, being the greatest of + all blessings, was the one which he loved best to bestow upon others; and + the more he loved his fellow-creatures the more he wished to give them + this blessing. "You," said he, "are particularly dear to me, and I should + rather give to you the blessing of death than to any other human being. I + love you, Atam-or, and I long to kill you at this moment." + </p> + <p> + "You had better not try it," said I, grimly. + </p> + <p> + He shook his head despondingly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said he; "it is against the law. I must not do it till the time + comes." + </p> + <p> + "Do you kill many?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "It is my pleasing and glorious office," he replied, "to kill more than + any other; for, you must know, I am the Sar Tabakin" (chief of the + executioners). + </p> + <p> + The Chief Pauper's love of death had grown to be an all-absorbing passion. + He longed to give death to all. As with us there are certain + philanthropists who have a mania for doing good, so here the pauper class + had a mania for doing what they considered good in this way. The Chief + Pauper was a sort of Kosekin Howard or Peabody, and was regarded by all + with boundless reverence. To me, however, he was an object of never-ending + hate, abhorrence, and loathing; and, added to this, was the thought that + there might be here some equally hideous female—someone like the + nightmare hag of the outer sea—a torment and a horror to Almah. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX — THE CEREMONY OF SEPARATION + </h2> + <p> + Separated from Almah, surrounded by foul fiends, in darkness and the + shadow of death, with the baleful prospect of the Mista Kosek, it was mine + to endure the bitterest anguish and despair; and in me these feelings were + all the worse from the thought that Almah was in a similar state, and was + enduring equal woes. All that I suffered in my present condition she too + was suffering—and from this there was no possibility of escape. + Perhaps her surroundings were even worse, and her sufferings keener; for + who could tell what these people might inflict in their strange and + perverted impulses? + </p> + <p> + Many joms passed, and there was only one thing that sustained me—the + hope of seeing Almah yet again, though it were but for a moment. That + hope, however, was but faint. There was no escape. The gate was barred + without and within. I was surrounded by miscreants, who formed the chief + class in the state and the ruling order. The Chief Pauper was the highest + magistrate in the land, from whose opinion there was no appeal, and the + other paupers here formed the Kosekin senate. Here, in imprisonment and + darkness, they formed a secret tribunal and controlled everything. They + were objects of envy to all. All looked forward to this position as the + highest object of human ambition, and the friends and relatives of those + here rejoiced in their honor. Their powers were not executive, but + deliberative. To the Meleks and Athons was left the exercise of authority, + but their acts were always in subordination to the will of the paupers. + </p> + <p> + "I have everything that heart can wish," said the Chief Pauper to me once. + "Look at me, Atam-or, and see me as I stand here: I have poverty, squalor, + cold, perpetual darkness, the privilege of killing others, the near + prospect of death, and the certainty of the Mista Kosek—all these I + have, and yet, Atam-or, after all, I am not happy." + </p> + <p> + To this strange speech I had nothing to say. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," continued the Chief Pauper, in a pensive tone, "for twenty seasons + I have reigned as chief of the Kosekin in this place. My cavern is the + coldest, squalidest, and darkest in the land. My raiment is the coarsest + rags. I have separated from all my friends. I have had much sickness. I + have the closest captivity. Death, darkness, poverty, want, all that men + most live and long for, are mine to satiety; and yet, as I look back and + count the joms of my life to see in how many I have known happiness, I + find that in all they amount to just seven! Oh, Atam-or, what a comment is + this on the vanity of human life!" + </p> + <p> + To this I had no answer ready; but by way of saying something, I offered + to kill him on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay, Atam-or," said he, with a melancholy smile, "do not tempt me. + Leave me to struggle with temptations by myself, and do not seek to make + me falter in my duty. Yes, Atam-or, you behold in me a melancholy example + of the folly of ambition; for I often think, as I look down from my lofty + eminence, that after all it is as well to remain content in the humble + sphere in which we are placed at birth; for perhaps, if the truth were + known, there is quite as much real happiness among the rich and splendid—among + the Athons and Meleks." + </p> + <p> + On this occasion I took advantage of the Chief Pauper's softer mood to + pour forth an earnest entreaty for him to save Almah's life, or at least + to mitigate her miseries. Alas! he was inexorable. It was like an appeal + of some mad prisoner to some gentle-hearted governor in Christendom, + entreating him to put some fellow-prisoner to death, or at least to make + his confinement more severe. + </p> + <p> + The Chief Pauper stared at me in horror. + </p> + <p> + "You are a strange being, Atam-or," said he, gently. "Sometimes I think + you mad. I can only say that such a request is horrible to me beyond all + words. Such degradation and cruelty to the gentle and virtuous Almah is + outrageous and forever impossible; no, we will not deprive her of a single + one of those blessings which she now enjoys." + </p> + <p> + I turned away in despair. + </p> + <p> + At length one jom the Chief Pauper came to me with a smile and said, + </p> + <p> + "Atam-or, let me congratulate you on this joyous occasion." + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "You are to have your ceremony of separation." + </p> + <p> + "Separation!" I repeated. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said he. "Almah has given notice to us. She has announced her + intention of giving you up, and separating from you. With us the woman + always gives the announcement in such cases. We have fixed the ceremony + for the third jom from this, and I hope you will not think it too soon." + </p> + <p> + This strange intelligence moved me greatly. I did not like the idea of a + ceremony of separation; but behind this there rose the prospect of seeing + Almah, and I felt convinced that she had devised this as a mode of holding + communication with me, or at least of seeing me again. The thought of + Layelah was the only thing that interfered with this belief, for it might + be her doings after all; yet the fact remained that I was to see Almah, + and in this I rejoiced with exceeding great joy. + </p> + <p> + The appointed jom came. A procession was formed of the paupers. The chief + did not go, as he never left the cavern except on the great sacrifices and + Mista Koseks. The door was opened, and I accompanied the procession. On + our way all was dark, and after traversing many passages we came at length + to the door of a cavern as gloomy as the one I had left. On entering this + I found all dark and drear; and a little distance before me there was a + light burning, around which was gathered a group of hags hideous beyond + all expression. But these I scarcely noticed; for there amid them, all + pale and wan, with her face now lighted up with joyous and eager + expectation, I saw my darling—my Almah! I caught her in my arms, and + for a few moments neither of us spoke a word. She sobbed upon my breast, + but I knew that the tears which she shed were tears of joy. Nor was our + joy checked by the thought that it was to be so short-lived. It was enough + at that moment that we saw one another—enough that we were in one + another's arms; and so we mingled our tears, and shared one common + rapture. And sweet it was—sweet beyond all expression—the + sweetest moment in all my life; for it had come in the midst of the drear + desolation of my heart and the black despair. It was like a flash of + lightning in the intense darkness, short and sudden indeed, yet still + intense while it lasted, and in an instant filling all with its glow. + </p> + <p> + "I did this," murmured Almah, "to see you and to save you." + </p> + <p> + "Save me!" I repeated. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said she. "I have seen Layelah. She told me that there is this + chance and this one only to save you. I determined to try it. I cannot + bear to think of you at the sacrifice—and for love of me meeting + your death—for I would die to save you, Atam-or." + </p> + <p> + I pressed her closer in my arms. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Almah," said I, "I would die to save you! and if this ceremony will + save you I will go through with it, and accept my fate whatever it may + be." + </p> + <p> + We were now interrupted. + </p> + <p> + The women—the hags of horror—the shriek-like ones, as I may + call them, or the fiend-like, the female fiends, the foul ones—they + were all around us; and one there was who looked so exactly like the + nightmare hag of the outer sea that I felt sure she must be the same, who + by some strange chance had come here. Such, indeed, is quite likely, for + there may have been a pass over the mountains to the land of the Kosekin; + and those savage cannibals may all have been honored Kosekin exiles, + dwelling in poverty, want, woe, and darkness, all of which may have been + allotted to them as a reward for eminent virtues. And so here she was, the + nightmare hag, and I saw that she recognized me. + </p> + <p> + A circle was now formed around us, and the light stood in the middle. The + nightmare hag also stood within the circle on the other side of the light + opposite us. The beams of the lamp flickered through the darkness, faintly + illuminating the faces of the horrible creatures around, who, foul and + repulsive as harpies, seemed like unclean beasts, ready to make us their + prey. Their glances seemed to menace death; their blear eyes rested upon + us with a horrid eager hunger. My worst fears at that moment seemed + realized; for I saw that Almah's associates were worse than mine, and her + fate had been more bitter. And I wondered how it had been possible for her + to live among such associates; or, even though she had lived thus far, + whether it would be possible for her to endure it longer. + </p> + <p> + And now there arose a melancholy chant from the old hags around—a + dreadful strain, that sounded like a funeral dirge, sung in shrill, + discordant voices, led by the nightmare hag, who as she sang waved in her + hand a kind of club. All the time I held Almah in my arms, regardless of + those around us, thinking only of her from whom I must soon again be + separated, and whom I must leave in this drear abode to meet her fearful + fate alone. The chant continued for some time, and as long as it continued + it was sweet to me; for it prolonged the meeting with Almah, and postponed + by so much our separation. + </p> + <p> + At length the chant ceased. The nightmare hag looked fixedly at us, and + spoke these words: + </p> + <p> + "You have embraced for the last time. Henceforth there is no more sorrow + in your love. You may be happy now in being forever disunited, and in + knowing the bliss of eternal separation. As darkness is better than light, + as death is better than life, so may you find separation better than + union." + </p> + <p> + She now gave a blow with her club at the lamp, which broke it to atoms and + extinguished the flame. She continued: + </p> + <p> + "As the baleful light is succeeded by the blessed darkness, so may you + find the light of union followed by the blessed darkness of separation." + </p> + <p> + And now in the deep darkness we stood clasped in one another's arms; while + around us, from the horrible circle of hags, there arose another chant as + harsh and discordant as the previous one, but which, nevertheless, like + that, served at least to keep us together a little longer. For this reason + it sounded sweeter than the sweetest music; and therefore, when at last + the hideous noise ended, I felt a pang of grief, for I knew that I must + now give up Almah forever. + </p> + <p> + I was right. The ceremony was over. We had to part, and we parted with + tears of despair. I was led away, and as I went I heard Almah's sobs. I + broke away, and tried to return for one more embrace; but in the darkness + I could not find her, and could only hear her sobs at a greater distance, + which showed that she too was being led away. I called after her, + </p> + <p> + "Farewell, Almah!" + </p> + <p> + Her reply came back broken with sobs. + </p> + <p> + "Farewell forever, Atam-or!" + </p> + <p> + I was once more led away, and again traversed the dark passages, and again + came back to my den, which now seemed dark with the blackness of despair. + </p> + <p> + On my return I was formally and solemnly congratulated by all the paupers. + I should not have received their congratulations had I not expected that + there would be something more. I expected that something would be said + about the result of this act of separation; for Almah had believed that it + would be the means of saving my life, and I believed that it would be the + means of saving her life, and for this reason each of us had performed our + part; although, of course, the joy of meeting with one another would of + itself have been sufficient, and more than sufficient, to make that + ceremony an object of desire. I thought, therefore, that some statement + might now be made to the effect that by means of this ceremony my status + among the Kosekin would be changed, and that both I and Almah, being no + longer lovers, would be no longer fit for the sacrifice. To my intense + disappointment, however, nothing whatever was said that had the remotest + reference to this. + </p> + <p> + On the following jom I determined to ask the Chief Pauper himself + directly; and accordingly, after a brief preamble, I put the question + point-blank: + </p> + <p> + "Will our ceremony of separation make any difference as to our sacrifice?" + </p> + <p> + "What?" he asked, with a puzzled expression. + </p> + <p> + I repeated the question. + </p> + <p> + "I don't understand," said he, still looking puzzled. + </p> + <p> + Upon this I once more repeated it. + </p> + <p> + "How can that be?" said he at length; "how can the ceremony of separation + have any effect upon your sacrifice? The ceremony of separation stands by + itself as the sign and symbol of an additional blessing. This new + happiness of separation is a great favor, and will make you the object of + new envy and admiration; for few have been so fortunate as you in all the + history of the Kosekin. But you are the favorite of the Kosekin now, and + there is nothing that they will not do for you." + </p> + <p> + "But we were separate before," said I, indignantly. + </p> + <p> + "That is true," said he, "in point of fact; but this ceremony makes your + separation a legal thing, and gives it the solemn sanction of law and of + religion. Among the Kosekin one cannot be considered as a separate man + until the ceremony of separation has been publicly performed." + </p> + <p> + "I understood," said I, "that we were chosen to suffer the sacrifice + together because we were lovers, and now since you do not any longer + regard us as lovers, why do you sacrifice us?" + </p> + <p> + At this question the Chief Pauper looked at me with one of those hungry + glances of his, which showed how he thirsted for my blood, and he smiled + the smile of an evil fiend. + </p> + <p> + "Why do we sacrifice you, Atam-or?" he replied. "Why, because we honor you + both, and love you both so dearly that we are eager to give you the + greatest of all blessings, and to deny you nothing that is in our power to + bestow." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to sacrifice both of us?" I gasped. + </p> + <p> + "Of course." + </p> + <p> + "What! Almah too?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly. Why should we be so cruel to the dear child as to deprive her + of so great a boon?" + </p> + <p> + At this I groaned aloud and turned away in despair. + </p> + <p> + Many joms now passed away. I grew more and more melancholy and desperate. + I thought sometimes of fighting my way out. My fire-arms were now my chief + consolation; for I had fully made up my mind not to die quietly like a + slaughtered calf, but to strike a blow for life, and meet my death amid + slain enemies. In this prospect I found some satisfaction, and death was + robbed of some of its terrors. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX — THE DAY OF SACRIFICE + </h2> + <p> + At last the time came. + </p> + <p> + It was the end of the dark season. Then, as the sun rises for its + permanent course around the heavens, when the long day of six months + begins, all in the land of the Kosekin is sorrow, and the last of the + loved darkness is mourned over amid the most solemn ceremonies, and + celebrated with the most imposing sacrifices. Then the most honored in all + the land are publicly presented with the blessing of death, and allowed to + depart this hated life, and go to the realms of that eternal darkness + which they love so well. It is the greatest of sacrifices, and is followed + by the greatest of feasts. Thus the busy season—the loved season of + darkness—ends, and the long, hateful season of light begins, when + the Kosekin lurk in caverns, and live in this way in the presence of what + may be called artificial darkness. + </p> + <p> + It was for us—for me and for Almah—the day of doom. Since the + ceremony of separation I had not seen her; but my heart had been always + with her. I did not even know whether she was alive or not, but believed + that she must be; for I thought that if she had died I should have heard + of it, as the Kosekin would have rejoiced greatly over such an event. For + every death is to them an occasion of joy, and the death of one so + distinguished and so beloved as Almah would have given rise to nothing + less than a national festival. + </p> + <p> + Of time I had but a poor reckoning; but, from the way in which the paupers + kept account of their joms, I judged that about three months had elapsed + since the ceremony of separation. + </p> + <p> + The paupers were now all joyous with a hideous joy. The Chief Pauper was + more abhorrent than ever. He had the blood-thirst strong upon him. He was + on that jom to perform his horrible office of Sar Tabakin, and as he + accosted me he smiled the smile of a demon, and congratulated me on my + coming escape from life. To this I had no word of answer to make; but my + hands held my rifle and pistol, and these I clutched with a firmer grasp + as my last hour approached. + </p> + <p> + The time of departure at length arrived. Soldiers of the Kosekin came, + following the paupers, who went first, while the guards came after me. + Thus we all emerged into the open air. There the broad terrace already + mentioned spread out before my eyes, filled with thousands upon thousands + of human beings. It seemed as though the entire population of the city was + there, and so densely packed was this great crowd that it was only with + great difficulty that a way was laid open for our passage. + </p> + <p> + Above was the sky, where the stars were twinkling faintly. There was no + longer the light of the aurora australis; the constellations glimmered but + dimly, the moon was shining with but a feeble ray; for there far away over + the icy crests of the lofty mountains I saw a long line of splendid + effulgence, all golden and red—the light of the new dawn—the + dawn of that long day which was now approaching. The sight of that dawning + light gave me new life. It was like a sight of home—the blessed + dawn, the sunlight of a bright day, the glorious daybreak lost for so long + a time, but now at last returning. I feasted my eyes on the spectacle, I + burst into tears of joy, and I felt as though I could gaze at it forever. + But the sun as it travelled was rapidly coming into view; soon the + dazzling glory of its rim would appear above the mountain crest, and the + season of darkness would end. There was no time to wait, and the guards + hurried me on. + </p> + <p> + There in the midst of the square rose the pyramid. It was fully a hundred + feet in height, with a broad flat top. At the base I saw a great crowd of + paupers. Through these we passed, and as we did so a horrible death-chant + arose. We now went up the steps and reached the top. It was about sixty + feet square, and upon it there was a quadrangle of stones set about three + feet apart, about sixty in number, while in the midst was a larger stone. + All of these were evidently intended for sacrificial purposes. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had I reached the top when I saw a procession ascend from the + other side. First came some paupers, then some hags, and then, followed by + other hags, I saw Almah. I was transfixed at the sight. A thrill passed + through every nerve, and a wild impulse came to me to burst through the + crowd, join her, and battle with them all for her life. But the crowd was + too dense. I could only stand and look at her, and mark the paleness of + her face and her mute despair. She saw me, waved her hand sadly, and gave + a mournful smile. There we stood separated by the crowd, with our eyes + fastened on each other, and all our hearts filled with one deep, intense + yearning to fly to one another's side. + </p> + <p> + And now there came up from below, louder and deeper, the awful + death-chant. Time was pressing. The preparations were made. The Chief + Pauper took his station by the central stone, and in his right hand he + held a long, keen knife. Toward this stone I was led. The Chief Pauper + then looked with his blear and blinking eyes to where the dawn was glowing + over the mountain crest, and every moment increasing in brightness; and + then, after a brief survey, he turned and whetted his knife on the + sacrificial stone. After this he turned to me with his evil face, with the + glare of a horrid death-hunger in his ravenous eyes, and pointed to the + stone. + </p> + <p> + I stood without motion. + </p> + <p> + He repeated the gesture and said, "Lie down here." + </p> + <p> + "I will not," said I. + </p> + <p> + "But it is on this stone," said he, "that you are to get the blessing of + death." + </p> + <p> + "I'll die first!" said I, fiercely, and I raised my rifle. + </p> + <p> + The Chief Pauper was puzzled at this. The others looked on quietly, + thinking it probably a debate about some punctilio. Suddenly he seemed + struck with an idea. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said he. "The woman first. It is better so." + </p> + <p> + Saying this he walked toward Almah, and said something to the hags. + </p> + <p> + At this the chief of them—namely, the nightmare hag—led Almah + to the nearest stone, and motioned to her to lie down. Almah prepared to + obey, but paused a moment to throw at me one last glance and wave her hand + as a last farewell. Then without a word she laid herself down upon the + stone. At this a thrill of fury rushed through all my being, rousing me + from my stupor, impelling me to action, filling my brain with madness. The + nightmare hag had already raised her long keen knife in the air. Another + moment and the blow would have fallen. But my rifle was at my shoulder; my + aim was deadly. The report rang out like thunder. A wild, piercing yell + followed, and when the smoke cleared away the nightmare hag lay dead at + the foot of the altar. I was already there, having burst through the + astonished crowd, and Almah was in my arms; and holding her thus for a + moment, I put myself in front of her and stood at bay, with my only + thought that of defending her to the last and selling my life as dearly as + possible. + </p> + <p> + The result was amazing. + </p> + <p> + After the report there was for some moments a deep silence, which was + followed by a wild, abrupt outcry from half a million people—the + roar of indistinguishable words bursting forth from the lips of all that + throng, whose accumulated volume arose in one vast thunder-clap of sound, + pealing forth, echoing along the terraced streets, and rolling on far away + in endless reverberations. It was like the roar of mighty cataracts, like + the sound of many waters; and at the voice of that vast multitude I shrank + back for a moment. As I did so I looked down, and beheld a scene as + appalling as the sound that had overawed me. In all that countless throng + of human beings there was not one who was not in motion; and all were + pressing forward toward the pyramid as to a common centre. On every side + there was a multitudinous sea of upturned faces, extending as far as the + eye could reach. All were in violent agitation, as though all were + possessed by one common impulse which forced them toward me. At such a + sight I thought of nothing else than that I was the object of their wrath, + and that they were all with one common fury rushing toward me to wreak + vengeance upon me and upon Almah for the slaughter of the nightmare hag. + </p> + <p> + All this was the work of but a few moments. And now as I stood there + holding Almah—appalled, despairing, yet resolute and calm—I + became aware of a more imminent danger. On the top of the pyramid, at the + report of the rifle, all had fallen down flat on their faces, and it was + over them that I had rushed to Almah's side. But these now began to rise, + and the hags took up the corpse of the dead, and the paupers swarmed + around with cries of "Mut! mut!" (dead! dead!) and exclamations of wonder. + Then they all turned their foul and bleary eyes toward me, and stood as if + transfixed with astonishment. At length there burst forth from the crowd + one who sought to get at me. It was the Chief Pauper. He still held in his + hand the long knife of sacrifice. He said not a word, but rushed straight + at me, and as he came I saw murder in his look. I did not wait for him, + but raising my rifle, discharged the second barrel full in his face. He + fell down a shattered, blackened heap, dead. + </p> + <p> + As the second report thundered out it drowned all other sounds, and was + again followed by an awful silence. I looked around. Those on the pyramid—paupers + and hags—had again flung themselves on their faces. On the square + below the whole multitude were on their knees, with their heads bowed down + low. The silence was more oppressive than before; it was appalling—it + was tremendous! It seemed like the dread silence that precedes the more + awful outburst of the hurricane when the storm is gathering up all its + strength to burst with accumulated fury upon its doomed victim. + </p> + <p> + But there was no time to be lost in staring, and that interval was + occupied by me in hastily reloading my rifle. It was my last resource now; + and if it availed not for defence it might at least serve to be used + against ourselves. With this thought I handed the pistol to Almah, and + hurriedly whispered to her that if I were killed, she could use it against + herself. She took it in silence, but I read in her face her invincible + resolve. + </p> + <p> + The storm at last burst. The immense multitude rose to their feet, and + with one common impulse came pressing on from every side toward the + pyramid, apparently filled with the one universal desire of reaching me—a + desire which was now all the more intense and vehement from these + interruptions which had taken place. Why they had fallen on their knees, + why the paupers on the pyramid were still prostrate, I could not tell; but + I saw now the swarming multitude, and I felt that they were rolling in on + every side—merciless, blood-thirsty, implacable—to tear me to + pieces. Yet time passed and they did not reach me, for an obstacle was + interposed. The pyramid had smooth sides. The stairways that led up to the + summit were narrow, and did not admit of more than two at a time; yet, had + the Kosekin been like other people, the summit of the pyramid would soon + have been swarming with them; but as they were Kosekin, none came up to + the top; for at the base of the pyramid, at the bottom of the steps, I saw + a strange and incredible struggle. It was not, as with us, who should go + up first, but who should go up last; each tried to make his neighbor go + before him. All were eager to go, but the Kosekin self-denial, + self-sacrifice, and love for the good of others made each one intensely + desirous to make others go up. This resulted in a furious struggle, in + which, as fast as anyone would be pushed up the steps a little way, he + would jump down again and turn his efforts toward putting up others; and + thus all the energies of the people were worn out in useless and + unavailing efforts—in a struggle to which, from the very nature of + the case, there could be no end. + </p> + <p> + Now those on the pyramid began to rise, and soon all were on their feet. + Cries burst forth from them. All were looking at us, but with nothing like + hostility; it was rather like reverence and adoration, and these feelings + were expressed unmistakably in their cries, among which I could plainly + distinguish such words as these: "Ap Ram!" "Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet + Mut!" (The Father of Thunder! Ruler of Cloud and Darkness! Judge of + Death!) These cries passed to those below. The struggle ceased. All stood + and joined in the cry, which was taken up by those nearest, and soon + passed among all those myriads, to be repeated with thunder echoes far and + wide. + </p> + <p> + At this it suddenly became plain to me that the danger of death had passed + away; that these people no longer regarded me as a victim, but rather as + some mighty being—some superior, perhaps supernatural power, who was + to be almost worshipped. Hence these prostrations, these words, these + cries, these looks. All these told me that the bitterness of death had + passed away. At this discovery there was, for a moment, a feeling of + aversion and horror within me at filling such a position; that I, a weak + mortal, should dare to receive adoration like this; and I recoiled at the + thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for life was at stake—not my + own merely, but that of Almah; and I was ready now to go through anything + if only I might save her: so, instead of shrinking from this new part, I + eagerly seized upon it, and at once determined to take advantage of the + popular superstition to the utmost. + </p> + <p> + Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the + sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, throwing + out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land. I pointed to + the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all who were nearest, + in a loud voice: + </p> + <p> + "I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am the + Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!" + </p> + <p> + At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give them + the blessing of death. + </p> + <p> + I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told her + to fire the pistol. A million eyes were fixed on us. She held up the + pistol and fired. Immediately after, I fired both barrels of the rifle; + and as the reports rang out and the smoke cleared away, I heard a mighty + murmur, and once more beheld all prostrate. Upon this I hurriedly loaded + again, and waited for further revelations. All the time I could not help + wondering at the effect produced by the rifle now, in comparison with the + indifference with which it had been regarded at my first arrival in the + country. I could not account for it, but supposed that the excitement of a + great religious festival and the sudden death of the Chief Pauper and the + Chief Hag had probably deeply impressed them. In the midst of these + thoughts the whole multitude arose; and once more there came to my ears + the universal uproar of innumerable cries, in the midst of which I could + hear the words, "Ap Ram!" "Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI — CONCLUSION + </h2> + <p> + In the midst of this the paupers and the hags talked earnestly together. + Some of those who had been nearest in rank to the late Chief Pauper and + Chief Hag were conspicuous in the debate. All looked at me and at Almah, + and pointed toward the sun, which was wheeling along behind the distant + mountain crest, showing a golden disc. Then they pointed to the dead + bodies; and the hags took the Chief Hag, and the paupers the Chief Pauper, + and laid them side by side on the central altar. After this a hag and a + pauper advanced toward us, each carrying the sacrificial knife which had + belonged to the deceased. + </p> + <p> + The hag spoke first, addressing Almah, in accordance with the Kosekin + custom, which requires women to take the precedence in many things. + </p> + <p> + "Take this," she said, "O Almah, consort of Atam-or, and Co-ruler of + Clouds and Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the women + of the Kosekin." + </p> + <p> + She then handed Almah the sacrificial knife of the Chief Hag, which Almah + took in silence. + </p> + <p> + Then the pauper presented me with the sacrificial knife of the Chief + Pauper, with the following words: + </p> + <p> + "Take this, O Atam-or, Father of Thunder and Ruler of Clouds and Darkness. + Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the men of the Kosekin, and Sar + Tabakin over the whole nation." + </p> + <p> + I received the knife in silence, for I had nothing to say; but now Almah + spoke, as was fitting for her to do, since with the Kosekin the women must + take the precedence; and here it was expected that she should reply in + behalf of both of us. + </p> + <p> + So Almah, holding the sacrificial knife, stood looking at them, full of + dignity, and spoke as follows: + </p> + <p> + "We will take this, O Kosekin, and we will reward you all. We will begin + our reign over the Kosekin with memorable acts of mercy. These two great + victims shall be enough for the Mista Kosek of this season. The victims + designed for this sacrifice shall have to deny themselves the blessing of + death, yet they shall be rewarded in other ways; and all the land from the + highest to the lowest shall have reason to rejoice in our rule. + </p> + <p> + "To all you hags and paupers we grant the splendid and unparalleled boon + of exile to Magones. There you can have all the suffering which heart can + wish, and inevitable death. To all classes and ranks in the whole nation + we promise to grant a diminution in their wealth by one-quarter. In the + abundance of our mercy we are willing ourselves to bear the burden of all + the offerings that may be necessary in order to accomplish this. All in + the land may at once give up one-quarter of their whole wealth to us." + </p> + <p> + At this the hags and paupers gave a horrible yell of applause. + </p> + <p> + "As rulers of Light and Darkness, we will henceforth govern the nation in + the light as well as in the dark. We will sacrifice ourselves so far to + the public good as to live in the light, and in open palaces. We will + consent to undergo the pains of light and splendor, to endure all the + evils of luxury, magnificence, and boundless wealth, for the good of the + Kosekin nation. We will consent to forego the right of separation, and + agree to live together, even though we love one another. Above all, we + will refuse death and consent to live. Can any rulers do more than this + for the good of their people?" + </p> + <p> + Another outburst of applause followed. + </p> + <p> + "In three joms," continued Almah, "all you hags and paupers shall be sent + to exile and death on Magones. As for the rest of the Kosekin, hear our + words. Tell them from us that the laborers shall all be elevated to the + rank of paupers, the artisans shall be made laborers, the tradesmen + artisans, the soldiers tradesmen, the Athons soldiers, the Kohens Athons, + and the Meleks Kohens. There shall be no Meleks in all the land. We, in + our love for the Kosekin, will henceforth be the only Meleks. Then all the + misery of that low station will rest on us; and in our low estate as + Meleks we shall govern this nation in love and self-denial. Tell them that + we will forego the sacrifice and consent to live; that we will give up + darkness and cavern gloom and live in light. Tell them to prepare for us + the splendid palaces of the Meleks, for we will take the most sumptuous + and magnificent of them all. Tell all the people to present their + offerings. Tell them that we consent to have endless retinues of servants, + soldiers, followers, and attendants. Tell them that with the advent of + Almah and Atam-or a new era begins for the Kosekin, in which every man may + be as poor as he likes, and riches shall be unknown in the land." + </p> + <p> + These extraordinary words seemed to fill the paupers with rapture. + Exclamations of joy burst from them; they prostrated themselves in an + irrepressible impulse of grateful admiration, as though such promises + could only come from superior beings. Then most of them hurried down to + communicate to the people below the glorious intelligence. Soon it spread + from mouth to mouth, and all the people were filled with the wildest + excitement. + </p> + <p> + For never before had such a thing been known, and never had such + self-sacrifice been imagined or thought possible, as that the rulers of + the Kosekin could consent to be rich when they might be paupers; to live + together when they might be separate; to dwell in the light when they + might lurk in the deepest cavern gloom; to remain in life when they might + have the blessing of death. Selfishness, fear of death, love of riches, + and love of luxury, these were all unintelligible to the Kosekin, as much + as to us would be self-abnegation, contempt of death, voluntary poverty, + and asceticism. But as with us self-denying rulers may make others rich + and be popular for this, so here among the Kosekin a selfish ruler might + be popular by making others poor. Hence the words of Almah, as they were + made known, gave rise to the wildest excitement and enthusiasm, and the + vast multitude poured forth their feelings in long shouts of rapturous + applause. + </p> + <p> + Amid this the bodies of the dead were carried down from the pyramid, and + were taken to the Mista Kosek in a long and solemn procession, accompanied + by the singing of wild and dismal chants. + </p> + <p> + And now the sun, rolling along behind the icy mountain crest, rose higher + and higher every moment, and the bright light of a long day began to + illumine the world. There sparkled the sea, rising far away like a watery + wall, with the horizon high up in the sky; there rose the circle of giant + mountains, sweeping away till they were blended with the horizon; there + rose the terraces of the amir, all glowing in the sunlight, with all its + countless houses and cavern-openings and arching trees and pointing + pyramids. Above was the canopy of heaven, no longer black, no longer + studded with stars or glistening with the fitful shimmer of the aurora, + but all radiant with the glorious sunlight, and disclosing all the + splendors of the infinite blue. At that sight a thrill of joy passed + through me. The long, long night at last was over; the darkness had passed + away like some hideous dream; the day was here—the long day that was + to know no shadow and no decline—when all this world should be + illuminated by the ever-circling sun—a sun that would never set + until his long course of many months should be fully run. My heart swelled + with rapture, my eyes filled with tears. "O Light!" I cried; "O gleaming, + golden Sunlight! O Light of Heaven!—light that brings life and hope + to man!" And I could have fallen on my knees and worshipped that rising + sun. + </p> + <p> + But the light which was so glorious to us was painful and distressing to + the Kosekin. On the top of the pyramid the paupers crouched, shading their + eyes. The crowd below began to disperse in all directions, so as to betake + themselves to their coverts and to the caverns, where they might live in + the dark. Soon nearly all were gone except the paupers at the foot of the + pyramid, who were awaiting our commands, and a crowd of Meleks and Athons + at a distance. At a gesture from me the few paupers near us descended and + joined those below. + </p> + <p> + Almah and I were alone on the top of the pyramid. + </p> + <p> + I caught her in my arms in a rapture of joy. This revulsion from the + lowest despair—from darkness and from death back to hope and light + and life—was almost too much to endure. We both wept, but our tears + were those of happiness. + </p> + <p> + "You will be all my own now," said I, "and we can fly from this hateful + land. We can be united—we can be married—here before we start—and + you will not be cruel enough to refuse. You will consent, will you not, to + be my wife before we fly from the Kosekin?" + </p> + <p> + At this Almah's face became suffused with smiles and blushes. Her arms + were about me, and she did not draw away, but looked up in sweet confusion + and said, + </p> + <p> + "Why, as to that—I—I cannot be more your—your wife than + I am." + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean?" I exclaimed, in wonder. "My wife!" + </p> + <p> + Her eyes dropped again, and she whispered: + </p> + <p> + "The ceremony of separation is with the Kosekin the most sacred form of + marriage. It is the religious form; the other is merely the civil form." + </p> + <p> + This was unintelligible, nor did I try to understand it. It was enough to + hear this from her own sweet lips; but it was a strange feeling, and I + think I am the only man since Adam that ever was married without knowing + it. + </p> + <p> + "As to flight," continued Almah, who had quite adopted the Kosekin + fashion, which makes women take the lead—"as to flight, we need not + hurry. We are all-powerful now, and there is no more danger. We must wait + until we send embassies to my people, and when they are ready to receive + us, we will go. But now let us leave this, for our servants are waiting + for us, and the light is distressing to them. Let us go to the nearest of + our palaces and obtain rest and food." + </p> + <p> + Here Featherstone stopped, yawned, and laid down the manuscript. + </p> + <p> + "That's enough for to-day," said he; "I'm tired, and can't read any more. + It's time for supper." + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre> + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT *** + +***** This file should be named 6709-h.htm or 6709-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/0/6709/ + +Etext produced by Andrew Sly + +HTML file produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + + </body> +</html> diff --git a/6709.txt b/6709.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29e7b39 --- /dev/null +++ b/6709.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9542 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +Author: James De Mille + +Posting Date: March 20, 2009 [EBook #6709] +Release Date: October, 2004 +First Posted: January 17, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly + + + + + + + + + +A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +By James De Mille + + + +CONTENTS + + I. The Finding of the Copper Cylinder + II. Adrift in the Antarctic Ocean + III. A World of Fire and Desolation + IV. The Sight of Human Beings + V. The Torrent Sweeping Under the Mountains + VI. The New World + VII. Scientific Theories and Scepticism + VIII. The Cave-Dwellers + IX. The Cavern of the Dead + X. The Sacred Hunt + XI. The Swamp Monster + XII. The Baleful Sacrifice + XIII. The Awful "Mista Kosek" + XIV. I Learn My Doom + XV. The Kohen is Inexorable + XVI. The Kosekin + XVII. Belief and Unbelief + XVIII. A Voyage over the Pole + XIX. The Wonders of the "Amir" + XX. The Dark Maiden Layelah + XXI. The Flying Monster + XXII. Escape + XXIII. The Island of Fire + XXIV. Recapture + XXV. Falling, like Icarus, into the Sea + XXVI. Grimm's Law Again + XXVII. Oxenden Preaches a Sermon + XXVIII. In Prison + XXIX. The Ceremony of Separation + XXX. The Day of Sacrifice + XXXI. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FINDING OF THE COPPER CYLINDER + + +It occurred as far back as February 15, 1850. It happened on that +day that the yacht Falcon lay becalmed upon the ocean between the +Canaries and the Madeira Islands. This yacht Falcon was the property +of Lord Featherstone, who, being weary of life in England, had taken +a few congenial friends for a winter's cruise in these southern +latitudes. They had visited the Azores, the Canaries, and the Madeira +Islands, and were now on their way to the Mediterranean. + +The wind had failed, a deep calm had succeeded, and everywhere, as far +as the eye could reach, the water was smooth and glassy. The yacht +rose and fell at the impulse of the long ocean undulations, and the +creaking of the spars sounded out a lazy accompaniment to the motion +of the vessel. All around was a watery horizon, except in the one +place only, toward the south, where far in the distance the Peak of +Teneriffe rose into the air. + +The profound calm, the warm atmosphere, the slow pitching of the +yacht, and the dull creaking of the spars all combined to lull into a +state of indolent repose the people on board. Forward were the crew; +some asleep, others smoking, others playing cards. At the stern were +Oxenden, the intimate friend of Featherstone, and Dr. Congreve, who +had come in the double capacity of friend and medical attendant. +These two, like the crew, were in a state of dull and languid +repose. Suspended between the two masts, in an Indian hammock, lay +Featherstone, with a cigar in his mouth and a novel in his hand, which +he was pretending to read. The fourth member of the party, Melick, was +seated near the mainmast, folding some papers in a peculiar way. His +occupation at length attracted the roving eyes of Featherstone, who +poked forth his head from his hammock, and said in a sleepy voice: + +"I say, Melick, you're the most energetic fellah I ever saw. By Jove! +you're the only one aboard that's busy. What are you doing?" + +"Paper boats," said Melick, in a business-like tone. + +"Paper boats! By Jove!" said Featherstone. "What for?" + +"I'm going to have a regatta," said Melick. "Anything to kill time, +you know." + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Featherstone again, raising himself higher in his +hammock, "that's not a bad idea. A wegatta! By Jove! glowious! +glowious! I say, Oxenden, did you hear that?" + +"What do you mean by a regatta?" asked Oxenden, lazily. + +"Oh, I mean a race with these paper boats. We can bet on them, +you know." + +At this Featherstone sat upright, with his legs dangling out of +the hammock. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed again. "Betting! So we can. Do you know, +Melick, old chap, I think that's a wegular piece of inspiration. +A wegatta! and we can bet on the best boat." + +"But there isn't any wind," said Oxenden. + +"Well, you know, that's the fun of it," said Melick, who went solemnly +on as he spoke, folding his paper boats; "that's the fun of it. For +you see if there was a wind we should be going on ourselves, and the +regatta couldn't come off; but, as it is, the water is just right. +You pick out your boat, and lay your bet on her to race to some given +point." + +"A given point? But how can we find any?" + +"Oh, easily enough; something or anything--a bubble'll do, or we can +pitch out a bit of wood." + +Upon this Featherstone descended from his perch, and came near to +examine the proceedings, while the other two, eager to take advantage +of the new excitement, soon joined him. By this time Melick had +finished his paper boats. There were four of them, and they were made +of different colors, namely, red, green, yellow, and white. + +"I'll put these in the water," said Melick, "and then we can lay our +bets on them as we choose. But first let us see if there is anything +that can be taken as a point of arrival. If there isn't anything, I +can pitch out a bit of wood, in any direction which may seem best." + +Saying this, he went to the side, followed by the others, and all +looked out carefully over the water. + +"There's a black speck out there," said Oxenden. + +"So there is," said Featherstone. "That'll do. I wonder what it is?" + +"Oh, a bit of timber," said Melick. "Probably the spar of some ship." + +"It don't look like a spar," said the doctor; "it's only a round spot, +like the float of some net." + +"Oh, it's a spar," said Melick. "It's one end of it, the rest is under +water." + +The spot thus chosen was a dark, circular object, about a hundred +yards away, and certainly did look very much like the extremity of +some spar, the rest of which was under water. Whatever it was, +however, it served well enough for their present purpose, and no one +took any further interest in it, except as the point toward which the +paper boats should run in their eventful race. + +Melick now let himself down over the side, and placed the paper boats +on the water as carefully as possible. After this the four stood +watching the little fleet in silence. The water was perfectly still, +and there was no perceptible wind, but there were draughts of air +caused by the rise and fall of the yacht, and these affected the tiny +boats. Gradually they drew apart, the green one drifting astern, the +yellow one remaining under the vessel, while the red and the white +were carried out in the direction where they were expected to go, with +about a foot of space between them. + +"Two to one on the red!" cried Featherstone, betting on the one which +had gained the lead. + +"Done," said Melick, promptly taking his offer. + +Oxenden made the same bet, which was taken by Melick and the doctor. + +Other bets were now made as to the direction which they would take, as +to the distance by which the red would beat the white, as to the time +which would be occupied by the race, and as to fifty other things +which need not be mentioned. All took part in this; the excitement +rose high and the betting went on merrily. At length it was noticed +that the white was overhauling the red. The excitement grew intense; +the betting changed its form, but was still kept up, until at last +the two paper boats seemed blended together in one dim spot which +gradually faded out of sight. + +It was now necessary to determine the state of the race, so +Featherstone ordered out the boat. The four were soon embarked, and +the men rowed out toward the point which had been chosen as the end of +the race. On coming near they found the paper boats stuck together, +saturated with water, and floating limp on the surface. An animated +discussion arose about this. Some of the bets were off, but others +remained an open question, and each side insisted upon a different +view of the case. In the midst of this, Featherstone's attention was +drawn to the dark spot already mentioned as the goal of the race. + +"That's a queer-looking thing," said he, suddenly. "Pull up, lads, a +little; let's see what it is. It doesn't look to me like a spar." + +The others, always on the lookout for some new object of interest, +were attracted by these words, and looked closely at the thing in +question. The men pulled. The boat drew nearer. + +"It's some sort of floating vessel," said Oxenden. + +"It's not a spar," said Melick, who was at the bow. + +And as he said this he reached out and grasped at it. He failed to get +it, and did no more than touch it. It moved easily and sank, but soon +came up again. A second time he grasped at it, and with both hands. +This time he caught it, and then lifted it out of the water into the +boat. These proceedings had been watched with the deepest interest; +and now, as this curious floating thing made its appearance among +them, they all crowded around it in eager excitement. + +"It looks like a can of preserved meat," said the doctor. + +"It certainly is a can," said Melick, "for it's made of metal; but as +to preserved meat, I have my doubts." + +The article in question was made of metal and was cylindrical in +shape. It was soldered tight and evidently contained something. It was +about eighteen inches long and eight wide. The nature of the metal was +not easily perceptible, for it was coated with slime, and covered over +about half its surface with barnacles and sea-weed. It was not heavy, +and would have floated higher out of the water had it not been for +these encumbrances. + +"It's some kind of preserved meat," said the doctor. "Perhaps +something good--game, I dare say--yes, Yorkshire game-pie. They pot +all sorts of things now." + +"If it's game," said Oxenden, "it'll be rather high by this time. Man +alive! look at those weeds and shells. It must have been floating for +ages." + +"It's my belief," said Featherstone, "that it's part of the provisions +laid in by Noah for his long voyage in the ark. So come, let's open +it, and see what sort of diet the antediluvians had." + +"It may be liquor," said Oxenden. + +Melick shook his head. + +"No," said he; "there's something inside, but whatever it is, it isn't +liquor. It's odd, too. The thing is of foreign make, evidently. I +never saw anything like it before. It may be Chinese." + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "this is getting exciting. Let's go +back to the yacht and open it." + +The men rowed back to the yacht. + +"It's meat of some sort," continued the doctor. "I'm certain of that. +It has come in good time. We can have it for dinner." + +"You may have my share, then," said Oxenden. "I hereby give and +bequeath to you all my right, title, and interest in and to anything +in the shape of meat that may be inside." + +"Meat cans," said Melick, "are never so large as that." + +"Oh, I don't know about that," said the doctor, "they make up pretty +large packages of pemmican for the arctic expeditions." + +"But they never pack up pemmican in copper cylinders," said Melick, +who had been using his knife to scrape off the crust from the vessel. + +"Copper!" exclaimed Oxenden. "Is it copper?" + +"Look for yourselves," said Melick, quietly. + +They all looked, and could see, where the knife had cut into the +vessel, that it was as he said. It was copper. + +"It's foreign work," said Melick. "In England we make tin cans for +everything. It may be something that's drifted out from Mogadore or +some port in Morocco." + +"In that case," said Oxenden, "it may contain the mangled remains of +one of the wives of some Moorish pasha." + +By this time they had reached the yacht and hurried aboard. All were +eager to satisfy their curiosity. Search was made for a cold-chisel, +but to no purpose. Then Featherstone produced a knife which was used +to open sardine boxes, but after a faithful trial this proved useless. +At length Melick, who had gone off in search of something more +effective, made his appearance armed with an axe. With this he +attacked the copper cylinder, and by means of a few dexterous blows +succeeded in cutting it open. Then he looked in. + +"What do you see?" asked Featherstone. + +"Something," said Melick, "but I can't quite make it out." + +"If you can't make it out, then shake it out," said Oxenden. + +Upon this Melick took the cylinder, turned it upside down, shook it +smartly, and then lifted it and pounded it against the deck. This +served to loosen the contents, which seemed tightly packed, but came +gradually down until at length they could be seen and drawn forth. +Melick drew them forth, and the contents of the mysterious copper +cylinder resolved themselves into two packages. + +The sight of these packages only served to intensify their curiosity. +If it had been some species of food it would at once have revealed +itself, but these packages suggested something more important. What +could they be? Were there treasures inside--jewels, or golden +ornaments from some Moorish seraglio, or strange coin from far Cathay? + +One of the packages was very much larger than the other. It was +enclosed in wrappers made of some coarse kind of felt, bound tight +with strong cords. The other was much smaller, and, was folded in the +same material without being bound. This Melick seized and began to +open. + +"Wait a minute," said Featherstone. "Let's make a bet on it. Five +guineas that it's some sort of jewels!" + +"Done," said Oxenden. + +Melick opened the package, and it was seen that Featherstone had lost. +There were no jewels, but one or two sheets of something that looked +like paper. It was not paper, however, but some vegetable product +which was used for the same purpose. The surface was smooth, but the +color was dingy, and the lines of the vegetable fibres were plainly +discernible. These sheets were covered with writing. + +"Halloa!" cried Melick. "Why, this is English!" + +At this the others crowded around to look on, and Featherstone in his +excitement forgot that he had lost his bet. There were three sheets, +all covered with writing--one in English, another in French, and a +third in German. It was the same message, written in these three +different languages. But at that moment they scarcely noticed this. +All that they saw was the message itself, with its mysterious meaning. + +It was as follows: + + +"To the finder of this: + +"Sir,--I am an Englishman, and have been carried by a series of +incredible events to a land from which escape is as impossible as from +the grave. I have written this and committed it to the sea, in the +hope that the ocean currents may bear it within the reach of civilized +man. Oh, unknown friend! whoever you are. I entreat you to let this +message be made known in some way to my father, Henry More, Keswick, +Cumberland, England, so that he may learn the fate of his son. The MS. +accompanying this contains an account of my adventures, which I should +like to have forwarded to him. Do this for the sake of that mercy +which you may one day wish to have shown to yourself. + +"ADAM MORE." + + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, as he read the above, "this is really +getting to be something tremendous." + +"This other package must be the manuscript," said Oxenden, "and it'll +tell all about it." + +"Such a manuscript'll be better than meat," said the doctor, +sententiously. + +Melick said nothing, but, opening his knife, he cut the cords and +unfolded the wrapper. He saw a great collection of leaves, just like +those of the letter, of some vegetable substance, smooth as paper, and +covered with writing. + +"It looks like Egyptian papyrus," said the doctor. "That was the +common paper of antiquity." + +"Never mind the Egyptian papyrus," said Featherstone, in feverish +curiosity. "Let's have the contents of the manuscript. You, Melick, +read; you're the most energetic of the lot, and when you're tired the +rest of us will take turns." + +"Read? Why, it'll take a month to read all this," said Melick. + +"All the better," said Featherstone; "this calm will probably last a +month, and we shall have nothing to interest us." + +Melick made no further objection. He was as excited as the rest, and +so he began the reading of the manuscript. + + + +CHAPTER II + +ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN + + +My name is Adam More. I am the son of Henry More, apothecary, Keswick, +Cumberland. I was mate of the ship Trevelyan (Bennet, master), which +was chartered by the British Government to convey convicts to Van +Dieman's Land. This was in 1843. We made our voyage without any +casualty, landed our convicts in Hobart Town, and then set forth on +our return home. It was the 17th of December when we left. From the +first adverse winds prevailed, and in order to make any progress we +were obliged to keep well to the south. At length, on the 6th of +January, we sighted Desolation Island. We found it, indeed, a desolate +spot. In its vicinity we saw a multitude of smaller islands, perhaps a +thousand in number, which made navigation difficult, and forced us to +hurry away as fast as possible. But the aspect of this dreary spot was +of itself enough to repel us. There were no trees, and the multitude +of islands seemed like moss-covered rocks; while the temperature, +though in the middle of the antarctic summer, was from 38 to 58 +degrees Fahr. + +In order to get rid of these dangerous islands we stood south and +west, and at length found ourselves in south latitude 65 degrees, +longitude 60 degrees east. We were fortunate enough not to find any +ice, although we were within fifteen hundred miles of the South Pole, +and far within that impenetrable icy barrier which, in 1773, had +arrested the progress of Captain Cook. Here the wind failed us, and we +lay becalmed and drifting. The sea was open all around us, except to +the southeast, where there was a low line along the horizon +terminating in a lofty promontory; but though it looked like land we +took it for ice. All around us whales and grampuses were gambolling +and spouting in vast numbers. The weather was remarkably fine and +clear. + + For two or three days the calm continued, and we drifted along +helplessly, until at length we found ourselves within a few miles of +the promontory above mentioned. It looked like land, and seemed to be +a rocky island rising from the depths of the sea. It was, however, all +covered with ice and snow, and from this there extended eastward as +far as the eye could reach an interminable line of ice, but toward the +southwest the sea seemed open to navigation. The promontory was very +singular in shape, rising up to a peak which was at least a thousand +feet in height, and forming a striking object, easily discovered and +readily identified by any future explorer. We named it, after our +ship, Trevelyan Peak, and then felt anxious to lose sight of it +forever. But the calm continued, and at length we drifted in close +enough to see immense flocks of seals dotting the ice at the foot of +the peak. + +Upon this I proposed to Agnew, the second mate, that we should go +ashore, shoot some seals, and bring them back. This was partly for the +excitement of the hunt, and partly for the honor of landing in a place +never before trodden by the foot of man. Captain Bennet made some +objections, but he was old and cautious, and we were young and +venturesome, so we laughed away his scruples and set forth. We did not +take any of the crew, owing to the captain's objections. He said that +if we chose to throw away our own lives he could not help it, but that +he would positively refuse to allow a single man to go with us. We +thought this refusal an excess of caution amounting to positive +cowardice, but were unable to change his mind. The distance was not +great, the adventure was attractive, and so the captain's gig was +lowered, and in this Agnew and I rowed ashore. We took with us a +double-barrelled rifle apiece, and also a pistol. Agnew took a glass. + +We rowed for about three miles, and reached the edge of the ice, which +extended far out from the promontory. Here we landed, and secured the +boat by means of a small grappling-iron, which we thrust into the ice. +We then walked toward the promontory for about a mile, and here we +found a multitude of seals. These animals were so fearless that they +made not the slightest movement as we came up, but stared at us in an +indifferent way. We killed two or three, and then debated whether to +go to the promontory or not. Agnew was eager to go, so as to touch the +actual rock; but I was satisfied with what we had done, and was now +desirous of returning. In the midst of this I felt a flake of snow on +my cheek. I started and looked up. To my great surprise I saw that the +sky had changed since I had last noticed it. When we left the ship it +was clear and blue, but now it was overspread with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and the snow-flakes that had fallen were +ominous of evil. A snow-storm here, in the vicinity of the ice, was +too serious a thing to be disregarded. But one course now remained, +and that was an immediate return to the ship. + +Each of us seized a seal and dragged it after us to the boat. We +reached it and flung them in. Just at that moment a gun sounded over +the water. It was from the ship--the signal of alarm--the summons from +the captain for our return. We saw now that she had been drifting +since we left her, and had moved southwest several miles. The row back +promised to be far harder than the pull ashore, and, what was worse, +the wind was coming up, the sea was rising, and the snow was +thickening. Neither of us said a word. We saw that our situation was +very serious, and that we had been very foolhardy; but the words were +useless now. The only thing to be done was to pull for the ship with +all our strength, and that was what we did. + +So we pushed off, and rowed as we had never rowed before. Our progress +was difficult. The sea grew steadily rougher; the wind increased; the +snow thickened; and, worst of all, the day was drawing to a close. We +had miscalculated both as to distance and time. Even if it had +continued calm we should have had to row back in the dark; but now the +sun was setting, and with the darkness we had to encounter the +gathering storm and the blinding snow. We rowed in silence. At every +stroke our situation grew more serious. The wind was from the south, +and therefore favored us to some extent, and also made less of a sea +than would have been produced by a wind from any other quarter; but +then this south wind brought dangers of its own, which we were soon to +feel--new dangers and worse ones. For this south wind drove the ship +farther from us, and at the same time broke up the vast fields of ice +and impelled the fractured masses northward. But this was a danger +which we did not know just then. At that time we were rowing for the +ship, and amid the darkness and the blinding snow and the dashing +waves we heard from time to time the report of signal-guns fired from +the ship to guide us back. These were our only guide, for the darkness +and the snow had drawn the ship from our sight, and we had to be +guided by our hearing only. + +We were rowing for our lives, and we knew it; but every moment our +situation grew more desperate. Each new report of the gun seemed to +sound farther away. We seemed always to be rowing in the wrong +direction. At each report we had to shift the boat's course somewhat, +and pull toward the last point from which the gun seemed to sound. +With all this the wind was increasing rapidly to a gale, the sea was +rising and breaking over the boat, the snow was blinding us with its +ever-thickening sleet. The darkness deepened and at length had grown +so intense that nothing whatever could be seen--neither sea nor sky, +not even the boat itself--yet we dared not stop; we had to row. Our +lives depended on our efforts. We had to row, guided by the sound of +the ship's gun, which the ever-varying wind incessantly changed, till +our minds grew all confused, and we rowed blindly and mechanically. + +So we labored for hours at the oars, and the storm continually +increased, and the sea continually rose, while the snow fell thicker +and the darkness grew intenser. The reports of the gun now grew +fainter; what was worse, they were heard at longer intervals, and this +showed us that Captain Bennet was losing heart; that he was giving us +up; that he despaired of finding us, and was now firing only an +occasional gun out of a mournful sense of duty. This thought reduced +us to despair. It seemed as if all our efforts had only served to take +us farther away from the ship, and deprived us of all motive for +rowing any harder than was barely necessary to keep the boat steady. +After a time Agnew dropped his oar and began to bail out the boat--a +work which was needed; for, in spite of our care, she had shipped many +seas, and was one third full of water. He worked away at this while I +managed the boat, and then we took turns at bailing. In this way we +passed the dreary night. + +Morning came at last. The wind was not so violent, but the snow was so +thick that we could only see for a little distance around us. The ship +was nowhere visible, nor were there any signs of her. The last gun had +been fired during the night. All that we could see was the outline of +a gaunt iceberg--an ominous spectacle. Not knowing what else to do we +rowed on as before, keeping in what seemed our best course, though +this was mere conjecture, and we knew all the time that we might be +going wrong. There was no compass in the boat, nor could we tell the +sun's position through the thick snow. We rowed with the wind, +thinking that it was blowing toward the north, and would carry us in +that direction. We still hoped to come within sound of the ship's gun, +and kept straining our ears incessantly to hear the wished-for report. +But no such sound ever came again, and we heard nothing except the +plash of the waves and the crash of breaking ice. Thus all that day we +rowed along, resting at intervals when exhausted, and then resuming +our labors, until at length night came; and again to the snow and ice +and waves was added the horror of great darkness. We passed that night +in deep misery. We had eaten nothing since we left the ship, but +though exhausted by long fasting and severe labor, the despair of our +hearts took away all desire for food. We were worn out with hard work, +yet the cold was too great to allow us to take rest, and we were +compelled to row so as to keep ourselves from perishing. But fatigue +and drowsiness overcame us, and we often sank into sleep even while +rowing; and then after a brief slumber we would awake with benumbed +limbs to wrestle again with the oars. In this way we passed that +night. + +Another morning came, and we found to our great joy that the snow had +ceased. We looked eagerly around to see if there were any signs of the +ship. Nothing could be seen of her. Far away on one side rose a peak, +which looked like the place where we had landed. Judging from the +wind, which we still supposed to be southerly, the peak lay toward the +northeast; in which case we had been carried steadily, in spite of all +our efforts, toward the south. About a mile on one side of us the ice +began, and extended far away; while on the other side, at the distance +of some ten miles, there was another line of ice. We seemed to have +been carried in a southwesterly direction along a broad strait that +ran into the vast ice-fields. This discovery showed how utterly +useless our labors had been; for in spite of all, even with the wind +in our favor, we had been drawn steadily in an opposite direction. It +was evident that there was some current here, stronger than all our +strength, which had brought us to this place. + +We now determined to land on the ice, and try to cook a portion of our +seals. On approaching it we noticed that there was a current which +tended to draw us past the ice in what I supposed to be a +southwesterly direction. This confirmed my worst fears. But now the +labor of landing and building a fire on the ice served to interest us +for a time and divert our thoughts. We brushed away the snow, and then +broke up a box which was in the boat, and also the stern seats. This +we used very sparingly, reserving the rest for another occasion. Then +we cut portions from one of the seals, and laid them in thin strips on +the flames. The cooking was but slight, for the meat was merely +singed; but we were ravenous, and the contact of the fire was enough +to give it an attractive flavor. With this food we were greatly +refreshed; and as for drink, we had all around us an endless extent of +ice and snow. Then, taking our precious fragments of cooked meat, we +returned to the boat and put off. We could scarcely tell what to do +next, and while debating on this point we fell asleep. We slept far +into the night, then awoke benumbed with cold; then took to the oars +till we were weary; then fell asleep again, to be again awakened by +the cold and again to pull at the oars. So the night passed, and +another day came. + +The snow still held off, but the sky was overcast with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and looked threatening. Ice was all around us +as before; and the open water had diminished now from ten miles to +five miles of width. The ice on one side was low, but on the opposite +side it arose to the height of one hundred feet. We saw here, as we +watched the shore, that the current which had already borne us thus +far was now stronger than ever, and was carrying us along at a rate +which made all efforts of ours against it utterly useless. And now a +debate arose between us as to the direction of this current. Agnew +suddenly declared his belief that it was running north, while I was +firm in the conviction that it ran south. + +"There's no use rowing any more," said Agnew. "If it runs south we +can't resist it. It's too strong. But I always like to look on the +bright side, and so I believe it runs north. In that case there is no +use rowing, for it will carry us along fast enough." + +Then I proposed that we should go ashore on the ice. To this Agnew +objected, but afterward consented, at my earnest request. So we tried +to get ashore, but this time found it impossible; for the ice +consisted of a vast sheet of floating lumps, which looked like the +ruin of bergs that had been broken up in some storm. After this I had +nothing to say, nor was there anything left for us but to drift +wherever the current might carry us. + +So we drifted for some days, Agnew all the time maintaining that we +were going north, while I was sure that we were going south. The sky +remained as cloudy as ever, the wind varied incessantly, and there was +nothing by which we could conjecture the points of the compass. We +lived on our seal, and for drink we chewed ice and snow. One thing was +certain--the climate was no colder. Agnew laid great stress on this. + +"You see," said he, "we must be going north. If we were going south we +should be frozen stiff by this time." + +"Yes; but if we were going north," said I, "we ought to find it +growing warmer." + +"No," said he, "not with all this ice around us. It's the ice that +keeps the temperature in this cold state." + +Argument could do no good, and so we each remained true to our +belief--his leading him to hope, and mine dragging me down to despair. +At length we finished the last fragment of the seal that we had +cooked, and, finding ourselves near some firm ice, we went ashore and +cooked all that was left, using the remainder of our wood for fuel, +and all that we dared to remove from the boat. Re-embarking with this, +we drifted on as before. + +Several more days passed. At last one night I was roused by Agnew. He +pointed far away to the distant horizon, where I saw a deep red glow +as of fire. We were both filled with wonder at the sight, and were +utterly unable to account for it. We knew that it could not be caused +by the sun or the moon, for it was midnight, and the cause lay on the +earth and not in the skies. It was a deep, lurid glow, extending along +the horizon, and seemed to be caused by some vast conflagration. + + + +CHAPTER III + +A WORLD OF FIRE AND DESOLATION + + +At the sight of that deep-red glow various feelings arose within us: +in me there was new dejection; in Agnew there was stronger hope. I +could not think but that it was our ship that was on fire, and was +burning before our eyes. Agnew thought that it was some burning +forest, and that it showed our approach to some habitable and +inhabited land. For hour after hour we watched, and all the time the +current drew us nearer, and the glow grew brighter and more intense. +At last we were too weak to watch any longer, and we fell asleep. + +On waking our first thoughts were about the fire, and we looked +eagerly around. It was day, but the sky was as gloomy as ever, and the +fire was there before our eyes, bright and terrible. We could now see +it plainly, and discern the cause also. The fire came from two points, +at some distance apart--two peaks rising above the horizon, from which +there burst forth flames and smoke with incessant explosions. All was +now manifest. It was no burning ship, no blazing forest, no land +inhabited by man: those blazing peaks were two volcanoes in a state of +active eruption, and at that sight I knew the worst. + +"I know where we are now," I said, despairingly. + +"Where?" asked Agnew. + +"That," said I, "is the antarctic continent." + +"The antarctic fiddlestick," said he, contemptuously. "It is far more +likely to be some volcanic island in the South Sea. There's a +tremendous volcano in the Sandwich Islands, and these are something +like it." + +"I believe," said I, "that these are the very volcanoes that Sir James +Ross discovered last year." + +"Do you happen to know where he found them?" Agnew asked. + +"I do not," I answered. + +"Well, I do," said he, "and they're thousands of miles away from this. +They are south latitude 77 degrees, east longitude 167 degrees; while +we, as I guess, are about south latitude 40 degrees, east longitude +60 degrees." + +"At any rate," said I, "we're drifting straight toward them." + +"So I see," said Agnew, dryly. "At any rate, the current will take us +somewhere. We shall find ourselves carried past these volcanic +islands, or through them, and then west to the Cape of Good Hope. +Besides, even here we may find land with animals and vegetation; who +knows?" + +"What! amid all this ice?" I cried. "Are you mad?" + +"Mad?" said he; "I should certainly go mad if I hadn't hope." + +"Hope!" I repeated; "I have long since given up hope." + +"Oh, well," said he, "enjoy your despair, and don't try to deprive me +of my consolation. My hope sustains me, and helps me to cheer you up. +It would never do, old fellow, for both of us to knock under." + +I said nothing more, nor did Agnew. We drifted on, and all our +thoughts were taken up with the two volcanoes, toward which we were +every moment drawing nearer. As we approached they grew larger and +larger, towering up to a tremendous height. I had seen Vesuvius and +Stromboli and AEtna and Cotopaxi; but these appeared far larger than +any of them, not excepting the last. They rose, like the Peak of +Teneriffe, abruptly from the sea, with no intervening hills to dwarf +or diminish their proportions. They were ten or twelve miles apart, +and the channel of water in which we were drifting flowed between +them. + +Here the ice and snow ended. We thus came at last to land; but it was +a land that seemed more terrible than even the bleak expanse of ice +and snow that lay behind, for nothing could be seen except a vast and +drear accumulation of lava-blocks of every imaginable shape, without +a trace of vegetation--uninhabited, uninhabitable, and unpassable to +man. But just where the ice ended and the rocks began there was a +long, low reef, which projected for more than a quarter of a mile into +the water, affording the only possible landing-place within sight. +Here we decided to land, so as to rest and consider what was best to +be done. + +Here we landed, and walked up to where rugged lava-blocks prevented +any further progress. But at this spot our attention was suddenly +arrested by a sight of horror. It was a human figure lying prostrate, +face downward. + +At this sight there came over us a terrible sensation. Even Agnew's +buoyant soul shrank back, and we stared at each other with quivering +lips. It was some time before we could recover ourselves; then we went +to the figure, and stooped down to examine it. + +The clothes were those of a European and a sailor; the frame was +emaciated and dried up, till it looked like a skeleton; the face was +blackened and all withered, and the bony hands were clinched tight. It +was evidently some sailor who had suffered shipwreck in these +frightful solitudes, and had drifted here to starve to death in this +appalling wilderness. It was a sight which seemed ominous of our own +fate, and Agnew's boasted hope, which had so long upheld him, now sank +down into a despair as deep as my own. What room was there now for +hope, or how could we expect any other fate than this? + +At length I began to search the pockets of the deceased. + +"What are you doing?" asked Agnew, in a hoarse voice. + +"I'm trying to find out who he is," I said. "Perhaps there may be +papers." + +As I said this I felt something in the breast-pocket of his jacket, +and drew it forth. It was a leather pocket-book, mouldy and rotten +like the clothing. On opening it, it fell to pieces. There was nothing +in it but a piece of paper, also mouldy and rotten. This I unfolded +with great care, and saw writing there, which, though faded, was still +legible. It was a letter, and there were still signs of long and +frequent perusals, and marks, too, which looked as though made by +tears--tears, perhaps of the writer, perhaps of the reader: who can +tell? I have preserved this letter ever since, and I now fasten it +here upon this sheet of my manuscript. + + +THE LETTER. + +"Bristol April 20. 1820. + +"my darling tom + +"i writ you these few lines in hast i don like youar gon a walen an in +the south sea dont go darlin tom or mebbe ill never se you agin for +ave bad drems of you darlin tom an im afraid so don go my darlin tom +but come back an take anoth ship for America baby i as wel as ever but +mises is pa an as got a new tooth an i think yo otnt go a walen o +darlin tom * * * sea as the wages was i in New York an better go thar +an id like to go ther for good for they gives good wages in America. O +come back my Darlin tom and take me to America an the baby an weel all +live an love an di together + +"Your loving wife Polley Reed." + + +I began to read this, but there came a lump in my throat, and I had to +stop. Agnew leaned on my shoulder, and we both read it in silence. He +rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and drew a long breath. Then +he walked away for a little distance, and I put the letter carefully +away in my own pocket-book. After a little while Agnew came back. + +"More," said he, "do you remember any of the burial-service?" + +I understood his meaning at once. + +"Yes," I said, "some of it--a good deal of it, I think." + +"That's good," said he. "Let's put the poor fellow under ground." + +"It would be hard to do that," I said; "we'll have to bury him in the +snow." + +At this Agnew went off for a little distance and clambered over the +rocks. He was not gone long. When he returned he said, "I've found +some crumbled pumice-stone; we can scoop a grave for him there." + +We then raised the body and carried it to the place which Agnew had +found. So emaciated was the poor dead sailor that his remains were no +heavier than a small boy. On reaching the spot, we found the crumbled +pumice-stone. We placed the body in a crevice among the lava rocks, +and then I said what I could remember of the burial-service. After +this we carried in our hands the crumbled pumice-stone until we had +covered the body, and thus gave the poor fellow a Christian burial. + +We then returned to the shore. + +"More, old fellow," said Agnew, "I feel the better for this; the +service has done me good." + +"And me too," said I. "It has reminded me of what I had forgotten. +This world is only a part of life. We may lose it and yet live on. +There is another world; and if we can only keep that in our minds we +sha'n't be so ready to sink into despair--that is, I sha'n't. Despair +is my weakness; you are more hopeful." + +"Yes," said Agnew, solemnly; "but my hope thus far has referred only +to the safety of my skin. After this I shall try to think of my soul, +and cultivate, not the hope of escape, but the hope full of +immortality. Yes, More, after all we shall live, if not in England, +then, let us hope, in heaven." + +There was a long silence after this--that kind of silence which one +may preserve who is at the point of death. + +"I wonder how he got here?" said Agnew, at last. "The letter mentions +a whaler. No doubt the ship has been driven too far south; it has +foundered; he has escaped in a boat, either alone or with others; he +has been carried along this channel, and has landed here, afraid to go +any farther." + +"But his boat, what has become of that?" + +"His boat! That must have gone long ago. The letter was written in +1820. At any rate, let's look around." + +We did so. After some search we found fragments of a rotted rope +attached to a piece of rock. + +"That," said Agnew, "must have been fastened to the boat; and as for +the boat herself, she has long ago been swept away from this." + +"What shall we do now?" I said, after a long silence. + +"There's only one thing," said Agnew. "We must go on." + +"Go on?" I asked, in wonder. + +"Certainly," said he, confidently. "Will you stay here? No. Will you +go back? You can't. We must, therefore, go on. That is our only hope." + +"Hope!" I cried. "Do you still talk of hope?" + +"Hope?" said Agnew; "of course. Why not? There are no limits to hope, +are there? One can hope anything anywhere. It is better to die while +struggling like a man, full of hope and energy than to perish in +inaction and despair. It is better to die in the storm and furious +waters than to waste away in this awful place. So come along. Let's +drift as before. Let's see where this channel will take us. It will +certainly take us somewhere. Such a stream as this must have some +outlet." + +"This stream," said I, "will take us to death, and death only. The +current grows swifter every hour. I've heard some old yarn of a vast +opening at each of the poles, or one of them, into which the waters of +the ocean pour. They fall into one, and some say they go through and +come out at the other." + +Agnew laughed. + +"That," said he, "is a madman's dream. In the first place, I don't +believe that we are approaching the south, but the north. The warmth +of the climate here shows that. Yes, we are drawing north. We shall +soon emerge into warm waters and bright skies. So come along, and let +us lose no more time." + +I made no further objection. There was nothing else to be done, and +at the very worst we could not be in greater danger while drifting on +than in remaining behind. Soon, therefore, we were again in the boat, +and the current swept us on as before. + +The channel now was about four miles wide. On either side arose +the lofty volcanoes vomiting forth flames and smoke with furious +explosions; vast stones were hurled up into the air from the craters; +streams of molten lava rolled down, and at intervals there fell great +showers of ashes. The shores on either side were precipitous and +rugged beyond all description, looking like fiery lava streams which +had been arrested by the flood, and cooled into gloomy, overhanging +cliffs. The lava rock was of a deep, dull slate-color, which at a +distance looked black; and the blackness which thus succeeded to +the whiteness of the snow behind us seemed like the funeral pall of +nature. Through scenes like these we drifted on, and the volcanoes on +either side of the channel towered on high with their fiery floods of +lava, their incessant explosions, their fierce outbursts of flames, +and overhead there rolled a dense black canopy of smoke--altogether +forming a terrific approach to that unknown and awful pathway upon +which we were going. So we passed this dread portal, and then there +lay before us--what? Was it a land of life or a land of death? Who +could say? + +It was evening when we passed through. Night came on, and the darkness +was illuminated by the fiery glow of the volcanic flames. Worn out +with fatigue, we fell asleep. So the night passed, and the current +bore us on until, at length, the morning came. We awoke, and now, for +the first time in many days, we saw the face of the sun. The clouds +had at last broken, the sky was clear, and behind us the sun was +shining. That sight told us all. It showed us where we were going. + +I pointed to the sun. + +"Look there," said I. "There is the sun in the northern sky--behind +us. We have been drifting steadily toward the south." + +At this Agnew was silent, and sat looking back for a long time. There +we could still see the glow of the volcanic fires, though they were +now many miles away; while the sun, but lately risen, was lying on a +course closer to the horizon than we had ever seen it before. + +"We are going south," said I--"to the South Pole. This swift current +can have but one ending--there may be an opening at the South Pole, or +a whirlpool like the Maelstrom." + +Agnew looked around with a smile. + +"All these notions," said he, "are dreams, or theories, or guesses. +There is no evidence to prove them. Why trouble yourself about a +guess? You and I can guess, and with better reason; for we have now, +it seems, come farther south than any human being who has ever lived. +Do not imagine that the surface of the earth is different at the poles +from what it is anywhere else. If we get to the South Pole we shall +see there what we have always seen--the open view of land or water, +and the boundary of the horizon. As for this current, it seems to me +like the Gulf Stream, and it evidently does an important work in the +movement of the ocean waters. It pours on through vast fields of ice +on its way to other oceans, where it will probably become united with +new currents. Theories about openings at the poles, or whirlpools, +must be given up. Since the Maelstrom has been found to be a fiction, +no one need believe in any other whirlpool. For my own part, I now +believe that this current will bear us on, due south, over the pole, +and then still onward, until at last we shall find ourselves in the +South Pacific Ocean. So cheer up--don't be downhearted; there's still +hope. We have left the ice and snow behind, and already the air is +warmer. Cheer up; we may find our luck turn at any moment." + +To this I had no reply to make. Agnew's confidence seemed to me to be +assumed, and certainly did not alleviate my own deep gloom, nor was +the scene around calculated to rouse me in the slightest degree out of +my despair. The channel had now lessened to a width of not more than +two miles; the shores on either side were precipitous cliffs, broken +by occasional declivities, but all of solid rock, so dark as to be +almost black, and evidently of volcanic origin. At times there arose +rugged eminences, scarred and riven, indescribably dismal and +appalling. There was not only an utter absence of life here in these +abhorrent regions, but an actual impossibility of life which was +enough to make the stoutest heart quail. The rocks looked like iron. +It seemed a land of iron penetrated by this ocean stream which had +made for itself a channel, and now bore us onward to a destination +which was beyond all conjecture. + +Through such scenes we drifted all that day. Night came, and in the +skies overhead there arose a brilliant display of the aurora +australis, while toward the north the volcanic fires glowed with +intense lustre. That night we slept. On awakening we noticed a change +in the scene. The shores, though still black and forbidding, were no +longer precipitous, but sloped down gradually to the water; the +climate was sensibly milder, and far away before us there arose a line +of giant mountains, whose summits were covered with ice and snow that +gleamed white and purple in the rays of the sun. + +Suddenly Agnew gave a cry, and pointed to the opposite shore. + +"Look!" he cried--"do you see? They are men!" + +I looked, and there I saw plainly some moving figures that were, +beyond a doubt, human beings. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE SIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS + + +The sight of human beings, thus unexpectedly found, filled us with +strange feelings--feelings which I cannot explain. The country was +still iron-bound and dark and forbidding, and the stream ran on in a +strong current, deep, black as ink, and resistless as fate; the sky +behind was lighted up by the volcanic glare which still shone from +afar; and in front the view was bounded by the icy heights of a +mountain chain. Here was, indeed, a strange country for a human +habitation; and strange, indeed, were the human beings whom we saw. + +"Shall we land?" said Agnew. + +"Oh no," said I. "Don't be hasty. The elements are sometimes kinder +than men, and I feel safer here, even in this river of death, than +ashore with such creatures as those." + +Agnew made no reply. We watched the figures on the shore. We saw them +coming down, staring and gesticulating. We drew on nearer to them till +we were able to see them better. A nearer view did not improve them. +They were human beings, certainly, but of such an appalling aspect +that they could only be likened to animated mummies. They were small, +thin, shrivelled, black, with long matted hair and hideous faces. They +all had long spears, and wore about the waist short skirts that seemed +to be made of the skin of some sea-fowl. + +We could not imagine how these creatures lived, or where. There were +no signs of vegetation of any kind--not a tree or a shrub. There were +no animals; but there were great flocks of birds, some of which seemed +different from anything that we had ever seen before. The long spears +which the natives carried might possibly be used for catching these, +or for fishing purposes. This thought made them seem less formidable, +since they would thus be instruments of food rather than weapons of +war. Meanwhile we drifted on as before, and the natives watched us, +running along the shore abreast of us, so as to keep up with the boat. +There seemed over a hundred of them. We could see no signs of any +habitations--no huts, however humble; but we concluded that their +abodes were farther inland. As for the natives themselves, the longer +we looked at them the more abhorrent they grew. Even the wretched +aborigines of Van Dieman's Land, who have been classed lowest in the +scale of humanity, were pleasing and congenial when compared with +these, and the land looked worse than Tierra del Fuego. It looked like +a land of iron, and its inhabitants like fiends. + +Agnew again proposed to land, but I refused. + +"No," I said; "I'd rather starve for a week, and live on hope. Let us +drift on. If we go on we may have hope if we choose, but if we land +here we shall lose even that. Can we hope for anything from such +things as these? Even if they prove friendly, can we live among them? +To stay here is worse than death; our only hope is to go on." + +Agnew made no reply, and we drifted on for two hours, still followed +by the natives. They made no hostile demonstrations. They merely +watched us, apparently from motives of curiosity. All this time we +were drawing steadily nearer to the line of lofty mountains, which +with their icy crests rose before us like an inaccessible and +impassable barrier, apparently closing up all farther progress; nor +was there any indication of any pass or any opening, however narrow, +through which the great stream might run. Nothing was there but one +unbroken wall of iron cliffs and icy summits. At last we saw that the +sloping shores grew steeper, until, about a mile or two before us, +they changed to towering cliffs that rose up on each side for about a +thousand feet above the water; here the stream ran, and became lost to +view as completely as though swallowed up by the earth. + +"We can go no farther," said Agnew. "See--this stream seems to make a +plunge there into the mountains. There must be some deep canyon there +with cataracts. To go on is certain death. We must stop here, if only +to deliberate. Say, shall we risk it among these natives? After all, +there is not, perhaps, any danger among them. They are little +creatures and seem harmless. They are certainly not very good-looking; +but then, you know, appearances often deceive, and the devil's not so +black as he's painted. What do you say?" + +"I suppose we can do nothing else," said I. + +In fact, I could see that we had reached a crisis in our fate. To go +on seemed certain death. To stop was our only alternative; and as we +were armed we should not be altogether at the mercy of these +creatures. Having made this decision we acted upon it at once, for in +such a current there was no time for delay; and so, seizing the oars, +we soon brought the boat ashore. + +As we approached, the crowd of natives stood awaiting us, and looked +more repulsive than ever. We could see the emaciation of their bony +frames; their toes and fingers were like birds' claws; their eyes were +small and dull and weak, and sunken in cavernous hollows, from which +they looked at us like corpses--a horrible sight. They stood quietly, +however, and without any hostile demonstration, holding their spears +carelessly resting upon the ground. + +"I don't like the looks of them," said I. "I think I had better fire a +gun." + +"Why?" cried Agnew. "For Heaven's sake, man, don't hurt any of them!" + +"Oh no," said I; "I only mean to inspire a little wholesome respect." + +Saying this I fired in the air. The report rang out with long echoes, +and as the smoke swept away it showed us all the natives on the +ground. They had seated themselves with their hands crossed on their +laps, and there they sat looking at us as before, but with no +manifestation of fear or even surprise. I had expected to see them +run, but there was nothing of the kind. This puzzled us. Still, there +was no time now for any further hesitation. The current was sweeping +us toward the chasm between the cliffs, and we had to land without +delay. This we did, and as I had another barrel still loaded and a +pistol, I felt that with these arms and those of Agnew we should be +able to defend ourselves. It was in this state of mind that we landed, +and secured the boat by means of the grappling-iron. + +The natives now all crowded around us, making many strange gestures, +which we did not understand. Some of them bowed low, others prostrated +themselves; on the whole these seemed like marks of respect, and it +occurred to me that they regarded us as superior beings of some sort. +It was evident that there was nothing like hostility in their minds. +At the same time, the closer survey which I now made of them filled me +with renewed horror; their meagre frames, small, watery, lack-lustre +eyes, hollow, cavernous sockets, sunken cheeks, protruding teeth, +claw-like fingers, and withered skins, all made them look more than +ever like animated mummies, and I shrank from them involuntarily, as +one shrinks from contact with a corpse. + +Agnew, however, was very different, and it was evident that he felt no +repugnance whatever. He bowed and smiled at them, and shook hands with +half a dozen of them in succession. The hand-shaking was a new thing +to them, but they accepted it in a proper spirit, and renewed their +bows and prostrations. After this they all offered us their lances. +This certainly seemed like an act of peace and good-will. I shook my +head and declined to touch them; but Agnew accepted one of them, and +offered his rifle in return. The one to whom he offered it refused to +take it. He seemed immensely gratified because Agnew had taken his +lance, and the others seemed disappointed at his refusal to take +theirs. But I felt my heart quake as I saw him offer his rifle, and +still more when he offered it to one or two others, and only regained +my composure as I perceived that his offer was refused by all. + +They now made motions to us to follow, and we all set forth together. + +"My dear More," said Agnew, cheerily, "they're not a bad lot. They +mean well. They can't help their looks. You're too suspicious and +reserved. Let's make friends with them, and get them to help us. Do as +I do." + +I tried to, but found it impossible, for my repugnance was immovable. +It was like the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, +earwigs, or serpents. It was something that defied reason. These +creatures seemed like human vermin. + +We marched inland for about half a mile, crossed a ridge, and came to +a valley, or rather a kind of hollow, at the other side of which we +found a cave with a smouldering fire in front. The fire was made of +coal, which must exist here somewhere. It was highly bituminous, and +burned with a great blaze. + +The day was now drawing to a close; far away I could see the lurid +glow of the volcanoes, which grew brighter as the day declined: above, +the skies twinkled with innumerable stars, and the air was filled with +the moan of rushing waters. + +We entered the cave. As we did so the natives heaped coal upon the +fire, and the flames arose, lighting up the interior. We found here a +number of women and children, who looked at us without either fear or +curiosity. The children looked like little dwarfs; the women were +hags, hideous beyond description. One old woman in particular, who +seemed to be in authority, was actually terrible in her awful and +repulsive ugliness. A nightmare dream never furnished forth a more +frightful object. This nightmare hag prostrated herself before each of +us with such an air of self-immolation that she looked as though she +wished us to kill her at once. The rough cave, the red light of the +fire, all made the scene more awful; and a wild thought came to me +that we had actually reached, while yet living, the infernal world, +and that this was the abode of devils. Yet their actions, it must be +confessed, were far from devilish. Everyone seemed eager to serve us. +Some spread out couches formed of the skins of birds for us to sit on; +others attended to the fire; others offered us gifts of large and +beautiful feathers, together with numerous trinkets of rare and +curious workmanship. This kind attention on their part was a great +puzzle to me, and I could not help suspecting that beneath all this +there must be some sinister design. Resolving to be prepared for the +worst, I quietly reloaded the empty barrel of my rifle and watched +with the utmost vigilance. As for Agnew, he took it all in the most +unsuspicious manner. He made signs to them, shook hands with them, +accepted their gifts, and even tried to do the agreeable to the +formidable hags and the child-fiends around him. He soon attracted the +chief attention, and while all looked admiringly upon him, I was left +to languish in comparative neglect. + +At length a savory odor came through the cave, and a repast was spread +before us. It consisted of some large fowl that looked like a goose, +but was twice as large as the largest turkey that I had ever seen. The +taste was like that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it +seemed delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready +to welcome any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was, +would not have been unwelcome to any hungry man. It was evident that +these people lived on the flesh of birds of various sorts. All around +us we saw the skins of birds dried with the feathers on, and used for +clothing, for mats, and for ornaments. + +The repast being finished, we both felt greatly strengthened and +refreshed. Agnew continued to cultivate his new acquaintances, and +seeing me holding back, he said, + +"More, old fellow, these good people give me to understand that there +is another place better than this, and want me to go with them. Will +you go?" + +At this a great fear seized me. + +"Don't go!" I cried--"don't go! We are close by the boat here, and if +anything happens we can easily get to it." + +Agnew laughed in my face. + +"Why, you don't mean to tell me," said he, "that you are still +suspicious, and after that dinner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm +us, would they feast us in this style? Nonsense, man! Drop your +suspicions and come along." + +I shook my head obstinately. + +"Well," said he, "if I thought there was anything in your suspicions I +would stay by you; but I'm confident they mean nothing but kindness, +so I'm going off to see the place." + +"You'll be back again?" said I. + +"Oh yes," said he, "of course I'll come back, and sleep here." + +With these words he left, and nearly all the people accompanied him. I +was left behind with the women and children and about a dozen men. +These men busied themselves with some work over bird-skins; the women +were occupied with some other work over feathers. No one took any +notice of me. There did not seem to be any restraint upon me, nor was +I watched in any way. Once the nightmare hag came and offered me a +small roasted fowl, about the size of a woodcock. I declined it, but +at the same time this delicate attention certainly surprised me. + +I was now beginning to struggle with some success against my feelings +of abhorrence, when suddenly I caught sight of something which chased +away every other thought, and made my blood turn cold in my veins. It +was something outside. At the mouth of the cave--by the fire which was +still blazing bright, and lighting up the scene--I saw four men who +had just come to the cave: they were carrying something which I at +first supposed to be a sick or wounded companion. On reaching the fire +they put it down, and I saw, with a thrill of dismay, that their +burden was neither sick nor wounded, but dead, for the corpse lay +rigid as they had placed it. Then I saw the nightmare hag approach it +with a knife. An awful thought came to me--the crowning horror! The +thought soon proved to be but too well founded. The nightmare hag +began to cut, and in an instant had detached the arm of the corpse, +which she thrust among the coals in the very place where lately she +had cooked the fowl. Then she went back for more. + +For a moment my brain reeled, and I gasped for breath. Then I rose and +staggered out, I know not how. No one tried to stop me, nor did anyone +follow me; and, for my part, I was ready to blow out the brains of the +first who dared to approach me. In this way I reached the open air, +and passed by the hag and the four men as they were busy at their +awful work. But at this point I was observed and followed. A number of +men and women came after me, jabbering their uncouth language and +gesticulating. I warned them off, angrily. They persisted, and though +none of them were armed, yet I saw that they were unwilling to have me +leave the cave, and I supposed that they would try to prevent me by +force. + +The absence of Agnew made my position a difficult one. Had it not been +for this I would have burst through them and fled to the boat; but as +long as he was away I felt bound to wait; and though I longed to fly, +I could not for his sake. The boat seemed to be a haven of rest. I +longed to be in her once more, and drift away, even if it should be to +my death. Nature was here less terrible than man; and it seemed better +to drown in the waters, to perish amid rocks and whirlpools, than to +linger here amid such horrors as these. These people were not like +human beings. The vilest and lowest savages that I had ever seen were +not so odious as these. A herd of monkeys would be far more congenial, +a flock of wolves less abhorrent. They had the caricature of the human +form; they were the lowest of humanity; their speech was a mockery of +language; their faces devilish, their kindness a cunning pretence; and +most hideous of all was the nightmare hag that prepared the cannibal +repast. + +I could not begin hostilities, for I had to wait for Agnew; so I stood +and looked, and then walked away for a little distance. They followed +me closely, with eager words and gesticulations, though as yet no one +touched me or threatened me. Their tone seemed rather one of +persuasion. After a few paces I stood still, with all of them around +me. The horrible repast showed plainly all that was in store for us. +They received us kindly and fed us well only to devote us to the most +abhorrent of deaths. Agnew, in his mad confidence, was only insuring +his own doom. He was putting himself completely in the power of +devils, who were incapable of pity and strangers to humanity. To make +friends with such fiends was impossible, and I felt sure that our only +plan was to rule by terror--to seize, to slay, to conquer. But still I +had to wait for him, and did not dare to resort to violence while he +was absent; so I waited, while the savages gathered round me, +contenting themselves with guarding me, and neither touching me nor +threatening me. And all this time the hag went on, intent on her +preparation of the horrible repast. + +While standing there looking, listening, waiting for Agnew, I noticed +many things. Far away the volcanoes blazed, and the northern sky was +red with a lurid light. There, too, higher up, the moon was shining +overhead, the sky was gleaming with stars; and all over the heavens +there shone the lustre of the aurora australis, brighter than any I +had ever seen--surpassing the moon and illuminating all. It lighted up +the haggard faces of the devils around me, and it again seemed to me +as though I had died and gone to the land of woe--an iron land, a land +of despair, with lurid fires all aglow and faces of fear. + +Suddenly, there burst upon my ears the report of a gun, which sounded +like a thunder-peal, and echoed in long reverberations. At once I +understood it. My fears had proved true. These savages had enticed +Agnew away to destroy him. In an instant I burst through the crowd +around me, and ran wildly in the direction of that sound, calling his +name, as I ran, at the top of my voice. + +I heard a loud cry; then another report. I hurried on, shouting his +name in a kind of frenzy. The strange courage of these savages had +already impressed me deeply. They did not fear our guns. They were all +attacking him, and he was alone, fighting for his life. + +Then there was another report; it was his pistol. I still ran on, and +still shouted to him. + +At last I received an answer. He had perhaps heard me, and was +answering, or, at any rate, he was warning me. + +"More," he cried, "fly, fly, fly to the boat! Save yourself!" + +"Where are you?" I cried, as I still rushed on. + +"Fly, More, fly! Save yourself! You can't save me. I'm lost. Fly for +your life!" + +Judging from his cries, he did not seem far away. I hurried on. I +could see nothing of him. All the time the savages followed me. None +were armed; but it seemed to me that they were preparing to fling +themselves upon me and overpower me with their numbers. They would +capture me alive, I thought, bind me, and carry me back, reserving me +for a future time! + +I turned and waved them back. They took no notice of my gesture. Then +I ran on once more. They followed. They could not run so fast as I +did, and so I gained on them rapidly, still shouting to Agnew. But +there was no response. I ran backward and forward, crossing and +recrossing, doubling and turning, pursued all the time by the savages. +At last, in rage and despair, I fired upon them, and one of them fell. +But, to my dismay, the others did not seem to care one whit; they did +not stop for one moment, but pursued as before. + +My situation was now plain in all its truth. They had enticed Agnew +away; they had attacked him. He had fought, and had been overpowered. +He had tried to give me warning. His last words had been for me to +fly--to fly: yes, for he well knew that it was better far for me to go +to death through the raging torrent than to meet the fate which had +fallen upon himself. For him there was now no more hope. That he was +lost was plain. If he were still alive he would call to me; but his +voice had been silenced for some time. All was over, and that noble +heart that had withstood so bravely and cheerily the rigors of the +storm, and the horrors of our desperate voyage, had been stilled in +death by the vilest of miscreants. + +I paused for a moment. Even though Agnew was dead, I could not bear to +leave him, but felt as though I ought to share his fate. The savages +came nearer. At their approach I hesitated no longer. That fate was +too terrible: I must fly. + +But before I fled I turned in fury to wreak vengeance upon them for +their crimes. Full of rage and despair, I discharged my remaining +rifle-barrel into the midst of the crowd. Then I fled toward the boat. +On the way I had a frightful thought that she might have been sent +adrift; but, on approaching the place, I found her there just as I had +left her. The savages, with their usual fearlessness, still pursued. +For a moment I stood on the shore, with the grapple in my hand and the +boat close by, and as they came near I discharged my pistol into the +midst of them. Then I sprang into the boat; the swift current bore me +away, and in a few minutes the crowd of pursuing demons disappeared +from view. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TORRENT SWEEPING UNDER THE MOUNTAINS + + +The boat drifted on. The light given by the aurora and the low moon +seemed to grow fainter; and as I looked behind I saw that the distant +glow from the volcanic fires had become more brilliant in the +increasing darkness. The sides of the channel grew steeper, until at +last they became rocky precipices, rising to an unknown height. The +channel itself grew narrower, till from a width of two miles it had +contracted to a tenth of those dimensions; but with this lessening +width the waters seemed to rush far more swiftly. Here I drifted +helplessly, and saw the gloomy, rocky cliffs sweep past me as I was +hurled onward on the breast of the tremendous flood. I was in despair. +The fate of Agnew had prepared me for my own, and I was only thankful +that my fate, since it was inevitable, would be less appalling. Death +seemed certain, and my chief thought now was as to the moment when it +would come. I was prepared. I felt that I could meet it calmly, +sternly, even thankfully; far better was a death here amid the roar of +waters than at the hands of those abhorrent beings by whose treachery +my friend had fallen. + +As I went on, the precipices rose higher and seemed to overhang, the +channel grew narrower, the light grew fainter, until at last all +around me grew dark. I was floating at the bottom of a vast chasm, +where the sides seemed to rise precipitously for thousands of feet, +where neither watery flood nor rocky wall was visible, and where, far +above, I could see the line of sky between the summits of the cliffs, +and watch the glowing stars. And as I watched them there came to me +the thought that this was my last sight on earth, and I could only +hope that the life which was so swiftly approaching its end might live +again somewhere among those glittering orbs. So I thought; and with +these thoughts I drifted on, I cannot tell how long, until at length +there appeared a vast black mass, where the open sky above me +terminated, and where the lustre of the stars and the light of the +heavens were all swallowed up in utter darkness. + +This, then, I thought, is the end. Here, amid this darkness, I must +make the awful plunge and find my death I fell upon my knees in the +bottom of the boat and prayed. As I knelt there the boat drew nearer, +the black mass grew blacker. The current swept me on. There were no +breakers; there was no phosphorescent sparkle of seething waters, and +no whiteness of foam. I thought that I was on the brink of some +tremendous cataract a thousand times deeper than Niagara; some fall +where the waters plunged into the depths of the earth; and where, +gathering for the terrific descent, all other movements--all dashings +and writhings and twistings--were obliterated and lost in the one +overwhelming onward rush. Suddenly all grew dark--dark beyond all +expression; the sky above was in a moment snatched from view; I had +been flung into some tremendous cavern; and there, on my knees, with +terror in my heart, I waited for death. + +The moments passed, and death delayed to come. The awful plunge was +still put off; and though I remained on my knees and waited long, +still the end came not. The waters seemed still, the boat motionless. +It was borne upon the surface of a vast stream as smooth as glass; but +who could tell how deep that stream was, or how wide? At length I rose +from my knees and sank down upon the seat of the boat, and tried to +peer through the gloom. In vain. Nothing was visible. It was the very +blackness of darkness. I listened, but heard nothing save a deep, +dull, droning sound, which seemed to fill all the air and make it +all tremulous with its vibrations. I tried to collect my thoughts. I +recalled that old theory which had been in my mind before this, and +which I had mentioned to Agnew. This was the notion that at each pole +there is a vast opening; that into one of them all the waters of the +ocean pour themselves, and, after passing through the earth, come out +at the other pole, to pass about its surface in innumerable streams. +It was a wild fancy, which I had laughed at under other circumstances, +but which now occurred to me once more, when I was overwhelmed +with despair, and my mind was weakened by the horrors which I had +experienced; and I had a vague fear that I had been drawn into the +very channel through which the ocean waters flowed in their course to +that terrific, that unparalleled abyss. Still, there was as yet no +sign whatever of anything like a descent, for the boat was on even +keel, and perfectly level as before, and it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was moving swiftly or slowly, or standing perfectly +still; for in that darkness there were no visible objects by which +I could find out the rate of my progress; and as those who go up in +balloons are utterly insensible of motion, so was I on those calm +but swift waters. + +At length there came into view something which arrested my attention +and engrossed all my thoughts. It was faint glow that at first caught +my gaze; and, on turning to see it better, I saw a round red spot +glowing like fire. I had not seen this before. It looked like the moon +when it rises from behind clouds, and glows red and lurid from the +horizon; and so this glowed, but not with the steady light of the +moon, for the light was fitful, and sometimes flashed into a baleful +brightness, which soon subsided into a dimmer lustre. New alarm arose +within me, for this new sight suggested something more terrible than +anything that I had thus far thought of. This, then, I thought, was to +be the end of my voyage; this was my goal--a pit of fire, into which I +should be hurled! Would it be well, I thought, to wait for such a +fate, and experience such a death-agony? Would it not be better for me +to take my own life before I should know the worst? I took my pistol +and loaded it, so as to be prepared, but hesitated to use it until my +fate should be more apparent. So I sat, holding my pistol, prepared to +use it, watching the light, and awaiting the time when the glowing +fires should make all further hope impossible. But time passed, and +the light grew no brighter; on the contrary, it seemed to grow +fainter. There was also another change. Instead of shining before me, +it appeared more on my left. From this it went on changing its +position until at length it was astern. All the time it continued to +grow fainter, and it seemed certain that I was moving away from it +rather than toward it. In the midst of this there occurred a new +thought, which seemed to account for this light--this was, that it +arose from these same volcanoes which had illuminated the northern sky +when I was ashore, and followed me still with their glare. I had been +carried into this darkness, through some vast opening which now lay +behind me, disclosing the red volcano glow, and this it was that +caused that roundness and resemblance to the moon. I saw that I was +still moving on away from that light as before, and that its changing +position was due to the turning of the boat as the water drifted it +along, now stern foremost, now sidewise, and again bow foremost. From +this it seemed plainly evident that the waters had borne me into some +vast cavern of unknown extent, which went under the mountains--a +subterranean channel, whose issue I could not conjecture. Was this the +beginning of that course which should ultimately become a plunge deep +down into some unutterable abyss? or might I ever hope to emerge again +into the light of day--perhaps in some other ocean--some land of ice +and frost and eternal night? But the old theory of the flow of water +through the earth had taken hold of me and could not be shaken off. I +knew some scientific men held the opinion that the earth's interior is +a mass of molten rock and pent-up fire, and that the earth itself had +once been a burning orb, which had cooled down at the surface; yet, +after all, this was only a theory, and there were other theories which +were totally different. As a boy I had read wild works of fiction +about lands in the interior of the earth, with a sun at the centre, +which gave them the light of a perpetual day. These, I knew, were only +the creations of fiction; yet, after all, it seemed possible that the +earth might contain vast hollow spaces in its interior--realms of +eternal darkness, caverns in comparison with which the hugest caves on +the surface were but the tiniest cells. I was now being borne on to +these. In that case there might be no sudden plunge, after all. The +stream might run on for many thousand miles through this terrific +cavern gloom, in accordance with natural laws; and I might thus live, +and drift on in this darkness, until I should die a lingering death of +horror and despair. + +There was no possible way of forming any estimate as to speed. All was +dark, and even the glow behind was fading away; nor could I make any +conjecture whatever as to the size of the channel. At the opening it +had been contracted and narrow; but here it might have expanded itself +to miles, and its vaulted top might reach almost to the summit of +the lofty mountains. While sight thus failed me, sound was equally +unavailing, for it was always the same--a sustained and unintermittent +roar, a low, droning sound, deep and terrible, with no variations +of dashing breakers or rushing rapids or falling cataracts. Vague +thoughts of final escape came and went; but in such a situation hope +could not be sustained. The thick darkness oppressed the soul; and +at length even the glow of the distant volcanoes, which had been +gradually diminishing, grew dimmer and fainter, and finally faded out +altogether. That seemed to me to be my last sight of earthly things. +After this nothing was left. There was no longer for me such a thing +as sight; there was nothing but darkness--perpetual and eternal night. +I was buried in a cavern of rushing waters, to which there would be no +end, where I should be borne onward helplessly by the resistless tide +to a mysterious and an appalling doom. + +The darkness grew so intolerable that I longed for something to dispel +it, if only for a moment. I struck a match. The air was still, and the +flame flashed out, lighting up the boat and showing the black water +around me. This made me eager to see more. I loaded both barrels of +the rifle, keeping my pistol for another purpose, and then fired one +of them. There was a tremendous report, that rang in my ears like a +hundred thunder-volleys, and rolled and reverberated far along, and +died away in endless echoes. The flash lighted up the scene for an +instant, and for an instant only; like the sudden lightning, it +revealed all around. I saw a wide expanse of water, black as ink--a +Stygian pool; but no rocks were visible, and it seemed as though I +had been carried into a subterranean sea. + +I loaded the empty barrel and waited. The flash of light had revealed +nothing, yet it had distracted my thoughts, and the work of reloading +was an additional distraction. Anything was better than inaction. I +did not wish to waste my ammunition, yet I thought that an occasional +shot might serve some good purpose, if it was only to afford me some +relief from despair. + +And now, as I sat with the rifle in my hands, I was aware of a +sound--new, exciting, different altogether from the murmur of +innumerable waters that filled my ears, and in sharp contrast with +the droning echoes of the rushing flood. It was a sound that spoke of +life. I heard quick, heavy pantings, as of some great living thing; +and with this there came the noise of regular movements in the water, +and the foaming and gurgling of waves. It was as though some living, +breathing creature were here, not far away, moving through these +midnight waters; and with this discovery there came a new fear--the +fear of pursuit. I thought that some sea-monster had scented me in +my boat, and had started to attack me. This new fear aroused me to +action. It was a danger quite unlike any other which I had ever known; +yet the fear which it inspired was a feeling that roused me to action, +and prompted me, even though the coming danger might be as sure as +death, to rise against it and resist to the last. So I stood up with +my rifle and listened, with all my soul in my sense of hearing. The +sounds arose more plainly. They had come nearer. They were immediately +in front. I raised my rifle and took aim. Then in quick succession two +reports thundered out with tremendous uproar and interminable echoes, +but the long reverberations were unheeded in the blaze of sudden light +and the vision that was revealed. For there full before me I saw, +though but for an instant, a tremendous sight. It was a vast monster, +moving in the waters against the stream and toward the boat. Its head +was raised high, its eyes were inflamed with a baleful light, its +jaws, opened wide, bristled with sharp teeth, and it had a long neck +joined to a body of enormous bulk, with a tail that lashed all the +water into foam. It was but for an instant that I saw it, and then +with a sudden plunge the monster dived, while at the same moment all +was as dark as before. + +Full of terror and excitement, I loaded my rifle again and waited, +listening for a renewal of the noise. I felt sure that the monster, +balked of his prey, would return with redoubled fury, and that I +should have to renew the conflict. I felt that the dangers of the +subterranean passage and of the rushing waters had passed away, and +that a new peril had arisen from the assault of this monster of the +deep. Nor was it this one alone that was to be dreaded. Where one was, +others were sure to be; and if this one should pass me by it would +only leave me to be assailed by monsters of the same kind, and these +would probably increase in number as I advanced farther into this +realm of darkness. And yet, in spite of these grisly thoughts, I +felt less of horror than before, for the fear which I had was now +associated with action; and as I stood waiting for the onset and +listening for the approach of the enemy, the excitement that ensued +was a positive relief from the dull despair into which I had sunk but +a moment before. + +Yet, though I waited for a new attack, I waited in vain. The monster +did not come back. Either the flash and the noise had terrified him, +or the bullets had hit him, or else in his vastness he had been +indifferent to so feeble a creature as myself; but whatever may have +been the cause, he did not emerge again out of the darkness and +silence into which he had sunk. For a long time I stood waiting; then +I sat down, still watchful, still listening, but without any result, +until at length I began to think that there was no chance of any new +attack. Indeed, it seemed now as though there had been no attack at +all, but that the monster had been swimming at random without any +thought of me, in which case my rifle-flashes had terrified him more +than his fearful form had terrified me. On the whole this incident +had greatly benefited me. It had roused me from my despair. I grew +reckless, and felt a disposition to acquiesce in whatever fate might +have in store for me. + +And now, worn out with fatigue and exhausted from long watchfulness +and anxiety, I sank down in the bottom of the boat and fell into a +deep sleep. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE NEW WORLD + + +How long I slept I do not know. My sleep was profound, yet disturbed +by troubled dreams, in which I lived over again all the eventful +scenes of the past; and these were all intermingled in the wildest +confusion. The cannibals beckoned to us from the peak, and we landed +between the two volcanoes. There the body of the dead sailor received +us, and afterward chased us to the boat. Then came snow and volcanic +eruptions, and we drifted amid icebergs and molten lava until we +entered an iron portal and plunged into darkness. Here there were vast +swimming monsters and burning orbs of fire and thunderous cataracts +falling from inconceivable heights, and the sweep of immeasurable +tides and the circling of infinite whirlpools; while in my ears there +rang the never-ending roar of remorseless waters that came after us, +with all their waves and billows rolling upon us. It was a dream in +which all the material terrors of the past were renewed; but these +were all as nothing when compared with a certain deep underlying +feeling that possessed my soul--a sense of loss irretrievable, an +expectation of impending doom, a drear and immitigable despair. + +In the midst of this I awoke. It was with a sudden start, and I looked +all around in speechless bewilderment. The first thing of which I +was conscious was a great blaze of light--light so lately lost, and +supposed to be lost forever, but now filling all the universe--bright, +brilliant, glowing bringing hope and joy and gladness, with all the +splendor of deep blue skies and the multitudinous laughter of ocean +waves that danced and sparkled in the sun. I flung up my arms and +laughed aloud. Then I burst into tears, and falling on my knees, +I thanked the Almighty Ruler of the skies for this marvellous +deliverance. + +Rising from my knees I looked around, and once more amazement +overwhelmed me. I saw a long line of mountains towering up to +immeasurable heights, their summits covered with eternal ice and +snow. There the sun blazed low in the sky, elevated but a few degrees +above the mountain crests, which gleamed in gold and purple under its +fiery rays. The sun seemed enlarged to unusual dimensions, and the +mountains ran away on every side like the segment of some infinite +circle. At the base of the mountains lay a land all green with +vegetation, where cultivated fields were visible, and vineyards and +orchards and groves, together with forests of palm and all manner +of trees of every variety of hue, which ran up the sides of the +mountains till they reached the limits of vegetation and the regions +of snow and ice. + +Here in all directions there were unmistakable signs of human +life--the outlines of populous cities and busy towns and hamlets; +roads winding far away along the plain or up the mountain-sides, and +mighty works of industry in the shape of massive structures, terraced +slopes, long rows of arches, ponderous pyramids, and battlemented +walls. + +From the land I turned to the sea. I saw before me an expanse of water +intensely blue--an extent so vast that never before in all my ocean +voyages had anything appeared at all comparable with it. Out at sea, +wherever I had been, the water had always limited the view; the +horizon had never seemed far away; ships soon sank below it, and the +visible surface of the earth was thus always contracted; but here, to +my bewilderment, the horizon appeared to be removed to an immeasurable +distance and raised high in the air, while the waters were prolonged +endlessly. Starting from where I was, they went away to inconceivable +distances, and the view before me seemed like a watery declivity +reaching for a thousand miles, till it approached the horizon far up +in the sky. Nor was it any delusion of the senses that caused this +unparalleled spectacle. I was familiar with the phenomena of the +mirage, and knew well that there was nothing of that kind here; for +the mirage always shows great surfaces of stillness, or a regular +vibration--glassy tides and indistinct distances; but here everything +was sharply defined in the clear atmosphere: the sky overhung a deep +blue vault; the waves danced and sparkled in the sun; the waters +rolled and foamed on every side; and the fresh breeze, as it blew over +the ocean, brought with it such exhilarating influences that it acted +upon me like some reviving cordial. + +From the works of nature I turned to those of man. These were visible +everywhere: on the land, in cities and cultivated fields and mighty +constructions; on the sea, in floating craft, which appeared wherever +I turned my eyes--boats like those of fishermen, ships long and low, +some like galleys, propelled by a hundred oars, others provided with +one huge square-sail, which enabled them to run before the wind. +They were unlike any ships which I had ever seen; for neither in the +Mediterranean nor in Chinese waters were there any craft like these, +and they reminded me rather of those ancient galleys which I had seen +in pictures. + +I was lost in wonder as to where I was, and what land this could be to +which I had been brought. I had not plunged into the interior of the +earth, but I had been carried under the mountains, and had emerged +again into the glad light of the sun. Could it be possible, I thought, +that Agnew's hope had been realized, and that I had been carried into +the warm regions of the South Pacific Ocean? Yet in the South Pacific +there could be no place like this--no immeasurable expanse of waters, +no horizon raised mountain high. It seemed like a vast basin-shaped +world, for all around me the surface appeared to rise, and I was in +what looked like a depression; yet I knew that the basin and the +depression were an illusion, and that this appearance was due to +the immense extent of level surface with the environment of lofty +mountains. I had crossed the antarctic circle; I had been borne onward +for an immense distance. Over all the known surface of the earth no +one had ever seen anything like this; there were but two places +where such an immeasurable plain was possible, and those were at +the flattened poles. Where I was I now knew well. I had reached the +antarctic pole. Here the earth was flat--an immense level with no +roundness to lessen the reach of the horizon but an almost even +surface that gave an unimpeded view for hundreds of miles. + +The subterranean channel had rushed through the mountains and had +carried me here. Here came all the waters of the Northern ocean +pouring into this vast polar sea, perhaps to issue forth from it by +some similar passage. Here, then, was the South Pole--a world by +itself: and how different from that terrible, that iron land on the +other side of the mountains!--not a world of ice and frost, but one +of beauty and light, with a climate that was almost tropical in its +warmth, and lands that were covered with the rank luxuriance of a +teeming vegetable life. I had passed from that outer world to this +inner one, and the passage was from death unto life, from agony and +despair to sunlight and splendor and joy. Above all, in all around me +that which most impressed me now was the rich and superabundant life, +and a warmth of air which made me think of India. It was an amazing +and an unaccountable thing, and I could only attribute it to the +flattening of the poles, which brought the surface nearer to the +supposed central fires of the earth, and therefore created a heat +as great as that of the equatorial regions. Here I found a tropical +climate--a land warmed not by the sun, but from the earth itself. Or +another cause might be found in the warm ocean currents. Whatever the +true one might be, I was utterly unable to form a conjecture. + +But I had no time for such speculations as these. After the first +emotions of wonder and admiration had somewhat subsided, I began to +experience other sensations. I began to remember that I had eaten +nothing for a length of time that I had no means of calculating, and +to look around to see if there was any way of satisfying my hunger. +The question arose now, What was to be done? After my recent terrible +experience I naturally shrank from again committing myself to the +tender mercies of strange tribes; yet further thought and examination +showed me that the people of this strange land must be very different +from those frightful savages on the other side of the mountains. +Everywhere I beheld the manifest signs of cultivation and +civilization. Still, I knew that even civilized people would not +necessarily be any kinder than savages, and that I might be seized +and flung into hopeless imprisonment or slavery. + +So I hesitated, yet what could I do? My hunger was beginning to be +insupportable. I had reached a place where I had to choose between +starvation on the one hand, or a venture among these people on the +other. To go back was impossible. Who could breast those waters in the +tremendous subterranean channel, or force his way back through such +appalling dangers? Or, if that were possible, who could ever hope to +breast those mighty currents beyond, or work his way amid everlasting +ice and immeasurable seas? No; return was impossible. I had been +flung into this world of wonders, and here would be my home for the +remainder of my days; though I could not now imagine whether those +days would be passed in peace or in bitter slavery and sorrow. Yet the +decision must be made and the risk must be run. It must be so. I must +land here, venture among these people, and trust in that Providence +which had hitherto sustained me. + +Having thus resolved at all hazards to try my fate, I rowed in toward +the shore. Thus far I had seen galleys passing and small boats, but +they had taken no notice of me, for the reason that they were too far +away to perceive anything about me that differed from any other boat; +but now, as I rowed, I noticed a galley coming down toward me. She +seemed to be going in toward the shore at the very point at which I +was aiming, and her course and mine must soon meet if I continued to +row. After some hesitation I concluded to make signals to her, so as +to attract attention; for, now that I had resolved to venture among +the people here, I was anxious to end my suspense as soon as possible. +So I continued rowing, and gradually drew nearer. The galley was +propelled by oars, of which there were fifty on either side. The stem +was raised, and covered in like a cabin. At length I ceased rowing, +and sat watching her. I soon saw that I was noticed, but this did +not occur till the galley was close by me--so close, indeed, that I +thought they would pass without perceiving me. I raised my hands, +waved them, and gave a cry. The galley at once stopped, a boat was +lowered, and some men descended and rowed toward me. + +They were men of strange appearance--very small in stature and slender +in frame. Their hair was black and straight, their features were quite +regular, and their general expression was one of great gentleness. I +was surprised to notice that they kept their eyes almost closed, as +though they were weak and troubled by the glare of the sun. With their +half-closed eyes they blinked at me, and then one who appeared to be +their chief spoke to me. I understood not a word; and then I answered +him in English, which, of course, was equally unintelligible to him. +I then made signs, pointing to the mountains and endeavoring to make +known to him that I had come from beyond them--that I had suffered +shipwreck, that I had drifted here, and that I needed assistance. Of +all this it was quite evident that they understood nothing except the +fact that I needed help. The moment that they comprehended this they +took me in tow and rowed back to the galley. + +I found the galley to be about one hundred and fifty feet in length. +For about two thirds of this length forward it was open and filled +with seats, where there were about a hundred rowers, who all looked +like those that I had first seen, all being of small stature, +slender frames, and, moreover, all being apparently distressed by +the sunlight. There was in all of them the same mild and gentle +expression. In complexion and general outline of features they were +not unlike Arabs, but they were entirely destitute of that hardness +and austerity which the latter have. They all had beards, which were +dressed in a peculiar way in plaits. Their costume varied. The rowers +wore a coarse tunic, with a girdle of rope. The officers wore tunics +of fine cloth and very elegant mantles, richly embroidered, and with +borders of down. They all wore broad-brimmed hats, and the one who +seemed to be chief had on his some golden ornaments. + +Here once more I tried to explain to them who I was. They looked at +me, examining me all over, inspecting my gun, pistol, coat, trousers, +boots, and hat, and talking all the time among themselves. They did +not touch me, but merely showed the natural curiosity which is felt at +the sight of a foreigner who has appeared unexpectedly. There was a +scrupulous delicacy and a careful and even ceremonious politeness in +their attitude toward me which was at once amazing and delightful. All +fear and anxiety had now left me; in the gentle manners and amiable +faces of these people I saw enough to assure me of kind treatment; +and in my deep joy and gratitude for this even my hunger was for a +time forgotten. + +At length the chief motioned to me to follow him. He led the way to +the cabin, where, opening the door, he entered, and I followed, after +which the others came in also and then the door was shut. At first I +could see nothing. There were no windows whatever, and only one or two +slight crevices through which the light came. After a time my eyes +grew more accustomed to the darkness, and I could see that the cabin +was a spacious compartment, adorned with rich hangings of some unknown +material. There was a large table and seats. Taking me by the hand, +the chief led me to this, where I seated myself, while the others +remained standing. Then some of them went away, and soon returned with +food and drink. The food was of different kinds--some tasting like +goose, others like turkey, others like partridge. It was all the flesh +of fowls, though, judging from the slices before me, they must have +been of great size. I wondered much at the behavior of the officers +of the ship, who all, and the chief himself more than all, stood and +waited upon me; but it was a new world, and I supposed that this must +be the fashion; so I made no objections, but accepted the situation +and ate with a thankful heart. + +As the first keenness of my appetite was satisfied I had more leisure +to make observations. I noticed that the eyes of my new friends no +longer blinked; they were wide open; and, so far as I could make +them out, their faces were much improved. Weakness of eyes seemed +common among these people, and therefore the officers had their cabin +darkened, while the unfortunate rowers had to labor in the blazing +sun. Such was my conclusion, and the fact reminded me of the miserable +fellahin of Egypt, who have ophthalmia from the blazing sun and +burning sand. + +After the repast they brought me water in a basin, and all stood +around me. One held the basin, another a towel, another a flask, +another took a sponge and proceeded to wash my face and hands. +This was all strange to me, yet there was nothing left for me but +submission. Then the chief, who had stood looking on with a smile on +his face took off his rich furred mantle and handed it to me. I was +half inclined to refuse it, but was afraid of giving offence, so I +accepted it, and he himself fastened it around my shoulders. The +others seemed actually to envy the chief, as though he had gained some +uncommon good-fortune. Then they offered me various drinks, of which +I tasted several kinds. Some were sweet waters of different flavors, +others tasted like mild wine, one was a fermented drink, light, sweet, +and very agreeable to the palate. I now wished to show my generous +entertainers that I was grateful; so I raised my cup, bowed to all +of them, particularly the chief, and drank their health. They all +watched this ceremony with very sober faces, and I could not quite +make out whether they took my meaning or not. They certainly did not +look pleased, and it seemed to me as though they felt hurt at any +expression of gratitude, so I concluded for the future to abstain +from all such demonstrations. + +Yet with every moment the manners of these people grew more +bewildering. It was strange, indeed, for me to find myself so suddenly +the centre of interest and of generous intentions. For a moment the +thought occurred to me that they regarded me as some wonderful being +with superior powers, and were trying to propitiate me by these +services; yet I soon saw that these services were not at all acts +of propitiation; they looked rather like those loving and profuse +attentions which a family showers down upon some dear one long absent +and at last returned, and with this my wonder grew greater than ever. + +The galley had long since resumed her progress. I heard the steady +beat of the oars as they all moved in time, and at length the motion +ceased. The chief then signed to me and went out. I followed, and the +rest came after. And now as I emerged from the gloom of the cabin, I +found myself once more in the glorious light of day, and saw that we +had reached the land. The galley was hauled up alongside a stone quay, +and on the shore there were buildings and walls and trees and people. +The chief went ashore at once and I accompanied him. We walked for +some distance along a road with stone walls on either side, from +behind which there arose trees that from a distance had looked like +palms. I now found them to be giant ferns, arching overhead with their +broad fanlike leaves and branches in dense masses, making the roadway +quite dark in the shadow. Astonished as I was at the sight of these +trees, I soon forgot them in a still more astonishing sight, for after +going onward about a hundred paces I stopped, and found myself in a +wide space where four cross-roads met. Here there were three birds of +gigantic stature. They had vast bodies, short legs, short necks, and +seemed as large as an ordinary-sized ox. Their wings were short, and +evidently could not be used for flight; their beaks were like that of +a sea-gull; each one had a man on his back, and was harnessed to a +car. The chief motioned to me to enter one of these cars. I did so. He +followed, and thereupon the driver started the bird, which set forth +with long, rapid strides, at a pace fast as that of a trotting horse. +So astonished was I that for some time I did not notice anything else; +but at length, when my first feeling had subsided, I began to regard +other objects. All the way the dense fern foliage arched overhead, +throwing down deep shadows. They grew on either side in dense rows, +but between their stalks I could see the country beyond, which lay +all bright in the sunlight. + +Here were broad fields, all green with verdure; farther away arose +clumps of tree-ferns; at every step of the way new vistas opened; amid +the verdure and the foliage were the roofs of structures that looked +like pavilions, and more massive edifices with pyramidal roofs. Our +road constantly ascended, and at length we came to a crossing. This +was a wide terrace at the slope of the mountain; on the lower side was +a row of massive stone edifices with pyramidal roofs, while on the +upper there were portals which seemed to open into excavated caverns. +Here, too, on either side arose the giant ferns, overarching and +darkening the terrace with their deep shadow. From this point I looked +back, and through the trunks of the tree-ferns I could see fields +and pavilions and the pyramidal roofs of massive edifices, and +broad, verdant slopes, while in the distance there were peeps of the +boundless sea. We continued on our way without stopping, and passed +several successive terraces like the first, with the same caverns on +the upper side and massive edifices on the lower, until at last the +ascent ended at the fifth terrace, and here we turned to the left. +Now the view became more varied. The tree-ferns arose on either side, +arching overhead; on my right were the portals that opened into +caverns, on my left solid and massive houses, built of great blocks of +stone, with pyramidal roofs. As far as I could judge, I was in a city +built on the slope of a mountain, with its streets formed thus of +successive terraces and their connecting cross-ways, one half its +habitations consisting of caverns, while the other half were pavilions +and massive stone structures. Few people, however, were to be seen. +Occasionally I saw one or two groping along with their eyes half +shut, seeking the darkest shadows; and it seemed to me that this +extraordinary race of men had some natural and universal peculiarity +of eyesight which made them shun the sunlight, and seek the darkness +of caves and of dense, overshadowing foliage. + +At length we came to a place where the terrace ran back till it formed +a semicircle against the mountain slope, when several vast portals +appeared. Here there was a large space, where the tree-ferns grew in +long lines crossing each other, and making a denser shade than usual. +On the lower side were several stone edifices of immense size; and +in the middle of the place there arose a singular structure, shaped +like a half pyramid, with three sides sloping, and the fourth +perpendicular, flat on the top, which was approached by a flight of +steps. We now went on until we reached the central portal of the range +of caverns, and here we stopped. The chief got out and beckoned to me. +I followed. He then led the way into the cavern, while I, full of +wonder, walked behind him. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCEPTICISM + + +Thus far Melick had been reading the manuscript, but at this point he +was interrupted by the announcement that dinner was ready. Upon this +he stopped abruptly; for on board the Falcon dinner was the great +event of the day, and in its presence even the manuscript had to be +laid aside. Before long they were all seated around the dining-table +in the sumptuous cabin, prepared to discuss the repast which had been +served up by the genius of the French chef whom Lord Featherstone +had brought with him. + +Let us pause here for a moment to take a minuter survey of these four +friends. In the first place, there was Lord Featherstone himself, +young, handsome, languid, good-natured to a fault, with plenty of +muscle if he chose to exert it, and plenty of brain if he chose to +make use of it--a man who had become weary of the monotony of high +life, and, like many of his order, was fond of seeking relief from the +ennui of prosperity amid the excitements of the sea. Next to him was +Dr. Congreve, a middle-aged man, with iron-gray hair, short beard and +mustache, short nose, gray eyes, with spectacles, and stoutish body. +Next came Noel Oxenden, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, a college +friend of Featherstone's--a tall man, with a refined and intellectual +face and reserved manner. Finally, there was Otto Melick, a +litterateur from London, about thirty years of age, with a wiry and +muscular frame, and the restless manner of one who lives in a +perpetual fidget. + +For some time nothing was said; they partook of the repast in silence; +but at length it became evident that they were thinking of the +mysterious manuscript. Featherstone was the first to speak. + +"A deuced queer sort of thing this, too," said he, "this manuscript. +I can't quite make it out. Who ever dreamed of people living at the +South Pole--and in a warm climate, too? Then it seems deuced odd, too, +that we should pick up this copper cylinder with the manuscript. I +hardly know what to think about it." + +Melick smiled. "Why, it isn't much to see through," said he. + +"See through what?" said the doctor, hastily, pricking up his ears +at this, and peering keenly at Melick through his spectacles. + +"Why, the manuscript, of course." + +"Well," said the doctor, "what is it that you see? What do you make +out of it?" + +"Why, anyone can see," said Melick, "that it's a transparent hoax, +that's all. You don't mean to say, I hope, that you really regard it +in any other light?" + +"A transparent hoax!" repeated the doctor. "Will you please state why +you regard it in that light?" + +"Certainly," said Melick. "Some fellow wanted to get up a sensation +novel and introduce it to the world with a great flourish of trumpets, +and so he has taken this way of going about it. You see, he has +counted on its being picked up, and perhaps published. After this he +would come forward and own the authorship." + +"And what good would that do?" asked the doctor, mildly. "He couldn't +prove the authorship, and he couldn't get the copyright." + +"Oh, of course not; but he would gain notoriety, and that would give +him a great sale for his next effort." + +The doctor smiled. "See here, Melick," said he, "you've a very vivid +imagination, my dear fellow; but come, let us discuss this for a +little while in a common-sense way. Now how long should you suppose +that this manuscript has been afloat?" + +"Oh, a few months or so," said Melick. + +"A few months!" said the doctor. "A few years you mean. Why, man, +there are successive layers of barnacles on that copper cylinder which +show a submersion of at least three years, perhaps more." + +"By Jove! yes," remarked Featherstone. "Your sensation novelist must +have been a lunatic if he chose that way of publishing a book." + +"Then, again," continued the doctor, "how did it get here?" + +"Oh, easily enough," answered Melick. "The ocean currents brought it." + +"The ocean currents!" repeated the doctor. "That's a very vague +expression. What do you mean? Of course it has been brought here by +the ocean currents." + +"Why, if it were thrown off the coast of England it would be carried +away, in the ordinary course of things, and might make the tour of the +world." + +"The ocean currents," said the doctor, "have undoubtedly brought this +to us. Of that I shall have more to say presently--but just now, in +reference to your notion of a sensation novelist, and an English +origin, let me ask your opinion of the material on which it is +written. Did you ever see anything like it before? Is it paper?" + +"No," said Melick; "it is evidently some vegetable substance. No doubt +the writer has had it prepared for this very purpose, so as to make it +look natural." + +"Do you know what is is?" asked the doctor. + +"No." + +"Then I'll tell you; it's papyrus." + +"Papyrus?" + +"Yes, actual papyrus. You can find but little of that in existence at +the present day. It is only to be found here and there in museums. +I know it perfectly well, however, and saw what it was at the first +glance. Now, I hold that a sensation novelist would never have thought +of papyrus. If he didn't wish to use paper, he could have found a +dozen other things. I don't see how he could have found anyone able to +prepare such a substance as this for writing. It must have come from a +country where it is actually in use. Now, mark you, the papyrus-plant +may still be found growing wild on the banks of the upper Nile, and +also in Sicily, and it is made use of for ropes and other things of +that sort. But as to making writing material out of it, that is hardly +possible for the art is lost. The ancient process was very elaborate +and this manuscript is written on leaves which resembled in a +marvellous manner those of the Egyptian papyrus books. There are two +rolls at Marseilles which I have seen and examined, and they are +identical with this. Now these papyrus leaves indicate much mechanical +skill, and have a professional look. They seem like the work of an +experienced manufacturer." + +"I don't see," said Melick, obstinately, "why one shouldn't get +papyrus now and have it made up into writing material." + +"Oh, that's out of the question," said the doctor. "How could it +ever enter into anyone's head? How could your mere sensation-monger +procure the raw material? That of itself would be a work of immense +difficulty. How could he get it made up? That would be impossible. +But, apart from this, just consider the strong internal evidence that +there is as to the authenticity of the manuscript. Now, in the first +place, there is the description of Desolation Island, which is +perfectly accurate. But it is on his narrative beyond this that I lay +chief stress. I can prove that the statements here are corroborated +by those of Captain Ross in his account of that great voyage from +which he returned not very long ago." + +The doctor, who had been talking with much enthusiasm, paused here to +take breath, and then went on: + +"I happen to know all about that voyage, for I read a full report of +it just before we started, and you can see for yourselves whether this +manuscript is credible or not. + +"Captain James Clarke Ross was sent forth on his expedition in 1839. +On January 1, 1841, he passed the antarctic circle in 178 degrees east +longitude. On the 11th he discovered land in 70 degrees 41' south +latitude, 172 degrees 36' east longitude. He found that the land was +a continuous coast, trending southward, and rising to peaks of ten +thousand feet in height, all covered with ice and snow. On the 12th +he landed and took possession in the name of the Queen. After this he +continued his course as far as 78 degrees 4' south latitude, tracing a +coast-line of six hundred miles. Observe, now how all this coincides +with More's narrative. Well, I now come to the crowning statement. In +77 degrees 32' south latitude, 167 degrees east longitude, he came in +sight of two enormous volcanoes over twelve thousand feet in height. +One of these was in an active state of eruption. To this he gave the +name of Mount Erebus. The other was quiet; it was of somewhat less +height, and he gave it the name of Mount Terror. Mark, now, how +wonderfully this resembles More's account. Well, just here his +progress was arrested by a barrier which presented a perpendicular +wall of over a hundred and fifty feet in height, along which he +coasted for some distance. On the following year he penetrated six +miles farther south, namely, 78 degrees 11' south latitude, 161 +degrees 27' west longitude. At this point he was again stopped by the +impassable cliffs, which arose here like an eternal barrier, while +beyond them he saw a long line of lofty mountains covered with ice +and snow." + +"Did you hear the result of the American expedition?" asked Melick. + +"Yes," replied the doctor. "Wilkes pretends to have found a continent, +but his account of it makes it quite evident to my mind that he saw +nothing but ice. I believe that Wilkes's antarctic continent will some +day be penetrated by ships, which will sail for hundreds of miles +farther south. All that is wanted is a favorable season. But mark the +coincidence between Ross's report and More's manuscript. This must +have been written at least three years ago, and the writer could not +have known anything about Ross's discoveries. Above all, he could not +have thought of those two volcanoes unless he had seen them." + +"But these volcanoes mentioned by More are not the Erebus and Terror, +are they?" said Lord Featherstone. + +"Of course not; they are on the other side of the world." + +"The whole story," said Melick, "may have been written by one of +Ross's men and thrown overboard. If I'd been on that expedition I +should probably have written it to beguile the time." + +"Oh yes," said the doctor; "and you would also have manufactured the +papyrus and the copper cylinder on board to beguile the time." + +"I dare say the writer picked up that papyrus and the copper cylinder +in China or Japan, and made use of it in this way." + +"Where do you make out the position of More's volcanoes?" asked +Featherstone. + +"It is difficult to make it out accurately," said the doctor. "More +gives no data. In fact he had none to give. He couldn't take any +observations." + +"The fact is," said Melick, "it's not a sailor's yarn at all. No +sailor would ever express himself in that way. That's what struck me +from the first. It has the ring of a confounded sensation-monger all +through." + +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, but took no notice of this. + +"You see," he continued, addressing himself to the others, "Desolation +Island is in 50 degrees south latitude and 70 degrees east longitude. +As I make out, More's course led him over about ten degrees of +longitude in a southwest course. That course depended altogether upon +the ocean currents. Now there is a great antarctic drift-current, +which flows round the Cape of Good Hope and divides there, one half +flowing past the east coast of Africa and the other setting across +the Indian Ocean. Then it unites with a current which flows round the +south of Van Dieman's Land, which also divides, and the southernmost +current is supposed to cross the Pacific until it strikes Cape Horn, +around which it flows, dividing as before. Now my theory is, that +south of Desolation Island--I don't know how far--there is a great +current setting toward the South Pole, and running southwest through +degrees of longitude 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, east of Greenwich; and +finally sweeping on, it would reach More's volcanoes at a point which +I should judge to be about 80 degrees south latitude and 10 degrees +west longitude. There it passes between the volcanoes and bursts +through the vast mountain barrier by a subterranean way, which has +been formed for it in past ages by some primeval convulsion of nature. +After this it probably sweeps around the great South Polar ocean, and +emerges at the opposite side, not far from the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror." + +Here the doctor paused, and looked around with some self-complacency. + +"Oh," said Melick, "if you take that tone, you have us all at your +mercy. I know no more about the geography of the antarctic circle than +I do of the moon. I simply criticize from a literary point of view, +and I don't like his underground cavern with the stream running +through it. It sounds like one of the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. +Nor do I like his description; he evidently is writing for effect. +Besides, his style is vicious; it is too stilted. Finally, he has +recourse to the stale device of a sea-serpent." + +"A sea-serpent!" repeated the doctor. "Well, for my part I feel by +no means inclined to sneer at a sea-serpent. Its existence cannot +be proved, yet it cannot be pooh-poohed. Every schoolboy knows that +the waters of the sea were once filled with monsters more tremendous +than the greatest sea-serpent that has ever been imagined. The +plesiosaurus, with its snakelike head, if it existed now, would be +called a sea-serpent. Some of these so-called fossil animals may have +their representatives still living in the remoter parts of the world. +Think of the recently discovered ornithorhynchus of Australia!" + +"If you please, I'd really much rather not," said Melick with a +gesture of despair. "I haven't the honor of the gentleman's +acquaintance." + +"Well, what do you think of his notice of the sun, and the long light, +and his low position on the horizon?" + +"Oh, that's all right," said Melick. "Anyone who chose to get up this +thing would of course read up about the polar day, and all that. +Everyone knows that at the poles there is a six-months' day, followed +by a six-months' night." + +"You are a determined sceptic," said the doctor. + +"How is it about the polar day?" asked Featherstone. + +"Well," said the doctor, "at the poles themselves there is one day +of six months, during which the sun never sets, and one night of six +months, during which he never rises. In the spaces between the polar +circles the quantities of the continuous day and continuous night vary +in accordance with the distance from the pole. At the north point of +Nova Zembla, 75 degrees north latitude, there is uninterrupted light +from May 1st to August 12th, and uninterrupted darkness from November +8th to February 9th. At the arctic circle at the summer solstice the +day is twenty-four hours long. At the antarctic circle at the same +time the night is twenty-four hours long." + +Upon this Melick filled the doctor's wine-glass with a great deal of +ceremony. + +"After all those statistics," he said, "you must feel rather dry. You +should take a drink before venturing any further." + +The doctor made no reply, but raised the glass to his lips and +swallowed the wine in an abstracted way. + +"The thing that struck me most," said Oxenden, "in all that has been +read thus far, is the flatness of the South Pole, and the peculiar +effect which this produces on the landscape." + +"I must say," added Melick, "that the writer has got hold of a very +good idea there, and has taken care to put it forward in a very +prominent fashion." + +"What is the difference," asked Oxenden, "between the two diameters of +the earth, the polar and the equatorial? Is it known?" + +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "that's the very question I was going to +ask. I've always heard that the earth is flattened at the poles, but +never knew how much. Is there any way by which people can find out?" + +The doctor drew a long breath, and beamed upon the company with a +benevolent smile. + +"Oh yes," said he; "I can answer that question, if you care to know +and won't feel bored." + +"Answer it, then, my dear fellow, by all means," said Featherstone, +in his most languid tone. + +"There are two ways," said the doctor, "by which the polar compression +of the earth has been found out. One is by the measurement of arcs +on the earth's surface; the other is by experiments with pendulums +or weights with regard to the earth's gravity at different places. +The former of these methods is, perhaps, the more satisfactory. +Measurements of arcs have been made on a very extensive scale in +different parts of the world--in England, France, Lapland, Peru, and +India. Mr. Ivory, who devoted himself for years to an exhaustive +examination of the subject, has deduced that the equatorial radius of +the earth is over 3962 miles, and the polar radius over 3949 miles. +This makes the depression at either pole upward of thirteen miles. A +depression of over thirteen miles, as you must plainly see, should +produce strange results in the scenery at the poles. Of course, if +there are mountains, no difference would be noticed between this and +any other part of the earth's surface; but if there is water, why, +we ought to expect some such state of things as More describes. The +gravitation test has also been tried, with very nearly the same +result. The surface of the earth at the equator, being farthest from +the centre of gravity, indicates the least weight in bodies; but at +the poles, where the surface is nearest the centre of gravity, there +must be the greatest weight. It is found, in fact, that the weight +of bodies increases in passing from the equator to the poles. By +experiments made in this way the polar compression is ascertained to +be the same as I have mentioned." + +"What effect would this have on the climate at the poles?" asked +Oxenden. + +"That's a complicated question," said the doctor. "In answer to that +we must leave ascertained facts and trust to theories, unless, indeed, +we accept as valid the statements of this remarkable manuscript. +For my own part, I see no reason why it should not be as More says. +Remember, this polar world is thirteen miles nearer to the centre of +the earth. Whether this should affect the climate or not, depends upon +the nature of the earth's interior. That interior, according to the +popular theory of the present day is a mass of fire. This theory +affirms that the earth was once a red-hot mass, which has cooled down; +but the cooling process has only taken place on the surface, leaving +the interior still a molten mass of matter in a state of intense heat +and combustion. At the poles the surface is thus thirteen miles nearer +to these tremendous fires. Of course it may be supposed that the +earth's crust is of about equal thickness on all parts; yet still, +even if this be so, thirteen miles ought to make some difference. Now +at the North Pole there seem to be causes at work to counterbalance +the effect of the internal heat, chiefly in the enormous accumulation +of polar ice which probably hems it in on every side; and though many +believe in an open polar sea of warm water at the North Pole, yet +still the effect of vast ice-masses and of cold submarine currents +must be to render the climate severe. But at the South Pole it is +different. The observations of Ross and of More show us that there is +a chain of mountains of immense height, which seem to encircle the +pole. If this be so, and I see no reason to disbelieve it, then the +ice of the outer seas must be kept away altogether from that strange +inner sea of which More speaks. Ross saw the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror; More saw two others. How many more there may be it is +impossible to say; but all this shows that the effect of the earth's +internal fires is very manifest in that region, and More has +penetrated to a secluded world, which lies apart by itself, free from +the influence of ice-masses, left to feel the effect of the internal +fires, and possessing what is virtually a tropical climate." + +"Well," said Melick, "there is no theory however wild and fantastic, +which some man of science will not be ready to support and to fortify +by endless arguments, all of the most plausible kind. For my own part, +I still believe More and his south polar world to be no more authentic +than Sindbad the Sailor." + +But the others evidently sympathized with the doctor's view, and +regarded Melick as carrying his scepticism to an absurd excess. + +"How large do you suppose this south polar ocean to be?" asked +Featherstone. + +"It is impossible to answer that question exactly," said the doctor. +"It may be, as More hints, a thousand miles in extent, or only five +hundred, or two hundred. For my own part, however, I feel like +taking More's statements at their utmost value; and the idea that +I have gathered from his narrative is that of a vast sea like the +Mediterranean, surrounded by impassable mountains, by great and +fertile countries, peopled with an immense variety of animals, with +a fauna and flora quite unlike those of the rest of the world; +and, above all, with great nations possessing a rare and unique +civilization, and belonging to a race altogether different from +any of the known races of men." + +"Well," said Melick, "that at least is the idea which the writer of +the manuscript tries to convey." + +By this time they had finished dinner. + +"And now," said Featherstone, "let's have some more of the manuscript. +Melick is tired of it, I dare say. I would relieve him, but I'm an +infernally bad reader. Doctor, what do you say? Will you read the next +instalment!" + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, briskly. + +"Very well, then," said Featherstone; "we will all be your attentive +hearers." + +And now the doctor took up the manuscript and began to read. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAVE-DWELLERS + + +The cavern into which the chief led me was very spacious, but had +no light except that which entered through the portal. It was with +difficulty that I could see anything, but I found that there were many +people here moving about, all as intent upon their own pursuits as +those which one encounters in the streets of our cities. As we went +on farther the darkness increased, until at last I lost sight of the +chief altogether, and he had to come back and lead me. After going +a little farther we came to a long, broad passage-way like a +subterranean street, about twenty feet in width, and as many in +height. Here there were discernible a few twinkling lamps, which +served to make the darkness less intense and enabled me to see the +shadowy figures around. These were numerous, and all seemed busy, +though what their occupation might be I could not guess. I was amazed +at the extent of these caverns, and at the multitude of the people. I +saw also that from the nature of their eyes the sunlight distressed +them, and in this cavern gloom they found their most congenial +dwelling-place. From what I had thus far seen, this extraordinary +people shrank from the sunlight; and when they had to move abroad they +passed over roads which were darkened as much as possible by the deep +shadows of mighty ferns, while for the most part they remained in +dark caverns, in which they lived and moved and had their being. It +was a puzzle to me whether the weakness of their eyes had caused +this dislike of light, or the habit of cave-dwelling had caused this +weakness of eyes. Here, in this darkness, where there was but a faint +twinkle from the feeble lamps, their eyes seemed to serve them as well +as mine did in the outer light of day; and the chief, who outside had +moved with an uncertain step, and had blinked painfully at objects +with his eyes almost closed, now appeared to be in his proper element; +and while I hesitated like a blind man and groped along with a +faltering step, he guided me, and seemed to see everything with +perfect vision. + +At length we stopped, and the chief raised up a thick, heavy mat which +hung like an unwieldly curtain in front of a doorway. This the chief +lifted. At once a blaze of light burst forth, gleaming into the dark, +and appearing to blind him. His eyes closed. He held up the veil for +me to pass through. I did so. He followed, and then groped his way +slowly along, while I accompanied and assisted him. + +I now found myself in a large grotto with an arched roof, from which +was suspended an enormous lamp, either golden or gilded. All around +were numerous lamps. The walls were adorned with rich hangings; +couches were here, with soft cushions, and divans and ottomans; soft +mats were on the floor, and everything gave indications of luxury and +wealth. Other doors, covered with overhanging mats, seemed to lead out +of this grotto. To one of these the chief walked, and raising the mat +he led the way into another grotto like the last, with the same bright +lights and the same adornments, but of smaller size. Here I saw +someone who at once took up all my attention. + +It was a young maiden. Her face and form, but especially her eyes, +showed her to be of quite a different race from these others. To me +she was of medium height, yet she was taller than any of the people +here that I had hitherto seen. Her complexion was much lighter; her +hair was dark, luxuriant, and wavy, and arranged in a coiffure secured +with a golden band. Her features were of a different cast from those +of the people here, for they were regular in outline and of exquisite +beauty; her nose was straight; she had a short upper lip, arched +eyebrows finely pencilled, thin lips, and well-rounded chin. But the +chief contrast was in her eyes. These were large, dark, liquid, with +long lashes, and with a splendid glow in their lustrous depths. She +stood looking at me with her face full of amazement; and as I caught +the gaze of her glorious eyes I rejoiced that I had at last found one +who lived in the light and loved it--one who did not blink like a bat, +but looked me full in the face, and allowed me to see all her soul +revealed. The chief, who still was pained by the glare of light, kept +his eyes covered, and said a few hasty words to the maiden. After this +he hurried away, leaving me there. + +The maiden stood for a moment looking at me. As the chief spoke to +her a change came over her face. She looked at me in silence, with +an expression of sad and mournful interest, which seemed to increase +every moment. At length she approached and said something in the same +strange language which the chief had used. I shook my head and replied +in English, whereupon she shook her head with a look of perplexity. +Then, anxious to conciliate her, I held out my hand. She looked at +it in some surprise. Upon this I took her hand, and pressed it to my +lips, feeling, however, somewhat doubtful as to the way in which she +might receive such an advance. To my great delight she accepted it in +a friendly spirit, and seemed to consider it my foreign fashion of +showing friendship and respect. She smiled and nodded, and pointed to +my gun, which thus far I had carried in my hand. I smiled and laid +it down. Then she pointed to a seat. I sat down, and then she seated +herself close by me, and we looked at each other in mutual wonder and +mutual inquiry. + +I was full of amazement at thus meeting with so exquisite a being, +and lost myself in conjectures as to her race, her office, and her +position here. Who was she, or what? She was unlike the others, and +reminded me of those Oriental beauties whose portraits I had seen in +annuals and illustrated books. Her costume was in keeping with such +a character. She wore a long tunic that reached from the neck to the +ground, secured at the waist with a golden girdle; the sleeves were +long and loose; over this she had a long mantle; on her feet were +light slippers, white and glistening. All about her, in her room and +in her costume, spoke of light and splendor and luxury. To these +others who shrank so from the light she could not be related in any +way. The respect with which she was treated by the chief, the peculiar +splendor of her apartments, seemed to indicate some high rank. Was +she, then, the queen of the land? Was she a princess? I could not +tell. At any rate, whatever she was, she seemed anxious to show me +the utmost attention. Her manner was full of dignity and sweet +graciousness, and she appeared particularly anxious to make herself +understood. At first she spoke in a language that sounded like that of +the chief, and was full of gutturals and broad vowels; afterward she +spoke in another that was far more euphonious. I, on the other hand +spoke in English and in French; but of course I was as unintelligible +to her as she was to me. + +Language was, therefore, of no use. It was necessary to go back to +first principles and make use of signs, or try to gain the most +elementary words of her language; so first of all I pointed to her, +and tried to indicate that I wanted to know her name. She caught my +meaning at once, and, pointing to herself, she looked fixedly at me +and said, "Almah, Almah!" + +I repeated these words after her, saying, "Almah, Almah!" She smiled +and nodded, and then pointed to me with a look of inquiry that plainly +asked for my name. I said "Adam More." She repeated this, and it +sounded like "A-tam-or." But as she spoke this slowly her smile died +away. She looked anxious and troubled, and once more that expression +of wondering sadness came over her face. She repeated my name over and +over in this way with a mournful intonation that thrilled through me, +and excited forebodings of evil. "Atamor, Atamor!" And always after +that she called me "Atamor." + +But now she sat for some time, looking at me with a face full of pity +and distress. At this I was greatly astonished; for but a moment +before she had been full of smiles, and it was as though something in +my name had excited sorrowful thoughts. Yet how could that be, since +she could never by any possibility have heard my name before? The +beautiful Almah seemed to be not altogether happy, or why should she +be so quick to sadness? There was a mystery about all this which was +quite unaccountable. + +It was a singular situation, and one which excited within me feelings +of unutterable delight. This light and splendor, this warmth and +peace--what a contrast it offered to the scenes through which I had +but lately passed! Those scenes of horror, of ice and snow, of storm +and tempest, of cold and hunger, of riven cliff and furious ocean +stream, and, above all, that crowning agony in the bleak iron-land of +the cannibals--from all these I had escaped. I had been drawn down +under the earth to experience the terrors of that unspeakable passage, +and had at last emerged to light and life, to joy and hope. In this +grotto I had found the culmination of all happiness. It was like a +fairy realm; and here was one whose very look was enough to inspire +the most despairing soul with hope and peace and happiness. The only +thing that was now left to trouble me was this mournful face of Almah. +Why did she look at me with such sad interest and such melancholy +meaning? Did she know of any evil fate in store for me? Yet how could +there be any evil fate to be feared from people who had received me +with such unparalleled generosity? No, it could not be; so I resolved +to try to bring back again the smile that had faded out of her face. + +I pointed to her, and said, "Almah." + +She said, "Atam-or." + +And the smile did not come back, but the sadness remained in her face. + +My eager desire now was to learn her language, and I resolved at once +to acquire as many words and phrases as possible. I began by asking +the names of things, such as "seat," "table," "mat," "coat," "hat," +"shoe," "lamp," "floor," "wall," and all the common objects around. +She gave all the names, and soon became so deeply interested that her +sadness departed, and the smile came back once more. For my own part, +I was always rather quick at learning languages. I had a correct ear +and a retentive memory; in my wanderings round the world I had picked +up a smattering of many languages, such as French, Italian, Spanish, +Arabic, German, Hindoostanee, and a few others. The words which I +learned from Almah had a remote resemblance to Arabic; and, in fact, +my knowledge of Arabic was actually of some assistance, though how it +was that these people should have a language with that resemblance +was certainly a mystery, and I did not try to solve it. The beautiful +Almah soon grew immensely interested in my efforts to learn, and also +in the English words which I gave when I pointed to any object. + +Thus I pointed to myself, and said "Man," then pointing to her, I +said, "Woman." She laughed, and pointing to me said "Iz," and pointing +to herself said, "Izza." Then I pointed to the row of lights, and +said "Light;" she did the same, and said, "Or." Then her face grew +mournful, and she pointed to me, saying "Atam-or." It struck me then +that there was some chance resemblance between "or," the word meaning +"light," and one of the syllables of my name as she pronounced it, and +that this might cause her sadness; but as I could make out nothing of +this, I dismissed the thought, and went on with my questions. This +took up the time, until at length someone appeared who looked like a +servant. He said something, whereupon Almah arose and beckoned to me +to follow. I did so, and we went to a neighboring apartment, where +there was spread a bounteous repast. Here we sat and ate, and Almah +told me the names of all the dishes. After dinner we returned to the +room. + +It was a singular and a delightful position. I was left alone with the +beautiful Almah, who herself showed the utmost graciousness and the +kindest interest in me. I could not understand it, nor did I try to; +it was enough that I had such a happy lot. For hours we thus were +together, and I learned many words. To insure remembrance, I wrote +them down in my memorandum-book with a pencil and both of these were +regarded by Almah with greatest curiosity. She felt the paper, +inspected it, touched it with her tongue, and seemed to admire it +greatly; but the pencil excited still greater admiration. I signed to +her to write in the book. She did so, but the characters were quite +unlike anything that I had ever seen. They were not joined like our +writing and like Arabic letters, but were separate like our printed +type, and were formed in an irregular manner. She then showed me a +book made of a strange substance. It was filled with characters like +those which she had just written. The leaves were not at all like +paper, but seemed like some vegetable product, such as the leaves of +a plant or the bark of a tree. They were very thin, very smooth, all +cut into regular size, and fastened together by means of rings. This +manuscript is written upon the same material. I afterward found that +it was universally used here, and was made of a reed that grows in +marshes. + +Here in these vast caverns there was no way by which I could tell the +progress of time, but Almah had her own way of finding out when the +hours of wakeful life were over. She arose and said, "Salonla." This I +afterward found out to be common salutation of the country. I said it +after her. She then left me. Shortly afterward a servant appeared, +who took me to a room, which I understood to be mine. Here I found +everything that I could wish, either for comfort or luxury; and as I +felt fatigue, I flung myself upon the soft bed of down, and soon was +sound asleep. + +I slept for a long time. When I awoke I heard sounds in the distance, +and knew that people were moving. Here in these caverns there was no +difference between day and night, but, by modes of which I was +ignorant, a regular succession was observed of waking times and +sleeping times. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAVERN OF THE DEAD + + +On going forth into the outer grotto I saw the table spread with a +sumptuous repast, and the apartment in a blaze of light. Almah was not +here; and though some servants made signs for me to eat, yet I could +not until I should see whether she was coming or not. I had to wait +for a long time, however; and while I was waiting the chief entered, +shading his eyes with his hand from the painful light. He bowed +low with the most profound courtesy, saying, "Salonla," to which I +responded in the same way. He seemed much pleased at this, and made a +few remarks, which I did not understand; whereupon, anxious to lose no +time in learning the language, I repeated to him all the words I knew, +and asked after others. I pointed to him and asked his name. He said, +"Kohen." This, however, I afterward found was not a name, but a title. +The "Kohen" did not remain long, for the light was painful. After his +departure I was alone for some time, and at length Almah made her +appearance. I sprang to meet her, full of joy, and took her hand in +both of mine and pressed it warmly. She smiled, and appeared quite +free from the melancholy of the previous day. + +We ate our breakfast together, after which we went out into the world +of light, groping our way along through the dark passages amid the +busy crowd. Almah could see better than I in the darkness; but she was +far from seeing well, and did not move with that easy step and perfect +certainty which all the others showed. Like me, she was a child of +light, and the darkness was distressing to her. As we went on we were +seen by all, but were apparently not considered prisoners. On the +contrary, all looked at us with the deepest respect, and bowed low +or moved aside, and occasionally made little offerings of fruit or +flowers to one or the other of us. It seemed to me that we were +treated with equal distinction; and if Almah was their queen, I, their +guest, was regarded with equal honor. Whatever her rank might be, +however, she was to all appearance the most absolute mistress of +her own actions, and moved about among all these people with the +independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank. + +At length we emerged into the open air. Here the contrast to the +cavern gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and +splendor, so that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which +had seemed so dark when I was here before, it now appeared light and +cheerful. Almah turned to the right, and we walked along the terrace. +But few people were visible. They shrank from the light, and kept +themselves in the caverns. Then after a few steps we came to the base +of a tall half-pyramid, the summit of which was above the tops of the +trees. I pointed to this, as though I wished to go up. Almah hesitated +for a moment, and seemed to shrink back, but at length, overcoming her +reluctance, began the ascent. A flight of stony steps led up. On +reaching the top, I found it about thirty feet long by fifteen wide, +with a high stone table in the middle. At that moment, however, I +scarce noticed the pyramid summit, and I only describe it now because +I was fated before long to see it with different feelings. What I then +noticed was the vast and wondrous display of all the glories of nature +that burst at once upon my view. There was that same boundless sea, +rising up high toward the horizon, as I had seen it before, and +suggesting infinite extent. There were the blue waters breaking into +foam, the ships traversing the deep, the far-encircling shores green +in vegetation, the high rampart of ice-bound mountains that shut in +the land, making it a world by itself. There was the sun, low on the +horizon, which it traversed on its long orbit, lighting up all these +scenes till the six-months day should end and the six-months night +begin. + +For a long time I stood feasting my eyes upon all this splendor, and +at length turned to see whether Almah shared my feelings. One look was +enough. She stood absorbed in the scene, as though she were drinking +in deep draughts of all this matchless beauty. I felt amazed at this; +I saw how different she seemed from the others, and could not account +for it. But as yet I knew too little of the language to question her, +and could only hope for a future explanation when I had learned more. + +We descended at length and walked about the terrace and up and down +the side streets. All were the same as I had noticed before--terraced +streets, with caverns on one side and massive stone structures on the +other. I saw deep channels, which were used as drains to carry down +mountain torrents. I did not see all at this first walk, but I +inspected the whole city in many subsequent walks until its outlines +were all familiar. I found it about a mile long and about half a +mile wide, constructed in a series of terraces, which rose one above +another in a hollow of the mountains round a harbor of the sea. On my +walks I met with but few people on the streets, and they all seemed +troubled with the light. I saw also occasionally some more of those +great birds, the name of which I learned from Almah; it was "opkuk." + +For some time my life went on most delightfully. I found myself +surrounded with every comfort and luxury. Almah was my constant +associate, and all around regarded us with the profoundest respect. +The people were the mildest, most gentle, and most generous that I had +ever seen. The Kohen seemed to pass most of his time in making new +contrivances for my happiness. This strange people, in their dealings +with me and with one another, seemed animated by a universal desire to +do kindly acts; and the only possible objection against them was their +singular love of darkness. + +My freedom was absolute. No one watched me. Almah and I could go where +we chose. So far as I could perceive, we were quite at liberty, if we +wished, to take a boat and escape over the sea. It seemed also quite +likely that if we had ordered out a galley and a gang of oarsmen, we +should have been supplied with all that we might want in the most +cheerful manner. Such a thought, however, was absurd. Flight! Why +should I think of flying? + +I had long ago lost all idea of time; and here, where it was for the +present perpetual day, I was more at a loss than ever. I supposed that +it was somewhere in the month of March, but whether at the beginning +or the end I could not tell. The people had a regular system of +wake-time and sleep-time, by which they ordered their lives; but +whether these respective times were longer or shorter than the days +and nights at home I could not tell at that time, though I afterward +learned all about it. On the whole, I was perfectly content--nay, +more, perfectly happy; more so, indeed, than ever in my life, and +quite willing to forget home and friends and everything in the society +of Almah. While in her company there was always one purpose upon which +I was most intent, and that was to master the language. I made rapid +progress, and while she was absent I sought out others, especially the +Kohen, with whom to practice. The Kohen was always most eager to aid +me in every conceivable way or to any conceivable thing; and he had +such a gentle manner and showed such generous qualities that I soon +learned to regard him with positive affection. + +Almah was always absent for several hours after I rose in the morning, +and when she made her appearance it was with the face and manner of +one who had returned from some unpleasant task. It always took some +time for her to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed. I +soon felt a deep curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and +office here, and as my knowledge of the language increased I began +to question her. My first attempts were vain. She looked at me with +indescribable mournfulness and shook her head. This, however, only +confirmed me in my suspicions that her duties, whatever they might be, +were of a painful nature; so I urged her to tell me, and asked her as +well as I could if I might not share them or help her in some way. To +all this, however, she only returned sighs and mournful looks for an +answer. It seemed to me, from her manner and from the general behavior +of the people, that there was no express prohibition on my learning +anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after this, I +besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she +refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more +of the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and +effect, until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections. + +"It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I +do not wish to lessen your happiness. But you must know all soon; and +so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you +may come the next jom." + +This meant the next day, jom being the division of time corresponding +with our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot +all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next jom I arose +sooner than usual and went forth. I found Almah waiting for me. She +looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile. + +"You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you +still wish it, why, I will take you with me." + +At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went +through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep. +Then we went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day +which here knew no night, but prolonged itself into months. For a +while Almah stood looking forth between the trees to where the bright +sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to +the left. I followed. On coming to the next portal she went in. I +followed, and found myself in a rough cavern, dark and forbidding. +Traversing this we came to an inner doorway, closed with a heavy mat. +This she raised, and passed through, while I went in after her. + +I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which +served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous +extent. Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a +hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone +steps. All around, as far as I could see in the obscure light, there +were niches in the walls, each one containing a figure with a light +burning at its feet. I took them for statues. Almah pointed in silence +to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see +it. + +The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no +statue that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelled human form--a +hideous sight. It was dark and dried; it was fixed in a sitting +posture, with its hands resting on its knees, and its hollow eyes +looking forward. On its head was the mockery of a wreath of flowers, +while from its heart there projected the handle and half of the blade +of a knife which had been thrust there. What was the meaning of this +knife? It seemed to tell of a violent death. Yet the flowers must +surely be a mark of honor. A violent death with honor, and the +embalmed remains--these things suggested nothing else than the horrid +thought of a human sacrifice. I looked away with eager and terrible +curiosity. I saw all the niches, hundreds upon hundreds, all filled +with these fearful occupants. I turned again with a sinking heart to +Almah. Her face was full of anguish. + +"This is my duty," said she. "Every jom I must come here and crown +these victims with fresh flowers." + +A feeling of sickening horror overwhelmed me. Almah had spoken these +words and stood looking at me with a face of woe. This, then, was that +daily task from which she was wont to return in such sadness--an +abhorrent task to her, and one to which familiarity had never +reconciled her. What was she doing here? What dark fate was it that +thus bound this child of light to these children of darkness? or why +was she thus compelled to perform a service from which all her nature +revolted? I read in her face at this moment a horror equal to my own; +and at the sight of her distress my own was lessened, and there arose +within me a profound sympathy and a strong desire to do something to +alleviate her misery. + +"This is no place for you," continued Almah. "Go, and I will soon join +you." + +"No," said I, using her language after my own broken fashion--"no, I +will not go--I will stay, I will help, if you will permit." + +She looked at me earnestly, and seemed to see that my resolution was +firmly fixed, and that I was not to be dissuaded from it. + +"Very well," said she; "if you do stay and help me, it will be a great +relief." + +With these simple words she proceeded to carry out her work. At the +foot of the pyramid there was a heap of wreaths made out of fresh +flowers, and these were to be placed by her on the heads of the +embalmed corpses. + +"This work," said she, "is considered here the highest and most +honorable that can be performed. It is given to me out of kindness, +and they cannot understand that I can have any other feelings in the +performance than those of joy and exultation--here among the dead and +in the dark." + +I said nothing, but followed and watched her, carrying the wreaths and +supplying her. She went to each niche in succession, and after taking +the wreath off each corpse she placed a fresh one on, saying a brief +formula at each act. By keeping her supplied with wreaths I was able +to lighten her task, so much so that, whereas it usually occupied her +more than two hours, on the present occasion it was finished in less +than half an hour. She informed me that those which she crowned were +the corpses of men who had been sacrificed during the present +season--by season meaning the six months of light; and that though +many more were here, yet they wore crowns of gold. At the end of ten +years they were removed to public sepulchres. The number of those +which had to be crowned by her was about a hundred. Her work was only +to crown them, the labor of collecting the flowers and weaving the +wreaths and attending to the lamps being performed by others. + +I left this place with Almah, sad and depressed. She had not told me +why these victims had been sacrificed, nor did I feel inclined to +ask. A dark suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath +all their amiable ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of +a frightful kind; and that beyond all my present brightness and +happiness there might be a fate awaiting me too horrible for thought. +Yet I did not wish to borrow trouble. What I had seen and heard was +quite enough for one occasion. I was anxious, rather, to forget it +all. Nor did Almah's words or manner in any way reassure me. She was +silent and sad and preoccupied. It was as though she knew the worst, +and knowing it, dared not speak; as though there was something more +horrible which she dared not reveal. For my part, I feared it so that +I dared not ask. It was enough for me just then to know that my mild +and self-denying and generous entertainers were addicted to the +abhorrent custom of human sacrifices. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SACRED HUNT + + +On that very jom the Kohen informed me that they were about +to set forth on the "sacred hunt," an event which always occurred +toward the end of the season, and he kindly invited me to go. I, +eager to find any relief from the horrible thoughts that had taken +possession of me, and full of longing for active exertion, at once +accepted the invitation. I was delighted to hear Almah say that she +too was going; and I learned at the same time that in this strange +land the women were as fond of hunting as the men, and that on such +occasions their presence was expected. + +The sacred hunt was certainly a strange one. I saw that it was to +take place on the water; for a great crowd, numbering over a hundred, +went down to the harbor and embarked on board a galley, on which +there were a hundred others, who served as rowers. The hunters were +all armed with long, light javelins and short swords. Some of these +were offered to me, for as yet no one supposed that my rifle and +pistol were instruments of destruction, or anything else than +ornaments. My refusal to accept their weapons created some surprise, +but with their usual civility they did not press their offers +further. It was evident that this hunting expedition was only made in +obedience to some hallowed custom; for the light of the sun pained +their eyes, and all their movements were made with uncertainty and +hesitation. With these a hunt by sunlight is the same as a hunt by +night would be with us. There was the same confusion and awkwardness. + +The Kohen was in command. At his word the galley started, and the +rowers pulled out to sea with long, regular strokes. I was anxious to +know what the expedition was aimed at, and what were the animals that +we expected to get; but I could not make out Almah's explanations. +Her words suggested something of vague terror, vast proportions, and +indescribable ferocity; but my ignorance of the language prevented me +from learning anything more. + +We went along the coast for a few miles, and then came to the mouth +of a great river, which seemed to flow from among the mountains. The +current was exceedingly swift, and as I looked back it seemed to me +that it must be the very stream which had borne me here into this +remote world. I afterward found out that this was so--that this +stream emerges from among the mountains, flowing from an unknown +source. It was over this that I had been borne in my sleep, after +I had emerged from the subterranean darkness, and it was by this +current that I had been carried into the open sea. As we crossed the +estuary of this river I saw that the shores on either side were low, +and covered with the rankest vegetation; giant trees of fern, vast +reeds and grasses, all arose here in a dense growth impassable to +man. Upon the shallow shores the surf was breaking; and here in +the tide I saw objects which I at first supposed to be rocks, +but afterward found out to be living things. They looked like +alligators, but were far larger than the largest alligators known +to us, besides being of far more terrific aspect. Toward these the +galley was directed, and I now saw with surprise that these were +the objects of the sacred hunt. + +Suddenly, as the galley was moving along at half-speed, there +arose out of the water a thing that looked like the folds of a giant +hairy serpent, which, however, proved to be the long neck of an +incredible monster, whose immense body soon afterward appeared above +the water. With huge fins he propelled himself toward us; and his +head, twenty feet in the air, was poised as though about to attack. +The head was like that of an alligator, the open jaws showed a +fearful array of sharp teeth, the eyes were fiercely glowing, the +long neck was covered with a coarse, shaggy mane, while the top of +the body, which was out of the water, was incased in an impenetrable +cuirass of bone. Such a monster as this seemed unassailable, +especially by men who had no missile weapons, and whose eyes were so +dim and weak. I therefore expected that the galley would turn and +fly from the attack, for the monster itself seemed as large as our +vessel; but there was not the slightest thought of flight. On the +contrary, every man was on the alert; some sprang to the bow and +stood there, awaiting the first shock; others, amidship, stood +waiting for the orders of the Kohen. Meanwhile the monster +approached, and at length, with a sweep of his long neck, came down +upon the dense crowd at the bows. A dozen frail lances were broken +against his horny head, a half-dozen wretches were seized and +terribly torn by those remorseless jaws. Still none fled. All rushed +forward, and with lances, axes, knives, and ropes they sought to +destroy the enemy. Numbers of them strove to seize his long neck. In +the ardor of the fight the rowers dropped their oars and hurried to +the scene, to take part in the struggle. The slaughter was sickening, +but not a man quailed. Never had I dreamed of such blind and +desperate courage as was now displayed before my horror-stricken +eyes. Each sought to outdo the other. They had managed to throw ropes +around the monster's neck, by which he was held close to the galley. +His fierce movements seemed likely to drag us all down under the +water; and his long neck, free from restraint, writhed and twisted +among the struggling crowd of fighting men, in the midst of whom was +the Kohen, as desperate and as fearless as any. + +All this had taken place in a very short space of time, and I had +scarce been able to comprehend the full meaning of it all. As for +Almah, she stood pale and trembling, with a face of horror. At last +it seemed to me that every man of them would be destroyed, and that +they were all throwing their lives away to no purpose whatever. Above +all, my heart was wrung for the Kohen, who was there in the midst of +his people, lifting his frail and puny arm against the monster. I +could endure inaction no longer. I had brought my arms with me, as +usual; and now, as the monster raised his head, I took aim at his +eye and fired. The report rang out in thunder. Almah gave a shriek, +and amid the smoke I saw the long, snake-like neck of the monster +sweeping about madly among the men. In the water his vast tail was +lashing the surface of the sea, and churning it into foam. Here I +once more took aim immediately under the fore-fin, where there was +no scaly covering. Once more I fired. This time it was with fatal +effect; and after one or two convulsive movements the monster, with +a low, deep bellow, let his head fall and gasped out his life. + +I hurried forward. There lay the frightful head, with its long +neck and shaggy mane, while all around was a hideous spectacle. +The destruction of life had been awful. Nineteen were dead, and +twenty-eight were wounded, writhing in every gradation of agony, some +horribly mangled. The rest stood staring at me in astonishment, not +understanding those peals of thunder that had laid the monster low. +There was no terror or awe, however--nothing more than surprise; +and the Kohen, whose clothes were torn into shreds and covered with +blood, looked at me in bewilderment. I said to him, out of my small +stock of words, that the wounded ought at once to be cared for. At +this he turned away and made some remarks to his men. + +I now stood ready to lend my own services, if needful. I expected +to take a part in the tender attentions which were the due of these +gallant souls, who had exhibited such matchless valor; these men who +thought nothing of life, but flung it away at the command of their +chief without dreaming of flight or of hesitation. Thus I stood +looking on in an expectant attitude, when there came a moment in +which I was simply petrified with horror; for the Kohen drew his +knife, stooped over the wounded man nearest him, and then stabbed him +to the heart with a mortal wound. The others all proceeded to do the +same, and they did it in the coolest and most business-like manner, +without any passion, without any feeling of any kind, and, indeed, +with a certain air of gratification, as though they were performing +some peculiarly high and sacred duty. The mildness and benevolence of +their faces seemed actually heightened, and the perpetration of this +unutterable atrocity seemed to affect these people in the same way in +which the performance of acts of humanity might affect us. + +For my own part, I stood for a few moments actually motionless from +perplexity and horror; then, with a shriek, I rushed forward as if +to prevent it; but I was too late. The unutterable deed was done, +and the unfortunate wounded, without an exception, lay dead beside +their slain companions. As for myself, I was only regarded with fresh +wonder, and they all stood blinking at me with their half-closed +eyes. Suddenly the Kohen fell prostrate on his knees before me, and +bowing his head handed me his bloody knife. + +"Atam-or," said he, "give me also the blessing of darkness and death!" + +At these strange words, following such actions, I could say nothing. +I was more bewildered than ever, and horror and bewilderment made me +dumb. I turned away and went aft to Almah, who had seen it all. She +looked at me with an anxious gaze, as if to learn what the effect of +all this had been on me. I could not speak a word, but with a vague +sense of the necessity of self-preservation, I loaded my rifle, and +tried in vain to make out what might be the meaning of this union of +gentleness and kindness with atrocious cruelty. Meanwhile, the men +all went to work upon various tasks. Some secured lines about the +monster so as to tow it astern; others busied themselves with the +corpses, collecting them and arranging them in rows. At length we +returned, towing the monster astern. + +I could not speak until I was back again in the lighted rooms and +alone with Almah; then I told her, as well as I could, the horror +that I felt. + +"It was honor to those brave men," said she. + +"Honor!" said I. "What! to kill them?" + +"Yes," said she; "it is so with these people; with them death is the +highest blessing. They all love death and seek after it. To die for +another is immortal glory. To kill the wounded was to show that they +had died for others. The wounded wished it themselves. You saw how +they all sought after death. These people were too generous and +kind-hearted to refuse to kill them after they had received wounds." + +At this my perplexity grew deeper than ever, for such an +explanation as this only served to make the mystery greater. + +"Here," said she, "no one understands what it is to fear death. +They all love it and long for it; but everyone wishes above all to +die for others. This is their highest blessing. To die a natural +death in bed is avoided if possible." + +All this was incomprehensible. + +"Tell me, Almah," I said--"you hate darkness as I do--do you not +fear death?" + +"I fear it above all things," said Almah. "To me it is the horror +of life; it is the chief of terrors." + +"So it is with me," said I. "In my country we call death the King +of Terrors." + +"Here," said Almah, "they call death the Lord of Joy." + +Not long after, the Kohen came in, looking as quiet, as gentle, +and as amiable as ever. He showed some curiosity about my rifle, +which he called a sepet-ram, or "rod of thunder." Almah also +showed curiosity. I did not care to explain the process of loading +it to the Kohen, though Almah had seen me load it in the galley, +and I left him to suppose that it was used in some mysterious way. +I cautioned him not to handle it carelessly, but found that this +caution only made him the more eager to handle it, since the prospect +of an accident found an irresistible attraction. I would not let it +go out of my own hands, however; and the Kohen, whose self-denial +was always most wonderful to me, at once checked his curiosity. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE SWAMP MONSTER + + +A few joms after, I was informed by the Kohen that there was to be +another sacred hunt. At first I felt inclined to refuse, but on +learning that Almah was going, I resolved to go also; for Almah, +though generally mistress of her actions, had nevertheless certain +duties to perform, and among these was the necessity of accompanying +hunting-parties. I did not yet understand her position here, nor had I +heard from her yet how it was that she was so different from the rest +of them. That was all to be learned at a future time. For the present +I had to be satisfied with knowing that she belonged to a different +nation, who spoke a different language, and that all her thoughts and +feelings were totally different from those of the people among whom +she was living. She loved the light, she feared death, and she had +never been able in the slightest degree to reconcile herself to the +habits of these people. This I could readily understand, for to me it +seemed as though they lived in opposition to nature itself. + +We went out into the daylight, and then I saw a sight which filled me +with amazement. I saw a flock of birds larger than even the opkuks. +They were called "opmahera." They seemed as tall as giraffes, and +their long legs indicated great powers of running. Their wings were +very short, and not adapted for flight. They were very tractable, and +were harnessed for riding in a peculiar way; lines like reins were +fastened to the wings, and the driver, who sat close by the neck, +guided the bird in this way. Each bird carried two men, but for Almah +and me there was a bird apiece. An iron prod was also taken by each +driver as a spur. I did not find out until afterward how to drive. At +that time the prospect of so novel a ride was such an exciting one +that I forgot everything else. The birds seemed quiet and docile. I +took it for granted that mine was well trained, and would go with the +others of his own accord. We all mounted by means of a stone platform +which stood by the pyramid, and soon were on our way. + +The speed was amazing; the fastest race-horse at home is slow compared +with this. It was as swift as an ordinary railway train, if not more +so. For some minutes the novelty of my situation took away all other +thoughts, and I held the reins in my hands without knowing how to use +them. But this mattered not, for the well-trained bird kept on after +the others, while Almah on her bird was close behind me. The pace, as +I said, was tremendous, yet no easier motion can be imagined. The bird +bounded along with immense leaps, with wings outstretched, but its +feet touched the ground so lightly that the motion seemed almost equal +to flying. We did not confine ourselves to the roads, for the birds +were capable of going over any kind of country in a straight line. On +this occasion we passed over wide fields and rocky mountain ridges +and deep swamps and sand wastes at the same speed, until at length +we reached a vast forest of dense tree-ferns, where the whole band +stopped for a short time, after which we took up a new direction, +moving on more slowly. The forest grew up out of a swamp, which +extended as far as the eye could reach from the sea to the mountains. +Along the edge of this forest we went for some time, until at length +there came a rushing, crackling sound, as of something moving there +among the trees, crushing down everything in its progress. We halted, +and did not have to wait long; for soon, not far away, there emerged +from the thick forest a figure of incredible size and most hideous +aspect. + +It looked like one of those fabled dragons such as may be seen in +pictures, but without wings. It was nearly a hundred feet in length, +with a stout body and a long tail, covered all over with impenetrable +scales. It hind-legs were rather longer than its fore-legs, and it +moved its huge body with ease and rapidity. Its feet were armed with +formidable claws. But its head was most terrific. It was a vast mass +of bone, with enormous eyes that glared like fire; its jaws opened to +the width of six or eight feet, and were furnished with rows of sharp +teeth, while at the extremity of its nose there was a tusk several +feet long, like the horn of a rhinoceros, curving backward. All this +I took in at the first glance, and the next instant the whole band +of hunters, with their usual recklessness, flung themselves upon the +monster. + +For a short time all was the wildest confusion--an intermingling of +birds and men, with the writhing and roaring beast. With his huge +claws and his curved horn and his wide jaws he dealt death and +destruction all around; yet still the assailants kept at their work. +Many leaped down to the ground and rushed close up to the monster, +thrusting their lances into the softer and more unprotected parts +of his body; while others, guiding their birds with marvellous +dexterity, assailed him on all sides. The birds, too, were kept well +to their work; nor did they exhibit any fear. It was not until they +were wounded that they sought to fly. Still, the contest seemed too +unequal. The sacrifice of life was horrible. I saw men and birds +literally torn to pieces before my eyes. Nevertheless, the utter +fearlessness of the assailants confounded me. In spite of the +slaughter, fresh crowds rushed on. They clambered over his back, and +strove to drive their lances under his bony cuirass. In the midst of +them I saw the Kohen. By some means he had reached the animal's back, +and was crawling along, holding by the coarse shaggy mane. At length +he stopped, and with a sudden effort thrust his lance into the +monster's eye. The vast beast gave a low and terrible howl; his +immense tail went flying all about; in his pain he rolled over and +over, crushing underneath him in his awful struggles all who were +nearest. I could no longer be inactive. I raised my rifle, and as the +beast in his writhings exposed his belly I took aim at the soft flesh +just inside his left fore-leg, and fired both barrels. + +At that instant my bird gave a wild, shrill scream and a vast bound +into the air, and then away it went like the wind--away, I know not +where. That first bound had nearly jerked me off; but I managed to +avoid this and now instinctively clung with all my might to the bird's +neck, still holding my rifle. The speed of the bird was twice as great +as it had been before--as the speed of a runaway horse surpasses +that of the same horse when trotting at his ordinary rate and under +control. I could scarcely make out where I was going. Rocks, hills, +swamps, fields, trees, sand, and sea all seemed to flash past in one +confused assemblage, and the only thought in my mind was that I was +being carried to some remote wilderness, to be flung there bruised and +maimed among the rocks, to perish helplessly. Every moment I expected +to be thrown, for the progress of the bird was not only inconceivably +swift, but it also gave immense leaps into the air; and it was only +its easy mode of lighting on the ground after each leap that saved me +from being hurled off. As it was, however, I clung instinctively to +the bird's neck, until at last it came to a stop so suddenly that my +hands slipped, and I fell to the ground. + +I was senseless for I know not how long. When at last I revived I +found myself propped up against a bank, and Almah bathing my head with +cold water. Fortunately, I had received no hurt. In falling I had +struck on my head, but it was against the soft turf, and though I +was stunned, yet on regaining my senses no further inconvenience was +experienced. The presence of Almah was soon explained. The report of +the rifle had startled her bird also, which had bounded away in terror +like mine; but Almah understood how to guide him, and managed to keep +him after me, so as to be of assistance in case of need. She had been +close behind all the time, and had stopped when I fell, and come to +my assistance. + +The place was a slope looking out upon an arm of the sea, and +apparently remote from human abode. The scenery was exquisitely +beautiful. A little distance off we saw the edge of the forest; the +open country was dotted with clumps of trees; on the other side of the +arm of the sea was an easy declivity covered with trees of luxuriant +foliage and vast dimensions; farther away on one side rose the icy +summits of impassable mountains; on the other side there extended +the blue expanse of the boundless sea. The spot where I lay was +over-shadowed by the dense foliage of a tree which was unlike anything +that I had ever seen, and seemed like some exaggerated grass; at our +feet a brook ran murmuring to the shore; in the air and all around +were innumerable birds. + +The situation in which I found myself seemed inexpressibly sweet, and +all the more so from the gentle face of Almah. Would it not be well, +I thought, to remain here? Why should Almah go back to her repulsive +duties? Why should we return to those children of blood, who loved +death and darkness? Here we might pass our days together unmolested. +The genial climate would afford us warmth; we needed no shelter except +the trees, and as for food, there were the birds of the air in +innumerable flocks. + +I proposed this to her; she smiled sadly. "You forget," said she, +"this season of light will not last much longer. In a few more joms +the dark season will begin, and then we should perish in a place like +this." + +"Are there no caverns here?" + +"Oh no. This country has no inhabitants. It is full of fierce wild +beasts. We should be destroyed before one jom." + +"But must we go back?" said I. "You have a country. Where is it? See, +here are these birds. They are swift. They can carry us anywhere. +Come, let us fly, and you can return to your own country." + +Almah shook her head. "These birds," said she, "cannot go over the +sea, or through these endless forests. My country can only be reached +by sea." + +"Can we not hurry back, seize a boat, and go? I know how to sail over +the water without oars." + +"We certainly might leave the country; but there is another +difficulty. The dark season is coming, and we should never be able +to find our way. Besides, the sea is full of monsters, and you and +I would perish." + +"At any rate, let us try. I have my sepet-ram." + +"We could never find our way." + +"Only tell me," said I, "where it lies, and I will go by the stars." + +"The trouble is," said she, "that even if we did succeed in reaching +my land, I should be sent back again; for I was sent here as a sacred +hostage, and I have been here four seasons." + +But in the midst of this conversation a sound arrested our +attention--heavy, puffing, snorting sound, as of some living thing. +Hastily I started up, rifle in hand, and looked; and as I looked I +felt my nerves thrill with horror. There, close by the shore, I saw a +vast form--a living thing--full sixty feet in length. It had a body +like that of an elephant, the head of a crocodile, and enormous +glaring eyes. Its immense body was covered with impenetrable armor, +and was supported on legs long enough to allow it to run with great +speed. It differed in many respects from the monster of the swamp--the +legs being longer, the tail shorter and thinner, and its head and jaws +larger and longer. I shrank back, thinking of seizing Almah and +hiding. But I saw that she had already taken the alarm, and with more +presence of mind than I had she had hurried to the birds, who were +standing near, and had made them lie down. As I turned, she beckoned +to me without a word. I hurried to her. She told me to mount. I did so +at once; she did the same. Scarce had we mounted than the monster +perceived us, and with a terrible bellow came rushing toward us. Almah +drove her goad deep into her bird, which at once rose and went off +like the wind, and mine started to follow. The vast monster came on. +His roar sounded close behind, and I heard the clash of his tremendous +jaws; but the swift bird with a bound snatched me from his grasp, and +bore me far away out of his reach. Away I went like the wind. Almah +was ahead, looking back from time to time, and waving her hand +joyously. So we went on, returning on our course at a speed almost as +great as that with which we had come. By this time the novelty had in +part worn away, and the easy motion gave me confidence. I noticed that +we were travelling a wild, uninhabited, and rocky district by the +sea-side. Before me the country spread far away, interspersed with +groves, terminating in forests, and bounded in the far distance by +mountains. The country here was so rough that it seemed as if nothing +could pass over it except such creatures as these--the opmaheras. + +At length we arrived at the spot which we had left--the scene of the +hunt. We could see it from afar, for the opmaheras stood quietly +around, and the men were busy elsewhere. As we drew nearer I saw the +vast body of the monster. They had succeeded in killing it, yet--oh +heavens, at what a cost! One half of all the party lay dead. The rest +were unharmed, and among these was the Kohen. He greeted me with a +melancholy smile. That melancholy smile, however, was not caused by +the sad fate of his brave companions, but, as I afterward learned, +simply and solely because he himself had not gained his death. When I +saw that there were no wounded, a dark suspicion came over me that the +wounded had again been put to death. I did not care to ask. The truth +was too terrible to hear, and I felt glad that accident had drawn me +away. It was all a dark and dreadful mystery. These people were the +most gentle, the most self-sacrificing, and the most generous in the +world; yet their strange and unnatural love of death made them capable +of endless atrocities. Life and light seemed to them as actual evils, +and death and darkness the only things worthy of regard. + +Almah told me that they were going to bring the monster home, and had +sent for opkuks to drag it along. The dead were also to be fetched +back. There was no further necessity for us to remain, and so we +returned at once. + +On the way, Almah said, "Do not use the sepet-ram again. You can do +no good with it. You must not make it common. Keep it. The time may +come when you will need it: you are not fond of death." + +I shuddered. + +"Never forget," she said, "that here death is considered the chief +blessing. It is useless for you to interfere in their ways. You cannot +change them." + +Some more joms passed. The bodies were embalmed, and Almah had more +victims to crown with garlands in the horrible cheder nebilin. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BALEFUL SACRIFICE + + +I resolved to go on no more sacred hunts. I was sickened at the +horrible cruelty, the needless slaughter, the mad self-sacrifice which +distinguished them. I was overwhelmed with horror at the merciless +destruction of brave comrades, whose wounds, so gallantly received, +should have been enough to inspire pity even in a heart of stone. The +gentleness, the incessant kindness, the matchless generosity of these +people seemed all a mockery. What availed it all when the same hand +that heaped favors upon me, the guest, could deal death without +compunction upon friends and relatives? It seemed quite possible for +the Kohen to kill his own child, or cut the throat of his wife, if the +humor seized him. And how long could I hope to be spared among a +people who had this insane thirst for blood? + +Some more joms had passed, and the light season had almost ended. +The sun had been sinking lower and lower. The time had at last come +when only a portion of his disk would be visible for a little while +above the hills, and then he would be seen no more for six months of +our time. This was the dark season, and, as I had already learned, its +advent was always hailed with joy and celebrated with solemn services, +for the dark season freed them from their long confinement, permitted +them to go abroad, to travel by sea and land, to carry on their great +works, to indulge in all their most important labors and favorite +amusements. The Kohen asked me to be present at the great festival, +and I gladly consented. There seemed to be nothing in this that +could be repellent. As I was anxious to witness some of their purely +religious ceremonies, I wished to go. When I told Almah, she looked +sad, but said nothing. I wondered at this, and asked her if she was +going. She informed me that she would have to go, whereupon I assured +her that this was an additional reason why I should go. + +I went with Almah. The Kohen attended us with his usual kind and +gracious consideration. It seemed almost as though he was our servant. +He took us to a place where we could be seated, although all the +others were standing. Almah wished to refuse, but I prevailed upon her +to sit down, and she did so. + +The scene was upon the semicircular terrace in front of the cavern, +and we were seated upon a stone platform beside the chief portal. A +vast crowd was gathered in front. Before us arose the half-pyramid of +which I have already spoken. The light was faint. It came from the +disk of the sun, which was partly visible over the icy crest of the +distant mountains. Far away the sea was visible, rising high over the +tops of the trees, while overhead the brighter stars were plainly +discernible. + +The Kohen ascended the pyramid, and others followed. At the base +there was a crowd of men, with emaciated forms and faces, and coarse, +squalid attire, who looked like the most abject paupers, and seemed +the lowest in the land. As the Kohen reached the summit there arose a +strange sound--a mournful, plaintive chant, which seemed to be sung +chiefly by the paupers at the base of the pyramid. The words of this +chant I could not make out, but the melancholy strain affected me +in spite of myself. There was no particular tune, and nothing like +harmony; but the effect of so many voices uniting in this strain was +very powerful and altogether indescribable. In the midst of this I saw +the crowd parting asunder so as to make way for something; and through +the passage thus formed I saw a number of youths in long robes, who +advanced to the pyramid, singing as they went. Then they ascended the +steps, two by two, still singing, and at length reached the summit, +where they arranged themselves in order. There were thirty of them and +they arranged themselves in three rows of ten each, and as they stood +they never ceased to sing, while the paupers below joined in the +strain. + +And now the sun was almost hidden, and there was only the faintest +line from the upper edge of his disk perceptible over the icy +mountain-tops. The light was a softened twilight glow. It was to be +the last sight of the sun for six months, and this was the spectacle +upon which he threw his parting beam. So the sun passed away, and then +there came the beginning of the long dark season. At first, however, +there was rather twilight than darkness, and this twilight continued +long. All this only served to heighten the effect of this striking +scene; and as the light faded away, I looked with increasing curiosity +upon the group at the top of the pyramid. Almah was silent. I half +turned, and said something to her about the beauty of the view. She +said nothing, but looked at me with such an expression that I was +filled with amazement. I saw in her face something like a dreadful +anticipation--something that spoke of coming evil. The feeling was +communicated to me, and I turned my eyes back to the group on the +pyramid with vague fears in my soul. + +Those fears were but too well founded, for now the dread ceremony +began. The Kohen drew his knife, and placed himself at the head of the +stone table. One of the youths came forward, stepped upon it, and lay +down on his back with his head toward the Kohen. The mournful chant +still went on. Then the Kohen raised his knife and plunged it into the +heart of the youth. I sat for a moment rooted to the spot; then a +groan burst from me in spite of myself. Almah caught my hands in hers, +which were as cold as ice. + +"Be firm," she said, "or we are both lost. Be firm, Atam-or!" + +"I must go," said I, and I tried to rise. + +"Don't move," she said, "for your life! We are lost if you move. Keep +still--restrain yourself--shut your eyes." + +I tried to do so, but could not. There was a horrible fascination +about the scene which forced me to look and see all. The Kohen took +the victim, and drawing it from the altar, threw it over the precipice +to the ground beneath. Then a loud shout burst forth from the great +crowd. "Sibgu Sibgin! Ranenu! Hodu lecosck!" which means, "Sacrifice +the victims! Rejoice! Give thanks to darkness!" + +Then another of the youths went forward amid the singing, and laid +himself down to meet the same fate; and again the corpse was flung +from the top of the pyramid, and again the shout arose. All the others +came forward in the same manner. Oh, horrible, horrible, thrice +horrible spectacle! I do not remember how I endured it. I sat there +with Almah, trying to restrain myself as she had entreated me, more +for her sake than for my own, a prey to every feeling of horror, +anguish, and despair. How it all ended I do not know, nor do I know +how I got away from the place; for I only remember coming back to my +senses in the lighted grotto, with Almah bending anxiously over me. + +After this there remained a dark mystery and an ever-present horror. I +found myself among a people who were at once the gentlest of the human +race and the most blood-thirsty--the kindest and the most cruel. This +mild, amiable, and self-sacrificing Kohen, how was it possible that +he should transform himself to a fiend incarnate? And for me and for +Almah, what possible hope could there be? What fate might they have +in reserve for us? Of what avail was all this profound respect, this +incessant desire to please, this attention to our slightest wish, this +comfort and luxury and splendor, this freedom of speech and action? +Was it anything better than a mockery? Might it not be the shallow +kindness of the priest to the victim reserved for the sacrifice? Was +it, after all, in any degree better than the kindness of the cannibal +savages on those drear outer shores who received us with such +hospitality, but only that they might destroy us at last? Might they +not all belong to the same race, dwelling as they did in caverns, +shunning the sunlight, and blending kindness with cruelty? It was an +awful thought! + +Yet I had one consolation. Almah was with me, and so long as she was +spared to me I could endure this life. I tried for her sake to resist +the feelings that were coming over me. I saw that she too was a prey +to ever-deepening sadness. She felt as I did, and this despair of soul +might wreck her young life if there were no alleviation. And so I +sought to alleviate her distress and to banish her sadness. The songs +of these people had much impressed me; and one day, as I talked about +this with Almah, she brought forth a musical instrument of peculiar +shape, which was not unlike a guitar, though the shape was square and +there were a dozen strings. Upon this she played, singing at the same +time some songs of a plaintive character. An idea now occurred to me +to have an instrument made according to my own plans, which should be +nothing less than a violin. Almah was delighted at the proposal, and +at once found a very clever workman, who under my direction succeeded +in producing one which served my purpose well. I was a good violinist, +and in this I was able to find solace for myself and for Almah for +many a long hour. + +The first time that I played was memorable. As the tones floated +through the air they caught the ears of those outside, and soon great +numbers came into the apartment, listening in amazement and in rapt +attention. Even the painful light was disregarded in the pleasure of +this most novel sensation, and I perceived that if the sense of sight +was deficient among them, that of hearing was sufficiently acute. +I played many times, and sometimes sang from among the songs of +different nations; but those which these people liked best were the +Irish and Scottish melodies--those matchless strains created by the +genius of the Celtic race, and handed down from immemorial ages +through long generations. In these there was nothing artificial, +nothing transient. They were the utterance of the human heart, and in +them there was that touch of nature which makes all men kin. These +were the immortal passions which shall never cease to affect the soul +of man, and which had power even here; the strains of love, of +sadness, and of pathos were sweet and enticing to this gentle race; +for in their mild manners and their outburst of cruelty they seemed to +be not unlike the very race which had created this music, since the +Celt is at once gentle and blood-thirsty. + +I played "Tara," "Bonnie Doon," "The Last Rose of Summer," "The Land +of the Leal," "Auld Lang Syne," "Lochaber." They stood entranced, +listening with all their souls. They seemed to hunger and thirst after +this music, and the strains of the inspired Celtic race seemed to come +to them like the revelation of the glory of heaven. Then I played more +lively airs. Some I played a second time, singing the words. They +seemed eager to have the same one played often. At last a grisly +thought came to me: it was that they would learn these sweet strains, +and put their own words to them so as to use them at the awful +sacrifices. After that I would play no more. + +It is a land of tender love and remorseless cruelty. Music is +all-powerful to awaken the one, but powerless to abate the other; and +the eyes that weep over the pathetic strains of "Lochaber" can gaze +without a tear upon the death-agonies of a slaughtered friend. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE AWFUL "MISTA KOSEK" + + +The terrible sacrifice marked the end of the light season. The dark +season had now begun, which would last for half the coming year. No +more sunlight would now be visible, save at first for a few joms, +when at certain times the glare would be seen shooting up above the +icy crests of the mountains. Now the people all moved out of the +caverns into the stone houses on the opposite side of the terraces, +and the busy throng transferred themselves and their occupations to +the open air. This with them was the season of activity, when all +their most important affairs were undertaken and carried out; the +season, too, of enjoyment, when all the chief sports and festivals +took place. Then the outer world all awoke to life; the streets were +thronged, fleets of galleys came forth from their moorings, and the +sounds of labor and of pleasure, of toil and revelry, arose into the +darkened skies. Then the city was a city of the living, no longer +silent, but full of bustle, and the caverns were frequented but +little. This cavern life was only tolerable during the light season, +when the sun-glare was over the land; but now, when the beneficent and +grateful darkness pervaded all things, the outer world was infinitely +more agreeable. + +To me, however, the arrival of the dark season brought only additional +gloom. I could not get rid of the thought that I was reserved for some +horrible fate, in which Almah might also be involved. We were both +aliens here, in a nation of kind-hearted and amiable miscreants--of +generous, refined, and most self-denying fiends; of men who were +highly civilized, yet utterly wrong-headed and irreclaimable in their +blood-thirsty cruelty. The stain of blood-guiltiness was over all the +land. What was I, that I could hope to be spared? The hope was +madness, and I did not pretend to indulge it. + +The only consolation was Almah. The manners of these people were such +that we were still left as unconstrained as ever in our movements, and +always, wherever we went, we encountered nothing but amiable smiles +and courteous offices. Everyone was always eager to do anything for +us--to give, to go, to act, to speak, as though we were the most +honored of guests, the pride of the city. The Kohen was untiring in +his efforts to please. He was in the habit of making presents every +time he came to see me, and on each occasion the present was of a +different kind; at one time it was a new robe of curiously wrought +feathers, at another some beautiful gem, at another some rare fruit. +He also made incessant efforts to render my situation pleasant, and +was delighted at my rapid progress in acquiring the language. + +On the jom following the sacrifice I accompanied Almah as she went +to her daily task, and after it was over I asked when the new victims +would be placed here. "How long does it take to embalm them?" I added. + +Almah looked at me earnestly. "They will not bring them here; they +will not embalm them," said she. + +"Why not?" I asked; "what will they do with them?" + +"Do not ask," said she. "It will pain you to know." + +In spite of repeated solicitation she refused to give me any +satisfaction. I felt deeply moved at her words and her looks. What was +it, I wondered, that could give me pain? or what could there still +be that could excite fear in me, who had learned and seen so much? I +could not imagine. It was evidently some disposal of the bodies of +the victims--that was plain. Turning this over in my mind, with vague +conjectures as to Almah's meaning, I left her and walked along the +terrace until I came to the next cavern. This had never been open +before, and I now entered through curiosity to see what it might be. +I saw a vast cavern, quite as large as the cheder nebilin, full of +people, who seemed to be engaged in decorating it. Hundreds were at +work, and they had brought immense tree-ferns, which were placed on +either side in long rows, with their branches meeting and interlacing +at the top. It looked like the interior of some great Gothic cathedral +at night, and the few twinkling lights that were scattered here and +there made the shadowy outline just visible to me. + +I asked one of the bystanders what this might be, and he told me that +it was the Mista Kosek, which means the "Feast of Darkness," from +which I gathered that they were about to celebrate the advent of the +dark season with a feast. From what I knew of their character this +seemed quite intelligible, and there was much beauty and taste in the +arrangements. All were industrious and orderly, and each one seemed +most eager to assist his neighbor. Indeed, there seemed to be a +friendly rivalry in this which at times amounted to positive violence; +for more than once when a man was seen carrying too large a burden, +someone else would insist on taking it from him. At first these +altercations seemed exactly like the quarrels of workmen at home, but +a closer inspection showed that it was merely the persistent effort +of one to help another. + +I learned that the feast was to take place as soon as the hall was +decorated, and that it would be attended by a great multitude. I felt +a great interest in it. There seemed something of poetic beauty in +this mode of welcoming the advent of a welcome season, and it served +to mitigate the horrible remembrance of that other celebration, upon +which I could not think without a shudder. I thought that it would be +pleasant to join with them here, and resolved to ask Almah to come +with me, so that she might explain the meaning of the ceremonies. Full +of this thought, I went to her and told her my wish. She looked at me +with a face full of amazement and misery. In great surprise I +questioned her eagerly. + +"Ask me nothing," said she. "I will answer nothing; but do not think +of it. Do not go near it. Stay in your room till the fearful repast is +over." + +"Fearful? How is it fearful?" I asked. + +"Everything here is fearful," said Almah, with a sigh. "Every season +it grows worse, and I shall grow at length to hate life and love death +as these people do. They can never understand us, and we can never +understand them. Oh, if I could but once more stand in my own dear +native land but for one moment--to see once more the scenes and the +faces that I love so well! Oh, how different is this land from mine! +Here all is dark, all is terrible. There the people love the light and +rejoice in the glorious sun, and when the dark season comes they wait, +and have no other desire than long day. There we live under the sky, +in the eye of the sun. We build our houses, and when the dark season +comes we fill them with lamps that make a blaze like the sun itself." + +"We must try to escape," I said, in a low voice. + +"Escape!" said she. "That is easy enough. We might go now; but where?" + +"Back," said I, "to your own country. See, the sky is dotted with +stars: I can find my way by them." + +"Yes," said she, "if I could only tell you where to go; but I cannot. +My country lies somewhere over the sea, but where, I know not. Over +the sea there are many lands, and we might reach one even worse than +this." + +"Perhaps," said I, "the Kohen might allow us to go away to your +country, and send us there. He is most generous and most amiable. He +seems to spend most of his time in efforts to make us happy. There +must be many seamen in this nation who know the way. It would be worth +trying." + +Almah shook her head. "You do not understand these people," said she. +"Their ruling passion is the hatred of self, and therefore they are +eager to confer benefits on others. The only hope of life that I have +for you and for myself is in this, that if they kill us they will lose +their most agreeable occupation. They value us most highly, because +we take everything that is given us. You and I now possess as our own +property all this city and all its buildings, and all the people have +made themselves our slaves." + +At this I was utterly bewildered. + +"I don't understand," said I. + +"I suppose not," said Almah; "but you will understand better after you +have been here longer. At any rate, you can see for yourself that the +ruling passion here is self-denial and the good of others. Everyone is +intent upon this, from the Kohen up to the most squalid pauper." + +"_Up_ to the most squalid pauper?" said I. "I do not understand you. +You mean _down_ to the most squalid pauper." + +"No," said Almah; "I mean what I say. In this country the paupers form +the most honored and envied class." + +"This is beyond my comprehension," said I. "But if this is really so, +and if these people pretend to be our slaves, why may we not order out +a galley and go?" + +"Oh, well, with you in your land, if a master were to order his slaves +to cut his throat and poison his children and burn his house, would +the slaves obey?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Well, our slaves here would not--in fact could not--obey a command +that would be shocking to their natures. They think that we are in the +best of all lands, and my request to be sent home would be utterly +monstrous." + +"I suppose," said I, "they would kill us if we asked them to do so?" + +"Yes," said Almah; "for they think death the greatest blessing." + +"And if at the point of death we should beg for life, would they spare +us?" + +"Certainly not," said Almah. "Would you kill a man who asked for +death? No more would these people spare a man who asked for life." + +All this was so utterly incomprehensible that I could pursue the +subject no further. I saw, however, that Almah was wretched, dejected, +and suffering greatly from home-sickness. Gladly would I have taken +her and started off on a desperate flight by sea or land--gladly would +I have dared every peril, although I well knew what tremendous perils +there were; but she would not consent, and believed the attempt to be +useless. I could only wait, therefore, and indulge the hope that at +last a chance of escape might one day come, of which she would be +willing to avail herself. + +Almah utterly refused to go to the feast, and entreated me not to go; +but this only served to increase my curiosity, and I determined to see +it for myself, whatever it was. She had seen it, and why should not I? +Whatever it might be, my nerves could surely stand the shock as well +as hers. Besides, I was anxious to know the very worst; and if there +was anything that could surpass in atrocity what I had already +witnessed, it were better that I should not remain in ignorance of it. + +So at length, leaving Almah, I returned to the hall of the feast. I +found there a vast multitude, which seemed to comprise the whole +city--men, women, children, all were there. Long tables were laid out. +The people were all standing an waiting. A choir was singing plaintive +strains that sounded like the chant of the sacrifice. Those nearest me +regarded me with their usual amiable smiles, and wished to conduct me +to some place of honor; but I did not care about taking part in this +feast. I wished to be a mere spectator, nothing more. I walked past +and came to the next cavern. This seemed to be quite as large as the +other. There was a crowd of people here also, and at one end there +blazed an enormous fire. It was a furnace that seemed to be used for +cooking the food of this banquet, and there was a thick steam rising +from an immense cauldron, while the air was filled with an odor like +that of a kitchen. + +All this I took in at a glance, and at the same instant I saw +something else. There were several very long tables, which stood at +the sides of the cavern and in the middle, and upon each of these I +saw lying certain things covered over with cloths. The shape of these +was more than suggestive--it told me all. It was a sight of +horror--awful, tremendous, unspeakable! For a moment I stood +motionless staring; then all the cavern seemed to swim around me. I +reeled, I fell, and sank into nothingness. + +When I revived I was in the lighted grotto, lying on a couch, with +Almah bending over me. Her face was full of tenderest anxiety, yet +there was also apparent a certain solemn gloom that well accorded with +my own feelings. As I looked at her she drew a long breath, and buried +her face in her hands. + +After a time my recollection returned, and all came back to me. I rose +to a sitting posture. + +"Do not rise yet," said Almah, anxiously; "you are weak." + +"No," said I; "I am as strong as ever; but I'm afraid that you are +weaker." + +Almah shuddered. + +"If you had told me exactly what it was, I would not have gone." + +"I could not tell you," said she. "It is too terrible to name. Even +the thought is intolerable. I told you not to go. Why did you go?" + +She spoke in accents of tender reproach, and there were tears in her +eyes. + +"I did not think of anything so hideous as that," said I. "I thought +that there might be a sacrifice, but nothing worse." + +I now learned that when I fainted I had been raised most tenderly, +and the Kohen himself came with me as I was carried back, and he +thought that Almah would be my most agreeable nurse. The Kohen was +most kind and sympathetic, and all the people vied with one another +in their efforts to assist me--so much so that there was the greatest +confusion. It was only by Almah's express entreaty that they retired +and left me with her. + +Here was a new phase in the character of this mysterious people. +Could I ever hope to understand them? Where other people are cruel to +strangers, or at best indifferent, these are eager in their acts of +kindness; they exhibit the most unbounded hospitality, the most lavish +generosity, the most self-denying care and attention; where others +would be offended at the intrusion of a stranger, and enraged at +his unconquerable disgust, these people had no feeling save pity, +sympathy, and a desire to alleviate his distress. And yet--oh, and +yet!--oh, thought of horror!--what was this that I had seen? The +abhorrent savages in the outer wilderness were surely of the same race +as these. They too received us kindly, they too lavished upon us their +hospitality, and yet there followed the horror of that frightful +repast. Here there had been kindness and generosity and affectionate +attention, to be succeeded by deeds without a name. Ah me! what an +hour that was! And yet it was as nothing compared to what lay before +me in the future. + +But the subject was one of which I dared not speak--one from which I +had to force my thoughts away. I took the violin and played "Lochaber" +till Almah wept, and I had to put it away. Then I begged her to play +or sing. She brought an instrument like a lute, and upon this she +played some melancholy strains. At length the Kohen came in. His +mild, benevolent face never exhibited more gentle and affectionate +sympathy than now. He seated himself, and with eyes half closed, as +usual, talked much; and yet, with a native delicacy which always +distinguished this extraordinary man, he made no allusion to the +awful Mista Kosek. For my own part, I could not speak. I was +absent-minded, overwhelmed with gloom and despair, and at the same +time full of aversion toward him and all his race. One question, +however, I had to put. + +"Who were the victims of the Mista Kosek?" + +"They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims +of the sacrifice." + +I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's +lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his +usual consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +I LEARN MY DOOM + + +Horror is a feeling that cannot last long; human nature is +incapable of supporting it. Sadness, whether from bereavement, or +disappointment, or misfortune of any kind, may linger on through life. +In my case, however, the milder and more enduring feeling of sadness +had no sufficient cause for existence. The sights which I had seen +inspired horror, and horror only. But when the first rush of this +feeling had passed there came a reaction. Calmness followed, and then +all the circumstances of my life here conspired to perpetuate that +calm. For here all on the surface was pleasant and beautiful; all the +people were amiable and courteous and most generous. I had light and +luxury and amusements. Around me there were thousands of faces, all +greeting me with cordial affection, and thousands of hands all ready +to perform my slightest wish. Above all, there was Almah. Everything +combined to make her most dear to me. My life had been such that I +never before had seen anyone whom I loved; and here Almah was the one +congenial associate in a whole world of aliens: she was beautiful +and gentle and sympathetic, and I loved her dearly, even before I +understood what my feelings were. One day I learned all, and found +that she was more precious to me than all the world. + +It was one jom when she did not make her appearance as usual. On +asking after her I learned that she was ill. At this intelligence +there came over me a feeling of sickening anxiety and fear. Almah ill! +What if it should prove serious? Could I endure life here without her +sweet companionship? Of what value was life without her? And as I +asked myself these questions I learned that Almah had become dearer +to me than life itself, and that in her was all the sunshine of my +existence. While she was absent, life was nothing; all its value, all +its light, its flavor, its beauty, were gone. I felt utterly crushed. +I forgot all else save her illness, and all that I had endured seemed +as nothing when compared with this. + +In the midst of my own anxiety I was surprised to find that the whole +community was most profoundly agitated. Among all classes there seemed +to be but one thought--her illness. I could overhear them talking I +could see them wait outside to hear about her. It seemed to be the one +subject of interest, beside which all others were forgotten. The Kohen +was absorbed in her case; all the physicians of the city were more or +less engaged in her behalf; and there came forward as volunteers every +woman in the place who had any knowledge of sick-duties. I was +somewhat perplexed, however, at their manner. They were certainly +agitated and intensely interested, yet not exactly sad. Indeed, from +what I heard it seemed as though this strange people regarded sickness +as rather a blessing than otherwise. This, however, did not interfere +in the slightest degree with the most intense interest in her, and the +most assiduous attention. The Kohen in particular was devoted to her. +He was absent-minded, silent, and full of care. On the whole, I felt +more than ever puzzled, and less able than ever to understand these +people. I loved them, yet loathed them; for the Kohen I had at once +affection and horror. He looked like an anxious father, full of +tenderest love for a sick child--full also of delicate sympathy with +me; and yet I knew all the time that he was quite capable of plunging +the sacrificial knife in Almah's heart and of eating her afterward. + +But my own thoughts were all of Almah. I learned how dear she was. +With her the brightness of life had passed; without her existence +would be intolerable. Her sweet voice, her tender and gracious manner, +her soft touch, her tender, affectionate smile, her mournful yet +trustful look--oh, heavens! would all these be mine no more? I could +not endure the thought. At first I wandered about, seeking rest and +finding none; and at length I sat in my own room, and passed the time +in listening, in questioning the attendants, in wondering what I +should do if she should be taken from me. + +At length on one blessed jom, the Kohen came to me with a bright +smile. + +"Our darling Almah is better," said he. "Eat, I beseech you. She is +very dear to all of us, and we have all felt for her and for you. But +now all danger is past. The physicians say that she will soon be +well." There were tears in his eyes as he spoke. It may have been +caused by the bright light, but I attributed this to his loving heart, +and I forgot that he was a cannibal. I took his hands in mine and +pressed them in deep emotion. He looked at me with a sweet and gentle +smile. + +"I see it all," said he, in a low voice--"you love her, Atam-or." + +I pressed his hands harder, but said nothing. Indeed, I could not +trust myself to speak. + +"I knew it," said he; "it is but natural. You are both of a different +race from us; you are both much alike, and in full sympathy with one +another. This draws you together. When I first saw you I thought that +you would be a fit companion for her here--that you would lessen her +gloom, and that she would be pleasant to you. I found out soon that I +was right, and I felt glad, for you at once showed the fullest +sympathy with one another. Never till you came was Almah happy with +us; but since you have come she has been a different being, and there +has been a joyousness in her manner that I never saw before. You have +made her forget how to weep; and as for yourself, I hope she has made +your life in this strange land seem less painful, Atam-or." + +At all this I was so full of amazement that I could not say one word. + +"Pardon me," continued he, "if I have said anything that may seem like +an intrusion upon your secret and most sacred feelings. I could not +have said it had it not been for the deep affection I feel for Almah +and for you, and for the reason that I am just now more moved than +usual, and have less control over my feelings." + +Saying this, he pressed my hand and left me. It was not the custom +here to shake hands, but with his usual amiability he had adopted my +custom, and used it as naturally as though he had been to the manner +born. + +I was encouraged now. The mild Kohen came often to cheer me. He talked +much about Almah--about her sweet and gracious disposition, the love +that all felt for her, the deep and intense interest which her illness +had aroused. In all this he seemed more like a man of my own race than +before, and in his eager desire for her recovery he failed to exhibit +that love for death which was his nature. So it seemed: yet this +desire for her recovery did not arise out of any lack of love for +death; its true cause I was to learn afterward; and I was to know that +if he desired Almah's recovery now, it was only that she might live +long enough to encounter death in a more terrific form. But just then +all this was unknown, and I judged him by myself. + +At last I learned that she was much better, and would be out on the +following jom. This intelligence filled me with a fever of eager +anticipation, so great that I could think of nothing else. Sleep was +impossible. I could only wait, and try as best I might to quell my +impatience. At last the time came. I sat waiting. The curtain was +drawn aside. I sprang up, and, hurrying toward her, I caught her in my +arms and wept for joy. Ah me, how pale she looked! She bore still the +marks of her illness. She seemed deeply embarrassed and agitated at +the fervor of my greeting; while I, instead of apologizing or trying +to excuse myself, only grew more agitated still. + +"Oh, Almah," I cried. "I should have died if you had not come back to +me! Oh, Almah, I love you better than life and I never knew how dearly +I loved you till I thought that I had lost you! Oh, forgive me, but I +must tell you--and don't weep, darling." + +She was weeping as I spoke. She said nothing, but twined her arms +around my neck and wept on my breast. After this we had much to say +that we had never mentioned before. I cannot tell the sweet words that +she said to me; but I now learned that she had loved me from the +first--when I came to her in her loneliness, when she was homesick and +heartsick; and I came, a kindred nature, of a race more like her own; +and she saw in me the only one of all around her whom it was possible +not to detest, and therefore she loved me. + +We had many things to say to one another, and long exchanges of +confidence to make. She now for the first time told me all the sorrow +that she had endured in her captivity--sorrow which she had kept +silent and shut up deep within her breast. At first her life here had +been so terrible that it had brought her down nearly to death. After +this she had sunk into dull despair; she had grown familiar with +horrors and lived in a state of unnatural calm. From this my arrival +had roused her. The display of feeling on my part had brought back +all her old self, and roused anew all those feelings which in her had +become dormant. The darkness, the bloodshed, the sacrifices, all these +affected me as they had once affected her. I had the same fear of +death which she had. When I had gone with her to the cheder nebilin, +when I had used my sepet-ram to save life, she had perceived in me +feelings and impulses to which all her own nature responded. Finally, +when I asked about the Mista Kosek, she warned me not to go. When I +did go she was with me in thought and suffered all that I felt, until +the moment when I was brought back and laid senseless at her feet. + +"Then," said Almah, "I felt the full meaning of all that lies before +us." + +"What do you mean by that?" I asked, anxiously. "You speak as though +there were something yet--worse than what has already been; yet +nothing can possibly be worse. We have seen the worst; let us now try +to shake off these grisly thoughts, and be happy with one another. +Your strength will soon be back, and while we have one another we can +be happy even in this gloom." + +"Ah me," said Almah, "it would be better now to die. I could die happy +now, since I know that you love me." + +"Death!" said I; "do not talk of it--do not mention that word. It is +more abhorrent than ever. No, Almah, let us live and love--let us +hope--let us fly." + +"Impossible!" said she, in a mournful voice. "We cannot fly. There is +no hope. We must face the future, and make up our minds to bear our +fate." + +"Fate!" I repeated, looking at her in wonder and in deep concern. +"What do you mean by our fate? Is there anything more which you know +and which I have not heard?" + +"You have heard nothing," said she, slowly; "and all that you have +seen and heard is as nothing compared with what lies before us. For +you and for me there is a fate--inconceivable, abhorrent, +tremendous!--a fate of which I dare not speak or even think, and from +which there is no escape whatever." + +As Almah said this she looked at me with an expression in which terror +and anguish were striving with love. Her cheeks, which shortly before +had flushed rosy red in sweet confusion, were now pallid, her lips +ashen; her eyes were full of a wild despair. I looked at her in +wonder, and could not say a word. + +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "I am afraid of death!" + +"Almah," said I, "why will you speak of death? What is this fate which +you fear so much?" + +"It is this," said she hurriedly and with a shudder, "you and I are +singled out. I have been reserved for years until one should be found +who might be joined with me. You came. I saw it all at once. I have +known it--dreaded it--tried to fight against it. But it was of no use. +Oh, Atam-or, our love means death; for the very fact that you love me +and I love you seals our doom!" + +"Our doom? What doom?" + +"The sacrifice!" exclaimed Almah, with another shudder. In her voice +and look there was a terrible meaning, which I could not fail to take. +I understood it now, and my blood curdled in my veins. Almah clung to +me despairingly. + +"Do not leave me!" she cried--"do not leave me! I have no one but you. +The sacrifice, the sacrifice! It is our doom the great sacrifice--at +the end of the dark season. It is at the amir. We must go there to +meet our doom." + +"The amir?" I asked; "what is that?" + +"It is the metropolis," said she. + +I was utterly overwhelmed, yet still I tried to console her; but the +attempt was vain. + +"Oh!" she cried, "you will not understand. The sacrifice is but a +part--it is but the beginning. Death is terrible; yet it may be +endured--if there is only death. But oh!--oh think!--think of that +which comes after--the Mista Kosek!" + +Now the full meaning flashed upon me, and I saw it all. In an instant +there arose in my mind the awful sacrifice on the pyramid and the +unutterable horror of the Mista Kosek. Oh, horror, horror, +horror! Oh, hideous abomination and deed without a name! I could not +speak. I caught her in my arms, and we both wept passionately. + +The happiness of our love was now darkened by this tremendous cloud +that lowered before us. The shock of this discovery was overpowering, +and some time elapsed before I could rally from it. Though Almah's +love was sweet beyond expression, and though as the time passed I +saw that every jom she regained more and more of her former +health and strength, still I could not forget what had been revealed. +We were happy with one another, yet our happiness was clouded, and +amid the brightness of our love there was ever present the dread +spectre of our appalling doom. + +These feelings, however, grew fainter. Hope is ever ready to arise; +and I began to think that these people, though given to evil ways, +were after all kind-hearted, and might listen to entreaty. Above all, +there was the Kohen, so benevolent, so self-denying, so amiable, so +sympathetic. I could not forget all that he had said during Almah's +illness, and it seemed more than probable that an appeal to his better +nature might not be without effect. I said as much to Almah. + +"The Kohen," said she; "why, he can do nothing." + +"Why not? He is the chief man here, and ought to have great +influence." + +"You don't understand," said she, with a sigh. "The Kohen is the +lowest and least influential man in the city." + +"Why, who are influential if he is not?" I asked. + +"The paupers," said Almah. + +"The paupers!" I exclaimed, in amazement. + +"Yes," said Almah. "Here among these people the paupers form the most +honored, influential, and envied portion of the community." + +This was incomprehensible. Almah tried to explain, but to no purpose, +and I determined to talk to the Kohen. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE + + +I determined to talk to the Kohen, and try for myself whether he might +not be accessible to pity. This greatest of cannibals might, indeed, +have his little peculiarities, I thought, and who has not?--yet at +bottom he seemed full of tender and benevolent feeling; and as he +evidently spent his whole time in the endeavor to make us happy, it +seemed not unlikely that he might do something for our happiness in a +case where our very existence was at stake. + +The Kohen listened with deep attention as I stated my case. I did this +fully and frankly. I talked of my love for Almah and of Almah's love +for me; our hope that we might be united so as to live happily in +reciprocal affection; and I was going on to speak of the dread that +was in my heart when he interrupted me: + +"You speak of being united," said he. "You talk strangely. Of course +you mean that you wish to be separated." + +"Separated!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean? Of course we wish to be +united." + +The Kohen stared at me as I said this with the look of one who was +quite puzzled; and I then went on to speak of the fate that was before +us, and to entreat his sympathy and his aid that we might be saved +from so hideous a doom. To all these words the Kohen listened with an +air of amazement, as though I were saying incomprehensible things. + +"You have a gentle and an affectionate nature," I said--"a nature full +of sympathy with others, and noble self-denial." + +"Of course," said the Kohen, quickly, as though glad to get hold of +something which he could understand, "of course we are all so, for we +are so made. It is our nature. Who is there who is not self-denying? +No one can help that." + +This sounded strange indeed; but I did not care to criticize it. I +came to my purpose direct and said, + +"Save us from our fate." + +"Your fate?" + +"Yes, from death--that death of horror." + +"Death?--horror? What do you mean by horror?" said the Kohen, in an +amazement that was sincere and unfeigned. "I cannot comprehend your +meaning. It seems as though you actually dislike death; but that is +not conceivable. It cannot be possible that you fear death." + +"Fear death!" I exclaimed, "I do--I do. Who is there that does not +fear it?" + +The Kohen stared. + +"I do not understand you," he said. + +"Do you not understand," said I, "that death is abhorrent to +humanity?" + +"Abhorrent!" said the Kohen; "that is impossible. Is it not the +highest blessing? Who is there that does not long for death? Death is +the greatest blessing, the chief desire of man--the highest aim. And +you--are you not to be envied in having your felicity so near? above +all, in having such a death as that which is appointed for you--so +noble, so sublime? You must be mad; your happiness has turned your +head." + +All this seemed like hideous mockery, and I stared at the Kohen with a +gaze that probably strengthened his opinion of my madness. + +"Do you love death?" I asked at length, in amazement. + +"Love death? What a question! Of course I love death--all men do; who +does not? Is it not human nature? Do we not instinctively fly to meet +it whenever we can? Do we not rush into the jaws of sea-monsters, or +throw ourselves within their grasp? Who does not feel within him this +intense longing after death as the strongest passion of his heart?" + +"I don't know--I don't know," said I. "You are of a different race; I +do not understand what you say. But I belong to a race that fears +death. I fear death and love life; and I entreat you, I implore you to +help me now in my distress, and assist me so that I may save my life +and that of Almah." + +"I--I help you!" said the Kohen, in new amazement. "Why do you come to +me--to me, of all men? Why, I am nothing here. And help you to +live--to live! Who ever heard of such a thing?" + +And the Kohen looked at me with the same astonishment which I should +evince if a man should ask me to help him to die. + +Still, I persisted in my entreaty for his help. + +"Such a request," said he, "is revolting; you must be mad. Such a +request outrages all the instincts of humanity. And even if I could do +such violence to my own nature as to help you to such a thing, how do +you think I could face my fellow-men, or how could I endure the +terrible punishment which would fall upon me?" + +"Punishment!" said I. "What! would you be punished?" + +"Punished!" said the Kohen. "That, of course, would be inevitable. I +should be esteemed an unnatural monster and the chief of criminals. My +lot in life now is painful enough; but in this case my punishment +would involve me in evils without end. Riches would be poured upon me; +I should be raised to the rank of Kohen Gadol; I should be removed +farther away than ever from the pauper class--so far, indeed, that all +hope in life would be over. I should be made the first and noblest and +richest in all the land." + +He spoke these words just as if he had said, "the lowest, meanest, +poorest, and most infamous." It sounded like fresh mockery, and I +could not believe but that he was amusing himself at my expense. + +"This is cruel," said I. "You are mocking me." + +"Cruel?--cruel?" said he; "what is cruel? You mean that such a fate +would be cruel for me." + +"No, no," said I; "but alas! I see we cannot understand one another." + +"No," said the Kohen, musingly, as he looked at me. "No, it seems not; +but tell me, Atam-or, is it possible that you really fear death--that +you really love life?" + +"Fear death!--love life!" I cried. "Who does not? Who can help it? Why +do you ask me that?" + +The Kohen clasped his hands in amazement. + +"If you really fear death," said he, "what possible thing is there +left to love or to hope for? What, then, do you think the highest +blessing of man?" + +"Long life," said I, "and riches and requited love." + +At this the Kohen started back, and stared at me as though I were a +raving madman. + +"Oh, holy shades of night!" he exclaimed. "What is that you say? What +do you mean?" + +"We can never understand one another, I fear," said I. "The love of +life must necessarily be the strongest passion of man. We are so made. +We give up everything for life. A long life is everywhere considered +as the highest blessing; and there is no one who is willing to die, no +matter what his suffering may be. Riches also are desired by all, for +poverty is the direst curse that can embitter life; and as to requited +love, surely that is the sweetest, purest, and most divine joy that +the human heart may know." + +At this the Kohen burst forth in a strain of high excitement: + +"Oh, sacred cavern gloom! Oh, divine darkness! Oh, impenetrable +abysses of night! What, oh, what is this! Oh, Atam-or, are you mad? +Alas! it must be so. Joy has turned your brain; you are quite +demented. You call good evil, and evil good; our light is your +darkness, and our darkness your light. Yet surely you cannot be +altogether insane. Come, come, let us look further. How is it! Try now +to recall your reason. A long life--a life, and a long one! Surely +there can be no human being in a healthy state of nature who wishes to +prolong his life; and as to riches, it is possible that anyone exists +who really and honestly desires riches? Impossible! And requited love! +Oh, Atam-or, you are mad to-day! You are always strange, but now you +have quite taken leave of your senses. I cannot but love you, and yet +I can never understand you. Tell me, and tell me truly, what is it +that you consider evils, if these things that you have mentioned are +not the very worst?" + +He seemed deeply in earnest and much moved. I could not understand +him, but could only answer his questions with simple conciseness. + +"Poverty, sickness, and death," said I, "are evils; but the worst of +all evils is unrequited love." + +At these words the Kohen made a gesture of despair. + +"It is impossible to understand this," said he. "You talk calmly; you +have not the air of a madman. If your fellow-countrymen are all like +you, then your race is an incomprehensible one. Why, death is the +greatest blessing. We all long for it; it is the end of our being. As +for riches, they are a curse, abhorred by all. Above all, as to love, +we shrink from the thought of requital. Death is our chief blessing, +poverty our greatest happiness, and unrequited love the sweetest lot +of man." + +All this sounded like the ravings of a lunatic, yet the Kohen was not +mad. It seemed also like the mockery of some teasing demon; but the +gentle and self-denying Kohen was no teasing demon, and mockery with +him was impossible. I was therefore more bewildered than ever at this +reiteration of sentiments that were so utterly incomprehensible. He, +on the other hand, seemed as astonished at my sentiments and as +bewildered, and we could find no common ground on which to meet. + +"I remember now," said the Kohen, in a musing tone, "having heard of +some strange folk at the Amir, who profess to feel as you say you +feel, but no one believes that they are in earnest; for although they +may even bring themselves to think that they are in earnest in their +professions, yet after all everyone thinks that they are +self-deceived. For you see, in the first place, these feelings which +you profess are utterly unnatural. We are so made that we cannot help +loving death; it is a sort of instinct. We are also created in such a +way that we cannot help longing after poverty. The pauper must always, +among all men, be the most envied of mortals. Nature, too, has made us +such that the passion of love, when it arises, is so vehement, so +all-consuming that it must always struggle to avoid requital. This is +the reason why, when two people find that they love each other, they +always separate and avoid one another for the rest of their lives. +This is human nature. We cannot help it; and it is this that +distinguishes us from the animals. Why, if men were to feel as you say +you feel, they would be mere animals. Animals fear death; animals love +to accumulate such things as they prize; animals, when they love, go +in pairs, and remain with one another. But man, with his intellect, +would not be man if he loved life and desired riches and sought for +requited love." + +I sank back in despair. "You cannot mean all this," I said. + +He threw at me a piteous glance. "What else can you believe or feel?" +said he. + +"The very opposite. We are so made that we hate and fear death; to us +he is the King of Terrors. Poverty is terrible also, since it is +associated with want and woe; it is, therefore, natural to man to +strive after riches. As to the passion of love, that is so vehement +that the first and only thought is requital. Unrequited love is +anguish beyond expression--anguish so severe that the heart will often +break under it." + +The Kohen clasped his hands in new bewilderment. + +"I cannot understand," said he. "A madman might imagine that he loved +life and desired riches; but as to love, why even a madman could not +think of requital, for the very nature of the passion of love is the +most utter self-surrender, and a shrinking from all requital; +wherefore, the feeling that leads one to desire requital cannot be +love. I do not know what it can be--indeed, I never heard of such a +thing before, and the annals of the human race make no mention of such +a feeling. For what is love? It is the ardent outflow of the whole +being--the yearning of one human heart to lavish all its treasures +upon another. Love is more than self-denial; it is self-surrender and +utter self-abnegation. Love gives all away, and cannot possibly +receive anything in return. A requital of love would mean selfishness, +which would be self-contradiction. The more one loves, the more he +must shrink from requital." + +"What!" cried I, "among you do lovers never marry?" + +"Lovers marry? Never!" + +"Do married people never love one another?" + +The Kohen shook his head. + +"It unfortunately sometimes happens so," said he, "and then the result +is, of course, distressing. For the children's sake the parents will +often remain with one another, but in many cases they separate. No one +can tell the misery that ensues where a husband and wife love one +another." + +The conversation grew insupportable. I could not follow the Kohen in +what seemed the wildest and maddest flights of fancy that ever were +known; so I began to talk of other things, and gradually the Kohen was +drawn to speak of his own life. The account which he gave of himself +was not one whit less strange than his previous remarks, and for this +reason I add it here. + +"I was born," said he, "in the most enviable of positions. My father +and mother were among the poorest in the land. Both died when I was a +child, and I never saw them. I grew up in the open fields and public +caverns, along with the most esteemed paupers. But, unfortunately for +me, there was something wanting in my natural disposition. I loved +death, of course, and poverty, too, very strongly; but I did not have +that eager and energetic passion which is so desirable, nor was I +watchful enough over my blessed estate of poverty. Surrounded as I was +by those who were only too ready to take advantage of my ignorance or +want of vigilance, I soon fell into evil ways, and gradually, in spite +of myself, I found wealth pouring in upon me. Designing men succeeded +in winning my consent to receive their possessions; and so I gradually +fell away from that lofty position in which I was born. I grew richer +and richer. My friends warned me, but in vain. I was too weak to +resist; in fact, I lacked moral fibre, and had never learned how to +say 'No.' So I went on, descending lower and lower in the scale of +being. I became a capitalist, an Athon, a general officer, and finally +Kohen. + +"At length, on one eventful day, I learned that one of my associates +had by a long course of reckless folly become the richest man in all +the country. He had become Athon, Melek, and at last Kohen Gadol. It +was a terrible shock, but I trust a salutary one. I at once resolved +to reform. That resolution I have steadily kept, and have at least +saved myself from descending any lower. It is true, I can hardly hope +to become what I once was. It is only too easy to grow rich; and, you +know, poverty once forfeited can never return except in rare +instances. I have, however, succeeded in getting rid of most of my +wealth, chiefly through the fortunate advent of Almah and afterward of +yourself. This, I confess, has been my salvation. Neither of you had +any scruples about accepting what was bestowed, and so I did not feel +as though I was doing you any wrong in giving you all I had in the +world. Most of the people of this city have taken advantage of your +extraordinary indifference to wealth, and have made themselves paupers +at your expense. I had already become your slave, and had received the +promise of being elevated to the rank of scullion in the cavern of the +Mista Kosek. But now, since this event of your love for Almah, I +hope to gain far more. I am almost certain of being made a pauper, and +I think I can almost venture to hope some day for the honor of a +public death." + +To such a story I had nothing to say. It was sheer madness; yet it was +terribly suggestive, and showed how utterly hopeless was my effort to +secure the assistance of such a man toward my escape from death. + +"A public death!" I said, grimly. "That will be very fortunate! And do +you think that you will gain the dignity of being eaten up afterward?" + +The Kohen shook his head in all seriousness. + +"Oh no," said he; "that would be far beyond my deserts. That is an +honor which is only bestowed upon the most distinguished." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE KOSEKIN + + +These people call themselves the Kosekin. Their chief characteristic, +or, at least, their most prominent one, is their love of darkness, +which perhaps is due to their habit of dwelling in caves. Another +feeling, equally strong and perhaps connected with this, is their love +of death and dislike of life. This is visible in many ways, and +affects all their character. It leads to a passionate self-denial, an +incessant effort to benefit others at their own expense. Each one +hates life and longs for death. He, therefore, hates riches, and all +things that are associated with life. + +Among the Kosekin everyone makes perpetual efforts to serve others, +which, however, are perpetually baffled by the unselfishness of these +others. People thus spend years in trying to overreach one another, so +as to make others richer than themselves. In a race each one tries to +keep behind; but as this leads to confusion, there is then a universal +effort for each one to be first, so as to put his neighbor in the +honorable position of the rear. It is the same way in a hunt. Each one +presses forward, so as to honor his companion by leaving him behind. +Instead of injuring, everyone tries to benefit his neighbor. When one +has been benefited by another, he is filled with a passion which may +be called Kosekin revenge--namely, a sleepless and vehement desire to +bestow some adequate and corresponding benefit on the other. Feuds +are thus kept up among families and wars among nations. For no one is +willing to accept from another any kindness, any gift, or any honor, +and all are continually on the watch to prevent themselves from being +overreached in this way. Those who are less watchful than others are +overwhelmed with gifts by designing men, who wish to attain to the +pauper class. The position of Almah and myself illustrates this. Our +ignorance of the blessings and honors of poverty led us to receive +whatever was offered us. Taking advantage of our innocence and +ignorance, the whole city thereupon proceeded to bestow their property +upon us, and all became paupers through our fortunate arrival. + +No one ever injures another unless by accident, and when this occurs +it affords the highest joy to the injured party. He has now a claim on +the injurer; he gets him into his power, is able to confer benefits on +him and force upon him all that he wishes. The unhappy injurer, thus +punished by the reception of wealth, finds himself helpless; and where +the injury is great, the injured man may bestow upon the other all his +wealth and attain to the envied condition of a pauper. + +Among the Kosekin the sick are objects of the highest regard. All +classes vie with one another in their attentions. The rich send their +luxuries; the paupers, however, not having anything to give, go +themselves and wait on them and nurse them. For this there is no help, +and the rich grumble, but can do nothing. The sick are thus sought out +incessantly, and most carefully tended. When they die there is great +rejoicing, since death is a blessing; but the nurses labor hard to +preserve them in life, so as to prolong the enjoyment of the high +privilege of nursing. Of all sick the incurable are most honored, +since they require nursing always. Children also are highly honored +and esteemed, and the aged too, since both classes require the care of +others and must be the recipients of favors which all are anxious to +bestow. Those who suffer from contagious diseases are more sought +after than any other class, for in waiting on these there is the +chance of gaining the blessing of death; indeed, in these cases much +trouble is usually experienced from the rush of those who insist on +offering their services. + +For it must never be forgotten that the Kosekin love death as we love +life; and this accounts for all those ceremonies which to me were so +abhorrent, especially the scenes of the Mista Kosek. To them a dead +human body is no more than the dead body of a bird: there is no awe +felt, no sense of sanctity, of superstitious horror; and so I learned, +with a shudder, that the hate of life is a far worse thing than the +fear of death. This desire for death is, then, a master-passion, and +is the key to all their words and acts. They rejoice over the death of +friends, since those friends have gained the greatest of blessings; +they rejoice also at the birth of children, since those who are born +will one day gain the bliss of death. + +For a couple to fall in love is the signal for mutual self-surrender. +Each insists on giving up the loved one; and the more passionate the +love is, the more eager is the desire to have the loved one married to +someone else. Lovers have died broken-hearted from being compelled to +marry one another. Poets here among the Kosekin celebrate unhappy love +which has met with this end. These poets also celebrate defeats +instead of victories, since it is considered glorious for one nation +to sacrifice itself to another; but to this there are important +limitations, as we shall see. Poets also celebrate street-sweepers, +scavengers, lamp-lighters, laborers, and above all, paupers, and pass +by as unworthy of notice the authors, Meleks, and Kohens of the land. + +The paupers here form the most honorable class. Next to these are the +laborers. These have strikes as with us; but it is always for harder +work, longer hours, or smaller pay. The contest between capital and +labor rages, but the conditions are reversed; for the grumbling +capitalist complains that the laborer will not take as much pay as he +ought to while the laborer thinks the capitalist too persistent in his +efforts to force money upon him. + +Here among the Kosekin the wealthy class forms the mass of the people, +while the aristocratic few consist of the paupers. These are greatly +envied by the others, and have many advantages. The cares and burdens +of wealth, as well as wealth itself, are here considered a curse, and +from all these the paupers are exempt. There is a perpetual effort on +the part of the wealthy to induce the paupers to accept gifts, just +as among us the poor try to rob the rich. Among the wealthy there is +a great and incessant murmur at the obstinacy of the paupers. Secret +movements are sometimes set on foot which aim at a redistribution of +property and a levelling of all classes, so as to reduce the haughty +paupers to the same condition as the mass of the nation. More than +once there has been a violent attempt at a revolution, so as to force +wealth on the paupers; but as a general thing these movements have +been put down and their leaders severely punished. The paupers have +shown no mercy in their hour of triumph; they have not conceded one +jot to the public demand, and the unhappy conspirators have been +condemned to increased wealth and luxury, while the leaders have +been made Meleks and Kohens. Thus there are among the Kosekin the +unfortunate many who are cursed with wealth, and the fortunate few who +are blessed with poverty. These walk while the others ride, and from +their squalid huts look proudly and contemptuously upon the palaces of +their unfortunate fellow-countrymen. + +The love of death leads to perpetual efforts on the part of each to +lay down his life for another. This is a grave difficulty in hunts and +battles. Confined prisoners dare not fly, for in such an event the +guards kill themselves. This leads to fresh rigors in the captivity of +the prisoners in case of their recapture, for they are overwhelmed +with fresh luxuries and increased splendors. Finally, if a prisoner +persist and is recaptured, he is solemnly put to death, not, as with +us, by way of severity, but as the last and greatest honor. Here +extremes meet; and death, whether for honor or dishonor, is all the +same--death--and is reserved for desperate cases. But among the +Kosekin this lofty destiny is somewhat embittered by the agonizing +thought on the part of the prisoner, who thus gains it, that his +wretched family must be doomed, not, as with us, to poverty and want, +but, on the contrary, to boundless wealth and splendor. + +Among so strange a people it seemed singular to me what offences could +possibly be committed which could be regarded and punished as crimes. +These, however, I soon found out. Instead of robbers, the Kosekin +punished the secret bestowers of their wealth on others. This is +regarded as a very grave offence. Analogous to our crime of piracy +is the forcible arrest of ships at sea and the transfer to them of +valuables. Sometimes the Kosekin pirates give themselves up as slaves. +Kidnapping, assault, highway robbery, and crimes of violence have +their parallel here in cases where a strong man, meeting a weaker, +forces himself upon him as his slave or compels him to take his purse. +If the weaker refuse, the assailant threatens to kill himself, which +act would lay the other under obligations to receive punishment from +the state in the shape of gifts and honors, or at least subject him +to unpleasant inquiries. Murder has its counterpart among the Kosekin +in cases where one man meets another, forces money on him, and kills +himself. Forgery occurs where one uses another's name so as to confer +money on him. + +There are many other crimes, all of which are severely punished. The +worse the offence is, the better is the offender treated. Among the +Kosekin capital punishment is imprisonment amid the greatest splendor, +where the prisoner is treated like a king, and has many palaces and +great retinues; for that which we consider the highest they regard as +the lowest, and with them the chief post of honor is what we would +call the lowest menial office. Of course, among such a people, any +suffering from want is unknown, except when it is voluntary. The +pauper class, with all their great privileges, have this restriction, +that they are forced to receive enough for food and clothing. Some, +indeed, manage by living in out-of-the-way places to deprive +themselves of these, and have been known to die of starvation; but +this is regarded as dishonorable, as taking an undue advantage of a +great position, and where it can be proved, the children and relatives +of the offender are severely punished according to the Kosekin +fashion. + +State politics here move, like individual affairs, upon the great +principle of contempt for earthly things. The state is willing to +destroy itself for the good of other states; but as other states are +in the same position, nothing can result. In times of war the object +of each army is to honor the other and benefit it by giving it the +glory of defeat. The contest is thus most fierce. The Kosekin, through +their passionate love of death, are terrible in battle; and when they +are also animated by the desire to confer glory on their enemies by +defeating them, they generally succeed in their aim. This makes them +almost always victorious, and when they are not so not a soul returns +alive. Their state of mind is peculiar. If they are defeated they +rejoice, since defeat is their chief glory; but if they are victorious +they rejoice still more in the benevolent thought that they have +conferred upon the enemy the joy, the glory, and the honor of defeat. + +Here all shrink from governing others. The highest wish of each is to +serve. The Meleks and Kohens, whom I at first considered the highest, +are really the lowest orders; next to these come the authors, then the +merchants, then farmers, then artisans, then laborers, and, finally, +the highest rank is reached in the paupers. Happy the aristocratic, +the haughty, the envied paupers! The same thing is seen in their +armies. The privates here are highest in rank, and the officers come +next in different graduations. These officers, however, have the +command and the charge of affairs as with us; yet this is consistent +with their position, for here to obey is considered nobler than to +command. In the fleet the rowers are the highest class; next come the +fighting-men; and lowest of all are the officers. War arises from +motives as peculiar as those which give rise to private feuds; as, for +instance, where one nation tries to force a province upon another; +where they try to make each other greater; where they try to benefit +unduly each other's commerce; where one may have a smaller fleet or +army than has been agreed on, or where an ambassador has been +presented with gifts, or received too great honor or attention. + +In such a country as this, where riches are disliked and despised, I +could not imagine how people could be induced to engage in trade. +This, however, was soon explained. The laborers and artisans have to +perform their daily work, so as to enable the community to live and +move and have its being. Their impelling motive is the high one of +benefiting others most directly. They refuse anything but the very +smallest pay, and insist on giving for this the utmost possible labor. +Tradesmen also have to supply the community with articles of all +sorts; merchants have to sail their ships to the same end--all being +animated by the desire of effecting the good of others. Each one tries +not to make money, but to lose it; but as the competition is sharp and +universal, this is difficult, and the larger portion are unsuccessful. +The purchasers are eager to pay as much as possible, and the merchants +and traders grow rich in spite of their utmost endeavors. The wealthy +classes go into business so as to lose money, but in this they seldom +succeed. It has been calculated that only two per cent in every +community succeed in reaching the pauper class. The tendency is for +all the labors of the working-class to be ultimately turned upon the +unfortunate wealthy class. The workmen being the creators of wealth, +and refusing to take adequate pay, cause a final accumulation of the +wealth of the community in the hands of the mass of the non-producers, +who thus are fixed in their unhappy position, and can hope for no +escape except by death. The farmers till the ground, the fishermen +fish, the laborers toil, and the wealth thus created is pushed from +these incessantly till it all falls upon the lowest class--namely, the +rich, including Athons, Meleks, and Kohens. It is a burden that is +often too heavy to be borne; but there is no help for it, and the +better-minded seek to cultivate resignation. + +Women and men are in every respect absolutely equal, holding precisely +the same offices and doing the same work. In general, however, it is +observed that women are a little less fond of death than men, and a +little less unwilling to receive gifts. For this reason they are very +numerous among the wealthy class, and abound in the offices of +administration. Women serve in the army and navy as well as men, and +from their lack of ambition or energetic perseverance they are usually +relegated to the lower ranks, such as officers and generals. To my +mind it seemed as though the women were in all the offices of honor +and dignity, but in reality it was the very opposite. The same is true +in the family. The husbands insist on giving everything to the wives +and doing everything for them. The wives are therefore universally the +rulers of the household while the husbands have an apparently +subordinate, but, to the Kosekin, a more honorable position. + +As to the religion of the Kosekin, I could make nothing of it. They +believe that after death they go to what they call the world of +darkness. The death they long for leads to the darkness that they +love; and the death and the darkness are eternal. Still, they persist +in saying that the death and the darkness together form a state of +bliss. They are eloquent about the happiness that awaits them there in +the sunless land--the world of darkness; but for my own part, it +always seemed to me a state of nothingness. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +BELIEF AND UNBELIEF + + +The doctor was here interrupted by Featherstone, who, with a yawn, +informed him that it was eleven o'clock, and that human endurance had +its limits. Upon this the doctor rolled up the manuscript and put it +aside for the night, after which supper was ordered. + +"Well," said Featherstone, "what do you think of this last?" + +"It contains some very remarkable statements," said the doctor. + +"There are certainly monsters enough in it," said Melick-- + + "'Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.'" + +"Well, why not?" said the doctor. + +"It seems to me," said Melick, "that the writer of this has peopled +his world with creatures that resemble the fossil animals more than +anything else." + +"The so-called fossil animals," said the doctor, "may not be extinct. +There are fossil specimens of animals that still have living +representatives. There is no reason why many of those supposed to be +extinct may not be alive now. It is well known that many very +remarkable animals have become extinct within a comparatively recent +period. These great birds, of which More speaks, seem to me to belong +to these classes. The dodo was in existence fifty years ago, the moa +about a hundred years ago. These great birds, together with others, +such as the epiornis and palapteryx, have disappeared, not through the +ordinary course of nature, but by the hand of man. Even in our +hemisphere they may yet be found. Who can tell but that the moa or the +dodo may yet be lurking somewhere here in the interior of Madagascar, +of Borneo, or of Papua?" + +"Can you make out anything about those great birds?" asked +Featherstone. "Do they resemble anything that exists now, or has ever +existed?" + +"Well, yes, I think so," said the doctor. "Unfortunately, More is not +at all close or accurate in his descriptions; he has a decidedly +unscientific mind, and so one cannot feel sure; yet from his general +statements I think I can decide pretty nearly upon the nature and the +scientific name of each one of his birds and animals. It is quite +evident to me that most of these animals belong to races that no +longer exist among us, and that this world at the South Pole has many +characteristics which are like those of what is known as the Coal +Period. I allude in particular to the vast forests of fern, of +gigantic grasses and reeds. At the same time the general climate and +the atmosphere seem like what we may find in the tropics at present. +It is evident that in More's world various epochs are represented, and +that animals of different ages are living side by side." + +"What do you think of the opkuk?" asked Featherstone, with a yawn. + +"Well, I hardly know." + +"Why, it must be a dodo, of course," said Melick, "only magnified." + +"That," said the doctor, gravely, "is a thought that naturally +suggests itself; but then the opkuk is certainly far larger than the +dodo." + +"Oh, More put on his magnifying-glasses just then." + +"The dodo," continued the doctor, taking no notice of this, "in other +respects corresponds with More's description of the opkuk. Clusius and +Bontius give good descriptions and there is a well-known picture of +one in the British Museum. It is a massive, clumsy bird, ungraceful in +its form with heavy movements, wings too short for flight, little or +no tail, and down rather than feathers. The body, according to +Bontius, is as big as that of the African ostrich, but the legs are +very short. It has a large head, great black eyes, long bluish-white +bill, ending in a beak like that of a vulture, yellow legs, thick and +short, four toes on each foot solid, long, and armed with sharp black +claws. The flesh particularly on the breast, is fat and esculent. Now, +all this corresponds with More's account, except as to the size of the +two, for the opkuks are as large as oxen." + +"Oh, that's nothing," said Melick; "I'm determined to stand up for the +dodo." With this he burst forth singing-- + + "Oh, the dodo once lived, but he doesn't live now; + Yet why should a cloud overshadow our brow? + The loss of that bird ne'er should trouble our brains, + For though he is gone, still our claret remains. + Sing do-do--jolly do-do! + Hurrah! in his name let our cups overflow." + +"As for your definition, doctor," continued Melick, "I'll give you one +worth a dozen of yours: + + "'Twas a mighty bird; those strong, short legs were never known to fail, + And he felt a glory of pride while thinking of that little tail, + And his beak was marked with vigor, curving like a wondrous hook; + Thick and ugly was his body--such a form as made one look!" + +"Melick," said Featherstone, "you're a volatile youth. You mustn't +mind him, doctor. He's a professional cynic, sceptic, and scoffer. +Oxenden and I, however, are open to conviction, and want to know more +about those birds and beasts. Can you make anything out of the +opmahera?" + +The doctor swallowed a glass of wine, and replied: + +"Oh yes; there are many birds, each of which may be the opmahera. +There's the fossil bird of Massachusetts, of which nothing is left but +the footprints; but some of these are eighteen inches in length, and +show a stride of two yards. The bird belonged to the order of the +Grallae, and may have been ten or twelve feet in height. Then there +is the Gastornis parisiensis, which was as tall as an ostrich, as +big as an ox, and belongs to the same order as the other. Then there +is the Palapteryx, of which remains have been found in New Zealand, +which was seven or eight feet in height. But the one which to my mind +is the real counterpart of the opmahera is the Dinornis gigantea, +whose remains are also found in New Zealand. It is the largest bird +known, with long legs, a long neck, and short wings, useless for +flight. One specimen that has been found is upward of thirteen feet in +height. There is no reason why some should not have been much taller. +More compares its height to that of a giraffe. The Maoris call this +bird the Moa, and their legends and traditions are full of mention +of it. When they first came to the island, six or seven hundred years +ago, they found these vast birds everywhere, and hunted them for food. +To my mind the dinornis is the opmahera of More. As to riding on them, +that is likely enough; for ostriches are used for this purpose, and +the dinornis must have been far stronger and fleeter than the ostrich. +It is possible that some of these birds may still be living in the +remoter parts of our hemisphere." + +"What about those monsters," asked Featherstone, "that More speaks of +in the sacred hunt?" + +"I think," said the doctor, "that I understand pretty well what they +were, and can identify them all. As the galley passed the estuary +of that great river, you remember that he mentions seeing them on +the shore. One may have been the Ichthyosaurus. This, as the name +implies, is a fish-lizard. It has the head of a lizard, the snout of +a dolphin, the teeth of an alligator, enormous eyes, whose membrane +is strengthened by a bony frame, the vertebrae of fishes, sternum and +shoulder-bones like those of the lizard, and the fins of a whale. +Bayle calls it the whale of the saurians. Another may have been the +Cheirotherium. On account of the hand-shaped marks made by its paws, +Owen thinks that it was akin to the frogs; but it was a formidable +monster, with head and jaws of a crocodile. Another may have been the +Teleosaurus, which resembled our alligators. It was thirty-five feet +in length. Then there was the Hylaeosaurus, a monster twenty-five +feet in length, with a cuirass of bony plates." + +"But none of these correspond with More's description of the monster +that fought with the galley." + +"No," said the doctor, "I am coming to that now. That monster could +have been no other than the Plesiosaurus, one of the most wonderful +animals that has ever existed. Imagine a thing with the head of a +lizard, the teeth of a crocodile, the neck of a swan, the trunk and +tail of a quadruped, and the fins of a whale. Imagine a whale with its +head and neck consisting of a serpent, with the strength of the former +and the malignant fury of the latter, and then you will have the +plesiosaurus. It was an aquatic animal, yet it had to remain near or +on the surface of the water, while its long, serpent-like neck enabled +it to reach its prey above or below with swift, far-reaching darts. +Yet it had no armor, and could not have been at all a match for the +ichthyosaurus. More's account shows, however, that it was a fearful +enemy for man to encounter." + +"He seems to have been less formidable than that beast which they +encountered in the swamp. Have you any idea what that was?" + +"I think it can have been no other than the Iguanodon," said the +doctor. "The remains of this animal show that it must have been the +most gigantic of all primeval saurians. Judging from existing remains +its length was not less than sixty feet, and larger ones may have +existed. It stood high on its legs; the hind ones were larger than the +fore. The feet were massive and armed with tremendous claws. It lived +on the land and fed on herbage. It had a horny, spiky ridge all along +its back. Its tail was nearly as long as its body. Its head was short, +its jaws enormous, furnished with teeth of a very elaborate structure, +and on its muzzle it carried a curved horn. Such a beast as this might +well have caused all that destruction of life on the part of his +desperate assailants of which More speaks. + +"Then there was another animal," continued the doctor, who was +evidently discoursing upon a favorite topic. "It was the one that came +suddenly upon More while he was resting with Almah after his flight +with the run-away bird. That I take to be the Megalosaurus. This +animal was a monster of tremendous size and strength. Cuvier thought +that it might have been seventy feet in length. It was carnivorous, +and therefore more ferocious than the iguanodon, and more ready to +attack. Its head was like that of a crocodile, its body massive like +that of an elephant, yet larger; its tail was small, and it stood high +on its legs, so that it could run with great speed. It was not covered +with bony armor, but had probably a hide thick enough to serve the +purpose of shell or bone. Its teeth were constructed so as to cut with +their edges, and the movement of the jaws produced the combined effect +of knife and saw, while their inward curve rendered impossible the +escape of prey that had once been caught. It probably frequented +the river banks, where it fed upon reptiles of smaller size which +inhabited the same places. + +"More," continued the doctor, "is too general in his descriptions. He +has not a scientific mind, and he gives but few data; yet I can bring +before myself very easily all the scenes which he describes, +particularly that one in which the megalosaurus approaches, and he +rushes to mount the dinoris so as to escape. I see that river, with +its trees and shrubs, all unknown now except in museums--the +vegetation of the Coal Period--the lepidodendron, the lepidostrobus, +the pecopteris, the neuropteris, the lonchopteris, the odontopteris, +the sphenopteris, the cyclopteris, the sigellaria veniformis, the +sphenophyllium, the calamites--" + +Melick started to his feet. + +"There, there!" he cried, "hold hard, doctor. Talking of calamities, +what greater calamity can there be than such a torrent of unknown +words? Talk English, doctor, and we shall be able to appreciate you; +but to make your jokes, your conundrums, and your brilliant witticisms +in a foreign language isn't fair to us, and does no credit either to +your head or your heart." + +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, and took no notice of Melick's +ill-timed levity. + +"All these stories of strange animals," said Oxenden, "may be very +interesting, doctor, but I must say that I am far more struck by +the account of the people themselves. I wonder whether they are an +aboriginal race, or descendants of the same stock from which we came?" + +"I should say," remarked the doctor, confidently, "that they are, +beyond a doubt, an aboriginal and autochthonous race." + +"I differ from you altogether," said Oxenden, calmly. + +"Oh," said the doctor, "there can be no doubt about it. Their +complexion, small stature, and peculiar eyes--their love of darkness, +their singular characteristics, both physical and moral, all go to +show that they can have no connection with the races in our part of +the earth." + +"Their peculiar eyes," said Oxenden, "are no doubt produced by +dwelling in caves for many generations." + +"On the contrary," said the doctor, "it is their peculiarity of eye +that makes them dwell in caves." + +"You are mistaking the cause for the effect, doctor." + +"Not at all; it is you who are making that mistake." + +"It's the old debate," said Melick. "As the poet has it: + + "'Which was first, the egg or the hen? + Tell me, I pray, ye learned men!'" + +"There are the eyeless fishes of the great cave of Kentucky," said +Oxenden, "whose eyes have become extinct from living in the dark." + +"No," cried the doctor; "the fish that have arisen in that lake have +never needed eyes, and have never had them." + +Oxenden laughed. + +"Well," said he, "I'll discuss the question with you on different +grounds altogether, and I will show clearly that these men, these +bearded men, must belong to a stock that is nearly related to our own, +or, at least, that they belong to a race of men with whom we are all +very familiar." + +"I should like very much to have you try it," said the doctor. + +"Very well," said Oxenden. "In the first place, I take their +language." + +"Their language!" + +"Yes. More has given us very many words in their language. Now he +himself says that these words had an Arabic sound. He was slightly +acquainted with that language. What will you say if I tell you that +these words are still more like Hebrew?" + +"Hebrew!" exclaimed the doctor, in amazement. + +"Yes, Hebrew," said Oxenden. "They are all very much like Hebrew +words, and the difference is not greater than that which exists +between the words of any two languages of the Aryan family." + +"Oh, if you come to philology I'll throw up the sponge," said the +doctor. "Yet I should like to hear what you have to say on that +point." + +"The languages of the Aryan family," said Oxenden, "have the same +general characteristics, and in all of them the differences that exist +in their most common words are subject to the action of a regular law. +The action of the law is best seen in the changes which take place in +the mutes. These changes are indicated in a summary and comprehensive +way by means of what is called 'Grimm's Law.' Take Latin and English, +for instance. 'Grimm's Law' tells us, among other things, that in +Latin and in that part of English which is of Teutonic origin, a +large number of words are essentially the same, and differ merely in +certain phonetic changes. Take the word 'father.' In Latin, as also +in Greek, it is 'pater.' Now the Latin 'p' in English becomes 'f;' +that is, the thin mute becomes the aspirated mute. The same change +may be seen in the Latin 'piscis,' which in English is 'fish,' and +the Greek '[pi upsilon rho]' which in English is 'fire.' Again, if the +Latin or Greek word begins with an aspirate, the English word begins +with a medial; thus the Latin 'f' is found responsive to the English +'b,' as in Latin 'fagus,' English 'beech,' Latin 'fero,' English +'bear.' Again, if the Latin or Greek has the medial, the English has +the thin, as in Latin 'duo,' English 'two,' Latin 'genu,' English +'knee.' Now, I find that in many of the words which More mentions this +same 'Grimm's Law' will apply; and I am inclined to think that if they +were spelled with perfect accuracy they would show the same relation +between the Kosekin language and the Hebrew that there is between the +Saxon English and the Latin." + +The doctor gave a heavy sigh. + +"You're out of my depth, Oxenden," said he. "I'm nothing of a +philologist." + +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "I like this. This is equal to your list +of the plants of the Coal Period, doctor. But I say, Oxenden, while +you are about it, why don't you give us a little dose of Anglo-Saxon +and Sanscrit? By Jove! the fellow has Bopp by heart, and yet he +expects us to argue with him." + +"I have it!" cried Melick. "The Kosekin are the lost Ten Tribes. +Oxenden is feeling his way to that. He is going to make them out to be +all Hebrew; and then, of course, the only conclusion will be that they +are the Ten Tribes, who after a life of strange vicissitudes have +pulled up at the South Pole. It's a wonder More didn't think of +that--or the writer of this yarn, whoever he may be. Well, for my +part, I always took a deep interest in the lost Ten Tribes, and +thought them a fine body of men." + +"Don't think they've got much of the Jew about them," said +Featherstone, languidly. "They hate riches and all that, you know. +Break a Jew's heart to hear of all that property wasted, and money +going a-begging. Not a bad idea, though, that of theirs about money. +Too much money's a howwid baw, by Jove!" + +"Well," continued Oxenden, calmly resuming, and taking no notice of +these interruptions, "I can give you word after word that More has +mentioned which corresponds to a kindred Hebrew word in accordance +with 'Grimm's Law.' For instance, Kosekin 'Op,' Hebrew 'Oph;' Kosekin +'Athon,' Hebrew 'Adon;' Kosekin 'Salon,' Hebrew 'Shalom.' They are +more like Hebrew than Arabic, just as Anglo-Saxon words are more like +Latin or Greek than Sanscrit." + +"Hurrah!" cried Melick, "we've got him to Sanscrit at last! Now, +Oxenden, my boy, trot out the 'Hitopadesa,' the 'Megha Dhuta,' the +'Rig Veda.' Quote 'Beowulf' and Caedmon. Gives us a little Zeno, and +wind up with 'Lalla Rookh' in modern Persian." + +"So I conclude," said Oxenden, calmly, ignoring Melick, "that the +Kosekin are a Semitic people. Their complexion and their beards show +them to be akin to the Caucasian race, and their language proves +beyond the shadow of a doubt that they belong to the Semitic branch of +that race. It is impossible for an autochthonous people to have such a +language." + +"But how," cried the doctor--"how in the name of wonder did they get +to the South Pole?" + +"Easily enough," interrupted Melick--"Shem landed there from Noah's +ark, and left some of his children to colonize the country. That's as +plain as a pikestaff. I think, on the whole, that this idea is better +than the other one about the Ten Tribes. At any rate they are both +mine, and I warn all present to keep their hands off them, for on my +return I intend to take out a copyright." + +"There's another thing," continued Oxenden, "which is of immense +importance, and that is their habit of cave-dwelling. I am inclined to +think that they resorted to cave-dwelling at first from some +hereditary instinct or other, and that their eyes and their whole +morals have become affected by this mode of life. Now, as to +ornamented caverns, we have many examples--caverns adorned with a +splendor fully equal to anything among the Kosekin. There are in India +the great Behar caves, the splendid Karli temple with its magnificent +sculptures and imposing architecture, and the cavern-temples of +Elephanta; there are the subterranean works in Egypt, the temple of +Dendera in particular; in Petra we have the case of an entire city +excavated from the rocky mountains; yet, after all, these do not bear +upon the point in question, for they are isolated cases; and even +Petra, though it contained a city, did not contain a nation. But there +is a case, and one which is well known, that bears directly upon this +question, and gives us the connecting link between the Kosekin and +their Semitic brethren in the northern hemisphere." + +"What is that?" asked the doctor. + +"The Troglodytes," said Oxenden, with impressive solemnity. + +"Well, and what do you make out of the Troglodytes?" + +"I will explain," said Oxenden. "The name Troglodytes is given to +various tribes of men, but those best known and celebrated under this +name once inhabited the shores of the Red Sea, both on the Arabian and +the Egyptian side. They belonged to the Arabian race, and were +consequently a Semitic people. Mark that, for it is a point of the +utmost importance. Now, these Troglodytes all lived in caverns, which +were formed partly by art and partly by nature, although art must have +had most to do with the construction of such vast subterranean works. +They lived in great communities in caverns, and they had long tunnels +passing from one community to another. Here also they kept their +cattle. Some of these people have survived even to our own age; for +Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, saw them in Nubia. + +"The earliest writer who mentions the Troglodytes was Agatharcides, of +Cnidos. According to him they were chiefly herdsmen. Their food was +the flesh of cattle, and their drink a mixture of milk and blood. They +dressed in the skins of cattle; they tattooed their bodies. They were +very swift of foot, and were able to run down wild beasts in the hunt. +They were also greatly given to robbery, and caravans passing to and +fro had to guard against them. + +"One feature in their character has to my mind a strange significance, +and that is their feelings with regard to death. It was not the +Kosekin love of death, yet it was something which must certainly be +considered as approximating to it. For Agatharcides says that in their +burials they were accustomed to fasten the corpse to a stake, and then +gathering round, to pelt it with stones amid shouts of laughter and +wild merriment. They also used to strangle the old and infirm, so as +to deliver them from the evils of life. These Troglodytes, then, were +a nation of cave-dwellers, loving the dark--not exactly loving death, +yet at any rate regarding it with merriment and pleasure; and so I +cannot help seeing a connection between them and the Kosekin." + +"Yes," said the doctor, "but how did they get to the South Pole?" + +"That," said Oxenden, "is a question which I do not feel bound to +answer." + +"Oh, it is easy enough to answer that," said Melick. "They, of course, +dug through the earth." + +Oxenden gave a groan. + +"I think I'll turn in for the night," said he, rising. Upon this the +others rose also and followed his example. + +On the following morning the calm still continued. None of the party +rose until very late, and then over the breakfast-table they discussed +the manuscript once more, each from his own point of view, Melick +still asserting a contemptuous scepticism--Oxenden and the doctor +giving reasons for their faith, and Featherstone listening without +saying much on either side. + +At length it was proposed to resume the reading of the manuscript, +which task would now devolve upon Oxenden. They adjourned to the deck, +where all disposed themselves in easy attitudes to listen to the +continuation of More's narrative. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A VOYAGE OVER THE POLE + + +The discovery of our love had brought a crisis in our fate for me and +Almah. The Kohen hailed it with joy, for now was the time when he +would be able to present us to the Kohen Gadol. Our doom was certain +and inevitable. We were to be taken to the amir; we were to be kept +until the end of the dark season, and then we were both to be publicly +sacrificed. After this our bodies were to be set apart for the hideous +rites of the Mista Kosek. Such was the fate that lay before us. + +The Kohen was now anxious to take us to the amir. I might possibly +have persuaded him to postpone our departure, but I saw no use in +that. It seemed better to go, for it was possible that amid new scenes +and among new people there might be hope. This, too, seemed probable +to Almah, who was quite anxious to go. The Kohen pressed forward the +preparations, and at length a galley was ready for us. + +This galley was about three hundred feet in length and fifty in width, +but not more than six feet in depth. It was like a long raft. The +rowers, two hundred in number, sat on a level with the water, one +hundred on each side. The oars were small, being not more than twelve +feet in length, but made of very light, tough material, with very +broad blades. The galley was steered with broad-bladed paddles at both +ends. There was no mast or sail. Astern was a light poop, surrounded +by a pavilion, and forward there was another. At the bow there was +a projecting platform, used chiefly in fighting the thannin, or +sea-monsters, and also in war. There were no masts or flags or gay +streamers; no brilliant colors; all was intensely black, and the +ornaments were of the same hue. + +We were now treated with greater reverence than ever, for we were +looked upon as the recipients of the highest honor that could fall to +any of the Kosekin--namely, the envied dignity of a public death. As +we embarked the whole city lined the public ways, and watched us from +the quays, from boats, and from other galleys. Songs were sung by a +chosen choir of paupers, and to the sound of this plaintive strain we +moved out to sea. + +"This will be a great journey for me," said the Kohen, as we left the +port. "I hope to be made a pauper at least, and perhaps gain the honor +of a public death. I have known people who have gained death for less. +There was an Athon last year who attacked a pehmet with forty men +and one hundred and twenty rowers. All were killed or drowned except +himself. In reward for this he gained the mudecheb, or death +recompense. In addition to this he was set apart for the Mista Kosek." + +"Then, with you, when a man procures the death of others he is +honored?" + +"Why, yes; how could it be otherwise?" said the Kohen. "Is it not the +same with you? Have you not told me incredible things about your +people, among which there were a few that seemed natural and +intelligible? Among these was your system of honoring above all men +those who procure the death of the largest number. You, with your +pretended fear of death, wish to meet it in battle as eagerly as we +do, and your most renowned men are those who have sent most to death." + +To this strange remark I had no answer to make. + +The air out at sea now grew chillier. The Kohen noticed it also, and +offered me his cloak, which I refused. He seemed surprised, and +smiled. + +"You are growing like one of us," said he. "You will soon learn that +the greatest happiness in life is to do good to others and sacrifice +yourself. You already show this in part. When you are with Almah you +act like one of the Kosekin. You watch her to see and anticipate her +slightest wish; you are eager to give her everything. She, on the +other hand, is equally eager to give up all to you. Each one of you is +willing to lay down life for the other. You would gladly rush upon +death to save her from harm, much as you pretend to fear death; and so +I see that with Almah you will soon learn how sweet a thing death may +be." + +"To live without her," said I, "would be so bitter that death with her +would indeed be sweet. If I could save her life by laying down my own, +death would be sweeter still; and not one of you Kosekin would meet it +so gladly." + +The Kosekin smiled joyously. + +"Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou +hast transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of +us altogether. For see, how is it now? You pretend to love riches and +life, and yet you are ready to give up everything for Almah." + +"Gladly, gladly!" I exclaimed. + +"Yes," he said, "all that you have--you would gladly lavish on her, +and would rejoice to make yourself a pauper for her sweet sake. You +also would rejoice equally to give up life for her. Is it not so?" + +"It is," said I. + +"Then I see by this that Almah has awakened within you your true human +nature. Thus far it has lain dormant; it has been concealed under a +thousand false and unnatural habits, arising from your strange native +customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where +nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and +with Almah you are like the Kosekin. Soon you will learn new lessons, +and will find out that there is a new and a final self-abnegation in +perfect love; and your love will never rest till you have separated +yourself from Almah, so that love can have its perfect work." + +The sea now opened wide before us, rising up high as if half-way to +the zenith, giving the impression of a vast ascent to endless +distances. Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy +outlines of the mountains; above was the sky, all clear, with faint +aurora-flashes and gleaming stars. Hand-in-hand with Almah I stood and +pointed out the constellations as we marked them while she told me of +the different divisions known among the Kosekin as well as her own +people. There, high in the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not +exactly at the pole, nor yet of very great brightness, but still +sufficiently noticeable. + +Looking back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phoenix and the Crane; +higher up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was +the beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were +the Sword-fish and the Flying-fish. Turning to look forward, we beheld +a more splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between +the Centaur, which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there +blazed the bright stars of the Southern Cross--a constellation, if not +the brightest, at least the most conspicuous and attractive in all the +heavens. All around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then, +over the stern, gleamed the splendid lustre of Achernar, on the left +the brilliant glow of Alpha Robur and Canopus, and low down before +us the bright light of Argo. It was a scene full of splendor +and fascination. After a time a change came over the sky: the +aurora-flashes, at first faint, gradually increased in brilliancy till +the stars grew dim, and all the sky, wherever the eye might turn from +the horizon to the zenith, seemed filled with lustrous flames of every +conceivable hue. Colossal beams radiated from the pole toward the +horizon till the central light was dissipated, and there remained +encircling us an infinite colonnade of flaming pillars that towered +to the stars. These were all in motion, running upon one another, +incessantly shifting and changing; new scenes forever succeeded to +old; pillars were transformed to pyramids, pyramids to fiery bars; +these in their turn were transformed to other shapes, and all the +while one tint of innumerable hues overspread the entire circle of +the sky. + +Our voyage occupied several joms; but our progress was continuous, +for different sets of rowers relieved one another at regular +intervals. On the second jom a storm broke out. The sky had been +gathering clouds during sleeping-time, and when we awoke we found the +sea all lashed to fury, while all around the darkness was intense. The +storm grew steadily worse; the lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, +and at length the sea was so heavy that rowing was impossible. Upon +this the oars were all taken in, and the galley lay tossing upon the +furious sea, amid waves that continually beat upon her. + +And now a scene ensued that filled me with amazement, and took +away all my thoughts from the storm. It seemed impossible that so +frail a bark could stand the fury of the waves. Destruction was +inevitable, and I was expecting to see the usual signs of grief +and despair--wondering, too, how these rowers would preserve their +subordination. But I had forgotten in my excitement the strange +nature of the Kosekin. Instead of terror there was joy, instead of +wild despair there was peace and serene delight. + +The lightning-flashes revealed a wonderful scene. There were all the +rowers, each one upon his seat, and from them all there came forth +a chant which was full of triumph, like a song of public welcome to +some great national hero, or a song of joy over victory. The officers +embraced one another and exchanged words of delight. The Kohen, after +embracing all the others, turned to me, and, forgetting my foreign +ways, exclaimed, in a tone of enthusiastic delight, + +"We are destroyed! Death is near! Rejoice!" + +Accustomed as I was to the perils of the sea, I had learned to face +death without flinching. Almah, too, was calm, for to her this death +seemed preferable to that darker fate which awaited us; but the words +of the Kohen jarred upon my feelings. + +"Do you not intend to do anything to save the ship?" I asked. + +He laughed joyously. + +"There's no occasion," said he. "When the oars are taken in we always +begin to rejoice. And why not? Death is near--it is almost certain. +Why should we do anything to distract our minds and mar our joy? For +oh, dear friend, the glorious time has come when we can give up +life--life, with all its toils, its burdens, its endless bitternesses, +its perpetual evils. Now we shall have no more suffering from +vexatious and oppressive riches, from troublesome honors, from a +surplus of food, from luxuries and delicacies, and all the ills of +life." + +"But what is the use of being born at all?" I asked, in a wonder that +never ceased to rise at every fresh display of Kosekin feeling. + +"The use?" said the Kohen. "Why, if we were not born, how could we +know the bliss of dying, or enjoy the sweetness of death? Death is the +end of being--the one sweet hope and crown and glory of life, the one +desire and hope of every living man. The blessing is denied to none. +Rejoice with me, oh Atam-or! you will soon know its blessedness as +well as I." + +He turned away. I held Almah in my arms, and we watched the storm by +the lightning-flashes and waited for the end. But the end came not. +The galley was light, broad, and buoyant as a life-boat; at the same +time it was so strongly constructed that there was scarcely any twist +or contortion in the sinewy fabric. So we floated buoyantly and safely +upon the summit of vast waves, and a storm that would have destroyed +a ship of the European fashion scarcely injured this in the slightest +degree. It was an indestructible as a raft and as buoyant as a bubble; +so we rode out the gale, and the death which the Kosekin invoked did +not come at all. + +The storm was but short-lived; the clouds dispersed, and soon went +scudding over the sky; the sea went down. The rowers had to take their +oars once more, and the reaction that followed upon their recent +rejoicing was visible in universal gloom and dejection. As the clouds +dispersed the aurora lights came out more splendid than ever, and +showed nothing but melancholy faces. The rowers pulled with no life or +animation; the officers stood about sighing and lamenting; Almah and I +were the only ones that rejoiced over this escape from death. + +Joms passed. We saw other sights; we met with galleys and saw many +ships about the sea. Some were moved by sails only; these were +merchant ships, but they had only square sails, and could not sail in +any other way than before the wind. Once or twice I caught glimpses +of vast shadowy objects in the air. I was startled and terrified; +for, great as were the wonders of this strange region, I had not yet +suspected that the air itself might have denizens as tremendous as the +land or the sea. Yet so it was, and afterward during the voyage I saw +them often. One in particular was so near that I observed it with +ease. It came flying along in the same course with us, at a height of +about fifty feet from the water. It was a frightful monster, with a +long body and vast wings like those a bat. Its progress was swift, and +it soon passed out of sight. To Almah the monster created no surprise; +she was familiar with them, and told me that they were very abundant +here, but that they never were known to attack ships. She informed me +that they were capable of being tamed if caught when young, though in +her country they were never made use of. The name given by the Kosekin +to these monsters is athaleb. + +At length we drew near to our destination. We reached a large harbor +at the end of a vast bay: here the mountains extended around, and +before us there arose terrace after terrace of twinkling lights +running away to immense distances. It looked like a city of a million +inhabitants, though it may have contained far less than that. By the +brilliant aurora light I could see that it was in general shape and +form precisely like the city that we had left, though far larger and +more populous. The harbor was full of ships and boats of all sorts, +some lying at the stone quays, others leaving port, others entering. +Galleys passed and repassed, and merchant ships with their clumsy +sails, and small fishing-boats. From afar arose the deep hum of a vast +multitude and the low roar that always ascends from a popular city. + +The galley hauled alongside her wharf, and we found ourselves at +length in the mighty amir of the Kosekin. The Kohen alone landed; +the rest remained on board, and Almah and I with them. + +Other galleys were here. On the wharf workmen were moving about. Just +beyond were caverns that looked like warehouses. Above these was a +terraced street, where a vast multitude moved to and fro--a living +tide as crowded and as busy as that in Cheapside. + +After what seemed a long time the Kohen returned. This time he came +with a number of people, all of whom were in cars drawn by opkuks. +Half were men and half women. These came aboard, and it seemed as +though we were to be separated; for the women took Almah, while the +men took me. Upon this I entreated the Kohen not to separate us. I +informed him that we were both of a different race from his, that we +did not understand their ways; we should be miserable if separated. + +I spoke long and with all the entreaty possible to one with my limited +acquaintance with the language. My words evidently impressed them: +some of them even wept. + +"You make us sad," said the Kohen. "Willingly would we do everything +that you bid, for we are your slaves; but the state law prevents. +Still, in your case, the law will be modified; for you are in such +honor here that you may be considered as beyond the laws. For the +present, at least, we cannot separate you." + +These words brought much consolation. After this we landed, and Almah +and I were still together. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE WONDERS OF THE "AMIR" + + +We were drawn on cars up to the first terraced street, and here we +found the vast multitude which we had seen from a distance. Crossing +this street, we ascended and came to another precisely like it; then, +still going on, we came to a third. Here there was an immense space, +not overgrown with trees like the streets, but perfectly open. In the +midst arose a lofty pyramid, and as I looked at it I could not refrain +from shuddering; for it looked like the public altar, upon which in +due time I should be compelled to make my appearance, and be offered +up as a victim to the terrific superstitions of the Kosekin. + +Crossing this great square, we came to a vast portal, which opened +into a cavern with twinkling lights. The city itself extended above +this, for we could see the terraced streets rising above our heads; +but here our progress ended at the great cavern in the chief square, +opposite the pyramid. + +On entering the cavern we traversed an antechamber, and then passing +on we reached a vast dome, of dimensions so great that I could +perceive no end in that gloom. The twinkling lights served only to +disclose the darkness and to indicate the immensity of the cavern. In +the midst there arose two enormous columns, which were lost in the +gloom above. + +It was only by passing through this that we learned its great extent. +We at length came to the other end, and here we saw numerous passages +leading away. The Kohen led us through one of these, and after passing +through several other domes of smaller dimensions we at length reached +an apartment where we stopped. This place was furnished with couches +and hangings, and lighted with flaming lamps. The light was +distressing to those who had accompanied us, and many of them left, +while the few who remained had to cover their eyes. Here we found that +all preparations had been made. The apartments were all illuminated, +though our love of light never ceased to be a matter of amazement to +the Kosekin, and a bounteous repast was spread for us. But the Kohen +and the others found the light intolerable, and soon left us to +ourselves. + +After the repast some women appeared to take Almah to her chamber, +and, with the usual kindness of the Kosekin, they assured her that she +would not be expected to obey the law of separation, but that she was +to remain here, where she would be always within reach of me. + +After her departure there came to visit me the lowest man in all the +land of the Kosekin, though, according to our view, he would be +esteemed the highest. This was the Kohen Gadol. His history +had already been told me. I had learned that through lack of Kosekin +virtue he had gradually sunk to this position, and now was compelled +to hold in his hands more wealth, power, and display than any other +man in the nation. + +He was a man of singular appearance. The light was not so troublesome +to him as to the others--he merely kept his eyes shaded; but he +regarded me with a keen look of inquiry that was suggestive of +shrewdness and cunning. I confess it was with a feeling of relief +that I made this discovery; for I longed to find someone among this +singular people who was selfish, who feared death, who loved life, who +loved riches, and had something in common with me. This I thought I +perceived in the shrewd, cunning face of the Kohen Gadol, and I was +glad; for I saw that while he could not possibly be more dangerous to +me than those self-sacrificing, self-denying cannibals whom I had thus +far known, he might prove of some assistance, and might help me to +devise means of escape. If I could only find someone who was a coward, +and selfish and avaricious--if this Kohen Gadol could but be he--how +much brighter my life would be! And so there happened to me an +incredible thing, that my highest wish was now to find in the Kohen +Gadol cowardice, avarice, and selfishness. + +The Kohen was accompanied by a young female, richly attired, who, I +afterward learned, was his daughter. Her name was Layelah, and she +filled the office of Malca, which signifies queen; and though +honorable with us above all, is among the Kosekin the lowest in the +land. Layelah was so beautiful that I looked at her in amazement. She +was very tall for one of the Kosekin, which made her stature equal +to that of an ordinary girl with us; her hair was rich, dark and +luxuriant, gathered about her head in great masses and bound by a +golden band. Her features were delicate and perfect in their outline; +her expression was noble and commanding. Her eyes were utterly unlike +those of the other Kosekin; the upper lids had a slight droop, but +that was all, and that was the nearest approach to the national blink. +Her first entrance into the room seemed to dazzle her, and she shaded +her eyes for a few moments, but after that she looked at me fixedly, +and seemed to suffer no more inconvenience than I did. The perfect +liberty of women among the Kosekin made this visit from her quite as +natural as that of her father; and though she said but little on this +occasion, she was an attentive listener and close observer. + +Their visit was long, for they were evidently full of curiosity. They +had heard much about me and wished to see more. It was the first time +that I had found among the Kosekin the slightest desire to know where +I had come from. Hitherto all had been content with the knowledge +that I was a foreigner. Now, however, I found in the Kohen Gadol and +Layelah a curiosity that was most eager and intense. They questioned +me about my country, about the great world beyond the mountains, about +the way in which I had come here, about the manners and customs of my +countrymen. They were eager to know about those great nations of which +I spoke, who loved light and life; about men who loved themselves +better than others; of that world where men feared death and loved +life, and sought after riches and lived in the light. + +The sleeping-time came and passed, and my visitors were still full of +eager questionings. It was Layelah who at last thought of the lateness +of the hour. At a word from her the Kohen Gadol rose, with many +apologies, and prepared to go. But before he left he said: + +"When I was a child I was shipwrecked, and was taken up a ship which +conveyed me to a nation beyond the sea. There I grew up to manhood. I +learned their language and manners and customs, and when I returned +home I found myself an alien here: I do not love darkness or death, I +do not hate riches, and the result is that I am what I am. If I were +like the rest of my countrymen, my lot would make me miserable; but as +it is I prefer it to any other, and consider myself not the lowest but +the greatest in the land. My daughter is like me, and instead of being +ashamed of her station she is proud of it, and would not give it up +even to become a pauper. I will see you again. I have much to say." + +With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving +me more hopeful than I had been for a long time. + +For many joms following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and +from Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these +other visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other +Kosekin, that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she +might wish to be with me. Their visits were always long, and we +had much to say; but what I lost of sleep I always made up on the +following jom. The Kohen Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face, +interested me greatly; but Layelah, with her proud face and air of +command, was a positive wonder. + +I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of +advanced views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical," +it matters not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings +differed from those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal +to a revolution in politics and morals. + +The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without +which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but +they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had +to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with +vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to +have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and +in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of +the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly, +notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar +doctrines. These were formulated as follows: + + 1. A man should not love others better than himself. + 2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of. + 3. Other things are to be preferred to death. + 4. Poverty is not the best state for man. + 5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness. + 6. Lovers may sometimes marry. + 7. To serve is not more honorable than to command. + 8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory. + 9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence. + 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of + wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich. + +These articles were considered both by the Kohen Gadol and by Layelah +to be remarkable for their audacity, and were altogether too advanced +for mention by any except the chosen few. With the multitude he had to +deal differently, and had to work his way by concealing his opinions. +He had made a great conspiracy, in which he was still engaged, and had +gained immense numbers of adherents by allowing them to give him their +whole wealth. Through his assistance many Athons and Kohens and Meleks +had become artisans laborers, and even paupers; but all were bound by +him to the strictest secrecy. If anyone should divulge the secret, it +would be ruin to him and to many others; for they would at once be +punished by the bestowal of the extremest wealth, by degradation to +the rank of rulers and commanders, and by the severest rigors of +luxury, power, splendor, and magnificence known among the Kosekin. +Overwhelmed thus with the cares of government, crushed under the +weight of authority and autocratic rule, surrounded by countless +slaves all ready to die for them, their lives would be embittered +and their punishment would be more than they could bear. But the +philosophic Kohen Gadol dared all these punishments, and pursued his +way calmly and pertinaciously. + +Nothing surprised the Kohen Gadol so much as the manner in which I +received his confidences. He half expected to startle me by his +boldness, but was himself confounded by my words. I told him that in +my country self was the chief consideration, self-preservation the law +of nature; death the King of Terrors; wealth the object of universal +search, poverty the worst of evils; unrequited love nothing less than +anguish and despair; to command others the highest glory; victory, +honor; defeat, intolerable shame; and other things of the same sort, +all of which sounded in his ears, as he said, with such tremendous +force that they were like peals of thunder. He shook his head +despondently; he could not believe that such views as mine could ever +be attained to among the Kosekin. But Layelah was bolder, and with all +a woman's impetuosity grasped at my fullest meaning and held it firm. + +"He is right," said Layelah--"the heaven-born Atam-or. He shall be our +teacher. The rich shall be esteemed, the poor shall be down-trodden; +to rule over others shall be glorious, to serve shall be base; victory +shall be an honor, defeat a shame; selfishness, self-seeking, luxury, +and indulgence shall be virtues; poverty, want, and squalor shall be +things of abhorrence and contempt." + +The face of Layelah glowed with enthusiasm as she said these words, +and I saw in her a daring, intrepid, and high-hearted woman, full of a +woman's headlong impetuosity and disregard of consequences. In me she +saw one who seemed to her like a prophet and teacher of a new order +of things, and her whole soul responded to the principles which I +announced. It required immense strength of mind and firmness of soul +to separate herself from the prevalent sentiment of her nation; and +though nature had done much for her in giving her a larger portion of +original selfishness than was common to her people, still she was a +child of the Kosekin, and her daring was all the more remarkable. And +so she went further than her father, and adopted my extreme views when +he shrank back, and dared more unflinchingly the extremest rigors of +the national law, and all that the Kosekin could inflict in the way of +wealth, luxury, supreme command, palatial abodes, vast retinues of +slaves, and the immense degradation of the queenly office. + +I spoke to her in a warning voice about her rashness. + +"Oh," said she, "I have counted the cost, and am ready to accept all +that they can inflict. I embrace the good cause, and will not give it +up--no, not even if they could increase my wealth a thousand-fold, +and sentence me to live a hundred seasons. I can bear their utmost +inflictions of wealth, power, magnificence; I could even bear being +condemned to live forever in the light. Oh, my friend, it is the +conviction of right and the support of conscience that strengthens one +to bear the greatest evils that man can inflict." + +From these words it was evident to me that Layelah was a true child of +the Kosekin; for though she was of advanced sentiments she still used +the language of her people, and spoke of the punishments of the law as +though they were punishments in reality. Now, to me and to Almah these +so-called punishments seemed rewards. + +It was impossible for me to avoid feeling a very strong regard for +this enthusiastic and beautiful girl; all the more, indeed, because +she evinced such an undisguised admiration for me. She evidently +considered me some superior being, from some superior race; and +although my broken and faulty way of speaking the language was +something of a trial, still she seemed to consider every word I +uttered as a maxim of the highest wisdom. The tritest of truths, the +commonest of platitudes, the most familiar of proverbs or old saws +current among us were eagerly seized by Layelah, and accepted as +truths almost divine--as new doctrines for the guidance of the human +race. These she would discuss with me; she would put them into better +and more striking language, and ask for my opinion. Then she would +write them down. + +For the Kosekin knew the art of writing. They had an alphabet of their +own, which was at once simple and very scientific. There were no +vowels, but only consonant sounds, the vowels being supplied in +reading, just as if one should write the words fthr or dghtr, and +read them father and daughter. Their letters were as follows: P, K, T, +B, G, D, F, Ch, Th, M, L, N, S, H, R. There were also three others, +which have no equivalents in English. + +It soon became evident to me that Layelah had a complete ascendancy +over her father; that she was not only the Malca of the amir, but +the presiding spirit and the chief administrative genius of the whole +nation of the Kosekin. She seemed to be a new Semiramis--one who might +revolutionize an empire and introduce a new order of things. Such, +indeed, was her high ambition, and she plainly avowed it to me; but +what was more, she frankly informed me that she regarded me as a +Heaven-sent teacher--as one who in this darkness could tell her of the +nations of light--who could instruct her in the wisdom of other and +greater races, and help her to accomplish her grand designs. + +As for Almah, she seemed quite beneath the notice of the aspiring +Layelah. She never noticed her, she never spoke of her, and she always +made her visits to me after Almah had gone. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DARK MAIDEN LAYELAH + + +Layelah at length began to make pointed remarks about Almah. + +"She loves you," said she, "and you love her. How is it that you do +not give each other up?" + +"I would die rather than give up Almah," said I. + +Layelah smiled. "That sounds strange to the Kosekin," said she, "for +here to give up your love and to die are both esteemed the greatest +possible blessings. But Almah should give you up. It is the women with +us who make the beginning. Women generally fall in love first, and it +is expected that they will tell their love first. The delicacy of a +woman's feelings makes this natural, for if a man tells his love to a +woman who does not love him, it shocks her modesty; while if a woman +tells a man, he has no modesty to shock." + +"That is strange," said I; "but suppose the man does not love the +woman?" + +"Why, no woman wants to be loved; she only wants to love." + +At this I felt somewhat bewildered. + +"That," said Layelah, "is unrequited love, which is the chief blessing +here, though for my part I am a philosopher, and would wish when I +love to be loved in return." + +"And then," said I, "if so, would you give up your lover, in +accordance with the custom of your country?" + +Layelah's dark eyes rested on me for a moment with a glance of intense +earnestness and profound meaning. She drew a long breath, and then +said, in a low, tremulous voice, + +"Never!" + +Layelah was constantly with me, and at length used to come at an +earlier time, when Almah was present. Her manner toward Almah was full +of the usual Kosekin courtesy and gracious cordiality. She was still +intent upon learning from me the manners, customs, and principles of +action of the race to which I belonged. She had an insatiable thirst +for knowledge, and her curiosity extended to all of those great +inventions which are the wonder of Christendom. Locomotives and +steamboats were described to her under the names of "horses of fire" +and "ships of fire"; printing was "letters of power"; the electric +telegraph, "messages of lightning"; the organ, "lute of giants," +and so on. Yet, in spite of the eagerness with which she made her +inquiries, and the diligence with which she noted all down, I could +see that there was in her mind something lying beneath it all--a far +more earnest purpose, and a far more personal one, than the pursuit of +useful knowledge. + +Layelah was watchful of Almah; she seemed studying her to see how far +this woman of another race differed from the Kosekin. She would often +turn from me and talk with Almah for a long time, questioning her +about her people and their ways. Almah's manner was somewhat reserved, +and it was rendered somewhat more so from the fact that her mind was +always full of the prospect of our impending doom. Each jom as it +came and went brought us nearer to that awful time, and the hour was +surely coming when we should be taken to the outer square and to the +top of the pyramid of sacrifice. + +Once Layelah sat for some time silent and involved in thought. At +length she began to speak to me. + +"Almah," said she, "is very different from us. She loves you and you +love her. She ought to give you up. Almah, you ought to give up +Atam-or, since you love him." + +Almah looked confused, and made some reply to the effect that she +belonged to a different race with different customs. + +"But you should follow our customs. You are one of us now. You can +easily find another who will take him." + +Almah threw a piteous glance at me and said nothing. + +"I," said Layelah, "will take him." + +She spoke these words with an air of magnanimity, as though putting it +in the light of a favor to Almah; but Almah did not make any reply, +and after some silence Layelah spoke of something else. + +Not long after we were alone together, and Layelah returned to the +subject. She referred to Almah's want of sympathy with the manners of +the Kosekin, and asserted that she ought to aim after a separation. + +"I love her," said I, with great warmth, "and will never give her up." + +"But she must give you up; it is the woman's place to take the first +step. I should be willing to take you." + +As Layelah said this she looked at me very earnestly, as if anxious to +see how I accepted this offer. It was for me a most embarrassing +moment. I loved Almah, but Layelah also was most agreeable, and I +liked her very much; indeed, so much so that I could not bear to say +anything that might hurt her feelings. Among all the Kosekin there was +not one who was not infinitely inferior to her in my eyes. Still, I +loved Almah, and I told her so again, thinking that in this way I +might repel her without giving offence. + +But Layelah was quite ready with her reply. + +"If you love Almah," said she, "that is the very reason why you should +marry me." + +This made me feel more embarrassed than ever. + +I stammered something about my own feelings--the manners and customs +of my race--and the fear that I had of acting against my own +principles. "Besides," I added, "I'm afraid it would make you +unhappy." + +"Oh no," said Layelah, briskly; "on the contrary, it would make me +very happy indeed." + +I began to be more and more aghast at this tremendous frankness, and +was utterly at a loss what to say. + +"My father," continued Layelah, "is different from the other Kosekin, +and so am I. I seek requital for love, and do not think it an evil." + +A sudden thought now suggested itself, and I caught at it as a last +resort. + +"You have," said I, "some lover among the Kosekin. Why do you not +marry him?" + +Layelah smiled. + +"I have no lover that I love," said she, "among the Kosekin." + +My feeble effort was thus a miserable failure. I was about saying +something concerning the Kosekin alphabet or something else of an +equally appropriate nature, when she prevented me. + +"Atam-or," said she, in a low voice. + +"Layelah," said I, with my mind full of confusion. + +"I love you!" + +She sat looking at me with her beautiful face all aglow her dark eyes +fixed on mine with an intense and eager gaze. I looked at her and said +not one single word. Layelah was the first to break the awkward +silence. + +"You love Almah, Atam-or; but say, do you not love me? You smile at +me, you meet me always when I come with warm greetings, and you seem +to enjoy yourself in my society. Say, Atam-or, do you not love me?" + +This was a perilous and a tremendous moment. The fact is, I did like +Layelah very much indeed, and I wanted to tell her so; but my +ignorance of the language did not allow me to observe those nice +distinctions of meaning which exist between the words "like" and +"love." I knew no other word than the one Kosekin word meaning "love," +and could not think of any meaning "like." It was, therefore, a very +trying position for me. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, floundering and stammering in my confusion, "I +love you; I--" + +But here I was interrupted without waiting for any further words; the +beautiful creature flung her arms around me and clung to me with a +fond embrace. As for me, I was utterly confounded, bewildered, and +desperate. I thought of my darling Almah, whom alone I loved. It +seemed at that moment as though I was not only false to her, but as if +I was even endangering her life. My only thought now was to clear up +my meaning. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, as I sat with her arms around me, and with my +own around her slender waist, "I do not want to hurt your feelings." + +"Oh, Atam-or! oh, my love! never, never did I know such bliss as +this." + +Here again I was overwhelmed, but I still persisted in my effort. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, "I love Almah most dearly and most tenderly." + +"Oh, Atam-or, why speak of that? I know it well. And so by our Kosekin +law you give her up; among us, lovers never marry. So you take me, +your own Layelah, and you will have me for your bride; and my love for +you is ten thousand times stronger than that of the cold and +melancholy Almah. She may marry my papa." + +This suggestion filled me with dismay. + +"Oh no," said I. "Never, never will I give up Almah!" + +"Certainly not," said Layelah; "you do not give her up--she gives you +up." + +"She never will," said I. + +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "I will tell her that you wish it." + +"I do not wish it," said I. "I love her, and will never give her up." + +"It's all the same," said Layelah. "You cannot marry her at all. No +one will marry you. You and Almah are victims and the State has given +you the matchless honor of death. Common people who love one another +may marry if they choose, and take the punishment which the law +assigns but illustrious victims who love cannot marry, and so, my +Atam-or, you have only me." + +I need not say that all this was excessively embarrassing I was +certainly fond of Layelah, and liked her too much to hurt her +feelings. Had I been one of the Kosekin I might perhaps have managed +better; but being a European, a man of the Aryan race--being such, and +sitting there with the beautiful Layelah lavishing all her affections +upon me--why, it stands to reason that I could not have the heart to +wound her feelings in any way. I was taken at an utter disadvantage. +Never in my life had I heard of women taking the initiative. Layelah +had proposed to me, she would not listen to refusal, and I had not the +heart to wound her. I had made all the fight I could by persisting in +asserting my love for Almah, but all my assertions were brushed +lightly aside as trivial things. + +Let any gentleman put himself in my situation, and ask himself what he +would do. What would he do if such a thing could happen to him at +home? But there such a thing could not happen, and so there is no use +in supposing an impossible case. At any rate I think I deserve +sympathy. Who could keep his presence of mind under such +circumstances? With us a young lady who loves one man can easily repel +another suitor; but here it was very different, for how could I repel +Layelah? Could I turn upon her and say "Unhand me"? Could I say "Away! +I am another's"? Of course I couldn't; and what's worse, if I had said +such things Layelah would have smiled me down into silence. The fact +is, it doesn't do for women to take the initiative--it's not fair. I +had stood a good deal among the Kosekin. Their love of darkness, their +passion for death, their contempt of riches, their yearning after +unrequited love, their human sacrifices, their cannibalism, all had +more or less become familiar to me, and I had learned to acquiesce in +silence; but now when it came to this--that a woman should propose to +a man--it really was more than a fellow could stand. I felt this at +that moment very forcibly; but then the worst of it was that Layelah +was so confoundedly pretty, and had such a nice way with her, that +hang me if I knew what to say. + +Meanwhile Layelah was not silent; she had all her wits about her. + +"Dear papa," said she, "would make such a nice husband for Almah. He +is a widower, you know. I could easily persuade him to marry her. He +always does whatever I ask him to do." + +"But victims cannot marry, you said." + +"No," said Layelah, sweetly, "they cannot marry one another, but Almah +may marry dear papa, and then you and I can be married, and it will be +all very nice indeed." + +At this I started away. + +"No," said I, indignantly, "it won't be nice. I'm engaged to be +married to Almah, and I'm not going to give her up." + +"Oh, but she gives you up, you know," said Layelah, quietly. + +"Well, but I'm not going to be given up." + +"Why, how unreasonable you are, you foolish boy!" said Layelah, in her +most caressing manner. "You have nothing at all to do with it." + +At this I was in fresh despair, and then a new thought came, which I +seized upon. + +"See here," said I, "why can't I marry both of you? I'm engaged to +Almah, and I love her better than all the world. Let me marry her and +you too." + +At this Layelah laughed long and merrily. Peal after peal of laughter, +musical and most merry, burst from her. It was contagious; I could not +help joining in, and so we both sat laughing. It was a long time +before we regained our self-control. + +"Why, that's downright bigamy!" exclaimed Layelah with fresh laughter. +"Why, Atam-or, you're mad!" and so she went off again in fresh peals +of laughter. It was evident that my proposal was not at all shocking, +but simply comical, ridiculous, and inconceivable in its absurdity. It +was to her what the remark of some despairing beauty would be among us +who, when pressed by two lovers should express a confused willingness +to marry both. It was evident that Layelah accepted it as a ludicrous +jest. + +Laughter was all very well, of course; but I was serious and felt that +I ought not to part with Layelah without some better understanding, +and so I once more made an effort. + +"All this," said I, in a mournful tone, "is a mere mockery. What have +I to say about love and marriage? If you loved me as you say, you +would not laugh, but weep. You forget what I am. What am I? A victim, +and doomed--doomed to a hideous fate--a fate of horror unutterable. +You cannot even begin to imagine the anguish with which I look forward +to that fate which impends over me and Almah. Marriage--idle word! +What have I to do with marriage? What has Almah? There is only one +marriage before us--the dread marriage with death! Why talk of love to +the dying? The tremendous ordeal, the sacrifice, is before us and +after that there remains the hideous Mista Kosek!" + +At this Layelah sprang up, with her whole face and attitude full of +life and energy. + +"I know, I know," said she, quickly; "I have arranged for all. Your +life shall be saved. Do you think that I have consented to your death? +Never! You are mine. I will save you. I will show you what we can do. +You shall escape." + +"Can you really save me?" I cried. + +"I can." + +"What! in spite of the whole nation?" + +Layelah laughed scornfully. + +"I can save you," said she. "We can fly. There are other nations +beside ours. We can find some land among the Gojin where we can live +in peace. The Gojin are not like us." + +"But Almah?" said I. + +The face of Layelah clouded. + +"I can only save you," said she. + +"Then I will stay and die with Almah," said I, obstinately. + +"What!" said Layelah, "do you not fear death?" + +"Of course I do," said I; "but I'd rather die than lose Almah." + +"But it's impossible to save both of you." + +"Then leave me and save Almah," said I. + +"What! would you give up your life for Almah?" + +"Yes, and a thousand lives," said I. + +"Why," said Layelah, "now you talk just like the Kosekin. You might as +well be one of us. You love death for the sake of Almah. Why not be +more like the Kosekin, and seek after a separation from Almah?" + +Layelah was not at all offended at my declaration of love for Almah. +She uttered these words in a lively tone, and then said that it was +time for her to go. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FLYING MONSTER + + +I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled me +with excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awake +I thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might be +Layelah's plan of escape, for I might then make use of it to save +Almah. I determined to find out all about it on the following +jom--to question her as to the lands of the Gojin, to learn all her +purpose. It might be that I could make use of that very plan to save +Almah; but if not, why then I was resolved to remain and meet my fate +with her. If Layelah could be induced to take both of us, I was of +course resolved to go, trusting to chance as to the claims of Layelah +upon me, and determined at all hazards to be faithful to Almah; but if +she should positively refuse to save Almah, then I thought it possible +that I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of escape something of +which I might avail myself. I could not imagine what it was, but it +seemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, especially for +a desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by means of some +boat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could make use of +a sail so as to elude pursuit, and could guide myself by the stars. +The only thing that I wanted to know was the situation of the lands of +the Gojin. + +On the following jom the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite early +and spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devoting +himself in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me that +Layelah had obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and that +the old villain actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah. +To Almah herself I had said nothing whatever about the proposal of +Layelah, so that she was quite ignorant of the intentions of her +companion; but it was excessively annoying to me to see such +proceedings going on under my own eyes. At the same time I felt that +it would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; and I was also quite +sure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted from me by +anyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. It was +very trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, my +jealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party of +philosophical Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibals +whom I first met. As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of any +disturbance in my mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, as +inquisitive, and as affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, and +devoted herself to me with an abandon that was quite irresistible. + +After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she was +alone. + +"I have come," said she, "to show you the way in which we can escape, +whenever you decide to do so." + +It was the thing above all others which I wished to know, and +therefore I questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of my +questions she only replied that she would show me, and I might judge +for myself. + +Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleries +and vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was the +sleeping-time, and only those were visible who had some duties which +kept them up later than usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feebly +illuminated the general gloom. At length we came to an immense cavern, +which was darker than ever, and without any lamps at all. Through a +vast portal, which was closed with a barred gateway, the beams of the +brilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed something of the interior. + +Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stood +waiting by her side, wondering what means of escape could be found in +this cavern. As I stood I heard through the still air the sound as of +living things. For a time I saw nothing, but at length I descried a +vast, shadowy form moving forward toward the portal, where the +darkness was less. It was a form of portentous size and fearful shape, +and I could not make out at first the nature of it. It surpassed all +that I had ever seen. Its head was large and its jaws long, armed with +rows of terrible teeth like those of a crocodile. Its body was of +great size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as to maintain itself in an +upright attitude, and in that position its height was over twelve +feet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has yet to be +told. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I saw +descending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings, +which shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about as +fast as that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemed +like some enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yet +again like one of those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but in +whose actual existence I had never believed. Yet here I saw one living +and moving before me--an actual dragon, with the exception of a tail; +for that appendage, which plays so great a part in all the pictures of +dragons, had no place here. This beast had but a short caudal +appendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings. + +For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I +shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm. + +"Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb." + +"But won't it--won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder. + +"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole." + +At this I shrank away still farther. + +"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, +besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at +feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four +others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up +nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed." + +"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an +incredulous tone. + +"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are +taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service +here for a hundred seasons and more." + +At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer +to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no +means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than +ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On +its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of +its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood +near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up, +as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous +back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased. + +"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping." + +"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully. + +"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his +back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him." + +"What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back--"fly! Do you mean to say that +you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?" + +"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is +harness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see +him harnessed?" + +"Very much indeed," said I. + +Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The +huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two +long straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting +tip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which +there was attached a grappling-iron. + +"We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with these +reins. When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looks +dull now, but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle he +would be off like the wind." + +"But can he carry both of us?" I asked. + +"Easily," said Layelah. "He can carry three persons without fatigue." + +"Could you mount on his back now, and show me how you sit?" + +Layelah readily assented, and mounted with the greatest ease, seating +herself on the broadest part of the back between the wings. + +"Here," said she, "is room for you. Will you not come?" + +For an instant I hesitated; but then the sight of her, seated there as +coolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed up +also, though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monster +was abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself close +behind Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with the +grapple just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she went +on to explain the whole process by which the mighty monster was guided +through the air. + +No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb than +all fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, and +how docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with the +greatest ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat. +"Familiarity breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror had +passed away, I felt perfect confidence, and under the encouragement of +Layelah I had become like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first is +terrified by the sight of the elephant, but soon gains courage enough +to mount upon his back. With my new-found courage and presence of mind +I listened most attentively to all of Layelah's explanations, and +watched most closely the construction and fastening of the harness; +for the thought had occurred to me that this athaleb might be of avail +in another way--that if I did not fly with Layelah, I might fly with +Almah. This thought was only of a vague and shadowy character--a dim +suggestion, the carrying out of which I scarce dared to think +possible; still, it was in my mind, and had sufficient power over me +to make me very curious as to the plans of Layelah. I determined to +find out where she proposed to go, and how far; to ask her about the +dangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It seemed, I confess, +rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them for +another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me at +that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and +honorable. + +"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. The +athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear +that they will put you to death--a land where the people love light +and life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to +go now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be +far away." + +She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to +be beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her +proposal away with a question: + +"How far is it," I asked, "to that land?" + +"It is too far for one flight," said Layelah. "We go first over the +sea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where +there are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb +on fish, which are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his way +there well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacred +ceremony. He has done this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows his +way there and back perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when we +leave Magones, in reaching the land of the Orin." + +"The Orin?" I repeated. "Who are they?" + +"They are a people among the Gojin who love life and light. It is +their land that I wish to reach, if possible." + +"Where is it?" I asked, eagerly. + +"I cannot explain," said Layelah. "I can only trust to my own skill, +and hope to find the place. We may have to pass over different lands +of the Gojin, and if so we may be in danger." + +"What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?" +I asked. + +"To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize +of death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the +Kosekin." + +"Is Magones barren?" + +"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains +and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the +middle of the sea." + +"How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence. + +"From here?--why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that +is all." + +"But shall we not be prevented?" + +"Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone +is eager to help his neighbor." + +"But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing +for flight, would they not stop me?" + +"No." + +I was amazed at this. + +"But," said I, "am I not a victim--preserved for the great sacrifice?" + +"You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like. +Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the +highest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high +dignity, and no one dreams that you are anxious to escape." + +"But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?" + +"Certainly not." + +"What would they do for a victim?" + +"They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some +distinguished pauper." + +"But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at +my entreaty?" + +"Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty. +That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of +such a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to +help each other to such a fate." + +"But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not +pursue me?" + +"Oh no." + +"Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?" + +"Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens--these are not worthy of the +honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to +this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who +are chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich +and powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed." + +"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in +that way?" + +"Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible. +On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the +very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and +blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible +for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am +Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated +by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of +one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and +new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally +known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth +and new offices and powers, which I do not want." + +"But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?" + +"No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now." + +"Why, what do you want?" I asked. + +"You!" said she, with a sweet smile. + +I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might +divert the conversation. + +Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing +tone: + +"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you +love her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that +I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to +say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing +of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the +Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?" + +I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent +effort. + +"Are there any other athalebs here?" + +"Oh yes." + +"How many?" + +"Four." + +"Are they all as tame as this?" + +"Oh yes, all quite as tame; there is no difference whatever." + +Upon this I left the back of the athaleb, and Layelah also descended, +after which she proceeded to show me the other monsters. At length she +unharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ESCAPE + + +On the following jom I told everything to Almah. I told her that +Layelah was urging me to fly with her, and that I had found out all +about her plans. I described the athalebs, informed her about the +direction which we were to take, the island of fire, and the country +of the Orin. At this intelligence Almah was filled with delight, and +for the first time since we had come to the amir there were smiles +of joy upon her face. She needed no persuasion. She was ready to set +forth whenever it was fitting, and to risk everything upon this +enterprise. She felt as I did, and thought that the wildest attempt +was better than this dull inaction. + +Death was before us here, and every jom as it passed only brought it +nearer. True, we were treated with the utmost kindness, we lived in +royal splendor, we had enormous retinues; but all this was a miserable +mockery, since it all served as the prelude to our inevitable doom. +For that doom it was hard indeed to wait. Anything was better. Far +better would it be to risk all the dangers of this unusual and amazing +flight, to brave the terrors of that drear isle of fire, Magones; +better to perish there of starvation, or to be killed by the hands +of hostile Gojin, than to wait here and be destroyed at last by +the sacrificial knife of these smiling, generous, kind-hearted, +self-sacrificing fiends; to be killed--ay, and afterward borne to the +tremendous Mista Kosek. + +There was a difficulty with Layelah that had to be guarded against: in +the first place that she might not suspect, and again that we might +choose our time of escape when she would not be at all likely to find +us out. We resolved to make our attempt without any further delay. +Layelah was with us for the greater part of that jom, and the Kohen +Gadol also gave us much of his company. Layelah did not seem to have +any suspicions whatever of my secret purpose; for she was as bright, +as amiable, and as devoted to me as ever, while the Kohen Gadol sought +as before to make himself agreeable to Almah. I did not think fit +to tell her about Layelah's proposal, and therefore she was quite +ignorant of the secret plans of the Kohen Gadol, evidently attributing +his attention to the unfailing amiability of the Kosekin. + +Layelah came again after Almah had retired, and spent the time in +trying to persuade me to fly with her. The beautiful girl was +certainly never more engaging, nor was she ever more tender. Had it +not been for Almah it would have been impossible to resist such sweet +persuasions; but as it was I did resist. Layelah, however, was not at +all discouraged, nor did she lose any of her amiability; but when she +took leave it was with a smile and sweet words of forgiveness on her +lips for what she called my cruelty. After she left I remained for a +time with a painful sense of helplessness. The fact is my European +training did not fit me for encountering such a state of things as +existed among the Kosekin. It's very easy to be faithful to one's own +true-love in England, when other fair ladies hold aloof and wait to +be sought; but here among the Kosekin, women have as much liberty in +making love as men, and there is no law or custom about it. If a woman +chooses she can pay the most desperate attentions, and play the part +of a distracted lover to her heart's content. In most cases the +women actually take the initiative, as they are more impressible and +impulsive than men; and so it was that Layelah made me the object of +her persistent assault--acting all the time, too, in accordance with +the custom of the country, and thus having no thought whatever of +indelicacy, since, according to the Kosekin, she was acting simply in +accordance with the rights of every woman. Now, where a woman is urged +by one ardent lover to dismiss her other lover, she may sometimes find +it difficult to play her part satisfactorily; but in my case I did not +play my part satisfactorily at all; the ordeal was too hard, and I was +utterly unable to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of +character which the occasion demanded. + +Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have +said, with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time +succeeded in regaining my presence of mind. + +Almah was waiting, and she soon joined me. We gathered a few articles +for the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which +I had not used here, and then we set forth. Leaving our apartments +we traversed the long passages, and at length came to the cavern of +the athalebs. We met several people on the way, who looked at us +with smiles, but made no other sign. It was evident that they had no +commission to watch us, and that thus far Layelah's information was +correct. + +Upon entering the cavern of the athalebs my first feeling was one of +helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever in my own powers of +managing these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could +harness them; but the emergency was a pressing one, and there was no +help for it. I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my +chief desire was to secure one of the athalebs. The faint light served +to disclose nothing but gloom; and I waited for a while, hoping that +one of them would come forward as before. But waiting did no good, +for no movement was made, and I had to try what I could do myself to +rouse them. So I walked farther in toward the back part of the cavern, +peering through the gloom, while Almah remained near the entrance. + +As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone moving. I thought +it was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peering through the +gloom, when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work +which I could not make out. For a moment I stood in amazement and +despair, for it seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man +would at once divine my intent. While I stood thus he turned and gave +me a very courteous greeting, after which, in the usual manner of the +Kosekin, he asked me with much amiability what he could do for me. I +muttered something about seeing the athalebs, upon which he informed +me that he would show them to me with pleasure. + +He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low +position of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post involving +duties like those of ostlers or grooms among us, but which here +indicated high rank and honor. He was proud of his title of "Epet," +which means servant, and more than usually obliging. I at once took +advantage of his complaisance, and requested him to show me the +athalebs. Upon this he led the way farther on, where I could see +through the gloom the shadowy outlines of four monsters, all of which +were resting in an upright posture against the wall, with their claws +fixed on a shelf of rock. They looked more than ever like dragons, or +rather like enormous bats, for their wings were disclosed hanging in +loose leathern folds. + +"Can they be roused," I asked, "and made to move?" + +"Oh yes," said the Epet, and without waiting for any further request +he proceeded to pull at the loose fan-like wing of the nearest one. +The monster drew himself together, gave a flutter with his wings, and +then moved back from the wall. + +"Make him walk," said I, eagerly. + +The Epet at this pulled upon his wing once more, and the athaleb moved +forward. + +"Bring him to the portal, so that I may see him," said I. + +The Epet, still holding the athaleb's wing, pulled at him, and thus +guided him toward the portal. I was amazed at the docility of this +terrific monster; yet, after all, I thought that it was no more +astonishing than the docility of the elephant, which in like manner +allows itself to be guided by the slightest pressure. A child may lead +a vast elephant with ease, and here with equal ease the Epet led the +athaleb. He led him up near to the portal, where the aurora light +beamed through far brighter than the brightest moon, and disclosed all +the vast proportions of the monster. I stood and looked on for some +time in silence, quite at a loss what to do next. + +And now Layelah's words occurred to me as to the perfect willingness +of the Kosekin to do anything which one might wish. She had insisted +on it that they would not prevent our flight, and had given me to +understand that they would even assist me if I should ask them. This +is what now occurred to me, and I determined to make a trial. So I +said: + +"I should like to fly in the air on the athaleb. Will you harness +him?" + +I confess it was with some trepidation that I said this, but the +feeling was soon dissipated. The Epet heard my words with perfect +coolness, as though they conveyed the most natural request in the +world, and then proceeded to obey me, just as at home a servant might +hear and obey his master, who might say, "I should like to take a +ride; will you harness the bay mare?" + +So the Epet proceeded to harness the athaleb, and I watched him in +silence; but it was the silence of deep suspense, and my heart +throbbed painfully. There was yet much to be risked. The gates had +to be opened. Others might interfere. Layelah might come. All these +thoughts occurred to me as I watched the Epet; and though the labor of +harnessing the athaleb was simple and soon performed, still the time +seemed long. So the collar was secured around the neck of the athaleb, +with the grapple attached, and the lines were fastened to the wings, +and then Almah and I mounted. + +The Epet now stood waiting for further orders. + +"Open the gates," said I. + +The Epet did so. + +Almah was seated on the back of the athaleb before me, holding on to +the coarse mane; I, just behind, held the reins in my hand. The gates +were opened wide. A few people outside, roused by the noise of the +opening gates, stood and looked on. They had evidently no other +feeling but curiosity. + +All was now ready and the way was open, but there was an unexpected +difficulty--the athaleb would not start, and I did not know how to +make him. I had once more to apply for help to the Epet. + +"How am I to make him start?" I asked. + +"Pull at the collar to make him start, and pull at both reins to make +him stop," said the Epet. + +Upon this I pulled at the collar. + +The athaleb obeyed at once. He rose almost erect, and moved out +through the gate. It was difficult to hold on, but we did so. On +reaching the terrace outside, the athaleb expanded his vast wings, +which spread out over a space of full fifty feet, and then with +vigorous motions raised himself in the air. + +It was a moment full of terror to both of us; the strange sensation of +rising in the air, the quivering muscles of the athaleb at the working +of the enormous pinions, the tremendous display of strength, all +combined to overwhelm me with a sense of utter helplessness. With one +hand I clung to the stiff mane of the monster; with the other I held +Almah, who was also grasping the athaleb's hair; and thus for some +time all thought was taken up in the one purpose of holding on. But at +length the athaleb lay in the air in a perfectly horizontal position; +the beat of the wings grew more slow and even, the muscular exertion +more steady and sustained. We both began to regain some degree of +confidence, and at length I raised myself up and looked around. + +It did not seem long since we had left; but already the city was far +behind, rising with its long, crescent terraces, sparkling and +twinkling with innumerable lights. We had passed beyond the bay; the +harbor was behind us, the open sea before us, the deep water beneath. +The athaleb flew low, not more than a hundred feet above the water, +and maintained that distance all the time. It seemed, indeed, as if he +might drop into the water at any time; but this was only fancy, for he +was perfect master of all his movement and his flight was swift and +well sustained. + +Overhead the sky was filled with the glory of the aurora beams, which +spread everywhere, flashing out from the zenith and illuminating the +earth with a glow brighter than that of the brightest moon; beneath, +the dark waters of the sea extended, with the waves breaking into +foam, and traversed by galleys, by merchant-ships, and by the navies +of the Kosekin. Far away the surface of the sea spread, with that +marvellous appearance of an endless ascent, as though for a thousand +miles, rising thus until it terminated half-way up the sky; and so +it rose up on every side, so that I seemed to be at the bottom of +a basin-shaped world--an immense and immeasurable hollow--a world +unparalleled and unintelligible. Far away, at almost infinite +distances, arose the long lines of mountains, which, crowned with ice, +gleamed in the aurora light, and seemed like a barrier that made +forever impossible all ingress and egress. + +On and on we sped. At length we grew perfectly accustomed to the +situation, the motion was so easy and our seats were so secure. There +were no obstacles in our way, no roughness along our path; for that +pathway was the smooth air, and in such a path there could be no +interruption, no jerk or jar. After the first terror had passed there +remained no longer any necessity for holding on--we could sit and look +around with perfect freedom; and at length I rose to my feet, and +Almah stood beside me, and thus we stood for a long time, with all +our souls kindled into glowing enthusiasm by the excitement of that +adventurous flight, and the splendors of that unequalled scene. + +At length the aurora light grew dim. Then came forth the stars, +glowing and burning in the black sky. Beneath there was nothing +visible but the darkness of the water, spotted with phosphorescent +points, while all around a wall of gloom arose which shut out from +view the distant shores. + +Suddenly I was aware of a noise like the beat of vast wings, and these +wings were not those of our athaleb. At first I thought it was the +fluttering of a sail, but it was too regular and too long continued +for that. At length I saw through the gloom a vast shadowy form in the +air behind us, and at once the knowledge of the truth flashed upon me. +It was another monster flying in pursuit! + +Were we pursued? Were there men on his back? Should I resist? I held +my rifle poised, and was resolved to resist at all hazards. Almah saw +it all, and said nothing. She perceived the danger, and in her eyes I +saw that she, like me, would prefer death to surrender. The monster +came nearer and nearer, until at last I could see that he was alone, +and that none were on his back. But now another fear arose. He might +attack our athaleb, and in that way endanger us. He must be prevented +from coming nearer; yet to fire the rifle was a serious matter. I had +once before I learned the danger of firing under such circumstances, +when my opmahera had fled in terror at the report, and did not wish to +experience the danger which might arise from a panic-stricken athaleb; +and so as I stood there I waved my arms and gesticulated violently. +The pursuing athaleb seemed frightened at such an unusual occurrence, +for he veered off, and soon was lost in the darkness. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE ISLAND OF FIRE + + +At last there appeared before us what seemed like a long line of +dull-red fires, and as we looked we could see bursts of flame at +fitful intervals, which shone out for a few moments and then died +away. Upon this now our whole attention was fixed; for it seemed as +though we were approaching our destination, and that this place was +the Island of Fire--a name which, from present appearances, was fully +justified. As we went on and drew steadily nearer, the mass of glowing +fire grew larger and brighter, and what at first had seemed a line was +broken up into different parts, one of which far surpassed the others. +This was higher in the air, and its shape was that of a long, thin, +sloping line, with a burning, glowing globule at each end. It seemed +like lava running down from the crater of a volcano, and this +appearance was made certainty on a nearer approach; for we saw at the +upper point, which seemed the crater, an outburst of flame, followed +by a new flow of the fiery stream. In other places there were similar +fires, but they were less bright, either because they were smaller or +more remote. + +At length we heard beneath us the roar of breakers, and saw long white +lines of surf beating upon the shore. Our athaleb now descended and +alighted; we clambered to the ground, and I, taking the grapple, fixed +it securely between two sharp rocks. We were at last on Magones, the +Island of Fire. + +The brightness of the aurora light had left us, but it needed not +this to show us the dismal nature of the land to which we had come. +It was a land of horror, where there was nothing but the abomination +of desolation--a land overstrewn with blasted fragments of fractured +lava-blocks, intermixed with sand, from which there arose black +precipices and giant mountains that poured forth rivers of fire and +showers of ashes and sheets of flame. A tremendous peak arose before +us, with a crest of fire and sides streaked with red torrents of +molten lava; between us and it there spread away a vast expanse of +impassable rocks--a scene of ruin and savage wildness which cannot be +described, and all around was the same drear and appalling prospect. +Here in the night-season--the season of darkness and of awful +gloom--we stood in this land of woe; and not one single sign appeared +of life save the life that we had brought with us. As for food, it was +vain to think of it. To search after it would be useless. It seemed, +indeed, impossible to move from the spot where we were. Every moment +presented some new discovery which added to the horror of Magones. + +But Almah was weary, for our flight had been long, and she wished to +rest. So I found a place for her where there was some sand between +two rocks, and here she lay down and went to sleep. I sat at a little +distance off on a shelf of the rock, with my back against it, and +here, after a little time, I also went to sleep. + +At length we awoke. But what a waking! There was no morning dawn, no +blessed returning light to greet our eyes. We opened our eyes to the +same scenes upon which we had closed them, and the darkness was still +deep and dense around us. Over us both there was a sense of utter +depression, and I was so deeply plunged into it that I found it +impossible to rouse myself, even for the sake of saying words of cheer +to Almah. I had brought a few fragments of food, and upon these we +made our breakfast; but there was the athaleb to feed, and for him I +found nothing, nor could I think of anything--unless he could feed +upon rocks and sand. Yet food for him was a matter of the highest +consequence, for he was all our support and stay and hope; and if the +monster were deprived of food he might turn upon us and satisfy upon +us his ravenous appetite. These thoughts were painful indeed, and +added to my despondency. + +Suddenly I heard the sound of running water. I started away toward the +place from which the sound came, and found, only a little distance +off, a small brook trickling along on its way to the shore. I called +Almah, and we both drank and were refreshed. + +This showed an easy way to get to the shore, and I determined to go +there to see if there were any fish to be found. Shell-fish might be +there, or the carcasses of dead fish thrown up by the sea, upon which +the athaleb might feed. I left my pistol with Almah, telling her to +fire it if she heard me fire, for I was afraid of losing my way, +and therefore took this precaution. I left it lying on the rock +full-cocked, and directed her to point it in the air and pull the +trigger. It was necessary to take these precautions, as of course she +was quite ignorant of its nature. After this I left her and tried to +follow the torrent. + +This, however, I soon found to be impossible, for the brook on +reaching a huge rock plunged underneath it and became lost to view. I +then went toward the shore as well as I could--now climbing over sharp +rocks, now going round them, until at length after immense labor I +succeeded in reaching the water. Here the scene was almost as wild +as the one I had left. There was no beach whatever--nothing but a +vast extent of wild fragments of fractured lava-blocks, which were +evidently the result of some comparatively recent convulsion of +nature, for their edges were still sharp, and the water had not worn +even those which were within its grasp to anything like roundness, +or to anything else than the jagged and shattered outlines which had +originally belonged to them. All the shore thus consisted of vast +rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in foam. + +Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore for a long +distance, but without seeing any change. I was unwilling to go back +baffled, yet I was at length compelled to do so. But the necessity of +feeding the athaleb was pressing, and I saw that our only course now +would be to mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other. +But where could we go? That I could not imagine, and could only +conclude to trust altogether to the instinct of the athaleb, which +might guide him to places where he might obtain food. Such a course +would involve great risk for we might be carried into the midst of +vast flocks of these monsters; yet there was nothing else to be done. + +I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the sea. At +length I found a place where the walking was somewhat easier, and went +in this way up into the island and away from the sea. It seemed to +lead in the direction where I wished to go. At length it seemed as if +I had walked far enough, yet I could see no signs of Almah. I shouted, +but there was no answer. I shouted again and again, but with the like +result. Then I fired my rifle and listened. In response there came the +report of the pistol far away behind me. It was evident that in coming +back along the shore I had passed by the place where Almah was. There +was nothing now left but to retrace my steps and this I accordingly +did. I went back to the shore, and returned on my steps, shouting all +the time, until at length I was rejoiced to hear the answering shout +of Almah. After this it was easy to reach her. + +We now took up the grapple and once more mounted. The athaleb, eager +to be off, raised himself quickly in the air, and soon our late +resting-place was far behind. His flight was now different from what +it was before. Then he stood off in one straight line for a certain +fixed destination, as though under some guidance; for though I did not +direct him, still his long training had taught him to fly to Magones. +But now training and guidance were both wanting, and the athaleb was +left to the impulse of his hunger and the guidance of his instinct; so +he flew no longer in one undeviating straight line, but rose high, and +bent his head down low, and flew and soared in vast circles, even as I +have seen a vulture or a condor sweep about while searching for food. +All the while we were drawing farther and farther away from the spot +which we had left. + +We passed the lofty volcano; we saw more plainly the rivers of molten +lava; we passed vast cliffs and bleak mountains, all of which were +more terrific than all that we had left behind. Now the darkness +lessened, for the aurora was brightening in the sky, and gathering up +swiftly and gloriously all its innumerable beams, and flashing forth +its lustrous glow upon the world. To us this was equal to the return +of day; it was like a blessed dawn. Light had come, and we rejoiced +and were exceeding glad. + +Now we saw before us, far beyond the black precipices, a broad bay +with sloping shores, and a wide beach which seemed like a beach of +sand. The surf broke here, but beyond the surf was the gentle sandy +declivity, and beyond this there appeared the shores, still rocky and +barren and desolate, but far preferable to what we had left behind. +Far away in the interior arose lofty mountains and volcanoes, while +behind us flamed the burning peak which we had passed. + +Here the athaleb wheeled in long, circuitous flights, which grew lower +and lower, until at length he descended upon the sandy beach, where +I saw a vast sea-monster lying dead. It had evidently been thrown up +here by the sea. It was like one of those monsters which I had seen +from the galley of the Kohen at the time of the sacred hunt. By this +the athaleb descended, and at once began to devour it, tearing out +vast masses of flesh, and exhibiting such voracity and strength of +jaw that I could scarcely bear to look upon the sight. I fastened +the grapple securely to the head of the dead monster, and leaving +the athaleb to feed upon it, Almah and I went up the beach. + +On our way we found rocks covered with sea-weed, and here we sought +after shell-fish. Our search was at length rewarded, for suddenly I +stumbled upon a place where I found some lobsters. I grasped two of +these, but the others escaped. Here at last I had found signs of life, +but they were of the sea rather than of the shore. Delighted with my +prey, I hastened to Almah to show them to her. She recognized them at +once, and I saw that they were familiar to her. I then spoke of eating +them, but at this proposal she recoiled in horror. She could not give +any reason for her repugnance, but merely said that among her people +they were regarded as something equivalent to vermin, and I found that +she would no more think of eating one than I would think of eating a +rat. Upon this I had to throw them away, and we once more resumed our +search. + +At last we came to a place where numbers of dead fish lay on the sand. +Nearer the water they were more fresh, and not at all objectionable. +I picked up a few which looked like our common smelt, and found that +Almah had no objection to these. But now the question arose how to +cook them; neither of us could eat them raw. A fire was necessary, yet +a fire was impossible; for on the whole island there was probably not +one single combustible thing. Our discovery, therefore, seemed to have +done us but little good, and we seemed destined to starvation, when +fortunately a happy thought suggested itself. In walking along I saw +far away the glow of some lava which had flowed to the shore at the +end of the sandy beach, and was probably cooling down at the water's +edge. Here, then, was a natural fire, which might serve us better than +any contrivance of our own, and toward this we at once proceeded. It +was about two miles away; but the beach was smooth, and we reached +the place without any difficulty. + +Here we found the edge of that lava flood which seemed eternally +descending from the crater beyond. The edge which was nearest the +water was black; and the liquid fire, as it rolled down, curled over +this in a fantastic shape, cooling and hardening into the form which +it thus assumed. Here, after some search, I found a crevice where I +could approach the fire, and I laid the fish upon a crimson rock, +which was cooling and hardening into the shape of a vast ledge of +lava. In this way, by the aid of nature, the fish were broiled, and +we made our repast. + +There was nothing here to invite a longer stay, and we soon returned +to the athaleb. We found the monster, gorged with food, asleep, +resting upon his hind legs, with his breast supported against the vast +carcass. Almah called it a jantannin. It was about sixty feet in +length and twenty in thickness, with a vast horny head, ponderous +jaws, and back covered with scales. Its eyes were of prodigious size, +and it had the appearance of a crocodile, with the vast size of a +whale. It was unlike a crocodile, however; for it had fins rather than +paws, and must have been as clumsy on the land as a seal or a walrus. +It lay on its side, and the athaleb had fed itself from the uncovered +flesh of its belly. + +There was nothing here to induce us to stay, and so we wandered along +the beach in the other direction. On our right was the bay; on our +left the rocky shore, which, beginning at the beach, ran back into +the country, a waste of impassable rocks, where not a tree or plant +or blade of grass relieved the appalling desolation. Once or twice +we made an attempt to penetrate into the country, where openings +appeared. These openings seemed like the beds of dried-up torrents. We +were able to walk but a few paces for invariably we would come to some +immense blocks of rock, which barred all farther progress. In this +way we explored the beach for miles, until it terminated in a savage +promontory that rose abruptly from the sea against which the huge +billows broke in thunder. + +Then we retraced our steps, and again reached the spot where the +athaleb was asleep by the jantannin. Almah was now too weary to walk +any farther, nor was it desirable to do so; for, indeed, we had +traversed all that could be visited. On one side of the beach was the +sea, on the other the impassable rocks; at one end the promontory, at +the other the lava fires. There was nothing more for us to do but to +wait here until the athaleb should awake, and then our actions would +depend upon what we might now decide. + +This was the question that was now before us, and this we began to +consider. We both felt the most unspeakable aversion for the island, +and to remain here any longer was impossible. We would once more have +to mount the athaleb, and proceed to some other shore. But where? +Ah! there was the question! Not on the island, for it did not seem +possible that in all its extent there could be one single spot capable +of affording a resting-place. Layelah's information with regard to +Magones had made that much plain. I had not taken in her full meaning, +but now mine eyes had seen it. Yet where else could we go? Almah could +not tell where under the sky lay that land which she loved; I could +not guess where to go to find the land of the Orin. Even if I did +know, I did not feel able to guide the course of the athaleb; and I +felt sure that if we were to mount again, the mighty monster would +wing his flight back to the very place from which we had escaped--the +amir. These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We felt that we had +gained nothing by our flight, and that our future was dark indeed. The +only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the course of the +athaleb in some different direction altogether, so that we should not +be carried back to the Kosekin. + +And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this jom, we thought of +sleep. Almah lay down upon the sand, and I seated myself, leaning +against a rock, a little distance off, having first reloaded my rifle +and pistol. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +RECAPTURE + + +How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep there +sounded voices, which at first intermingled themselves with my dreams, +but gradually became separate and sounded from without, rousing me +from my slumbers. I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw +was so amazing that in an instant all sleep left me. I started to my +feet, and gazed in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me. + +The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed +everything--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantannin, the +promontory, all--more plainly and more luminously than before; but +it was not any of these things that now excited my attention and +rendered me dumb. I saw Almah standing there at a little distance, +with despairing face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while +immediately before me, regarding me with a keen glance and an air of +triumph, was Layelah. + +"Ataesmzori alonla," said she, with a sweet smile, giving me the +usual salutation of the Kosekin. + +I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as before, looking +first at her and then at Almah. + +The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the Kosekin, +excited me to madness. I seized my rifle, and raised it as if to take +aim; but Almah, who understood the movement, cried to me: + +"Put down your sepet-ram, Atam-or! you can do nothing for me. The +Kosekin are too numerous." + +"Sepet-ram!" said Layelah; "what do you mean by that? If your +sepet-ram has any power, do not try to use it, Atam-or, or else +I shall have to order my followers to give to Almah the blessing of +death." + +At this my rifle was lowered: the whole truth flashed upon me, and I +saw, too, the madness of resistance. I might kill one or two, but the +rest would do as Layelah said, and I should speedily be disarmed. Well +I knew how powerless were the thunders of my fire-arms to terrify +these Kosekin; for the prospect of death would only rouse them to a +mad enthusiasm, and they would all rush upon me as they would rush +upon a jantannin--to slay and be slain. The odds were too great. A +crowd of Europeans could be held in check far more easily than these +death-loving Kosekin. The whole truth was thus plain: we were +prisoners, and were at their mercy. + +Layelah showed no excitement or anger whatever. She looked and spoke +in her usual gracious and amiable fashion, with a sweet smile on her +face. + +"We knew," said she, "that you would be in distress in this desolate +place, and that you would not know where to go from Magones; and so we +have come, full of the most eager desire to relieve your wants. We +have brought with us food and drink, and are ready to do everything +for you that you may desire. We have had great trouble in finding you, +and have coursed over the shores for vast distances, and far over the +interior, but our athalebs found you at last by their scent. And we +rejoice to have found you in time, and that you are both so well, for +we have been afraid that you had been suffering. Nay, Atam-or, do not +thank us; thanks are distasteful to the Kosekin: these brave followers +of mine will all be amply rewarded for this, for they will all be made +paupers; but as for myself, I want no higher reward than the +delightful thought that I have saved you from suffering." + +The beautiful, smiling Layelah, who addressed me in this way with her +sweet voice, was certainly not to be treated as an enemy. Against her +a rifle could not be levelled; she would have looked at me with the +same sweet smile, and that smile would have melted all my resolution. +Nor could I even persist in my determination to remain. Remain! For +what? For utter despair! And yet where else could we go? + +"You do not know where lie the lands of the Orin," said Layelah. "The +athaleb does not know. You could not guide him if you did know. You +are helpless on his back. The art of driving an athaleb is difficult, +and cannot be learned without long and severe practice. My fear was +that the athaleb might break away from you and return, leaving you to +perish here. Had you tried to leave this place he would have brought +you back to the amir." + +To this I said nothing--partly because it was so true that I had no +answer to make, and partly also out of deep mortification and +dejection. My pride was wounded at being thus so easily baffled by a +girl like Layelah, and all my grief was stirred by the sadness of +Almah. In her eyes there seemed even now the look of one who sees +death inevitable, and the glance she gave to me was like an eternal +farewell. + +Almah now spoke, addressing herself to Layelah. + +"Death," said she, in a voice of indescribable mournfulness, "is +better here than with you. We would rather die here than go back. Let +us, I pray you, receive the blessing of death here. Let us be paupers +and exiles, and die on Magones." + +Layelah heard this, and stood for a moment in deep thought. + +"No one but a stranger," said she at length, "would ask such a favor +as that. Do you not know that what you ask is among the very highest +honors of the Kosekin? Who am I that I can venture to grant such a +request as that? Ask for anything in my power, and I will be glad to +grant it. I have already arranged that you shall be separated from +Atam-or; and that, surely, is a high privilege. I might consent to +bind you hand and foot, after the manner of the more distinguished +Asirin; you may also be blindfolded if you wish it. I might even +promise, after we return to the amir, to keep you confined in utter +darkness, with barely sufficient food to keep you alive until the +time of the sacrifice; in short, there is no blessing known among +the Kosekin that I will not give so long as it is in my power. And +so, beloved Almah," continued Layelah, "you have every reason for +happiness; you have all the highest blessings known among the Kosekin: +separation from your lover, poverty, want, darkness; and, finally, the +prospect of inevitable death ever before you as the crowning glory of +your lot." + +These words seemed to the Kosekin the very excess of magnanimity, and +involuntary murmurs of admiration escaped them; although it is just +possible that they murmured at the greatness of the favor that was +offered. But to me it sounded like fiendish mockery, and to Almah it +sounded the same; for a groan escaped her, her fortitude gave way, she +sank on her knees, buried her head in her hands, and wept. + +"Almah," cried I, in a fury, "we will not go back--we will not be +separated! I will destroy all the athalebs, and we shall all perish +here together. At least, you and I will not be separated." + +At this Almah started up. + +"No, no," said she--"no; let us go back. Here we have nothing but +death." + +"But we have death also at the amir, and a more terrible one," said I. + +"If you kill the athalebs," said Layelah, "I will give Almah the +blessing of death." + +At this I recoiled in horror, and my resolution again gave way. + +"You have some mysterious power of conferring death," continued +Layelah, "with what Almah calls your sepet-ram; but do not kill the +athalebs, for it will do you no good. Almah would then receive the +blessing of death. My followers, these noble Kosekin, would rejoice in +thus gaining exile and death on Magones. As for myself, it would be my +highest happiness to be here alone with you. With you I should live +for a few sweet joms, and with you I should die; so go on--kill the +athalebs if you wish." + +"Do not!" cried Almah--"do not! There is no hope. We are their +prisoners, and our only hope is in submission." + +Upon this all further thought of resistance left me, and I stood in +silence, stolidly waiting for their action. As I looked around I +noticed a movement near the jantannin, and saw several athalebs +there, which were devouring its flesh. I now went over to Almah and +spoke with her. We were both full of despair. It seemed as though we +might never meet again. We were to be separated now; but who could say +whether we should be permitted to see each other after leaving this +place? We had but little to say. I held her in my arms, regardless of +the presence of others; and these, seeing our emotion, at once moved +away, with the usual delicacy of the Kosekin, and followed Layelah to +the jantannin to see about the athalebs. + +At last our interview was terminated. Layelah came and informed us +that all was ready for our departure. We walked sadly to the place, +and found the athalebs crouched to receive their riders. There were +four beside ours. Layelah informed me that I was to go with her, and +Almah was to go on another athaleb. I entreated her to let Almah go +with me; but she declined, saying that our athaleb could only carry +two, as he seemed fatigued, and it would not be safe to overload him +for so long a flight. I told her that Almah and I could go together on +the same athaleb; but she objected on the ground of my ignorance of +driving. And so, remonstrances and objections being alike useless, I +was compelled to yield to the arrangements that had been made. Almah +mounted on another athaleb. I mounted with Layelah, and then the great +monsters expanded their mighty wings, rose into the air, and soon were +speeding over the waters. + +We went on in silence for some time. I was too despondent to say a +word, and all my thoughts turned toward Almah, who was now separated +from me--perhaps forever. The other athalebs went ahead, at long +intervals apart, flying in a straight line, while ours was last. +Layelah said nothing. She sat in front of me; her back was turned +toward me; she held in her hands the reins, which hung quite loose at +first, but after a while she drew them up, and seemed to be directing +our course. For some time I did not notice anything in particular, for +my eyes were fixed upon the athaleb immediately before us, upon which +was seated the loved form of Almah, which I could easily recognize. +But our athaleb flew slowly, and I noticed that we were falling +behind. I said this to Layelah, but she only remarked that it was +fatigued with its long journey. To this I objected that the others had +made as long a journey, and insisted that she should draw nearer. This +she at first refused to do; but at length, as I grew persistent, she +complied, or pretended to do so. In spite of this, however, we again +fell behind, and I noticed that this always happened when the reins +were drawn tight. On making this discovery I suddenly seized both +reins and let them trail loose, whereupon the athaleb at once showed a +perceptible increase of speed, which proved that there was no fatigue +in him whatever. This I said to Layelah. + +She acquiesced with a sweet smile, and taking the reins again, she sat +around so as to face me, and said: + +"You are very quick. It is no use to try to deceive you, Atam-or: I +wish to fall behind." + +"Why?" + +"To save you." + +"To save me?" + +"Yes. I can take you to the land of the Orin. Now is the time to +escape from death. If you go back you must surely die; but now, if you +will be guided by me, I can take you to the land of the Orin. There +they all hate death, they love life, they live in the light. There you +will find those who are like yourself; there you can love and be +happy." + +"But what of Almah?" I asked. + +Layelah made a pretty gesture of despair. + +"You are always talking of Almah," said she. "What is Almah to you? +She is cold, dull, sad! She never will speak. Let her go." + +"Never!" said I. "Almah is worth more than all the world to me." + +Layelah sighed. + +"I can never, never, never," said she, "get from you the least little +bit of a kind word--even after all that I have done for you, and when +you know that I would lie down and let you trample me under your feet +if it gave you any pleasure." + +"Oh, that is not the question at all," said I. "You are asking me to +leave Almah--to be false to her--and I cannot." + +"Among the Kosekin," said Layelah, "it is the highest happiness for +lovers to give one another up." + +"I am not one of the Kosekin," said I. "I cannot let her go away--I +cannot let her go back to the amir--to meet death alone. If she dies +she shall see me by her side, ready to die with her." + +At this Layelah laughed merrily. + +"Is it possible," said she, "that you believe that? Do you not know +that if Almah goes back alone she will not die?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, she can only die when you are in her company. She has lived for +years among us, and we have waited for someone to appear whom she +might love, so that we might give them both the blessing of death. If +that one should leave her, Almah could not receive the blessing. She +would be compelled to live longer, until some other lover should +appear. Now, by going with me to the land of the Orin, you will save +Almah's life--and as for Almah, why, she will be happy--and dear papa +is quite willing to marry her. You must see, therefore, dear Atam-or, +that my plan is the very best that can be thought of for all of us, +and above all for Almah." + +This, however, was intolerable; and I could not consent to desert +Almah, even if by doing so I should save her life. My own nature +revolted from it. Still it was not a thing which I could dismiss on +the instant. The safety of Almah's life, indeed, required +consideration; but then the thought came of her wonder at my +desertion. Would she not think me false? Would not the thought of my +falsity be worse than death? + +"No," said I, "I will not leave her--not even to save her life. Even +among us there are things worse than death. Almah would rather die by +the sacrificial knife than linger on with a broken heart." + +"Oh no," said Layelah, sweetly; "she will rejoice that you are safe. +Do you not see that while you are together death is inevitable, but if +you separate you may both live and be happy?" + +"But she will think me dead," said I, as a new idea occurred. "She +will think that some accident has befallen me." + +"Oh no, she won't," said Layelah; "she will think that you have gone +off with me." + +"Then that will be worse, and I would rather die, and have her die +with me, than live and have her think me false." + +"You are very, very obstinate," said Layelah, sweetly. + +I made no reply. During this conversation I had been too intent upon +Layelah's words to notice the athalebs before me; but now as I looked +up I saw that we had fallen far behind, and that Layelah had headed +our athaleb in a new direction. Upon this I once more snatched the +reins from her, and tried to return to our former course. This, +however, I was utterly unable to do. + +Layelah laughed. + +"You will have to let me guide our course," said she. "You can do +nothing. The athaleb will now go in a straight line to the land of the +Orin." + +Upon this I started up in wild excitement. + +"Never, never, never!" I cried, in a fury. "I will not; I will destroy +this athaleb and perish in the water!" + +As I said this I raised my rifle. + +"What are you going to do?" cried Layelah, in accents of fear. + +"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!" + +Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a +smile. + +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, +when we have started for the land of the Orin?" + +"We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish +in the sea!" + +"Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb. You are no more +than an insect; your rod is a weak thing, and will break on his iron +frame." + +It was evident that Layelah had not the slightest idea of the powers +of my rifle. There was no hesitation on my part. I took aim with the +rifle. At that moment I was desperate. I thought of nothing but the +swift flight of the athaleb, which was bearing me away forever from +Almah. I could not endure that thought, and still less could I endure +the thought that she should believe me false. It was therefore in a +wild passion of rage and despair that I levelled my rifle, taking aim +as well as I could at what seemed a vital part under the wing. The +motion of the wing rendered this difficult, however, and I hesitated +a moment, so as to make sure. All this time Layelah stood looking +at me with a smile on her rosy lips and a merry twinkle in her +eyes--evidently regarding my words as empty threats and my act as +a vain pretence, and utterly unprepared for what was to follow. + +Suddenly I fired both barrels in quick succession. The reports rang +out in thunder over the sea. The athaleb gave a wild, appalling +shriek, and fell straight down into the water, fluttering vainly with +one wing, while the other hung down useless. A shriek of horror burst +from Layelah. She started back, and fell from her standing-place into +the waves beneath. The next instant we were all in the water +together--the athaleb writhing and lashing the water into foam, while +I involuntarily clung to his coarse mane, and expected death every +moment. + +But death did not come; for the athaleb did not sink, but floated with +his back out of the water, the right pinion being sunk underneath and +useless, and the left struggling vainly with the sea. But after a time +he folded up the left wing and drew it close in to his side, and +propelled himself with his long hind-legs. His right wing was broken, +but he did not seem to have suffered any other injury. + +Suddenly I heard a cry behind me: + +"Atam-or! oh, Atam-or!" + +I looked around and saw Layelah. She was swimming in the water, and +seemed exhausted. In the agitation of the past few moments I had lost +sight of her, and had thought that she was drowned; but now the sight +of her roused me from my stupor and brought me back to myself. She was +swimming, yet her strokes were weak and her face was full of despair. +In an instant I had flung off my coat, rolled up the rifle and pistol +in its folds, and sprung into the water. A few strokes brought me to +Layelah. A moment more and I should have been too late. I held her +head out of water, told her not to struggle, and then struck out to go +back. It would have been impossible for me to do this, encumbered with +such a load, had I not fortunately perceived the floating wing of the +athaleb close beside me. This I seized, and by means of it drew myself +with Layelah alongside; after which I succeeded in putting her on the +back of the animal, and soon followed myself. + +The terror of the rifle had overwhelmed her, and the suddenness of the +catastrophe had almost killed her. She had struggled in the water for +a long time, and had called to me in vain. Now she was quite +exhausted, and lay in my arms trembling and sobbing. I spoke to her +encouragingly, and wrapped her in my coat, and rubbed her hands and +feet, until at last she began to recover. Then she wept quietly for a +long time; then the weeping fit passed away. She looked up with a +smile, and in her face there was unutterable gratitude. + +"Atam-or," said she, "I never loved death like the rest of the +Kosekin; but now--but now--I feel that death with you would be sweet." + +Then tears came to her eyes, and I found tears coming to my own, so +that I had to stoop down and kiss away the tears of Layelah. As I did +so she twined both her arms around my neck, held me close to her, and +sighed. + +"Oh, Atam-or, death with you is sweet! And now you cannot reproach +me-- You have done this yourself, with your terrible power; and you +have saved my life to let me die with you. You do not hate me, then, +Atam-or, do you? Just speak once to a poor little girl, and say that +you do not hate her!" + +All this was very pitiable. What man that had a heart in his breast +could listen unmoved to words like these, or look without emotion upon +one so beautiful, so gentle, and so tender? It was no longer Layelah +in triumph with whom I had to do, but Layelah in distress: the light +banter, the teasing, mocking smile, the kindling eye, the ready +laugh--all were gone. There was nothing now but mournful +tenderness--the timid appeal of one who dreaded a repulse, the glance +of deep affection, the abandonment of love. + +I held Layelah in my arms, and I thought of nothing now but words of +consolation for her. Life seemed over; death seemed inevitable; and +there, on the back of the athaleb, we floated on the waters and waited +for our doom. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +FALLING, LIKE ICARUS, INTO THE SEA + + +The aurora light, which had flamed brightly, was now extinct, and +darkness was upon the face of the deep, where we floated on the back +of the monster. He swam, forcing himself onward with his hind-legs, +with one broad wing folded up close. Had both been folded up the +athaleb could have swum rapidly; but the broken wing lay expanded +over the water, tossing with the waves, so that our progress was but +slight. Had it not been for this, the athaleb's own instinct might +have served to guide him toward some shore which we might have hoped +to reach before life was extinct; but as it was, all thought of +reaching any shore was out of the question, and there arose before us +only the prospect of death--a death, too, which must be lingering and +painful and cruel. Thus amid the darkness we floated, and the waves +dashed around us, and the athaleb never ceased to struggle in the +water, trying to force his way onward. It seemed sweet at that moment +to have Layelah with me, for what could have been more horrible than +loneliness amid those black waters? and Layelah's mind was made up +to meet death with joy, so that her mood conveyed itself to me. And +I thought that since death was inevitable it were better to meet +it thus, and in this way end my life--not amid the horrors of the +sacrifice and the Mista Kosek, but in a way which seemed natural to +a seafaring man like myself, and with which I had long familiarized my +thoughts. For I had fallen upon a world and among people which were +all alien and unintelligible to me; and to live on would only open the +way to new and worse calamities. There was peace also in the thought +that my death would snatch the prospect of death from Almah. She would +now be safe. It was only when we were together as lovers that death +threatened her; but now since I was removed she could resume her +former life, and she might remember me only as an episode in that +life. That she would remember me I felt sure, and that she would weep +for me and mourn after me was undeniable; but time as it passed would +surely alleviate that grief, and Almah would live and be happy. +Perhaps she might yet regain her native land and rejoin her loved +kindred, whom she would tell of the stranger from an unknown shore who +had loved her, and through whose death she had gained her life. Such +were the thoughts that filled my mind as I floated over the black +water with darkness all around, as I held Layelah in my arms, with my +coat wrapped around her, and murmured in her ear tender words of +consolation and sympathy. + +A long, long time had passed--but how long I know not--when suddenly +Layelah gave a cry, and started up on her knees, with her head bent +forward listening intently. I too listened, and I could distinctly +hear the sound of breakers. + +It was evident that we were approaching some shore; and, from what I +remembered of the shore of Magones, such a shore meant death, and +death alone. We stood up and tried to peer through the gloom. At +length we saw a whole line of breakers, and beyond all was black. We +waited anxiously in that position, and drew steadily nearer. It was +evident that the athaleb was desirous of reaching that shore, and we +could do nothing but await the result. + +But the athaleb had his wits about him, and swam along on a line with +the breakers for some distance, until at length an opening appeared, +into which he directed his course. Passing through this we reached +still water, which seemed like a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef. +The athaleb swam on farther, and at length we saw before us an island +with a broad, sandy beach, beyond which was the shadowy outline of a +forest. Here the monster landed, and dragged himself wearily upon the +sand, where he spread his vast bulk out, and lay panting heavily. We +dismounted--I first, so as to assist Layelah; and then it seemed as if +death were postponed for a time, since we had reached this place where +the rich and rank vegetation spoke of nothing but vigorous life. + +Fortune had indeed dealt strangely with me. I had fled with Almah, and +with her had reached one desolate shore, and now I found myself with +Layelah upon another shore, desolate also, but not a savage +wilderness. This lonely island, ringed with the black ocean waters, +was the abode of a life of its own, and there was nothing here to +crush the soul into a horror of despair like that which was caused by +the tremendous scenes on Magones. + +In an instant Layelah revived from her gloom. She looked around, +clapped her little hands, laughed aloud, and danced for joy. + +"Oh, Atam-or," she cried, "see--see the trees, see the grass, the +bushes! This is a land of wonder. As for food, you can call it down +from the sky with your sepet-ram, or we can find it on the rocks. +Oh, Atam-or! life is better than death, and we can live here, and we +can be happy. This shall be better to us than the lands of the Orin, +for we shall be alone, and we shall be all in all to one another." + +I could not help laughing, and I said: + +"Layelah, this is not the language of the Kosekin. You should at once +go to the other side of this island, and sit down and wait for death." + +"Never," said Layelah; "you are mine, Atam-or, and I never will leave +you. If you wish me to die for you, I will gladly lay down my life; +but I will not leave you. I love you, Atam-or; and now, whether it be +life or death, it is all the same so long as I have you." + +Our submersion in the sea and our long exposure afterward had chilled +both of us, but Layelah felt it most. She was shivering in her wet +clothes in spite of my coat which I insisted on her wearing, and I +determined, if possible, to kindle a fire. Fortunately my powder was +dry, for I had thrown off my flask with my coat before jumping into +the sea, and thus I had the means of creating fire. I rubbed wet +powder over my handkerchief, and then gathered some dried sticks and +moss. After this I found some dead trees, the boughs of which were +dry and brittle, and in the exercise I soon grew warm, and had the +satisfaction of seeing a great heap of fagots accumulating. I fired +my pistol into the handkerchief, which, being saturated with powder, +caught the fire, and this I blew into a flame among the dried moss. +A bright fire now sprang up and blazed high in the air; while I, in +order to have an ample supply of fuel, continued to gather it for a +long time. At length, as I came back, I saw Layelah lying on the sand +in front of the fire, sound asleep. I was glad of this, for she was +weary, and had seemed so weak and tremulous that I had felt anxious; +so now I arranged my coat over her carefully, and then sat down for a +time to think over this new turn which my fortune had taken. + +This island was certainly very unlike Magones, yet I had no surety but +that it might be equally destitute of food. This was the first +question, and I could not think of sleep until I had found out more +about the place. The aurora light, which constantly brightens and +lessens in this strange world, was now shining gloriously, and I set +forth to explore the island. The beach was of fine sand all the way. +The water was smooth, and shut in on every side by an outer reef +against which the sea-waves broke incessantly. As I walked I soon +perceived what the island was; for I had often seen such places before +in the South Pacific. It was, in fact, a coral islet, with a reef of +rocks encircling it on every side. The vegetation, however, was unlike +anything in the world beyond; for it consisted of many varieties of +tree-ferns, that looked like palms, and giant grasses, and bamboo. The +island was but small, and the entire circuit was not over a mile. I +saw nothing that looked like food, nor did it seem likely that in so +small a place there could be enough sustenance for us. Our only hope +would be from the sea, yet even here I could see no signs of any sort +of shell-fish. On the whole the prospect was discouraging, and I +returned to the starting-point with a feeling of dejection; but this +feeling did not trouble me much at that time: my chief thought was of +rest, and I flung myself down on the sand and fell asleep. + +I was awakened by a cry from Layelah. Starting up, I saw her standing +and looking into the sky. She was intensely excited. As soon as she +saw me she rushed toward me and burst into tears, while I, full of +wonder, could only stare upward. + +"Oh!" cried Layelah, "they've turned back--they've found us! We shall +have to leave our dear, lovely island. Oh, Atam-or, I shall lose you +now; for never, never, never again will you have one thought of love +for your poor Layelah!" + +With these words she clung sobbing to me. For my part I do not +remember what I said to soothe her, for the sight above was so amazing +that it took up all my attention. The aurora shone bright, and in the +sky I saw two vast objects wheeling and circling, as if about to +descend. I recognized them at once as athalebs; but as their backs +were hid from view by their immense wings, I could not make out +whether they were wanderers about to alight of their own accord, or +guided here by riders--perhaps by the Kosekin from whom we had been +parted. + +This much at least I remember. I said to Layelah that these athalebs +were wild ones, which had come here because they saw or scented our +wounded one; but Layelah shook her head with mournful meaning. + +"Oh no," said she; "Almah has come back for you. This fire-light has +guided them. If you had not made the fire they never, never, never +could have found us; but now all is lost." + +There was no time for conversation or discussion. The athalebs drew +swiftly nearer and nearer, descending in long circuits, until at +length they touched the ground not far away on the wide sandy beach. +Then we saw people on their backs, and among them was Almah. We +hurried toward them, and Almah rushed into my arms, to the great +disgust of Layelah, for she was close beside me and saw it all. She +gave an exclamation of grief and despair, and hurried away. + +From Almah I learned that our disappearance had caused alarm; that two +of the athalebs had come back in search of us; that they had been to +Magones, and had searched over the seas, and were just about giving us +up as lost, when the fire-light had attracted their attention and +drawn them here. + +I said nothing at that time about the cause of our disappearance, but +merely remarked that the athaleb had fallen into the sea and swam +here. This was sufficient. They had to remain here for some time +longer to rest their athalebs. At length we prepared to depart. Our +wounded athaleb was left behind to take care of himself. I was taken +with Almah, and Layelah went on the other. We were thus separated; and +so we set forth upon our return, and at length arrived at the amir. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +GRIMM'S LAW AGAIN + + +Dinner was now announced, and Oxenden laid the manuscript aside; +whereupon they adjourned to the cabin, where they proceeded to discuss +both the repast and the manuscript. + +"Well," said Featherstone, "More's story seems to be approaching a +crisis. What do you think of it now, Melick? Do you still think it a +sensational novel?" + +"Partly so," said Melick; "but it would be nearer the mark to call it +a satirical romance." + +"Why not a scientific romance?" + +"Because there's precious little science in it, but a good deal of +quiet satire." + +"Satire on what?" asked Featherstone. "I'll be hanged if I can see +it." + +"Oh, well," said Melick, "on things in general. The satire is directed +against the restlessness of humanity; its impulses, feelings, hopes, +and fears--all that men do and feel and suffer. It mocks us by +exhibiting a new race of men, animated by passions and impulses which +are directly the opposite of ours, and yet no nearer happiness than we +are. It shows us a world where our evil is made a good, and our good +an evil; there all that we consider a blessing is had in +abundance--prolonged and perpetual sunlight, riches, power, fame--and +yet these things are despised, and the people, turning away from them, +imagine that they can find happiness in poverty, darkness, death, and +unrequited love. The writer thus mocks at all our dearest passions and +strongest desires; and his general aim is to show that the mere search +for happiness per se is a vulgar thing, and must always result in +utter nothingness. The writer also teaches the great lesson that the +happiness of man consists not in external surroundings, but in the +internal feelings, and that heaven itself is not a place, but a state. +It is the old lesson which Milton extorted from Satan: + + "'What matter where, if I be still the same--' + +"Or again: + + "'The mind is its own place, and of itself + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven--'" + +"That's good too," cried Oxenden. "That reminds me of the German +commentators who find in the Agamemnon of AEschylus or the OEdipus +of Sophocles or the Hamlet of Shakespeare motives and purposes +of which the authors could never have dreamed, and give us a +metaphysical, beer-and-tobacco, High-Dutch Clytemnestra or Antigone or +Lady Macbeth. No, my boy, More was a simple sailor, and had no idea of +satirizing anything." + +"How, then, do you account for the perpetual undercurrent of meaning +and innuendo that may be found in every line?" + +"I deny that there is anything of the sort," said Oxenden. "It is a +plain narrative of facts; but the facts are themselves such that they +give a new coloring to the facts of our own life. They are in such +profound antithesis to European ways that we consider them as being +written merely to indicate that difference. It is like the Germania +of Tacitus, which many critics still hold to be a satire on Roman +ways, while as a matter of fact it is simply a narrative of German +manners and customs." + +"I hope," cried Melick, "that you do not mean to compare this awful +rot and rubbish to the Germania of Tacitus?" + +"By no means," said Oxenden; "I merely asserted that in one respect +they were analogous. You forced on the allusion to the Germania by +calling this 'rot and rubbish' a satirical romance." + +"Oh, well," said Melick, "I only referred to the intention of the +writer. His plan is one thing and his execution quite another. His +plan is not bad, but he fails utterly in his execution. The style is +detestable. If he had written in the style of a plain seaman, and +told a simple unvarnished tale, it would have been all right. In order +to carry out properly such a plan as this the writer should take Defoe +as his model, or, still better, Dean Swift. Gulliver's Travels and +Robinson Crusoe show what can be done in this way, and form a +standard by which all other attempts must be judged. But this writer +is tawdry; he has the worst vices of the sensational school--he shows +everywhere marks of haste, gross carelessness, and universal +feebleness. When he gets hold of a good fancy, he lacks the patience +that is necessary in order to work it up in an effective way. He is a +gross plagiarist, and over and over again violates in the most glaring +manner all the ordinary proprieties of style. What can be more absurd, +for instance, than the language which he puts into the mouth of +Layelah? Not content with making her talk like a sentimental +boarding-school, bread-and-butter English miss, he actually forgets +himself so far as to put in her mouth a threadbare joke, which +everyone has heard since childhood." + +"What is that?" + +"Oh, that silly speech about the athaleb swallowing its victuals +whole." + +"What's the matter with that?" asked Oxenden. "It's merely a chance +resemblance. In translating her words into English they fell by +accident into that shape. No one but you would find fault with them. +Would it have been better if he had translated her words into the +scientific phraseology which the doctor made use of with regard to the +ichthyosaurus? He might have made it this way: 'Does it bite?' 'No; it +swallows its food without mastication.' Would that have been better? +Besides, it's all very well to talk of imitating Defoe and Swift; but +suppose he couldn't do it?" + +"Then he shouldn't have written the book." + +"In that case how could his father have heard about his adventures?" + +"His father!" exclaimed Melick. "Do you mean to say that you still +accept all this as bona fide?" + +"Do you mean to say," retorted Oxenden, "that you still have any doubt +about the authenticity of this remarkable manuscript?" + +At this each looked at the other; Melick elevated his eyebrows, and +Oxenden shrugged his shoulders, but each seemed unable to find words +to express his amazement at the other's stupidity, and so they took +refuge in silence. + +"What do you understand by this athaleb, doctor?" asked Featherstone. + +"The athaleb?" said the doctor. "Why, it is clearly the pterodactyl." + +"By-the-bye," interrupted Oxenden, "do please take notice of that +name. It affords another exemplification of 'Grimm's Law.' The Hebrew +word is 'ataleph,' and means bat. The Kosekin word is 'athaleb.' Here +you see the thin letter of Hebrew represented by the aspirated letter +of the Kosekin language, while the aspirated Hebrew is represented by +the Kosekin medial." + +"Too true," exclaimed Melick, in a tone of deep conviction; "and now, +Oxenden, won't you sing us a song?" + +"Nonsense," said Featherstone; "let the doctor tell us about the +athaleb." + +"Well," resumed the doctor, "as I was saying, it must be undoubtedly +the pterodactyl. It is a most extraordinary animal, and is a species +of flying lizard, although differing from the lizard in many respects. +It has the head and neck of a bird, the trunk and tail of an ordinary +mammal, the jaws and teeth of a reptile, and the wings of a bat. Owen +describes one whose sweep of wings exceeded twenty feet, and many have +been found of every gradation of size down to that of a bat. There is +no reason why they should not be as large as More says; and I for my +part do not suspect him of exaggeration. Some have supposed that a +late, lingering individual may have suggested the idea of the fabulous +dragon--an idea which seems to be in the minds of nearly all the human +race, for in the early records of many nations we find the destruction +of dragons assigned to their gods and heroes. The figure of the +pterodactyl represents pretty closely that which is given to the +dragons. It is not impossible that they may have existed into the +period which we call prehistoric, and that monsters far larger than +any which we have yet discovered may have lingered until the time when +man began to increase upon the earth, to spread over its surface, and +to carve upon wood and stone representations of the most striking +objects around him. When the living pterodactyls had disappeared the +memory of them was preserved; some new features were added, and the +imagination went so far as to endow them with the power of belching +forth smoke and flames. Thus the dragon idea pervaded the minds of +men, and instead of a natural animal it became a fabulous one. + +"The fingers of the forelegs were of the ordinary dimensions, and +terminated with crooked nails, and these were probably used to suspend +themselves from trees. When in repose it rested on its hind legs like +a bird, and held its neck curving behind, so that its enormous head +should not disturb its equilibrium. The size and form of the feet, of +the leg, and of the thigh prove that they could hold themselves erect +with firmness, their wings folded, and move about in this way like +birds, just as More describes them as doing. Like birds they could +also perch on trees, and could crawl like bats and lizards along the +rocks and cliffs. + +"Some think that they were covered with scales, but I am of the +opinion that they had a horny hide, with a ridge of hair running down +their backs--in which opinion I am sustained by More's account. The +smaller kinds were undoubtedly insectivorous, but the larger ones must +have been carnivorous, and probably fed largely on fish." + +"Well, at any rate," said Melick, gravely, "this athaleb solves the +difficult question as to how the Troglodytes emigrated to the South +Pole." + +"How?" asked the doctor. + +"Why, they must have gone there on athalebs! Your friends the +pterodactyls probably lingered longest among the Troglodytes, who, +seeing that they were rapidly dying out, concluded to depart to +another and a better world. One beauty of this theory is that it +cannot possibly be disproved; another is that it satisfies all the +requirements of the case; a third is that it accounts for the +disappearance of the pterodactyls in our world, and their appearance +at the South Pole; and there are forty or fifty other facts, all +included in this theory, which I have not time just now to enumerate, +but will try to do so after we have finished reading the manuscript. I +will only add that the athaleb must be regarded as another link which +binds the Kosekin to the Semitic race." + +"Another link?" said Oxenden. "That I already have; and it is one that +carries conviction with it." + +"All your arguments invariably do, my dear fellow." + +"What is it?" asked the doctor. + +"The Kosekin alphabet," said Oxenden. + +"I can't see how you can make anything out of that," said the doctor. + +"Very well, I can easily explain," replied Oxenden. "In the first +place we must take the old Hebrew alphabet. I will write down the +letters in their order first." + +Saying this he hastily jotted down some letters on a piece of paper, +and showed to the doctor the following: + + Labials. Palatals. Linguals. + A B C (or G) D + E F Ch (or H) Dh (or Th) + I Liquids, L M N + O P K T + +"That," said he, "is substantially the order of the old Hebrew +alphabet." + +"But," said the doctor, "the Kosekin alphabet differs in its order +altogether from that." + +"That very difference can be shown to be all the stronger proof of a +connection between them," said Oxenden. + +"I should like to know how." + +"The fact is," said Oxenden, "these letters are represented +differently in the two languages in exact accordance with Grimm's +Law." + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "Grimm's Law again!" + +"According to that law," continued Oxenden, "the letters of the +alphabet ought to change their order. Now let us leave out the vowels +and linguals, and deal only with the mutes. First, we have in the +Hebrew alphabet the medials B, G, and D. Very well; in the Kosekin we +have standing first the thin letters, or tenues, according to Grimm's +Law, namely, P, K, T. Next we have in the Hebrew the aspirates F, Ch, +Dh. In the Kosekin alphabet we have corresponding to them the medials +B, G, D. Next we have in the Hebrew the tenues, or thin letters P, K, +T. In the Kosekin we have the corresponding aspirates F, Ch, Th. The +vowels, liquids, and sibilants need not be regarded just here, for the +proof from the mutes is sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man." + +"Well," said Melick, "I for one am thoroughly satisfied, and don't +need another single word. The fact is, I never knew before the +all-sufficient nature of Grimm's Law. Why, it can unlock any mystery! +When I get home I must buy one--a tame one, if possible--and keep him +with me always. It is more useful to a literary man than to any other. +It is said that with a knowledge of Grimm's Law a man may wander +through the world from Iceland to Ceylon, and converse pleasantly in +all the Indo-European languages. More must have had Grimm's Law stowed +away somewhere about him; and that's the reason why he escaped the +icebergs, the volcanoes, the cannibals, the subterranean channel +monster, and arrived at last safe and sound in the land of the +Kosekin. What I want is Grimm's Law--a nice tidy one, well trained, in +good working order, and kind in harness; and the moment I get one I +intend to go to the land of the Kosekin myself." + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +OXENDEN PREACHES A SERMON + + +"Magones," said the doctor, "is clearly a volcanic island, and, taken +in connection with the other volcanoes around, shows how active must +be the subterranean fires at the South Pole. It seems probable to me +that the numerous caves of the Kosekin were originally fissures in the +mountains, formed by convulsions of nature; and also that the places +excavated by man must consist of soft volcanic rock, such as +pumice-stone, or rather tufa, easily worked, and remaining permanently +in any shape into which it may be fashioned. As to Magones, it seems +another Iceland; for there are the same wild and hideous desolation, +the same impassable wildernesses, and the same universal scenes of +ruin, lighted up by the baleful and tremendous volcanic fires." + +"But what of that little island on which they landed?" asked +Featherstone. "That, surely, was not volcanic." + +"No," said the doctor; "that must have been a coral island." + +"By-the-bye, is it really true," asked Featherstone, "that these coral +islands are the work of little insects?" + +"Well, they may be called insects," replied the doctor; "they are +living zoophytes of most minute dimensions, which, however, compensate +for their smallness of size by their inconceivable numbers. Small as +these are they have accomplished infinitely more than all that ever +was done by the ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, the pterodactyl, and +the whole tribe of monsters that once filled the earth. Immense +districts and whole mountains have been built up by these minute +creatures. They have been at work for ages, and are still at work. It +is principally in the South Seas that their labors are carried on. +Near the Maldive Islands they have formed a mass whose volume is equal +to the Alps. Around New Caledonia they have built a barrier of reefs +four hundred miles in length, and another along the northeast coast of +Australia a thousand miles in length. In the Pacific Ocean, islands, +reefs, and islets innumerable have been constructed by them, which +extend for an immense distance. + +"The coral islands are called 'atolls.' They are nearly always +circular, with a depression in the centre. They are originally made +ring-shaped, but the action of the ocean serves to throw fragments of +rock into the inner depression, which thus fills up; firm land +appears; the rock crumbles into soil; the winds and birds and currents +bring seeds here, and soon the new island is covered with verdure. +These little creatures have played a part in the past quite as +important as in the present. All Germany rests upon a bank of coral; +and they seem to have been most active during the Oolitic Period." + +"How do the creatures act?" asked Featherstone. + +"Nobody knows," replied the doctor. + +A silence now followed, which was at last broken by Oxenden. + +"After all," said he, "these monsters and marvels of nature form the +least interesting feature in the land of the Kosekin. To me the people +themselves are the chief subject of interest. Where did they get that +strange, all-pervading love of death, which is as strong in them as +love of life is in us?" + +"Why, they got it from the imagination of the writer of the +manuscript," interrupted Melick. + +"Yes, it's easy to answer it from your point of view; yet from my +point of view it is more difficult. I sometimes think that it may be +the strong spirituality of the Semitic race, carried out under +exceptionally favorable circumstances to the ultimate results; for the +Semitic race more than all others thought little of this life, and +turned their affections to the life that lives beyond this. The +Kosekin may thus have had a spiritual development of their own, which +ended in this. + +"Yet there may be another reason for it, and I sometimes think that +the Kosekin may be nearer to the truth than we are. We have by nature +a strong love of life--it is our dominant feeling--but yet there is in +the minds of all men a deep underlying conviction of the vanity of +life, and the worthlessness. In all ages and among all races the best, +the purest, and the wisest have taught this truth--that human life is +not a blessing; that the evil predominates over the good; and that our +best hope is to gain a spirit of acquiescence with its inevitable +ills. All philosophy and all religions teach us this one solemn truth, +that in this life the evil surpasses the good. It has always been so. +Suffering has been the lot of all living things, from the giant of the +primeval swamps down to the smallest zoophyte. It is far more so with +man. Some favored classes in every age may furnish forth a few +individuals who may perhaps lead lives of self-indulgence and luxury; +but to the mass of mankind life has ever been, and must ever be, a +prolonged scene of labor intermingled with suffering. The great Indian +religions, whether Brahmanic or Buddhistic, teach as their cardinal +doctrine that life is an evil. Buddhism is more pronounced in this, +for it teaches more emphatically than even the Kosekin that the chief +end of man is to get rid of the curse of life and gain the bliss of +Nirvana, or annihilation. True, it does not take so practical a form +as among the Kosekin, yet it is believed by one-third of the human +race as the foundation of the religion in which they live and die. We +need not go to the Kosekin, however, for such maxims as these. The +intelligent Hindoos, the Chinese, the Japanese, with many other +nations, all cling firmly to this belief. Sakyamoum Gautama Buddha, +the son and heir of a mighty monarch, penetrated with the conviction +of the misery of life, left his throne, embraced a life of voluntary +poverty, want, and misery, so that he might find his way to a better +state--the end before him being this, that he might ultimately escape +from the curse of existence. He lived till old age, gained innumerable +followers, and left to them as a solemn legacy the maxim that not to +exist is better than to exist; that death is better than life. Since +his day millions of his followers have upheld his principles and lived +his life. Even among the joyous Greeks we find this feeling at times +bursting forth it comes when we least expect it, and not even a +Kosekin poet could express this view more forcibly than Sophocles in +the OEdipus at Colonus: + + "'Not to be born surpasses every lot; + And the next best lot by far, when one is born + Is to go back whence he came as soon as possible; + For while youth is present bringing vain follies, + What woes does it not have, what ills does it not bear-- + Murders, factions, strife, war, envy, + But the extreme of misery is attained by loathsome old age-- + Old age, strengthless, unsociable, friendless, + Where all evils upon evils dwell together.'" + +"I'll give you the words of a later poet," said Melick, "who takes +a different view of the case. I think I'll sing them, with your +permission." + +Melick swallowed a glass of wine and then sang the following: + + "'They may rail at this life: from the hour I began it + I found it a life full of kindness and bliss, + And until they can show me some happier planet, + More social and bright, I'll content me with this. + As long as the world has such lips and such eyes + As before me this moment enraptured I see, + They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies, + But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.' + +"What a pity it is," continued Melick, "that the writer of this +manuscript had not the philological, theological, sociological, +geological, palaeological, ontological, ornithological, and all the +other logical attainments of yourself and the doctor! He could then +have given us a complete view of the nature of the Kosekin, morally +and physically; he could have treated of the geology of the soil, the +ethnology of the people, and could have unfolded before us a full and +comprehensive view of their philosophy and religion, and could have +crammed his manuscript with statistics. I wonder why he didn't do it +even as it was. It must have been a strong temptation." + +"More," said Oxenden, with deep impressiveness, "was a simple-minded +though somewhat emotional sailor, and merely wrote in the hope that +his story might one day meet the eyes of his father. I certainly +should like to find some more accurate statements about the science, +philosophy, and religion of the Kosekin; yet, after all, such things +could not be expected." + +"Why not?" said Melick; "it was easy enough for him." + +"How?" asked Oxenden. + +"Why, he had only to step into the British Museum, and in a couple of +hours he could have crammed up on all those points in science, +philosophy, ethnology, and theology, about which you are so anxious to +know." + +"Well," said Featherstone, "suppose we continue our reading? I believe +it is my turn now. I sha'n't be able to hold out so long as you did, +Oxenden, but I'll do what I can." + +Saying this, Featherstone took the manuscript and went on to read. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IN PRISON + + +It was with hearts full of the gloomiest forebodings that we returned +to the amir, and these we soon found to be fully justified. The +athalebs descended at that point from which they had risen--namely, on +the terrace immediately in front of the cavern where they had been +confined. We then dismounted, and Layelah with the Kosekin guards +accompanied us to our former chambers. There she left us, saying that +a communication would be sent to us. + +We were now left to our own conjectures. + +"I wonder what they will do to us?" said I. + +"It is impossible to tell," said Almah. + +"I suppose," said I, "they will punish us in some way; but then +punishment among the Kosekin is what seems honor and reward to me. +Perhaps they will spare our lives, for that in their eyes ought to be +the severest punishment and the deepest disgrace imaginable." + +Almah sighed. + +"The Kosekin do not always act in this matter as one would suppose," +said she. "It is quite likely that they may dread our escaping, and +may conclude to sacrifice us at once." + +On the next jom I had a visit from the Kohen Gadol. He informed me +that the paupers had held a Council of State, in which they had made a +special examination of our late flight. He and Layelah had both been +examined, as well as the Kosekin who had gone after us; but Layelah's +testimony was by far the most important. + +The Council of State gathered from Layelah's report that we had fled +to Magones for the especial purpose of gaining the most blessed of +deaths; that she pursued us in the interest of the state; and that we +on her arrival had generously surrendered our own selfish desires, and +had at once returned. + +We learned that much gratification was felt by the council, and also +expressed, at Layelah's account and at our action. + +First, at our eager love of death, which was so natural in their +eyes; secondly, at the skill which we had shown in selecting Magones; +and finally, at our generosity in giving up so readily the blessed +prospect of exile and want and death, so as to come back to the +amir. Had we been Kosekin our acts would have been natural enough; +but, being foreigners, it was considered more admirable in us, and it +seemed to show that we were equal to the Kosekin themselves. It was +felt, however, that in our eager rush after death we had been somewhat +selfish; but as this probably arose from our ignorance of the law, it +might be overlooked. On the whole it was decided that we ought to be +rewarded, and that, too, with the greatest benefits that the Kosekin +could bestow. What these benefits were the Kohen Gadol could not say; +and thus we were left, as before, in the greatest possible anxiety. We +still dreaded the worst. The highest honors of these men might well +awaken apprehension; for they thought that the chief blessings were +poverty and darkness and death. + +Layelah next came to see me. She was as amiable as ever, and showed no +resentment at all. She gave me an account of what had happened at the +Council of State, which was the same as what I had heard from the +Kohen Gadol. + +I asked her why she had made such a report of us. + +"To conciliate their good-will," said Layelah. "For if they thought +that you had really fled from death from a love of life, they would +have felt such contempt for you that serious harm might have +happened." + +"Yes," said I; "but among the Kosekin what you call harm would +probably have been just what I want. I should like to be viewed with +contempt, and considered unworthy of death and the Mista Kosek, and +other such honors." + +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "but that doesn't follow; for you see the +paupers love death so intensely that they long to bestow it on all; +and if they knew that you were afraid of it, they would be tempted to +bestow it upon you immediately, just to show you how delightful a +thing it is. And that was the very thing that I was trying to guard +against." + +"Well," said I, "and what is the result? Do you know what their +decision is?" + +"Yes," said Layelah. + +"What is it?" I asked, eagerly. + +Layelah hesitated. + +"What is it?" I cried again, full of impatience. + +"I'm afraid it will not sound very pleasant to you," said Layelah, +"but at any rate your life is spared for the present. They have +decided to give you what they call the greatest possible honors and +distinctions." + +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. For my part these words +sounded ominous, and were full of the darkest meaning. + +"Tell me all," I said; "don't keep me in suspense." + +"Well," said Layelah, "I'm afraid you will think it hard; but I must +tell you. I will tell it, therefore, as briefly and formally as +possible. + +"First, then, they have decreed the blessing of separation. You and +Almah must now be parted, since this is regarded as the highest bliss +of lovers. + +"Secondly, they have decreed the blessing of poverty. All these +luxuries will be taken away, and you will be raised to an equality in +this respect with the great paupers. + +"Thirdly, you are to have the blessing of darkness. You are to be +removed from this troublesome and vexatious light, which here is +regarded as a curse, and henceforth live without it. + +"Fourthly, the next decree is the high reward of imprisonment. You are +to be delivered from the evils of liberty, and shut up in a dark +cavern, from which it will be impossible to escape or to communicate +with anyone outside. + +"Fifthly, you are to associate with the greatest of the paupers, the +class that is the most honored and influential. You will be present at +all their highest councils, and will have the privilege of perpetual +intercourse with those reverend men. They will tell you of the joys of +poverty, the happiness of darkness, and the bliss of death." + +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. + +"Is there anything more?" I gasped. + +"No," said she. "Is not that enough? Some were in favor of bestowing +immediate death, but they were outvoted by the others. You surely +cannot regret that." + +Layelah's words sounded like the words of a mocking demon. Yet she did +not wish to distress me; she had merely stated my sentence in formal +language, without any attempt to soften its tremendous import. As for +me, I was overwhelmed with despair. There was but one thought in my +mind--it was not of myself, but of Almah. + +"And Almah?" I cried. + +"Almah," said Layelah--"she will have the same; you are both included +in the same sentence." + +At this a groan burst from me. Horror overwhelmed me. I threw myself +down upon the floor and covered my face with my hands. All was lost! +Our fate--Almah's fate--was darkness, imprisonment, and death. Could +anything be imagined that might mitigate such woes as these? Could +anything be conceived of as more horrible? Yes; there remained +something more, and this was announced by Layelah. + +"Finally," said she, "it has been decreed that you shall not only have +the blessing of death, but that you shall have the rare honor of +belonging to the chosen few who are reserved for the Mista Kosek. +Thus far this had not been granted. It was esteemed too high an honor +for strangers; but now, by an exercise of unparalleled liberality, the +Grand Council of Paupers have added this, as the last and best, to the +high honors and rewards which they have decreed for you and Almah." + +To this I had nothing to say; I was stupefied with horror. To such +words what answer could be made? At that moment I could think of +nothing but this tremendous sentence--this infliction of appalling +woes under the miserable name of blessings! I could not think of +Layelah; nor did I try to conjecture what her motives might be in thus +coming to me as the messenger of evil. I could not find space amid +my despair for speculations as to her own part in this, or stop to +consider whether she was acting the part of a mere messenger, or was +influenced by resentment or revenge. All this was far away from my +thoughts; for all my mind was filled with the dread sentence of the +Council of Paupers and the baleful prospect of the woes that awaited +us. + +On the next jom I saw Almah. She had already learned the awful +tidings. She met me with a face of despair; for there was no longer +any hope, and all that remained for us was a last farewell. After this +we parted, and each of us was taken to our respective prison. + +I was taken along dark passages until I came to a cavern with a low, +dark portal. Upon entering I found the darkness deeper than usual, +and there was only one solitary lamp, which diffused but a feeble ray +through the gloom. The size of the place could not be made out. I +saw here a group of human beings, and by the feeble ray of the lamp +I perceived that they were wan and thin and emaciated, with scant +clothing, all in rags, squalor, misery, and dirt; with coarse hair +matted together, and long nails and shaggy beards. They reminded me in +their personal appearance of the cannibals of the outer shore. These +hideous beings all gathered around me, blinking at me with their +bleary eyes and grinning with their abominable faces, and then each +one embraced me. The filth, squalor, and unutterable foulness of +these wretches all combined to fill my soul with loathing, and the +inconceivable horror of that embrace wellnigh overwhelmed me. Yet, +after all, it was surpassed by the horror of the thought that Almah +might be at that very moment undergoing the same experience; and for +her such a thing must be worse than for me. + +I retreated as far as possible from them, deep into the thick +darkness, and sat down. No convicted felon at the last hour of life, +no prisoner in the dungeons of the Inquisition, ever could have +suffered more mental agony than I did at that moment. The blessings, +the awful blessings of the Kosekin were descending upon my miserable +head--separation from Almah, squalor and dirt, imprisonment, the +society of these filthy creatures, darkness, the shadow of death, and +beyond all the tremendous horrors of the Mista Kosek! + +I do not know how the time passed, for at first I was almost stupefied +with despair; nor could I ever grow reconciled to the society of +these wretches, scarce human, who were with me. Some food was +offered me--filthy stuff, which I refused. My refusal excited warm +commendation; but I was warned against starving myself, as that was +against the law. In my despair I thought of my pistol and rifle, +which I still kept with me--of using these against my jailors, and +bursting forth; but this wild impulse soon passed away, for its utter +hopelessness was manifest. My only hope, if hope it was, lay in +waiting, and it was not impossible that I might see Almah again, +if only once. + +Joms passed away, I know not how. The Chief Pauper, who is the +greatest man in the land of the Kosekin, made several attempts to +converse with me, and was evidently very condescending and magnanimous +in his own eyes; but I did not meet his advances graciously--he was +too abhorrent. He was a hideous wretch, with eyes nearly closed and +bleary, thick, matted hair, and fiendish expression--in short, a devil +incarnate in rags and squalor. + +But as the joms passed I found it difficult to repel my associates. +They were always inflicting their society upon me, and thrusting on me +nasty little acts of kindness. The Chief Pauper was more persistent +than all, with his chatter and his disgusting civilities. He was +evidently glad to get hold of a fresh subject for his talkative +genius; he was a very garrulous cannibal, and perhaps my being a +foreigner made me more interesting in his eyes. + +The chief topic of his discourse was death. He hated life, loved +death, longed for it in all its forms, whether arising from disease +or from violence. He was an amateur in corpses, and had a larger +experience in dead bodies than any other man in the nation. + +I could not help asking him once why he did not kill himself, and be +done with it. + +"That," said he, "is not allowed. The temptation to kill one's self is +one of the strongest that human nature can experience, but it is one +that we must struggle against, of course, for it is against all law. +The greatest blessing must not be seized. It must be given by nature +or man. Those who violate the blessed mystery of death are infamous." + +He assured me that he had all his life cultivated the loftiest +feelings of love to others. His greatest happiness consisted in doing +good to others, especially in killing them. The blessing of death, +being the greatest of all blessings, was the one which he loved best +to bestow upon others; and the more he loved his fellow-creatures +the more he wished to give them this blessing. "You," said he, "are +particularly dear to me, and I should rather give to you the blessing +of death than to any other human being. I love you, Atam-or, and I +long to kill you at this moment." + +"You had better not try it," said I, grimly. + +He shook his head despondingly. + +"Oh no," said he; "it is against the law. I must not do it till the +time comes." + +"Do you kill many?" I asked. + +"It is my pleasing and glorious office," he replied, "to kill more +than any other; for, you must know, I am the Sar Tabakin" (chief of +the executioners). + +The Chief Pauper's love of death had grown to be an all-absorbing +passion. He longed to give death to all. As with us there are certain +philanthropists who have a mania for doing good, so here the pauper +class had a mania for doing what they considered good in this way. The +Chief Pauper was a sort of Kosekin Howard or Peabody, and was regarded +by all with boundless reverence. To me, however, he was an object +of never-ending hate, abhorrence, and loathing; and, added to this, +was the thought that there might be here some equally hideous +female--someone like the nightmare hag of the outer sea--a torment +and a horror to Almah. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE CEREMONY OF SEPARATION + + +Separated from Almah, surrounded by foul fiends, in darkness and the +shadow of death, with the baleful prospect of the Mista Kosek, it +was mine to endure the bitterest anguish and despair; and in me these +feelings were all the worse from the thought that Almah was in a +similar state, and was enduring equal woes. All that I suffered in my +present condition she too was suffering--and from this there was no +possibility of escape. Perhaps her surroundings were even worse, and +her sufferings keener; for who could tell what these people might +inflict in their strange and perverted impulses? + +Many joms passed, and there was only one thing that sustained +me--the hope of seeing Almah yet again, though it were but for a +moment. That hope, however, was but faint. There was no escape. The +gate was barred without and within. I was surrounded by miscreants, +who formed the chief class in the state and the ruling order. The +Chief Pauper was the highest magistrate in the land, from whose +opinion there was no appeal, and the other paupers here formed the +Kosekin senate. Here, in imprisonment and darkness, they formed a +secret tribunal and controlled everything. They were objects of envy +to all. All looked forward to this position as the highest object of +human ambition, and the friends and relatives of those here rejoiced +in their honor. Their powers were not executive, but deliberative. To +the Meleks and Athons was left the exercise of authority, but their +acts were always in subordination to the will of the paupers. + +"I have everything that heart can wish," said the Chief Pauper to +me once. "Look at me, Atam-or, and see me as I stand here: I have +poverty, squalor, cold, perpetual darkness, the privilege of killing +others, the near prospect of death, and the certainty of the Mista +Kosek--all these I have, and yet, Atam-or, after all, I am not happy." + +To this strange speech I had nothing to say. + +"Yes," continued the Chief Pauper, in a pensive tone, "for twenty +seasons I have reigned as chief of the Kosekin in this place. My +cavern is the coldest, squalidest, and darkest in the land. My raiment +is the coarsest rags. I have separated from all my friends. I have had +much sickness. I have the closest captivity. Death, darkness, poverty, +want, all that men most live and long for, are mine to satiety; and +yet, as I look back and count the joms of my life to see in how many +I have known happiness, I find that in all they amount to just seven! +Oh, Atam-or, what a comment is this on the vanity of human life!" + +To this I had no answer ready; but by way of saying something, I +offered to kill him on the spot. + +"Nay, nay, Atam-or," said he, with a melancholy smile, "do not tempt +me. Leave me to struggle with temptations by myself, and do not +seek to make me falter in my duty. Yes, Atam-or, you behold in me a +melancholy example of the folly of ambition; for I often think, as +I look down from my lofty eminence, that after all it is as well to +remain content in the humble sphere in which we are placed at birth; +for perhaps, if the truth were known, there is quite as much real +happiness among the rich and splendid--among the Athons and Meleks." + +On this occasion I took advantage of the Chief Pauper's softer mood +to pour forth an earnest entreaty for him to save Almah's life, or at +least to mitigate her miseries. Alas! he was inexorable. It was like +an appeal of some mad prisoner to some gentle-hearted governor in +Christendom, entreating him to put some fellow-prisoner to death, or +at least to make his confinement more severe. + +The Chief Pauper stared at me in horror. + +"You are a strange being, Atam-or," said he, gently. "Sometimes I +think you mad. I can only say that such a request is horrible to me +beyond all words. Such degradation and cruelty to the gentle and +virtuous Almah is outrageous and forever impossible; no, we will not +deprive her of a single one of those blessings which she now enjoys." + +I turned away in despair. + +At length one jom the Chief Pauper came to me with a smile and said, + +"Atam-or, let me congratulate you on this joyous occasion." + +"What do you mean?" I asked. + +"You are to have your ceremony of separation." + +"Separation!" I repeated. + +"Yes," said he. "Almah has given notice to us. She has announced her +intention of giving you up, and separating from you. With us the +woman always gives the announcement in such cases. We have fixed the +ceremony for the third jom from this, and I hope you will not think +it too soon." + +This strange intelligence moved me greatly. I did not like the idea of +a ceremony of separation; but behind this there rose the prospect of +seeing Almah, and I felt convinced that she had devised this as a mode +of holding communication with me, or at least of seeing me again. +The thought of Layelah was the only thing that interfered with this +belief, for it might be her doings after all; yet the fact remained +that I was to see Almah, and in this I rejoiced with exceeding great +joy. + +The appointed jom came. A procession was formed of the paupers. The +chief did not go, as he never left the cavern except on the great +sacrifices and Mista Koseks. The door was opened, and I accompanied +the procession. On our way all was dark, and after traversing many +passages we came at length to the door of a cavern as gloomy as the +one I had left. On entering this I found all dark and drear; and a +little distance before me there was a light burning, around which was +gathered a group of hags hideous beyond all expression. But these I +scarcely noticed; for there amid them, all pale and wan, with her face +now lighted up with joyous and eager expectation, I saw my darling--my +Almah! I caught her in my arms, and for a few moments neither of us +spoke a word. She sobbed upon my breast, but I knew that the tears +which she shed were tears of joy. Nor was our joy checked by the +thought that it was to be so short-lived. It was enough at that moment +that we saw one another--enough that we were in one another's arms; +and so we mingled our tears, and shared one common rapture. And sweet +it was--sweet beyond all expression--the sweetest moment in all my +life; for it had come in the midst of the drear desolation of my heart +and the black despair. It was like a flash of lightning in the intense +darkness, short and sudden indeed, yet still intense while it lasted, +and in an instant filling all with its glow. + +"I did this," murmured Almah, "to see you and to save you." + +"Save me!" I repeated. + +"Yes," said she. "I have seen Layelah. She told me that there is this +chance and this one only to save you. I determined to try it. I cannot +bear to think of you at the sacrifice--and for love of me meeting your +death--for I would die to save you, Atam-or." + +I pressed her closer in my arms. + +"Oh, Almah," said I, "I would die to save you! and if this ceremony +will save you I will go through with it, and accept my fate whatever +it may be." + +We were now interrupted. + +The women--the hags of horror--the shriek-like ones, as I may call +them, or the fiend-like, the female fiends, the foul ones--they were +all around us; and one there was who looked so exactly like the +nightmare hag of the outer sea that I felt sure she must be the same, +who by some strange chance had come here. Such, indeed, is quite +likely, for there may have been a pass over the mountains to the land +of the Kosekin; and those savage cannibals may all have been honored +Kosekin exiles, dwelling in poverty, want, woe, and darkness, all of +which may have been allotted to them as a reward for eminent virtues. +And so here she was, the nightmare hag, and I saw that she recognized +me. + +A circle was now formed around us, and the light stood in the middle. +The nightmare hag also stood within the circle on the other side of +the light opposite us. The beams of the lamp flickered through the +darkness, faintly illuminating the faces of the horrible creatures +around, who, foul and repulsive as harpies, seemed like unclean +beasts, ready to make us their prey. Their glances seemed to menace +death; their blear eyes rested upon us with a horrid eager hunger. My +worst fears at that moment seemed realized; for I saw that Almah's +associates were worse than mine, and her fate had been more bitter. +And I wondered how it had been possible for her to live among such +associates; or, even though she had lived thus far, whether it would +be possible for her to endure it longer. + +And now there arose a melancholy chant from the old hags around--a +dreadful strain, that sounded like a funeral dirge, sung in shrill, +discordant voices, led by the nightmare hag, who as she sang waved +in her hand a kind of club. All the time I held Almah in my arms, +regardless of those around us, thinking only of her from whom I must +soon again be separated, and whom I must leave in this drear abode to +meet her fearful fate alone. The chant continued for some time, and as +long as it continued it was sweet to me; for it prolonged the meeting +with Almah, and postponed by so much our separation. + +At length the chant ceased. The nightmare hag looked fixedly at us, +and spoke these words: + +"You have embraced for the last time. Henceforth there is no more +sorrow in your love. You may be happy now in being forever disunited, +and in knowing the bliss of eternal separation. As darkness is better +than light, as death is better than life, so may you find separation +better than union." + +She now gave a blow with her club at the lamp, which broke it to atoms +and extinguished the flame. She continued: + +"As the baleful light is succeeded by the blessed darkness, so may +you find the light of union followed by the blessed darkness of +separation." + +And now in the deep darkness we stood clasped in one another's arms; +while around us, from the horrible circle of hags, there arose +another chant as harsh and discordant as the previous one, but which, +nevertheless, like that, served at least to keep us together a little +longer. For this reason it sounded sweeter than the sweetest music; +and therefore, when at last the hideous noise ended, I felt a pang of +grief, for I knew that I must now give up Almah forever. + +I was right. The ceremony was over. We had to part, and we parted with +tears of despair. I was led away, and as I went I heard Almah's sobs. +I broke away, and tried to return for one more embrace; but in the +darkness I could not find her, and could only hear her sobs at a +greater distance, which showed that she too was being led away. I +called after her, + +"Farewell, Almah!" + +Her reply came back broken with sobs. + +"Farewell forever, Atam-or!" + +I was once more led away, and again traversed the dark passages, and +again came back to my den, which now seemed dark with the blackness +of despair. + +On my return I was formally and solemnly congratulated by all the +paupers. I should not have received their congratulations had I not +expected that there would be something more. I expected that something +would be said about the result of this act of separation; for Almah +had believed that it would be the means of saving my life, and I +believed that it would be the means of saving her life, and for this +reason each of us had performed our part; although, of course, the joy +of meeting with one another would of itself have been sufficient, and +more than sufficient, to make that ceremony an object of desire. I +thought, therefore, that some statement might now be made to the +effect that by means of this ceremony my status among the Kosekin +would be changed, and that both I and Almah, being no longer +lovers, would be no longer fit for the sacrifice. To my intense +disappointment, however, nothing whatever was said that had the +remotest reference to this. + +On the following jom I determined to ask the Chief Pauper himself +directly; and accordingly, after a brief preamble, I put the question +point-blank: + +"Will our ceremony of separation make any difference as to our +sacrifice?" + +"What?" he asked, with a puzzled expression. + +I repeated the question. + +"I don't understand," said he, still looking puzzled. + +Upon this I once more repeated it. + +"How can that be?" said he at length; "how can the ceremony of +separation have any effect upon your sacrifice? The ceremony of +separation stands by itself as the sign and symbol of an additional +blessing. This new happiness of separation is a great favor, and will +make you the object of new envy and admiration; for few have been so +fortunate as you in all the history of the Kosekin. But you are the +favorite of the Kosekin now, and there is nothing that they will not +do for you." + +"But we were separate before," said I, indignantly. + +"That is true," said he, "in point of fact; but this ceremony makes +your separation a legal thing, and gives it the solemn sanction of +law and of religion. Among the Kosekin one cannot be considered as +a separate man until the ceremony of separation has been publicly +performed." + +"I understood," said I, "that we were chosen to suffer the sacrifice +together because we were lovers, and now since you do not any longer +regard us as lovers, why do you sacrifice us?" + +At this question the Chief Pauper looked at me with one of those +hungry glances of his, which showed how he thirsted for my blood, and +he smiled the smile of an evil fiend. + +"Why do we sacrifice you, Atam-or?" he replied. "Why, because we honor +you both, and love you both so dearly that we are eager to give you +the greatest of all blessings, and to deny you nothing that is in our +power to bestow." + +"Do you mean to sacrifice both of us?" I gasped. + +"Of course." + +"What! Almah too?" + +"Certainly. Why should we be so cruel to the dear child as to deprive +her of so great a boon?" + +At this I groaned aloud and turned away in despair. + +Many joms now passed away. I grew more and more melancholy and +desperate. I thought sometimes of fighting my way out. My fire-arms +were now my chief consolation; for I had fully made up my mind not to +die quietly like a slaughtered calf, but to strike a blow for life, +and meet my death amid slain enemies. In this prospect I found some +satisfaction, and death was robbed of some of its terrors. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE DAY OF SACRIFICE + + +At last the time came. + +It was the end of the dark season. Then, as the sun rises for its +permanent course around the heavens, when the long day of six months +begins, all in the land of the Kosekin is sorrow, and the last of the +loved darkness is mourned over amid the most solemn ceremonies, and +celebrated with the most imposing sacrifices. Then the most honored +in all the land are publicly presented with the blessing of death, +and allowed to depart this hated life, and go to the realms of that +eternal darkness which they love so well. It is the greatest of +sacrifices, and is followed by the greatest of feasts. Thus the busy +season--the loved season of darkness--ends, and the long, hateful +season of light begins, when the Kosekin lurk in caverns, and live in +this way in the presence of what may be called artificial darkness. + +It was for us--for me and for Almah--the day of doom. Since the +ceremony of separation I had not seen her; but my heart had been +always with her. I did not even know whether she was alive or not, but +believed that she must be; for I thought that if she had died I should +have heard of it, as the Kosekin would have rejoiced greatly over such +an event. For every death is to them an occasion of joy, and the death +of one so distinguished and so beloved as Almah would have given rise +to nothing less than a national festival. + +Of time I had but a poor reckoning; but, from the way in which the +paupers kept account of their joms, I judged that about three months +had elapsed since the ceremony of separation. + +The paupers were now all joyous with a hideous joy. The Chief Pauper +was more abhorrent than ever. He had the blood-thirst strong upon +him. He was on that jom to perform his horrible office of Sar +Tabakin, and as he accosted me he smiled the smile of a demon, and +congratulated me on my coming escape from life. To this I had no word +of answer to make; but my hands held my rifle and pistol, and these I +clutched with a firmer grasp as my last hour approached. + +The time of departure at length arrived. Soldiers of the Kosekin came, +following the paupers, who went first, while the guards came after me. +Thus we all emerged into the open air. There the broad terrace already +mentioned spread out before my eyes, filled with thousands upon +thousands of human beings. It seemed as though the entire population +of the city was there, and so densely packed was this great crowd that +it was only with great difficulty that a way was laid open for our +passage. + +Above was the sky, where the stars were twinkling faintly. There was +no longer the light of the aurora australis; the constellations +glimmered but dimly, the moon was shining with but a feeble ray; for +there far away over the icy crests of the lofty mountains I saw a long +line of splendid effulgence, all golden and red--the light of the new +dawn--the dawn of that long day which was now approaching. The sight +of that dawning light gave me new life. It was like a sight of +home--the blessed dawn, the sunlight of a bright day, the glorious +daybreak lost for so long a time, but now at last returning. I feasted +my eyes on the spectacle, I burst into tears of joy, and I felt as +though I could gaze at it forever. But the sun as it travelled was +rapidly coming into view; soon the dazzling glory of its rim would +appear above the mountain crest, and the season of darkness would end. +There was no time to wait, and the guards hurried me on. + +There in the midst of the square rose the pyramid. It was fully a +hundred feet in height, with a broad flat top. At the base I saw a +great crowd of paupers. Through these we passed, and as we did so +a horrible death-chant arose. We now went up the steps and reached +the top. It was about sixty feet square, and upon it there was a +quadrangle of stones set about three feet apart, about sixty in +number, while in the midst was a larger stone. All of these were +evidently intended for sacrificial purposes. + +Scarcely had I reached the top when I saw a procession ascend from +the other side. First came some paupers, then some hags, and then, +followed by other hags, I saw Almah. I was transfixed at the sight. A +thrill passed through every nerve, and a wild impulse came to me to +burst through the crowd, join her, and battle with them all for her +life. But the crowd was too dense. I could only stand and look at her, +and mark the paleness of her face and her mute despair. She saw me, +waved her hand sadly, and gave a mournful smile. There we stood +separated by the crowd, with our eyes fastened on each other, and +all our hearts filled with one deep, intense yearning to fly to one +another's side. + +And now there came up from below, louder and deeper, the awful +death-chant. Time was pressing. The preparations were made. The Chief +Pauper took his station by the central stone, and in his right hand he +held a long, keen knife. Toward this stone I was led. The Chief Pauper +then looked with his blear and blinking eyes to where the dawn was +glowing over the mountain crest, and every moment increasing in +brightness; and then, after a brief survey, he turned and whetted his +knife on the sacrificial stone. After this he turned to me with his +evil face, with the glare of a horrid death-hunger in his ravenous +eyes, and pointed to the stone. + +I stood without motion. + +He repeated the gesture and said, "Lie down here." + +"I will not," said I. + +"But it is on this stone," said he, "that you are to get the blessing +of death." + +"I'll die first!" said I, fiercely, and I raised my rifle. + +The Chief Pauper was puzzled at this. The others looked on quietly, +thinking it probably a debate about some punctilio. Suddenly he seemed +struck with an idea. + +"Yes, yes," said he. "The woman first. It is better so." + +Saying this he walked toward Almah, and said something to the hags. + +At this the chief of them--namely, the nightmare hag--led Almah to the +nearest stone, and motioned to her to lie down. Almah prepared to +obey, but paused a moment to throw at me one last glance and wave her +hand as a last farewell. Then without a word she laid herself down +upon the stone. At this a thrill of fury rushed through all my being, +rousing me from my stupor, impelling me to action, filling my brain +with madness. The nightmare hag had already raised her long keen knife +in the air. Another moment and the blow would have fallen. But my +rifle was at my shoulder; my aim was deadly. The report rang out like +thunder. A wild, piercing yell followed, and when the smoke cleared +away the nightmare hag lay dead at the foot of the altar. I was +already there, having burst through the astonished crowd, and Almah +was in my arms; and holding her thus for a moment, I put myself in +front of her and stood at bay, with my only thought that of defending +her to the last and selling my life as dearly as possible. + +The result was amazing. + +After the report there was for some moments a deep silence, which was +followed by a wild, abrupt outcry from half a million people--the roar +of indistinguishable words bursting forth from the lips of all that +throng, whose accumulated volume arose in one vast thunder-clap of +sound, pealing forth, echoing along the terraced streets, and rolling +on far away in endless reverberations. It was like the roar of mighty +cataracts, like the sound of many waters; and at the voice of that +vast multitude I shrank back for a moment. As I did so I looked down, +and beheld a scene as appalling as the sound that had overawed me. In +all that countless throng of human beings there was not one who was +not in motion; and all were pressing forward toward the pyramid as +to a common centre. On every side there was a multitudinous sea of +upturned faces, extending as far as the eye could reach. All were in +violent agitation, as though all were possessed by one common impulse +which forced them toward me. At such a sight I thought of nothing else +than that I was the object of their wrath, and that they were all with +one common fury rushing toward me to wreak vengeance upon me and upon +Almah for the slaughter of the nightmare hag. + +All this was the work of but a few moments. And now as I stood there +holding Almah--appalled, despairing, yet resolute and calm--I became +aware of a more imminent danger. On the top of the pyramid, at the +report of the rifle, all had fallen down flat on their faces, and +it was over them that I had rushed to Almah's side. But these now +began to rise, and the hags took up the corpse of the dead, and the +paupers swarmed around with cries of "Mut! mut!" (dead! dead!) and +exclamations of wonder. Then they all turned their foul and bleary +eyes toward me, and stood as if transfixed with astonishment. At +length there burst forth from the crowd one who sought to get at me. +It was the Chief Pauper. He still held in his hand the long knife of +sacrifice. He said not a word, but rushed straight at me, and as he +came I saw murder in his look. I did not wait for him, but raising my +rifle, discharged the second barrel full in his face. He fell down a +shattered, blackened heap, dead. + +As the second report thundered out it drowned all other sounds, and +was again followed by an awful silence. I looked around. Those on the +pyramid--paupers and hags--had again flung themselves on their faces. +On the square below the whole multitude were on their knees, with +their heads bowed down low. The silence was more oppressive than +before; it was appalling--it was tremendous! It seemed like the dread +silence that precedes the more awful outburst of the hurricane when +the storm is gathering up all its strength to burst with accumulated +fury upon its doomed victim. + +But there was no time to be lost in staring, and that interval was +occupied by me in hastily reloading my rifle. It was my last resource +now; and if it availed not for defence it might at least serve to be +used against ourselves. With this thought I handed the pistol to +Almah, and hurriedly whispered to her that if I were killed, she could +use it against herself. She took it in silence, but I read in her face +her invincible resolve. + +The storm at last burst. The immense multitude rose to their feet, and +with one common impulse came pressing on from every side toward the +pyramid, apparently filled with the one universal desire of reaching +me--a desire which was now all the more intense and vehement from +these interruptions which had taken place. Why they had fallen on +their knees, why the paupers on the pyramid were still prostrate, I +could not tell; but I saw now the swarming multitude, and I felt that +they were rolling in on every side--merciless, blood-thirsty, +implacable--to tear me to pieces. Yet time passed and they did not +reach me, for an obstacle was interposed. The pyramid had smooth +sides. The stairways that led up to the summit were narrow, and did +not admit of more than two at a time; yet, had the Kosekin been like +other people, the summit of the pyramid would soon have been swarming +with them; but as they were Kosekin, none came up to the top; for at +the base of the pyramid, at the bottom of the steps, I saw a strange +and incredible struggle. It was not, as with us, who should go up +first, but who should go up last; each tried to make his neighbor go +before him. All were eager to go, but the Kosekin self-denial, +self-sacrifice, and love for the good of others made each one +intensely desirous to make others go up. This resulted in a furious +struggle, in which, as fast as anyone would be pushed up the steps a +little way, he would jump down again and turn his efforts toward +putting up others; and thus all the energies of the people were worn +out in useless and unavailing efforts--in a struggle to which, from +the very nature of the case, there could be no end. + +Now those on the pyramid began to rise, and soon all were on their +feet. Cries burst forth from them. All were looking at us, but with +nothing like hostility; it was rather like reverence and adoration, +and these feelings were expressed unmistakably in their cries, among +which I could plainly distinguish such words as these: "Ap Ram!" +"Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!" (The Father of Thunder! Ruler of +Cloud and Darkness! Judge of Death!) These cries passed to those +below. The struggle ceased. All stood and joined in the cry, which was +taken up by those nearest, and soon passed among all those myriads, to +be repeated with thunder echoes far and wide. + +At this it suddenly became plain to me that the danger of death had +passed away; that these people no longer regarded me as a victim, but +rather as some mighty being--some superior, perhaps supernatural +power, who was to be almost worshipped. Hence these prostrations, +these words, these cries, these looks. All these told me that the +bitterness of death had passed away. At this discovery there was, for +a moment, a feeling of aversion and horror within me at filling such a +position; that I, a weak mortal, should dare to receive adoration like +this; and I recoiled at the thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for +life was at stake--not my own merely, but that of Almah; and I was +ready now to go through anything if only I might save her: so, instead +of shrinking from this new part, I eagerly seized upon it, and at once +determined to take advantage of the popular superstition to the +utmost. + +Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the +sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, +throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land. +I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all +who were nearest, in a loud voice: + +"I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am +the Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!" + +At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give +them the blessing of death. + +I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told +her to fire the pistol. A million eyes were fixed on us. She held up +the pistol and fired. Immediately after, I fired both barrels of the +rifle; and as the reports rang out and the smoke cleared away, I heard +a mighty murmur, and once more beheld all prostrate. Upon this I +hurriedly loaded again, and waited for further revelations. All the +time I could not help wondering at the effect produced by the rifle +now, in comparison with the indifference with which it had been +regarded at my first arrival in the country. I could not account for +it, but supposed that the excitement of a great religious festival and +the sudden death of the Chief Pauper and the Chief Hag had probably +deeply impressed them. In the midst of these thoughts the whole +multitude arose; and once more there came to my ears the universal +uproar of innumerable cries, in the midst of which I could hear the +words, "Ap Ram!" "Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!" + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +CONCLUSION + + +In the midst of this the paupers and the hags talked earnestly +together. Some of those who had been nearest in rank to the late Chief +Pauper and Chief Hag were conspicuous in the debate. All looked at me +and at Almah, and pointed toward the sun, which was wheeling along +behind the distant mountain crest, showing a golden disc. Then they +pointed to the dead bodies; and the hags took the Chief Hag, and the +paupers the Chief Pauper, and laid them side by side on the central +altar. After this a hag and a pauper advanced toward us, each carrying +the sacrificial knife which had belonged to the deceased. + +The hag spoke first, addressing Almah, in accordance with the Kosekin +custom, which requires women to take the precedence in many things. + +"Take this," she said, "O Almah, consort of Atam-or, and Co-ruler of +Clouds and Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the +women of the Kosekin." + +She then handed Almah the sacrificial knife of the Chief Hag, which +Almah took in silence. + +Then the pauper presented me with the sacrificial knife of the Chief +Pauper, with the following words: + +"Take this, O Atam-or, Father of Thunder and Ruler of Clouds and +Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the men of the +Kosekin, and Sar Tabakin over the whole nation." + +I received the knife in silence, for I had nothing to say; but now +Almah spoke, as was fitting for her to do, since with the Kosekin the +women must take the precedence; and here it was expected that she +should reply in behalf of both of us. + +So Almah, holding the sacrificial knife, stood looking at them, full +of dignity, and spoke as follows: + +"We will take this, O Kosekin, and we will reward you all. We will +begin our reign over the Kosekin with memorable acts of mercy. These +two great victims shall be enough for the Mista Kosek of this +season. The victims designed for this sacrifice shall have to deny +themselves the blessing of death, yet they shall be rewarded in other +ways; and all the land from the highest to the lowest shall have +reason to rejoice in our rule. + +"To all you hags and paupers we grant the splendid and unparalleled +boon of exile to Magones. There you can have all the suffering which +heart can wish, and inevitable death. To all classes and ranks in +the whole nation we promise to grant a diminution in their wealth by +one-quarter. In the abundance of our mercy we are willing ourselves to +bear the burden of all the offerings that may be necessary in order to +accomplish this. All in the land may at once give up one-quarter of +their whole wealth to us." + +At this the hags and paupers gave a horrible yell of applause. + +"As rulers of Light and Darkness, we will henceforth govern the nation +in the light as well as in the dark. We will sacrifice ourselves so +far to the public good as to live in the light, and in open palaces. +We will consent to undergo the pains of light and splendor, to endure +all the evils of luxury, magnificence, and boundless wealth, for the +good of the Kosekin nation. We will consent to forego the right of +separation, and agree to live together, even though we love one +another. Above all, we will refuse death and consent to live. Can any +rulers do more than this for the good of their people?" + +Another outburst of applause followed. + +"In three joms," continued Almah, "all you hags and paupers shall be +sent to exile and death on Magones. As for the rest of the Kosekin, +hear our words. Tell them from us that the laborers shall all be +elevated to the rank of paupers, the artisans shall be made laborers, +the tradesmen artisans, the soldiers tradesmen, the Athons soldiers, +the Kohens Athons, and the Meleks Kohens. There shall be no Meleks in +all the land. We, in our love for the Kosekin, will henceforth be the +only Meleks. Then all the misery of that low station will rest on us; +and in our low estate as Meleks we shall govern this nation in love +and self-denial. Tell them that we will forego the sacrifice and +consent to live; that we will give up darkness and cavern gloom and +live in light. Tell them to prepare for us the splendid palaces of the +Meleks, for we will take the most sumptuous and magnificent of them +all. Tell all the people to present their offerings. Tell them that we +consent to have endless retinues of servants, soldiers, followers, and +attendants. Tell them that with the advent of Almah and Atam-or a new +era begins for the Kosekin, in which every man may be as poor as he +likes, and riches shall be unknown in the land." + +These extraordinary words seemed to fill the paupers with rapture. +Exclamations of joy burst from them; they prostrated themselves in an +irrepressible impulse of grateful admiration, as though such promises +could only come from superior beings. Then most of them hurried down +to communicate to the people below the glorious intelligence. Soon it +spread from mouth to mouth, and all the people were filled with the +wildest excitement. + +For never before had such a thing been known, and never had such +self-sacrifice been imagined or thought possible, as that the rulers +of the Kosekin could consent to be rich when they might be paupers; to +live together when they might be separate; to dwell in the light when +they might lurk in the deepest cavern gloom; to remain in life when +they might have the blessing of death. Selfishness, fear of death, +love of riches, and love of luxury, these were all unintelligible to +the Kosekin, as much as to us would be self-abnegation, contempt of +death, voluntary poverty, and asceticism. But as with us self-denying +rulers may make others rich and be popular for this, so here among the +Kosekin a selfish ruler might be popular by making others poor. Hence +the words of Almah, as they were made known, gave rise to the wildest +excitement and enthusiasm, and the vast multitude poured forth their +feelings in long shouts of rapturous applause. + +Amid this the bodies of the dead were carried down from the pyramid, +and were taken to the Mista Kosek in a long and solemn procession, +accompanied by the singing of wild and dismal chants. + +And now the sun, rolling along behind the icy mountain crest, rose +higher and higher every moment, and the bright light of a long day +began to illumine the world. There sparkled the sea, rising far away +like a watery wall, with the horizon high up in the sky; there rose +the circle of giant mountains, sweeping away till they were blended +with the horizon; there rose the terraces of the amir, all glowing +in the sunlight, with all its countless houses and cavern-openings and +arching trees and pointing pyramids. Above was the canopy of heaven, +no longer black, no longer studded with stars or glistening with +the fitful shimmer of the aurora, but all radiant with the glorious +sunlight, and disclosing all the splendors of the infinite blue. At +that sight a thrill of joy passed through me. The long, long night +at last was over; the darkness had passed away like some hideous +dream; the day was here--the long day that was to know no shadow +and no decline--when all this world should be illuminated by the +ever-circling sun--a sun that would never set until his long course +of many months should be fully run. My heart swelled with rapture, +my eyes filled with tears. "O Light!" I cried; "O gleaming, golden +Sunlight! O Light of Heaven!--light that brings life and hope to man!" +And I could have fallen on my knees and worshipped that rising sun. + +But the light which was so glorious to us was painful and distressing +to the Kosekin. On the top of the pyramid the paupers crouched, +shading their eyes. The crowd below began to disperse in all +directions, so as to betake themselves to their coverts and to the +caverns, where they might live in the dark. Soon nearly all were gone +except the paupers at the foot of the pyramid, who were awaiting our +commands, and a crowd of Meleks and Athons at a distance. At a gesture +from me the few paupers near us descended and joined those below. + +Almah and I were alone on the top of the pyramid. + +I caught her in my arms in a rapture of joy. This revulsion from the +lowest despair--from darkness and from death back to hope and light +and life--was almost too much to endure. We both wept, but our tears +were those of happiness. + +"You will be all my own now," said I, "and we can fly from this +hateful land. We can be united--we can be married--here before we +start--and you will not be cruel enough to refuse. You will consent, +will you not, to be my wife before we fly from the Kosekin?" + +At this Almah's face became suffused with smiles and blushes. Her +arms were about me, and she did not draw away, but looked up in sweet +confusion and said, + +"Why, as to that--I--I cannot be more your--your wife than I am." + +"What do you mean?" I exclaimed, in wonder. "My wife!" + +Her eyes dropped again, and she whispered: + +"The ceremony of separation is with the Kosekin the most sacred form +of marriage. It is the religious form; the other is merely the civil +form." + +This was unintelligible, nor did I try to understand it. It was enough +to hear this from her own sweet lips; but it was a strange feeling, +and I think I am the only man since Adam that ever was married without +knowing it. + +"As to flight," continued Almah, who had quite adopted the Kosekin +fashion, which makes women take the lead--"as to flight, we need not +hurry. We are all-powerful now, and there is no more danger. We must +wait until we send embassies to my people, and when they are ready to +receive us, we will go. But now let us leave this, for our servants +are waiting for us, and the light is distressing to them. Let us go to +the nearest of our palaces and obtain rest and food." + + +Here Featherstone stopped, yawned, and laid down the manuscript. + +"That's enough for to-day," said he; "I'm tired, and can't read any +more. It's time for supper." + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT *** + +***** This file should be named 6709.txt or 6709.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/0/6709/ + +Produced by Andrew Sly + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/6709.zip b/6709.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebedef5 --- /dev/null +++ b/6709.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5b4521 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #6709 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6709) diff --git a/old/msscc10.txt b/old/msscc10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..318b697 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/msscc10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9518 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille +#2 in our series by James De Mille + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +Author: James De Mille + +Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6709] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on January 17, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly. + + + + + + +A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +By James De Mille + + + +CONTENTS + + I. The Finding of the Copper Cylinder + II. Adrift in the Antarctic Ocean + III. A World of Fire and Desolation + IV. The Sight of Human Beings + V. The Torrent Sweeping Under the Mountains + VI. The New World + VII. Scientific Theories and Scepticism + VIII. The Cave-Dwellers + IX. The Cavern of the Dead + X. The Sacred Hunt + XI. The Swamp Monster + XII. The Baleful Sacrifice + XIII. The Awful "Mista Kosek" + XIV. I Learn My Doom + XV. The Kohen is Inexorable + XVI. The Kosekin + XVII. Belief and Unbelief + XVIII. A Voyage over the Pole + XIX. The Wonders of the "Amir" + XX. The Dark Maiden Layelah + XXI. The Flying Monster + XXII. Escape + XXIII. The Island of Fire + XXIV. Recapture + XXV. Falling, like Icarus, into the Sea + XXVI. Grimm's Law Again + XXVII. Oxenden Preaches a Sermon + XXVIII. In Prison + XXIX. The Ceremony of Separation + XXX. The Day of Sacrifice + XXXI. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FINDING OF THE COPPER CYLINDER + + +It occurred as far back as February 15, 1850. It happened on that +day that the yacht Falcon lay becalmed upon the ocean between the +Canaries and the Madeira Islands. This yacht Falcon was the property +of Lord Featherstone, who, being weary of life in England, had taken +a few congenial friends for a winter's cruise in these southern +latitudes. They had visited the Azores, the Canaries, and the Madeira +Islands, and were now on their way to the Mediterranean. + +The wind had failed, a deep calm had succeeded, and everywhere, as far +as the eye could reach, the water was smooth and glassy. The yacht +rose and fell at the impulse of the long ocean undulations, and the +creaking of the spars sounded out a lazy accompaniment to the motion +of the vessel. All around was a watery horizon, except in the one +place only, toward the south, where far in the distance the Peak of +Teneriffe rose into the air. + +The profound calm, the warm atmosphere, the slow pitching of the +yacht, and the dull creaking of the spars all combined to lull into a +state of indolent repose the people on board. Forward were the crew; +some asleep, others smoking, others playing cards. At the stern were +Oxenden, the intimate friend of Featherstone, and Dr. Congreve, who +had come in the double capacity of friend and medical attendant. +These two, like the crew, were in a state of dull and languid +repose. Suspended between the two masts, in an Indian hammock, lay +Featherstone, with a cigar in his mouth and a novel in his hand, which +he was pretending to read. The fourth member of the party, Melick, was +seated near the mainmast, folding some papers in a peculiar way. His +occupation at length attracted the roving eyes of Featherstone, who +poked forth his head from his hammock, and said in a sleepy voice: + +"I say, Melick, you're the most energetic fellah I ever saw. By Jove! +you're the only one aboard that's busy. What are you doing?" + +"Paper boats," said Melick, in a business-like tone. + +"Paper boats! By Jove!" said Featherstone. "What for?" + +"I'm going to have a regatta," said Melick. "Anything to kill time, +you know." + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Featherstone again, raising himself higher in his +hammock, "that's not a bad idea. A wegatta! By Jove! glowious! +glowious! I say, Oxenden, did you hear that?" + +"What do you mean by a regatta?" asked Oxenden, lazily. + +"Oh, I mean a race with these paper boats. We can bet on them, +you know." + +At this Featherstone sat upright, with his legs dangling out of +the hammock. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed again. "Betting! So we can. Do you know, +Melick, old chap, I think that's a wegular piece of inspiration. +A wegatta! and we can bet on the best boat." + +"But there isn't any wind," said Oxenden. + +"Well, you know, that's the fun of it," said Melick, who went solemnly +on as he spoke, folding his paper boats; "that's the fun of it. For +you see if there was a wind we should be going on ourselves, and the +regatta couldn't come off; but, as it is, the water is just right. +You pick out your boat, and lay your bet on her to race to some given +point." + +"A given point? But how can we find any?" + +"Oh, easily enough; something or anything--a bubble'll do, or we can +pitch out a bit of wood." + +Upon this Featherstone descended from his perch, and came near to +examine the proceedings, while the other two, eager to take advantage +of the new excitement, soon joined him. By this time Melick had +finished his paper boats. There were four of them, and they were made +of different colors, namely, red, green, yellow, and white. + +"I'll put these in the water," said Melick, "and then we can lay our +bets on them as we choose. But first let us see if there is anything +that can be taken as a point of arrival. If there isn't anything, I +can pitch out a bit of wood, in any direction which may seem best." + +Saying this, he went to the side, followed by the others, and all +looked out carefully over the water. + +"There's a black speck out there," said Oxenden. + +"So there is," said Featherstone. "That'll do. I wonder what it is?" + +"Oh, a bit of timber," said Melick. "Probably the spar of some ship." + +"It don't look like a spar," said the doctor; "it's only a round spot, +like the float of some net." + +"Oh, it's a spar," said Melick. "It's one end of it, the rest is under +water." + +The spot thus chosen was a dark, circular object, about a hundred +yards away, and certainly did look very much like the extremity of +some spar, the rest of which was under water. Whatever it was, +however, it served well enough for their present purpose, and no one +took any further interest in it, except as the point toward which the +paper boats should run in their eventful race. + +Melick now let himself down over the side, and placed the paper boats +on the water as carefully as possible. After this the four stood +watching the little fleet in silence. The water was perfectly still, +and there was no perceptible wind, but there were draughts of air +caused by the rise and fall of the yacht, and these affected the tiny +boats. Gradually they drew apart, the green one drifting astern, the +yellow one remaining under the vessel, while the red and the white +were carried out in the direction where they were expected to go, with +about a foot of space between them. + +"Two to one on the red!" cried Featherstone, betting on the one which +had gained the lead. + +"Done," said Melick, promptly taking his offer. + +Oxenden made the same bet, which was taken by Melick and the doctor. + +Other bets were now made as to the direction which they would take, as +to the distance by which the red would beat the white, as to the time +which would be occupied by the race, and as to fifty other things +which need not be mentioned. All took part in this; the excitement +rose high and the betting went on merrily. At length it was noticed +that the white was overhauling the red. The excitement grew intense; +the betting changed its form, but was still kept up, until at last +the two paper boats seemed blended together in one dim spot which +gradually faded out of sight. + +It was now necessary to determine the state of the race, so +Featherstone ordered out the boat. The four were soon embarked, and +the men rowed out toward the point which had been chosen as the end of +the race. On coming near they found the paper boats stuck together, +saturated with water, and floating limp on the surface. An animated +discussion arose about this. Some of the bets were off, but others +remained an open question, and each side insisted upon a different +view of the case. In the midst of this, Featherstone's attention was +drawn to the dark spot already mentioned as the goal of the race. + +"That's a queer-looking thing," said he, suddenly. "Pull up, lads, a +little; let's see what it is. It doesn't look to me like a spar." + +The others, always on the lookout for some new object of interest, +were attracted by these words, and looked closely at the thing in +question. The men pulled. The boat drew nearer. + +"It's some sort of floating vessel," said Oxenden. + +"It's not a spar," said Melick, who was at the bow. + +And as he said this he reached out and grasped at it. He failed to get +it, and did no more than touch it. It moved easily and sank, but soon +came up again. A second time he grasped at it, and with both hands. +This time he caught it, and then lifted it out of the water into the +boat. These proceedings had been watched with the deepest interest; +and now, as this curious floating thing made its appearance among +them, they all crowded around it in eager excitement. + +"It looks like a can of preserved meat," said the doctor. + +"It certainly is a can," said Melick, "for it's made of metal; but as +to preserved meat, I have my doubts." + +The article in question was made of metal and was cylindrical in +shape. It was soldered tight and evidently contained something. It was +about eighteen inches long and eight wide. The nature of the metal was +not easily perceptible, for it was coated with slime, and covered over +about half its surface with barnacles and sea-weed. It was not heavy, +and would have floated higher out of the water had it not been for +these encumbrances. + +"It's some kind of preserved meat," said the doctor. "Perhaps +something good--game, I dare say--yes, Yorkshire game-pie. They pot +all sorts of things now." + +"If it's game," said Oxenden, "it'll be rather high by this time. Man +alive! look at those weeds and shells. It must have been floating for +ages." + +"It's my belief," said Featherstone, "that it's part of the provisions +laid in by Noah for his long voyage in the ark. So come, let's open +it, and see what sort of diet the antediluvians had." + +"It may be liquor," said Oxenden. + +Melick shook his head. + +"No," said he; "there's something inside, but whatever it is, it isn't +liquor. It's odd, too. The thing is of foreign make, evidently. I +never saw anything like it before. It may be Chinese." + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "this is getting exciting. Let's go +back to the yacht and open it." + +The men rowed back to the yacht. + +"It's meat of some sort," continued the doctor. "I'm certain of that. +It has come in good time. We can have it for dinner." + +"You may have my share, then," said Oxenden. "I hereby give and +bequeath to you all my right, title, and interest in and to anything +in the shape of meat that may be inside." + +"Meat cans," said Melick, "are never so large as that." + +"Oh, I don't know about that," said the doctor, "they make up pretty +large packages of pemmican for the arctic expeditions." + +"But they never pack up pemmican in copper cylinders," said Melick, +who had been using his knife to scrape off the crust from the vessel. + +"Copper!" exclaimed Oxenden. "Is it copper?" + +"Look for yourselves," said Melick, quietly. + +They all looked, and could see, where the knife had cut into the +vessel, that it was as he said. It was copper. + +"It's foreign work," said Melick. "In England we make tin cans for +everything. It may be something that's drifted out from Mogadore or +some port in Morocco." + +"In that case," said Oxenden, "it may contain the mangled remains of +one of the wives of some Moorish pasha." + +By this time they had reached the yacht and hurried aboard. All were +eager to satisfy their curiosity. Search was made for a cold-chisel, +but to no purpose. Then Featherstone produced a knife which was used +to open sardine boxes, but after a faithful trial this proved useless. +At length Melick, who had gone off in search of something more +effective, made his appearance armed with an axe. With this he +attacked the copper cylinder, and by means of a few dexterous blows +succeeded in cutting it open. Then he looked in. + +"What do you see?" asked Featherstone. + +"Something," said Melick, "but I can't quite make it out." + +"If you can't make it out, then shake it out," said Oxenden. + +Upon this Melick took the cylinder, turned it upside down, shook it +smartly, and then lifted it and pounded it against the deck. This +served to loosen the contents, which seemed tightly packed, but came +gradually down until at length they could be seen and drawn forth. +Melick drew them forth, and the contents of the mysterious copper +cylinder resolved themselves into two packages. + +The sight of these packages only served to intensify their curiosity. +If it had been some species of food it would at once have revealed +itself, but these packages suggested something more important. What +could they be? Were there treasures inside--jewels, or golden +ornaments from some Moorish seraglio, or strange coin from far Cathay? + +One of the packages was very much larger than the other. It was +enclosed in wrappers made of some coarse kind of felt, bound tight +with strong cords. The other was much smaller, and, was folded in the +same material without being bound. This Melick seized and began to +open. + +"Wait a minute," said Featherstone. "Let's make a bet on it. Five +guineas that it's some sort of jewels!" + +"Done," said Oxenden. + +Melick opened the package, and it was seen that Featherstone had lost. +There were no jewels, but one or two sheets of something that looked +like paper. It was not paper, however, but some vegetable product +which was used for the same purpose. The surface was smooth, but the +color was dingy, and the lines of the vegetable fibres were plainly +discernible. These sheets were covered with writing. + +"Halloa!" cried Melick. "Why, this is English!" + +At this the others crowded around to look on, and Featherstone in his +excitement forgot that he had lost his bet. There were three sheets, +all covered with writing--one in English, another in French, and a +third in German. It was the same message, written in these three +different languages. But at that moment they scarcely noticed this. +All that they saw was the message itself, with its mysterious meaning. + +It was as follows: + + +"To the finder of this: + +"Sir,--I am an Englishman, and have been carried by a series of +incredible events to a land from which escape is as impossible as from +the grave. I have written this and committed it to the sea, in the +hope that the ocean currents may bear it within the reach of civilized +man. Oh, unknown friend! whoever you are. I entreat you to let this +message be made known in some way to my father, Henry More, Keswick, +Cumberland, England, so that he may learn the fate of his son. The MS. +accompanying this contains an account of my adventures, which I should +like to have forwarded to him. Do this for the sake of that mercy +which you may one day wish to have shown to yourself. + +"ADAM MORE." + + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, as he read the above, "this is really +getting to be something tremendous." + +"This other package must be the manuscript," said Oxenden, "and it'll +tell all about it." + +"Such a manuscript'll be better than meat," said the doctor, +sententiously. + +Melick said nothing, but, opening his knife, he cut the cords and +unfolded the wrapper. He saw a great collection of leaves, just like +those of the letter, of some vegetable substance, smooth as paper, and +covered with writing. + +"It looks like Egyptian papyrus," said the doctor. "That was the +common paper of antiquity." + +"Never mind the Egyptian papyrus," said Featherstone, in feverish +curiosity. "Let's have the contents of the manuscript. You, Melick, +read; you're the most energetic of the lot, and when you're tired the +rest of us will take turns." + +"Read? Why, it'll take a month to read all this," said Melick. + +"All the better," said Featherstone; "this calm will probably last a +month, and we shall have nothing to interest us." + +Melick made no further objection. He was as excited as the rest, and +so he began the reading of the manuscript. + + + +CHAPTER II + +ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN + + +My name is Adam More. I am the son of Henry More, apothecary, Keswick, +Cumberland. I was mate of the ship Trevelyan (Bennet, master), which +was chartered by the British Government to convey convicts to Van +Dieman's Land. This was in 1843. We made our voyage without any +casualty, landed our convicts in Hobart Town, and then set forth on +our return home. It was the 17th of December when we left. From the +first adverse winds prevailed, and in order to make any progress we +were obliged to keep well to the south. At length, on the 6th of +January, we sighted Desolation Island. We found it, indeed, a desolate +spot. In its vicinity we saw a multitude of smaller islands, perhaps a +thousand in number, which made navigation difficult, and forced us to +hurry away as fast as possible. But the aspect of this dreary spot was +of itself enough to repel us. There were no trees, and the multitude +of islands seemed like moss-covered rocks; while the temperature, +though in the middle of the antarctic summer, was from 38 to 58 +degrees Fahr. + +In order to get rid of these dangerous islands we stood south and +west, and at length found ourselves in south latitude 65 degrees, +longitude 60 degrees east. We were fortunate enough not to find any +ice, although we were within fifteen hundred miles of the South Pole, +and far within that impenetrable icy barrier which, in 1773, had +arrested the progress of Captain Cook. Here the wind failed us, and we +lay becalmed and drifting. The sea was open all around us, except to +the southeast, where there was a low line along the horizon +terminating in a lofty promontory; but though it looked like land we +took it for ice. All around us whales and grampuses were gambolling +and spouting in vast numbers. The weather was remarkably fine and +clear. + + For two or three days the calm continued, and we drifted along +helplessly, until at length we found ourselves within a few miles of +the promontory above mentioned. It looked like land, and seemed to be +a rocky island rising from the depths of the sea. It was, however, all +covered with ice and snow, and from this there extended eastward as +far as the eye could reach an interminable line of ice, but toward the +southwest the sea seemed open to navigation. The promontory was very +singular in shape, rising up to a peak which was at least a thousand +feet in height, and forming a striking object, easily discovered and +readily identified by any future explorer. We named it, after our +ship, Trevelyan Peak, and then felt anxious to lose sight of it +forever. But the calm continued, and at length we drifted in close +enough to see immense flocks of seals dotting the ice at the foot of +the peak. + +Upon this I proposed to Agnew, the second mate, that we should go +ashore, shoot some seals, and bring them back. This was partly for the +excitement of the hunt, and partly for the honor of landing in a place +never before trodden by the foot of man. Captain Bennet made some +objections, but he was old and cautious, and we were young and +venturesome, so we laughed away his scruples and set forth. We did not +take any of the crew, owing to the captain's objections. He said that +if we chose to throw away our own lives he could not help it, but that +he would positively refuse to allow a single man to go with us. We +thought this refusal an excess of caution amounting to positive +cowardice, but were unable to change his mind. The distance was not +great, the adventure was attractive, and so the captain's gig was +lowered, and in this Agnew and I rowed ashore. We took with us a +double-barrelled rifle apiece, and also a pistol. Agnew took a glass. + +We rowed for about three miles, and reached the edge of the ice, which +extended far out from the promontory. Here we landed, and secured the +boat by means of a small grappling-iron, which we thrust into the ice. +We then walked toward the promontory for about a mile, and here we +found a multitude of seals. These animals were so fearless that they +made not the slightest movement as we came up, but stared at us in an +indifferent way. We killed two or three, and then debated whether to +go to the promontory or not. Agnew was eager to go, so as to touch the +actual rock; but I was satisfied with what we had done, and was now +desirous of returning. In the midst of this I felt a flake of snow on +my cheek. I started and looked up. To my great surprise I saw that the +sky had changed since I had last noticed it. When we left the ship it +was clear and blue, but now it was overspread with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and the snow-flakes that had fallen were +ominous of evil. A snow-storm here, in the vicinity of the ice, was +too serious a thing to be disregarded. But one course now remained, +and that was an immediate return to the ship. + +Each of us seized a seal and dragged it after us to the boat. We +reached it and flung them in. Just at that moment a gun sounded over +the water. It was from the ship--the signal of alarm--the summons from +the captain for our return. We saw now that she had been drifting +since we left her, and had moved southwest several miles. The row back +promised to be far harder than the pull ashore, and, what was worse, +the wind was coming up, the sea was rising, and the snow was +thickening. Neither of us said a word. We saw that our situation was +very serious, and that we had been very foolhardy; but the words were +useless now. The only thing to be done was to pull for the ship with +all our strength, and that was what we did. + +So we pushed off, and rowed as we had never rowed before. Our progress +was difficult. The sea grew steadily rougher; the wind increased; the +snow thickened; and, worst of all, the day was drawing to a close. We +had miscalculated both as to distance and time. Even if it had +continued calm we should have had to row back in the dark; but now the +sun was setting, and with the darkness we had to encounter the +gathering storm and the blinding snow. We rowed in silence. At every +stroke our situation grew more serious. The wind was from the south, +and therefore favored us to some extent, and also made less of a sea +than would have been produced by a wind from any other quarter; but +then this south wind brought dangers of its own, which we were soon to +feel--new dangers and worse ones. For this south wind drove the ship +farther from us, and at the same time broke up the vast fields of ice +and impelled the fractured masses northward. But this was a danger +which we did not know just then. At that time we were rowing for the +ship, and amid the darkness and the blinding snow and the dashing +waves we heard from time to time the report of signal-guns fired from +the ship to guide us back. These were our only guide, for the darkness +and the snow had drawn the ship from our sight, and we had to be +guided by our hearing only. + +We were rowing for our lives, and we knew it; but every moment our +situation grew more desperate. Each new report of the gun seemed to +sound farther away. We seemed always to be rowing in the wrong +direction. At each report we had to shift the boat's course somewhat, +and pull toward the last point from which the gun seemed to sound. +With all this the wind was increasing rapidly to a gale, the sea was +rising and breaking over the boat, the snow was blinding us with its +ever-thickening sleet. The darkness deepened and at length had grown +so intense that nothing whatever could be seen--neither sea nor sky, +not even the boat itself--yet we dared not stop; we had to row. Our +lives depended on our efforts. We had to row, guided by the sound of +the ship's gun, which the ever-varying wind incessantly changed, till +our minds grew all confused, and we rowed blindly and mechanically. + +So we labored for hours at the oars, and the storm continually +increased, and the sea continually rose, while the snow fell thicker +and the darkness grew intenser. The reports of the gun now grew +fainter; what was worse, they were heard at longer intervals, and this +showed us that Captain Bennet was losing heart; that he was giving us +up; that he despaired of finding us, and was now firing only an +occasional gun out of a mournful sense of duty. This thought reduced +us to despair. It seemed as if all our efforts had only served to take +us farther away from the ship, and deprived us of all motive for +rowing any harder than was barely necessary to keep the boat steady. +After a time Agnew dropped his oar and began to bail out the boat--a +work which was needed; for, in spite of our care, she had shipped many +seas, and was one third full of water. He worked away at this while I +managed the boat, and then we took turns at bailing. In this way we +passed the dreary night. + +Morning came at last. The wind was not so violent, but the snow was so +thick that we could only see for a little distance around us. The ship +was nowhere visible, nor were there any signs of her. The last gun had +been fired during the night. All that we could see was the outline of +a gaunt iceberg--an ominous spectacle. Not knowing what else to do we +rowed on as before, keeping in what seemed our best course, though +this was mere conjecture, and we knew all the time that we might be +going wrong. There was no compass in the boat, nor could we tell the +sun's position through the thick snow. We rowed with the wind, +thinking that it was blowing toward the north, and would carry us in +that direction. We still hoped to come within sound of the ship's gun, +and kept straining our ears incessantly to hear the wished-for report. +But no such sound ever came again, and we heard nothing except the +plash of the waves and the crash of breaking ice. Thus all that day we +rowed along, resting at intervals when exhausted, and then resuming +our labors, until at length night came; and again to the snow and ice +and waves was added the horror of great darkness. We passed that night +in deep misery. We had eaten nothing since we left the ship, but +though exhausted by long fasting and severe labor, the despair of our +hearts took away all desire for food. We were worn out with hard work, +yet the cold was too great to allow us to take rest, and we were +compelled to row so as to keep ourselves from perishing. But fatigue +and drowsiness overcame us, and we often sank into sleep even while +rowing; and then after a brief slumber we would awake with benumbed +limbs to wrestle again with the oars. In this way we passed that +night. + +Another morning came, and we found to our great joy that the snow had +ceased. We looked eagerly around to see if there were any signs of the +ship. Nothing could be seen of her. Far away on one side rose a peak, +which looked like the place where we had landed. Judging from the +wind, which we still supposed to be southerly, the peak lay toward the +northeast; in which case we had been carried steadily, in spite of all +our efforts, toward the south. About a mile on one side of us the ice +began, and extended far away; while on the other side, at the distance +of some ten miles, there was another line of ice. We seemed to have +been carried in a southwesterly direction along a broad strait that +ran into the vast ice-fields. This discovery showed how utterly +useless our labors had been; for in spite of all, even with the wind +in our favor, we had been drawn steadily in an opposite direction. It +was evident that there was some current here, stronger than all our +strength, which had brought us to this place. + +We now determined to land on the ice, and try to cook a portion of our +seals. On approaching it we noticed that there was a current which +tended to draw us past the ice in what I supposed to be a +southwesterly direction. This confirmed my worst fears. But now the +labor of landing and building a fire on the ice served to interest us +for a time and divert our thoughts. We brushed away the snow, and then +broke up a box which was in the boat, and also the stern seats. This +we used very sparingly, reserving the rest for another occasion. Then +we cut portions from one of the seals, and laid them in thin strips on +the flames. The cooking was but slight, for the meat was merely +singed; but we were ravenous, and the contact of the fire was enough +to give it an attractive flavor. With this food we were greatly +refreshed; and as for drink, we had all around us an endless extent of +ice and snow. Then, taking our precious fragments of cooked meat, we +returned to the boat and put off. We could scarcely tell what to do +next, and while debating on this point we fell asleep. We slept far +into the night, then awoke benumbed with cold; then took to the oars +till we were weary; then fell asleep again, to be again awakened by +the cold and again to pull at the oars. So the night passed, and +another day came. + +The snow still held off, but the sky was overcast with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and looked threatening. Ice was all around us +as before; and the open water had diminished now from ten miles to +five miles of width. The ice on one side was low, but on the opposite +side it arose to the height of one hundred feet. We saw here, as we +watched the shore, that the current which had already borne us thus +far was now stronger than ever, and was carrying us along at a rate +which made all efforts of ours against it utterly useless. And now a +debate arose between us as to the direction of this current. Agnew +suddenly declared his belief that it was running north, while I was +firm in the conviction that it ran south. + +"There's no use rowing any more," said Agnew. "If it runs south we +can't resist it. It's too strong. But I always like to look on the +bright side, and so I believe it runs north. In that case there is no +use rowing, for it will carry us along fast enough." + +Then I proposed that we should go ashore on the ice. To this Agnew +objected, but afterward consented, at my earnest request. So we tried +to get ashore, but this time found it impossible; for the ice +consisted of a vast sheet of floating lumps, which looked like the +ruin of bergs that had been broken up in some storm. After this I had +nothing to say, nor was there anything left for us but to drift +wherever the current might carry us. + +So we drifted for some days, Agnew all the time maintaining that we +were going north, while I was sure that we were going south. The sky +remained as cloudy as ever, the wind varied incessantly, and there was +nothing by which we could conjecture the points of the compass. We +lived on our seal, and for drink we chewed ice and snow. One thing was +certain--the climate was no colder. Agnew laid great stress on this. + +"You see," said he, "we must be going north. If we were going south we +should be frozen stiff by this time." + +"Yes; but if we were going north," said I, "we ought to find it +growing warmer." + +"No," said he, "not with all this ice around us. It's the ice that +keeps the temperature in this cold state." + +Argument could do no good, and so we each remained true to our +belief--his leading him to hope, and mine dragging me down to despair. +At length we finished the last fragment of the seal that we had +cooked, and, finding ourselves near some firm ice, we went ashore and +cooked all that was left, using the remainder of our wood for fuel, +and all that we dared to remove from the boat. Re-embarking with this, +we drifted on as before. + +Several more days passed. At last one night I was roused by Agnew. He +pointed far away to the distant horizon, where I saw a deep red glow +as of fire. We were both filled with wonder at the sight, and were +utterly unable to account for it. We knew that it could not be caused +by the sun or the moon, for it was midnight, and the cause lay on the +earth and not in the skies. It was a deep, lurid glow, extending along +the horizon, and seemed to be caused by some vast conflagration. + + + +CHAPTER III + +A WORLD OF FIRE AND DESOLATION + + +At the sight of that deep-red glow various feelings arose within us: +in me there was new dejection; in Agnew there was stronger hope. I +could not think but that it was our ship that was on fire, and was +burning before our eyes. Agnew thought that it was some burning +forest, and that it showed our approach to some habitable and +inhabited land. For hour after hour we watched, and all the time the +current drew us nearer, and the glow grew brighter and more intense. +At last we were too weak to watch any longer, and we fell asleep. + +On waking our first thoughts were about the fire, and we looked +eagerly around. It was day, but the sky was as gloomy as ever, and the +fire was there before our eyes, bright and terrible. We could now see +it plainly, and discern the cause also. The fire came from two points, +at some distance apart--two peaks rising above the horizon, from which +there burst forth flames and smoke with incessant explosions. All was +now manifest. It was no burning ship, no blazing forest, no land +inhabited by man: those blazing peaks were two volcanoes in a state of +active eruption, and at that sight I knew the worst. + +"I know where we are now," I said, despairingly. + +"Where?" asked Agnew. + +"That," said I, "is the antarctic continent." + +"The antarctic fiddlestick," said he, contemptuously. "It is far more +likely to be some volcanic island in the South Sea. There's a +tremendous volcano in the Sandwich Islands, and these are something +like it." + +"I believe," said I, "that these are the very volcanoes that Sir James +Ross discovered last year." + +"Do you happen to know where he found them?" Agnew asked. + +"I do not," I answered. + +"Well, I do," said he, "and they're thousands of miles away from this. +They are south latitude 77 degrees, east longitude 167 degrees; while +we, as I guess, are about south latitude 40 degrees, east longitude +60 degrees." + +"At any rate," said I, "we're drifting straight toward them." + +"So I see," said Agnew, dryly. "At any rate, the current will take us +somewhere. We shall find ourselves carried past these volcanic +islands, or through them, and then west to the Cape of Good Hope. +Besides, even here we may find land with animals and vegetation; who +knows?" + +"What! amid all this ice?" I cried. "Are you mad?" + +"Mad?" said he; "I should certainly go mad if I hadn't hope." + +"Hope!" I repeated; "I have long since given up hope." + +"Oh, well," said he, "enjoy your despair, and don't try to deprive me +of my consolation. My hope sustains me, and helps me to cheer you up. +It would never do, old fellow, for both of us to knock under." + +I said nothing more, nor did Agnew. We drifted on, and all our +thoughts were taken up with the two volcanoes, toward which we were +every moment drawing nearer. As we approached they grew larger and +larger, towering up to a tremendous height. I had seen Vesuvius and +Stromboli and AEtna and Cotopaxi; but these appeared far larger than +any of them, not excepting the last. They rose, like the Peak of +Teneriffe, abruptly from the sea, with no intervening hills to dwarf +or diminish their proportions. They were ten or twelve miles apart, +and the channel of water in which we were drifting flowed between +them. + +Here the ice and snow ended. We thus came at last to land; but it was +a land that seemed more terrible than even the bleak expanse of ice +and snow that lay behind, for nothing could be seen except a vast and +drear accumulation of lava-blocks of every imaginable shape, without +a trace of vegetation--uninhabited, uninhabitable, and unpassable to +man. But just where the ice ended and the rocks began there was a +long, low reef, which projected for more than a quarter of a mile into +the water, affording the only possible landing-place within sight. +Here we decided to land, so as to rest and consider what was best to +be done. + +Here we landed, and walked up to where rugged lava-blocks prevented +any further progress. But at this spot our attention was suddenly +arrested by a sight of horror. It was a human figure lying prostrate, +face downward. + +At this sight there came over us a terrible sensation. Even Agnew's +buoyant soul shrank back, and we stared at each other with quivering +lips. It was some time before we could recover ourselves; then we went +to the figure, and stooped down to examine it. + +The clothes were those of a European and a sailor; the frame was +emaciated and dried up, till it looked like a skeleton; the face was +blackened and all withered, and the bony hands were clinched tight. It +was evidently some sailor who had suffered shipwreck in these +frightful solitudes, and had drifted here to starve to death in this +appalling wilderness. It was a sight which seemed ominous of our own +fate, and Agnew's boasted hope, which had so long upheld him, now sank +down into a despair as deep as my own. What room was there now for +hope, or how could we expect any other fate than this? + +At length I began to search the pockets of the deceased. + +"What are you doing?" asked Agnew, in a hoarse voice. + +"I'm trying to find out who he is," I said. "Perhaps there may be +papers." + +As I said this I felt something in the breast-pocket of his jacket, +and drew it forth. It was a leather pocket-book, mouldy and rotten +like the clothing. On opening it, it fell to pieces. There was nothing +in it but a piece of paper, also mouldy and rotten. This I unfolded +with great care, and saw writing there, which, though faded, was still +legible. It was a letter, and there were still signs of long and +frequent perusals, and marks, too, which looked as though made by +tears--tears, perhaps of the writer, perhaps of the reader: who can +tell? I have preserved this letter ever since, and I now fasten it +here upon this sheet of my manuscript. + + +THE LETTER. + +"Bristol April 20. 1820. + +"my darling tom + +"i writ you these few lines in hast i don like youar gon a walen an in +the south sea dont go darlin tom or mebbe ill never se you agin for +ave bad drems of you darlin tom an im afraid so don go my darlin tom +but come back an take anoth ship for America baby i as wel as ever but +mises is pa an as got a new tooth an i think yo otnt go a walen o +darlin tom * * * sea as the wages was i in New York an better go thar +an id like to go ther for good for they gives good wages in America. O +come back my Darlin tom and take me to America an the baby an weel all +live an love an di together + +"Your loving wife Polley Reed." + + +I began to read this, but there came a lump in my throat, and I had to +stop. Agnew leaned on my shoulder, and we both read it in silence. He +rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and drew a long breath. Then +he walked away for a little distance, and I put the letter carefully +away in my own pocket-book. After a little while Agnew came back. + +"More," said he, "do you remember any of the burial-service?" + +I understood his meaning at once. + +"Yes," I said, "some of it--a good deal of it, I think." + +"That's good," said he. "Let's put the poor fellow under ground." + +"It would be hard to do that," I said; "we'll have to bury him in the +snow." + +At this Agnew went off for a little distance and clambered over the +rocks. He was not gone long. When he returned he said, "I've found +some crumbled pumice-stone; we can scoop a grave for him there." + +We then raised the body and carried it to the place which Agnew had +found. So emaciated was the poor dead sailor that his remains were no +heavier than a small boy. On reaching the spot, we found the crumbled +pumice-stone. We placed the body in a crevice among the lava rocks, +and then I said what I could remember of the burial-service. After +this we carried in our hands the crumbled pumice-stone until we had +covered the body, and thus gave the poor fellow a Christian burial. + +We then returned to the shore. + +"More, old fellow," said Agnew, "I feel the better for this; the +service has done me good." + +"And me too," said I. "It has reminded me of what I had forgotten. +This world is only a part of life. We may lose it and yet live on. +There is another world; and if we can only keep that in our minds we +sha'n't be so ready to sink into despair--that is, I sha'n't. Despair +is my weakness; you are more hopeful." + +"Yes," said Agnew, solemnly; "but my hope thus far has referred only +to the safety of my skin. After this I shall try to think of my soul, +and cultivate, not the hope of escape, but the hope full of +immortality. Yes, More, after all we shall live, if not in England, +then, let us hope, in heaven." + +There was a long silence after this--that kind of silence which one +may preserve who is at the point of death. + +"I wonder how he got here?" said Agnew, at last. "The letter mentions +a whaler. No doubt the ship has been driven too far south; it has +foundered; he has escaped in a boat, either alone or with others; he +has been carried along this channel, and has landed here, afraid to go +any farther." + +"But his boat, what has become of that?" + +"His boat! That must have gone long ago. The letter was written in +1820. At any rate, let's look around." + +We did so. After some search we found fragments of a rotted rope +attached to a piece of rock. + +"That," said Agnew, "must have been fastened to the boat; and as for +the boat herself, she has long ago been swept away from this." + +"What shall we do now?" I said, after a long silence. + +"There's only one thing," said Agnew. "We must go on." + +"Go on?" I asked, in wonder. + +"Certainly," said he, confidently. "Will you stay here? No. Will you +go back? You can't. We must, therefore, go on. That is our only hope." + +"Hope!" I cried. "Do you still talk of hope?" + +"Hope?" said Agnew; "of course. Why not? There are no limits to hope, +are there? One can hope anything anywhere. It is better to die while +struggling like a man, full of hope and energy than to perish in +inaction and despair. It is better to die in the storm and furious +waters than to waste away in this awful place. So come along. Let's +drift as before. Let's see where this channel will take us. It will +certainly take us somewhere. Such a stream as this must have some +outlet." + +"This stream," said I, "will take us to death, and death only. The +current grows swifter every hour. I've heard some old yarn of a vast +opening at each of the poles, or one of them, into which the waters of +the ocean pour. They fall into one, and some say they go through and +come out at the other." + +Agnew laughed. + +"That," said he, "is a madman's dream. In the first place, I don't +believe that we are approaching the south, but the north. The warmth +of the climate here shows that. Yes, we are drawing north. We shall +soon emerge into warm waters and bright skies. So come along, and let +us lose no more time." + +I made no further objection. There was nothing else to be done, and +at the very worst we could not be in greater danger while drifting on +than in remaining behind. Soon, therefore, we were again in the boat, +and the current swept us on as before. + +The channel now was about four miles wide. On either side arose +the lofty volcanoes vomiting forth flames and smoke with furious +explosions; vast stones were hurled up into the air from the craters; +streams of molten lava rolled down, and at intervals there fell great +showers of ashes. The shores on either side were precipitous and +rugged beyond all description, looking like fiery lava streams which +had been arrested by the flood, and cooled into gloomy, overhanging +cliffs. The lava rock was of a deep, dull slate-color, which at a +distance looked black; and the blackness which thus succeeded to +the whiteness of the snow behind us seemed like the funeral pall of +nature. Through scenes like these we drifted on, and the volcanoes on +either side of the channel towered on high with their fiery floods of +lava, their incessant explosions, their fierce outbursts of flames, +and overhead there rolled a dense black canopy of smoke--altogether +forming a terrific approach to that unknown and awful pathway upon +which we were going. So we passed this dread portal, and then there +lay before us--what? Was it a land of life or a land of death? Who +could say? + +It was evening when we passed through. Night came on, and the darkness +was illuminated by the fiery glow of the volcanic flames. Worn out +with fatigue, we fell asleep. So the night passed, and the current +bore us on until, at length, the morning came. We awoke, and now, for +the first time in many days, we saw the face of the sun. The clouds +had at last broken, the sky was clear, and behind us the sun was +shining. That sight told us all. It showed us where we were going. + +I pointed to the sun. + +"Look there," said I. "There is the sun in the northern sky--behind +us. We have been drifting steadily toward the south." + +At this Agnew was silent, and sat looking back for a long time. There +we could still see the glow of the volcanic fires, though they were +now many miles away; while the sun, but lately risen, was lying on a +course closer to the horizon than we had ever seen it before. + +"We are going south," said I--"to the South Pole. This swift current +can have but one ending--there may be an opening at the South Pole, or +a whirlpool like the Maelstrom." + +Agnew looked around with a smile. + +"All these notions," said he, "are dreams, or theories, or guesses. +There is no evidence to prove them. Why trouble yourself about a +guess? You and I can guess, and with better reason; for we have now, +it seems, come farther south than any human being who has ever lived. +Do not imagine that the surface of the earth is different at the poles +from what it is anywhere else. If we get to the South Pole we shall +see there what we have always seen--the open view of land or water, +and the boundary of the horizon. As for this current, it seems to me +like the Gulf Stream, and it evidently does an important work in the +movement of the ocean waters. It pours on through vast fields of ice +on its way to other oceans, where it will probably become united with +new currents. Theories about openings at the poles, or whirlpools, +must be given up. Since the Maelstrom has been found to be a fiction, +no one need believe in any other whirlpool. For my own part, I now +believe that this current will bear us on, due south, over the pole, +and then still onward, until at last we shall find ourselves in the +South Pacific Ocean. So cheer up--don't be downhearted; there's still +hope. We have left the ice and snow behind, and already the air is +warmer. Cheer up; we may find our luck turn at any moment." + +To this I had no reply to make. Agnew's confidence seemed to me to be +assumed, and certainly did not alleviate my own deep gloom, nor was +the scene around calculated to rouse me in the slightest degree out of +my despair. The channel had now lessened to a width of not more than +two miles; the shores on either side were precipitous cliffs, broken +by occasional declivities, but all of solid rock, so dark as to be +almost black, and evidently of volcanic origin. At times there arose +rugged eminences, scarred and riven, indescribably dismal and +appalling. There was not only an utter absence of life here in these +abhorrent regions, but an actual impossibility of life which was +enough to make the stoutest heart quail. The rocks looked like iron. +It seemed a land of iron penetrated by this ocean stream which had +made for itself a channel, and now bore us onward to a destination +which was beyond all conjecture. + +Through such scenes we drifted all that day. Night came, and in the +skies overhead there arose a brilliant display of the aurora +australis, while toward the north the volcanic fires glowed with +intense lustre. That night we slept. On awakening we noticed a change +in the scene. The shores, though still black and forbidding, were no +longer precipitous, but sloped down gradually to the water; the +climate was sensibly milder, and far away before us there arose a line +of giant mountains, whose summits were covered with ice and snow that +gleamed white and purple in the rays of the sun. + +Suddenly Agnew gave a cry, and pointed to the opposite shore. + +"Look!" he cried--"do you see? They are men!" + +I looked, and there I saw plainly some moving figures that were, +beyond a doubt, human beings. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE SIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS + + +The sight of human beings, thus unexpectedly found, filled us with +strange feelings--feelings which I cannot explain. The country was +still iron-bound and dark and forbidding, and the stream ran on in a +strong current, deep, black as ink, and resistless as fate; the sky +behind was lighted up by the volcanic glare which still shone from +afar; and in front the view was bounded by the icy heights of a +mountain chain. Here was, indeed, a strange country for a human +habitation; and strange, indeed, were the human beings whom we saw. + +"Shall we land?" said Agnew. + +"Oh no," said I. "Don't be hasty. The elements are sometimes kinder +than men, and I feel safer here, even in this river of death, than +ashore with such creatures as those." + +Agnew made no reply. We watched the figures on the shore. We saw them +coming down, staring and gesticulating. We drew on nearer to them till +we were able to see them better. A nearer view did not improve them. +They were human beings, certainly, but of such an appalling aspect +that they could only be likened to animated mummies. They were small, +thin, shrivelled, black, with long matted hair and hideous faces. They +all had long spears, and wore about the waist short skirts that seemed +to be made of the skin of some sea-fowl. + +We could not imagine how these creatures lived, or where. There were +no signs of vegetation of any kind--not a tree or a shrub. There were +no animals; but there were great flocks of birds, some of which seemed +different from anything that we had ever seen before. The long spears +which the natives carried might possibly be used for catching these, +or for fishing purposes. This thought made them seem less formidable, +since they would thus be instruments of food rather than weapons of +war. Meanwhile we drifted on as before, and the natives watched us, +running along the shore abreast of us, so as to keep up with the boat. +There seemed over a hundred of them. We could see no signs of any +habitations--no huts, however humble; but we concluded that their +abodes were farther inland. As for the natives themselves, the longer +we looked at them the more abhorrent they grew. Even the wretched +aborigines of Van Dieman's Land, who have been classed lowest in the +scale of humanity, were pleasing and congenial when compared with +these, and the land looked worse than Tierra del Fuego. It looked like +a land of iron, and its inhabitants like fiends. + +Agnew again proposed to land, but I refused. + +"No," I said; "I'd rather starve for a week, and live on hope. Let us +drift on. If we go on we may have hope if we choose, but if we land +here we shall lose even that. Can we hope for anything from such +things as these? Even if they prove friendly, can we live among them? +To stay here is worse than death; our only hope is to go on." + +Agnew made no reply, and we drifted on for two hours, still followed +by the natives. They made no hostile demonstrations. They merely +watched us, apparently from motives of curiosity. All this time we +were drawing steadily nearer to the line of lofty mountains, which +with their icy crests rose before us like an inaccessible and +impassable barrier, apparently closing up all farther progress; nor +was there any indication of any pass or any opening, however narrow, +through which the great stream might run. Nothing was there but one +unbroken wall of iron cliffs and icy summits. At last we saw that the +sloping shores grew steeper, until, about a mile or two before us, +they changed to towering cliffs that rose up on each side for about a +thousand feet above the water; here the stream ran, and became lost to +view as completely as though swallowed up by the earth. + +"We can go no farther," said Agnew. "See--this stream seems to make a +plunge there into the mountains. There must be some deep canyon there +with cataracts. To go on is certain death. We must stop here, if only +to deliberate. Say, shall we risk it among these natives? After all, +there is not, perhaps, any danger among them. They are little +creatures and seem harmless. They are certainly not very good-looking; +but then, you know, appearances often deceive, and the devil's not so +black as he's painted. What do you say?" + +"I suppose we can do nothing else," said I. + +In fact, I could see that we had reached a crisis in our fate. To go +on seemed certain death. To stop was our only alternative; and as we +were armed we should not be altogether at the mercy of these +creatures. Having made this decision we acted upon it at once, for in +such a current there was no time for delay; and so, seizing the oars, +we soon brought the boat ashore. + +As we approached, the crowd of natives stood awaiting us, and looked +more repulsive than ever. We could see the emaciation of their bony +frames; their toes and fingers were like birds' claws; their eyes were +small and dull and weak, and sunken in cavernous hollows, from which +they looked at us like corpses--a horrible sight. They stood quietly, +however, and without any hostile demonstration, holding their spears +carelessly resting upon the ground. + +"I don't like the looks of them," said I. "I think I had better fire a +gun." + +"Why?" cried Agnew. "For Heaven's sake, man, don't hurt any of them!" + +"Oh no," said I; "I only mean to inspire a little wholesome respect." + +Saying this I fired in the air. The report rang out with long echoes, +and as the smoke swept away it showed us all the natives on the +ground. They had seated themselves with their hands crossed on their +laps, and there they sat looking at us as before, but with no +manifestation of fear or even surprise. I had expected to see them +run, but there was nothing of the kind. This puzzled us. Still, there +was no time now for any further hesitation. The current was sweeping +us toward the chasm between the cliffs, and we had to land without +delay. This we did, and as I had another barrel still loaded and a +pistol, I felt that with these arms and those of Agnew we should be +able to defend ourselves. It was in this state of mind that we landed, +and secured the boat by means of the grappling-iron. + +The natives now all crowded around us, making many strange gestures, +which we did not understand. Some of them bowed low, others prostrated +themselves; on the whole these seemed like marks of respect, and it +occurred to me that they regarded us as superior beings of some sort. +It was evident that there was nothing like hostility in their minds. +At the same time, the closer survey which I now made of them filled me +with renewed horror; their meagre frames, small, watery, lack-lustre +eyes, hollow, cavernous sockets, sunken cheeks, protruding teeth, +claw-like fingers, and withered skins, all made them look more than +ever like animated mummies, and I shrank from them involuntarily, as +one shrinks from contact with a corpse. + +Agnew, however, was very different, and it was evident that he felt no +repugnance whatever. He bowed and smiled at them, and shook hands with +half a dozen of them in succession. The hand-shaking was a new thing +to them, but they accepted it in a proper spirit, and renewed their +bows and prostrations. After this they all offered us their lances. +This certainly seemed like an act of peace and good-will. I shook my +head and declined to touch them; but Agnew accepted one of them, and +offered his rifle in return. The one to whom he offered it refused to +take it. He seemed immensely gratified because Agnew had taken his +lance, and the others seemed disappointed at his refusal to take +theirs. But I felt my heart quake as I saw him offer his rifle, and +still more when he offered it to one or two others, and only regained +my composure as I perceived that his offer was refused by all. + +They now made motions to us to follow, and we all set forth together. + +"My dear More," said Agnew, cheerily, "they're not a bad lot. They +mean well. They can't help their looks. You're too suspicious and +reserved. Let's make friends with them, and get them to help us. Do as +I do." + +I tried to, but found it impossible, for my repugnance was immovable. +It was like the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, +earwigs, or serpents. It was something that defied reason. These +creatures seemed like human vermin. + +We marched inland for about half a mile, crossed a ridge, and came to +a valley, or rather a kind of hollow, at the other side of which we +found a cave with a smouldering fire in front. The fire was made of +coal, which must exist here somewhere. It was highly bituminous, and +burned with a great blaze. + +The day was now drawing to a close; far away I could see the lurid +glow of the volcanoes, which grew brighter as the day declined: above, +the skies twinkled with innumerable stars, and the air was filled with +the moan of rushing waters. + +We entered the cave. As we did so the natives heaped coal upon the +fire, and the flames arose, lighting up the interior. We found here a +number of women and children, who looked at us without either fear or +curiosity. The children looked like little dwarfs; the women were +hags, hideous beyond description. One old woman in particular, who +seemed to be in authority, was actually terrible in her awful and +repulsive ugliness. A nightmare dream never furnished forth a more +frightful object. This nightmare hag prostrated herself before each of +us with such an air of self-immolation that she looked as though she +wished us to kill her at once. The rough cave, the red light of the +fire, all made the scene more awful; and a wild thought came to me +that we had actually reached, while yet living, the infernal world, +and that this was the abode of devils. Yet their actions, it must be +confessed, were far from devilish. Everyone seemed eager to serve us. +Some spread out couches formed of the skins of birds for us to sit on; +others attended to the fire; others offered us gifts of large and +beautiful feathers, together with numerous trinkets of rare and +curious workmanship. This kind attention on their part was a great +puzzle to me, and I could not help suspecting that beneath all this +there must be some sinister design. Resolving to be prepared for the +worst, I quietly reloaded the empty barrel of my rifle and watched +with the utmost vigilance. As for Agnew, he took it all in the most +unsuspicious manner. He made signs to them, shook hands with them, +accepted their gifts, and even tried to do the agreeable to the +formidable hags and the child-fiends around him. He soon attracted the +chief attention, and while all looked admiringly upon him, I was left +to languish in comparative neglect. + +At length a savory odor came through the cave, and a repast was spread +before us. It consisted of some large fowl that looked like a goose, +but was twice as large as the largest turkey that I had ever seen. The +taste was like that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it +seemed delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready +to welcome any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was, +would not have been unwelcome to any hungry man. It was evident that +these people lived on the flesh of birds of various sorts. All around +us we saw the skins of birds dried with the feathers on, and used for +clothing, for mats, and for ornaments. + +The repast being finished, we both felt greatly strengthened and +refreshed. Agnew continued to cultivate his new acquaintances, and +seeing me holding back, he said, + +"More, old fellow, these good people give me to understand that there +is another place better than this, and want me to go with them. Will +you go?" + +At this a great fear seized me. + +"Don't go!" I cried--"don't go! We are close by the boat here, and if +anything happens we can easily get to it." + +Agnew laughed in my face. + +"Why, you don't mean to tell me," said he, "that you are still +suspicious, and after that dinner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm +us, would they feast us in this style? Nonsense, man! Drop your +suspicions and come along." + +I shook my head obstinately. + +"Well," said he, "if I thought there was anything in your suspicions I +would stay by you; but I'm confident they mean nothing but kindness, +so I'm going off to see the place." + +"You'll be back again?" said I. + +"Oh yes," said he, "of course I'll come back, and sleep here." + +With these words he left, and nearly all the people accompanied him. I +was left behind with the women and children and about a dozen men. +These men busied themselves with some work over bird-skins; the women +were occupied with some other work over feathers. No one took any +notice of me. There did not seem to be any restraint upon me, nor was +I watched in any way. Once the nightmare hag came and offered me a +small roasted fowl, about the size of a woodcock. I declined it, but +at the same time this delicate attention certainly surprised me. + +I was now beginning to struggle with some success against my feelings +of abhorrence, when suddenly I caught sight of something which chased +away every other thought, and made my blood turn cold in my veins. It +was something outside. At the mouth of the cave--by the fire which was +still blazing bright, and lighting up the scene--I saw four men who +had just come to the cave: they were carrying something which I at +first supposed to be a sick or wounded companion. On reaching the fire +they put it down, and I saw, with a thrill of dismay, that their +burden was neither sick nor wounded, but dead, for the corpse lay +rigid as they had placed it. Then I saw the nightmare hag approach it +with a knife. An awful thought came to me--the crowning horror! The +thought soon proved to be but too well founded. The nightmare hag +began to cut, and in an instant had detached the arm of the corpse, +which she thrust among the coals in the very place where lately she +had cooked the fowl. Then she went back for more. + +For a moment my brain reeled, and I gasped for breath. Then I rose and +staggered out, I know not how. No one tried to stop me, nor did anyone +follow me; and, for my part, I was ready to blow out the brains of the +first who dared to approach me. In this way I reached the open air, +and passed by the hag and the four men as they were busy at their +awful work. But at this point I was observed and followed. A number of +men and women came after me, jabbering their uncouth language and +gesticulating. I warned them off, angrily. They persisted, and though +none of them were armed, yet I saw that they were unwilling to have me +leave the cave, and I supposed that they would try to prevent me by +force. + +The absence of Agnew made my position a difficult one. Had it not been +for this I would have burst through them and fled to the boat; but as +long as he was away I felt bound to wait; and though I longed to fly, +I could not for his sake. The boat seemed to be a haven of rest. I +longed to be in her once more, and drift away, even if it should be to +my death. Nature was here less terrible than man; and it seemed better +to drown in the waters, to perish amid rocks and whirlpools, than to +linger here amid such horrors as these. These people were not like +human beings. The vilest and lowest savages that I had ever seen were +not so odious as these. A herd of monkeys would be far more congenial, +a flock of wolves less abhorrent. They had the caricature of the human +form; they were the lowest of humanity; their speech was a mockery of +language; their faces devilish, their kindness a cunning pretence; and +most hideous of all was the nightmare hag that prepared the cannibal +repast. + +I could not begin hostilities, for I had to wait for Agnew; so I stood +and looked, and then walked away for a little distance. They followed +me closely, with eager words and gesticulations, though as yet no one +touched me or threatened me. Their tone seemed rather one of +persuasion. After a few paces I stood still, with all of them around +me. The horrible repast showed plainly all that was in store for us. +They received us kindly and fed us well only to devote us to the most +abhorrent of deaths. Agnew, in his mad confidence, was only insuring +his own doom. He was putting himself completely in the power of +devils, who were incapable of pity and strangers to humanity. To make +friends with such fiends was impossible, and I felt sure that our only +plan was to rule by terror--to seize, to slay, to conquer. But still I +had to wait for him, and did not dare to resort to violence while he +was absent; so I waited, while the savages gathered round me, +contenting themselves with guarding me, and neither touching me nor +threatening me. And all this time the hag went on, intent on her +preparation of the horrible repast. + +While standing there looking, listening, waiting for Agnew, I noticed +many things. Far away the volcanoes blazed, and the northern sky was +red with a lurid light. There, too, higher up, the moon was shining +overhead, the sky was gleaming with stars; and all over the heavens +there shone the lustre of the aurora australis, brighter than any I +had ever seen--surpassing the moon and illuminating all. It lighted up +the haggard faces of the devils around me, and it again seemed to me +as though I had died and gone to the land of woe--an iron land, a land +of despair, with lurid fires all aglow and faces of fear. + +Suddenly, there burst upon my ears the report of a gun, which sounded +like a thunder-peal, and echoed in long reverberations. At once I +understood it. My fears had proved true. These savages had enticed +Agnew away to destroy him. In an instant I burst through the crowd +around me, and ran wildly in the direction of that sound, calling his +name, as I ran, at the top of my voice. + +I heard a loud cry; then another report. I hurried on, shouting his +name in a kind of frenzy. The strange courage of these savages had +already impressed me deeply. They did not fear our guns. They were all +attacking him, and he was alone, fighting for his life. + +Then there was another report; it was his pistol. I still ran on, and +still shouted to him. + +At last I received an answer. He had perhaps heard me, and was +answering, or, at any rate, he was warning me. + +"More," he cried, "fly, fly, fly to the boat! Save yourself!" + +"Where are you?" I cried, as I still rushed on. + +"Fly, More, fly! Save yourself! You can't save me. I'm lost. Fly for +your life!" + +Judging from his cries, he did not seem far away. I hurried on. I +could see nothing of him. All the time the savages followed me. None +were armed; but it seemed to me that they were preparing to fling +themselves upon me and overpower me with their numbers. They would +capture me alive, I thought, bind me, and carry me back, reserving me +for a future time! + +I turned and waved them back. They took no notice of my gesture. Then +I ran on once more. They followed. They could not run so fast as I +did, and so I gained on them rapidly, still shouting to Agnew. But +there was no response. I ran backward and forward, crossing and +recrossing, doubling and turning, pursued all the time by the savages. +At last, in rage and despair, I fired upon them, and one of them fell. +But, to my dismay, the others did not seem to care one whit; they did +not stop for one moment, but pursued as before. + +My situation was now plain in all its truth. They had enticed Agnew +away; they had attacked him. He had fought, and had been overpowered. +He had tried to give me warning. His last words had been for me to +fly--to fly: yes, for he well knew that it was better far for me to go +to death through the raging torrent than to meet the fate which had +fallen upon himself. For him there was now no more hope. That he was +lost was plain. If he were still alive he would call to me; but his +voice had been silenced for some time. All was over, and that noble +heart that had withstood so bravely and cheerily the rigors of the +storm, and the horrors of our desperate voyage, had been stilled in +death by the vilest of miscreants. + +I paused for a moment. Even though Agnew was dead, I could not bear to +leave him, but felt as though I ought to share his fate. The savages +came nearer. At their approach I hesitated no longer. That fate was +too terrible: I must fly. + +But before I fled I turned in fury to wreak vengeance upon them for +their crimes. Full of rage and despair, I discharged my remaining +rifle-barrel into the midst of the crowd. Then I fled toward the boat. +On the way I had a frightful thought that she might have been sent +adrift; but, on approaching the place, I found her there just as I had +left her. The savages, with their usual fearlessness, still pursued. +For a moment I stood on the shore, with the grapple in my hand and the +boat close by, and as they came near I discharged my pistol into the +midst of them. Then I sprang into the boat; the swift current bore me +away, and in a few minutes the crowd of pursuing demons disappeared +from view. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TORRENT SWEEPING UNDER THE MOUNTAINS + + +The boat drifted on. The light given by the aurora and the low moon +seemed to grow fainter; and as I looked behind I saw that the distant +glow from the volcanic fires had become more brilliant in the +increasing darkness. The sides of the channel grew steeper, until at +last they became rocky precipices, rising to an unknown height. The +channel itself grew narrower, till from a width of two miles it had +contracted to a tenth of those dimensions; but with this lessening +width the waters seemed to rush far more swiftly. Here I drifted +helplessly, and saw the gloomy, rocky cliffs sweep past me as I was +hurled onward on the breast of the tremendous flood. I was in despair. +The fate of Agnew had prepared me for my own, and I was only thankful +that my fate, since it was inevitable, would be less appalling. Death +seemed certain, and my chief thought now was as to the moment when it +would come. I was prepared. I felt that I could meet it calmly, +sternly, even thankfully; far better was a death here amid the roar of +waters than at the hands of those abhorrent beings by whose treachery +my friend had fallen. + +As I went on, the precipices rose higher and seemed to overhang, the +channel grew narrower, the light grew fainter, until at last all +around me grew dark. I was floating at the bottom of a vast chasm, +where the sides seemed to rise precipitously for thousands of feet, +where neither watery flood nor rocky wall was visible, and where, far +above, I could see the line of sky between the summits of the cliffs, +and watch the glowing stars. And as I watched them there came to me +the thought that this was my last sight on earth, and I could only +hope that the life which was so swiftly approaching its end might live +again somewhere among those glittering orbs. So I thought; and with +these thoughts I drifted on, I cannot tell how long, until at length +there appeared a vast black mass, where the open sky above me +terminated, and where the lustre of the stars and the light of the +heavens were all swallowed up in utter darkness. + +This, then, I thought, is the end. Here, amid this darkness, I must +make the awful plunge and find my death I fell upon my knees in the +bottom of the boat and prayed. As I knelt there the boat drew nearer, +the black mass grew blacker. The current swept me on. There were no +breakers; there was no phosphorescent sparkle of seething waters, and +no whiteness of foam. I thought that I was on the brink of some +tremendous cataract a thousand times deeper than Niagara; some fall +where the waters plunged into the depths of the earth; and where, +gathering for the terrific descent, all other movements--all dashings +and writhings and twistings--were obliterated and lost in the one +overwhelming onward rush. Suddenly all grew dark--dark beyond all +expression; the sky above was in a moment snatched from view; I had +been flung into some tremendous cavern; and there, on my knees, with +terror in my heart, I waited for death. + +The moments passed, and death delayed to come. The awful plunge was +still put off; and though I remained on my knees and waited long, +still the end came not. The waters seemed still, the boat motionless. +It was borne upon the surface of a vast stream as smooth as glass; but +who could tell how deep that stream was, or how wide? At length I rose +from my knees and sank down upon the seat of the boat, and tried to +peer through the gloom. In vain. Nothing was visible. It was the very +blackness of darkness. I listened, but heard nothing save a deep, +dull, droning sound, which seemed to fill all the air and make it +all tremulous with its vibrations. I tried to collect my thoughts. I +recalled that old theory which had been in my mind before this, and +which I had mentioned to Agnew. This was the notion that at each pole +there is a vast opening; that into one of them all the waters of the +ocean pour themselves, and, after passing through the earth, come out +at the other pole, to pass about its surface in innumerable streams. +It was a wild fancy, which I had laughed at under other circumstances, +but which now occurred to me once more, when I was overwhelmed +with despair, and my mind was weakened by the horrors which I had +experienced; and I had a vague fear that I had been drawn into the +very channel through which the ocean waters flowed in their course to +that terrific, that unparalleled abyss. Still, there was as yet no +sign whatever of anything like a descent, for the boat was on even +keel, and perfectly level as before, and it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was moving swiftly or slowly, or standing perfectly +still; for in that darkness there were no visible objects by which +I could find out the rate of my progress; and as those who go up in +balloons are utterly insensible of motion, so was I on those calm +but swift waters. + +At length there came into view something which arrested my attention +and engrossed all my thoughts. It was faint glow that at first caught +my gaze; and, on turning to see it better, I saw a round red spot +glowing like fire. I had not seen this before. It looked like the moon +when it rises from behind clouds, and glows red and lurid from the +horizon; and so this glowed, but not with the steady light of the +moon, for the light was fitful, and sometimes flashed into a baleful +brightness, which soon subsided into a dimmer lustre. New alarm arose +within me, for this new sight suggested something more terrible than +anything that I had thus far thought of. This, then, I thought, was to +be the end of my voyage; this was my goal--a pit of fire, into which I +should be hurled! Would it be well, I thought, to wait for such a +fate, and experience such a death-agony? Would it not be better for me +to take my own life before I should know the worst? I took my pistol +and loaded it, so as to be prepared, but hesitated to use it until my +fate should be more apparent. So I sat, holding my pistol, prepared to +use it, watching the light, and awaiting the time when the glowing +fires should make all further hope impossible. But time passed, and +the light grew no brighter; on the contrary, it seemed to grow +fainter. There was also another change. Instead of shining before me, +it appeared more on my left. From this it went on changing its +position until at length it was astern. All the time it continued to +grow fainter, and it seemed certain that I was moving away from it +rather than toward it. In the midst of this there occurred a new +thought, which seemed to account for this light--this was, that it +arose from these same volcanoes which had illuminated the northern sky +when I was ashore, and followed me still with their glare. I had been +carried into this darkness, through some vast opening which now lay +behind me, disclosing the red volcano glow, and this it was that +caused that roundness and resemblance to the moon. I saw that I was +still moving on away from that light as before, and that its changing +position was due to the turning of the boat as the water drifted it +along, now stern foremost, now sidewise, and again bow foremost. From +this it seemed plainly evident that the waters had borne me into some +vast cavern of unknown extent, which went under the mountains--a +subterranean channel, whose issue I could not conjecture. Was this the +beginning of that course which should ultimately become a plunge deep +down into some unutterable abyss? or might I ever hope to emerge again +into the light of day--perhaps in some other ocean--some land of ice +and frost and eternal night? But the old theory of the flow of water +through the earth had taken hold of me and could not be shaken off. I +knew some scientific men held the opinion that the earth's interior is +a mass of molten rock and pent-up fire, and that the earth itself had +once been a burning orb, which had cooled down at the surface; yet, +after all, this was only a theory, and there were other theories which +were totally different. As a boy I had read wild works of fiction +about lands in the interior of the earth, with a sun at the centre, +which gave them the light of a perpetual day. These, I knew, were only +the creations of fiction; yet, after all, it seemed possible that the +earth might contain vast hollow spaces in its interior--realms of +eternal darkness, caverns in comparison with which the hugest caves on +the surface were but the tiniest cells. I was now being borne on to +these. In that case there might be no sudden plunge, after all. The +stream might run on for many thousand miles through this terrific +cavern gloom, in accordance with natural laws; and I might thus live, +and drift on in this darkness, until I should die a lingering death of +horror and despair. + +There was no possible way of forming any estimate as to speed. All was +dark, and even the glow behind was fading away; nor could I make any +conjecture whatever as to the size of the channel. At the opening it +had been contracted and narrow; but here it might have expanded itself +to miles, and its vaulted top might reach almost to the summit of +the lofty mountains. While sight thus failed me, sound was equally +unavailing, for it was always the same--a sustained and unintermittent +roar, a low, droning sound, deep and terrible, with no variations +of dashing breakers or rushing rapids or falling cataracts. Vague +thoughts of final escape came and went; but in such a situation hope +could not be sustained. The thick darkness oppressed the soul; and +at length even the glow of the distant volcanoes, which had been +gradually diminishing, grew dimmer and fainter, and finally faded out +altogether. That seemed to me to be my last sight of earthly things. +After this nothing was left. There was no longer for me such a thing +as sight; there was nothing but darkness--perpetual and eternal night. +I was buried in a cavern of rushing waters, to which there would be no +end, where I should be borne onward helplessly by the resistless tide +to a mysterious and an appalling doom. + +The darkness grew so intolerable that I longed for something to dispel +it, if only for a moment. I struck a match. The air was still, and the +flame flashed out, lighting up the boat and showing the black water +around me. This made me eager to see more. I loaded both barrels of +the rifle, keeping my pistol for another purpose, and then fired one +of them. There was a tremendous report, that rang in my ears like a +hundred thunder-volleys, and rolled and reverberated far along, and +died away in endless echoes. The flash lighted up the scene for an +instant, and for an instant only; like the sudden lightning, it +revealed all around. I saw a wide expanse of water, black as ink--a +Stygian pool; but no rocks were visible, and it seemed as though I +had been carried into a subterranean sea. + +I loaded the empty barrel and waited. The flash of light had revealed +nothing, yet it had distracted my thoughts, and the work of reloading +was an additional distraction. Anything was better than inaction. I +did not wish to waste my ammunition, yet I thought that an occasional +shot might serve some good purpose, if it was only to afford me some +relief from despair. + +And now, as I sat with the rifle in my hands, I was aware of a +sound--new, exciting, different altogether from the murmur of +innumerable waters that filled my ears, and in sharp contrast with +the droning echoes of the rushing flood. It was a sound that spoke of +life. I heard quick, heavy pantings, as of some great living thing; +and with this there came the noise of regular movements in the water, +and the foaming and gurgling of waves. It was as though some living, +breathing creature were here, not far away, moving through these +midnight waters; and with this discovery there came a new fear--the +fear of pursuit. I thought that some sea-monster had scented me in +my boat, and had started to attack me. This new fear aroused me to +action. It was a danger quite unlike any other which I had ever known; +yet the fear which it inspired was a feeling that roused me to action, +and prompted me, even though the coming danger might be as sure as +death, to rise against it and resist to the last. So I stood up with +my rifle and listened, with all my soul in my sense of hearing. The +sounds arose more plainly. They had come nearer. They were immediately +in front. I raised my rifle and took aim. Then in quick succession two +reports thundered out with tremendous uproar and interminable echoes, +but the long reverberations were unheeded in the blaze of sudden light +and the vision that was revealed. For there full before me I saw, +though but for an instant, a tremendous sight. It was a vast monster, +moving in the waters against the stream and toward the boat. Its head +was raised high, its eyes were inflamed with a baleful light, its +jaws, opened wide, bristled with sharp teeth, and it had a long neck +joined to a body of enormous bulk, with a tail that lashed all the +water into foam. It was but for an instant that I saw it, and then +with a sudden plunge the monster dived, while at the same moment all +was as dark as before. + +Full of terror and excitement, I loaded my rifle again and waited, +listening for a renewal of the noise. I felt sure that the monster, +balked of his prey, would return with redoubled fury, and that I +should have to renew the conflict. I felt that the dangers of the +subterranean passage and of the rushing waters had passed away, and +that a new peril had arisen from the assault of this monster of the +deep. Nor was it this one alone that was to be dreaded. Where one was, +others were sure to be; and if this one should pass me by it would +only leave me to be assailed by monsters of the same kind, and these +would probably increase in number as I advanced farther into this +realm of darkness. And yet, in spite of these grisly thoughts, I +felt less of horror than before, for the fear which I had was now +associated with action; and as I stood waiting for the onset and +listening for the approach of the enemy, the excitement that ensued +was a positive relief from the dull despair into which I had sunk but +a moment before. + +Yet, though I waited for a new attack, I waited in vain. The monster +did not come back. Either the flash and the noise had terrified him, +or the bullets had hit him, or else in his vastness he had been +indifferent to so feeble a creature as myself; but whatever may have +been the cause, he did not emerge again out of the darkness and +silence into which he had sunk. For a long time I stood waiting; then +I sat down, still watchful, still listening, but without any result, +until at length I began to think that there was no chance of any new +attack. Indeed, it seemed now as though there had been no attack at +all, but that the monster had been swimming at random without any +thought of me, in which case my rifle-flashes had terrified him more +than his fearful form had terrified me. On the whole this incident +had greatly benefited me. It had roused me from my despair. I grew +reckless, and felt a disposition to acquiesce in whatever fate might +have in store for me. + +And now, worn out with fatigue and exhausted from long watchfulness +and anxiety, I sank down in the bottom of the boat and fell into a +deep sleep. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE NEW WORLD + + +How long I slept I do not know. My sleep was profound, yet disturbed +by troubled dreams, in which I lived over again all the eventful +scenes of the past; and these were all intermingled in the wildest +confusion. The cannibals beckoned to us from the peak, and we landed +between the two volcanoes. There the body of the dead sailor received +us, and afterward chased us to the boat. Then came snow and volcanic +eruptions, and we drifted amid icebergs and molten lava until we +entered an iron portal and plunged into darkness. Here there were vast +swimming monsters and burning orbs of fire and thunderous cataracts +falling from inconceivable heights, and the sweep of immeasurable +tides and the circling of infinite whirlpools; while in my ears there +rang the never-ending roar of remorseless waters that came after us, +with all their waves and billows rolling upon us. It was a dream in +which all the material terrors of the past were renewed; but these +were all as nothing when compared with a certain deep underlying +feeling that possessed my soul--a sense of loss irretrievable, an +expectation of impending doom, a drear and immitigable despair. + +In the midst of this I awoke. It was with a sudden start, and I looked +all around in speechless bewilderment. The first thing of which I +was conscious was a great blaze of light--light so lately lost, and +supposed to be lost forever, but now filling all the universe--bright, +brilliant, glowing bringing hope and joy and gladness, with all the +splendor of deep blue skies and the multitudinous laughter of ocean +waves that danced and sparkled in the sun. I flung up my arms and +laughed aloud. Then I burst into tears, and falling on my knees, +I thanked the Almighty Ruler of the skies for this marvellous +deliverance. + +Rising from my knees I looked around, and once more amazement +overwhelmed me. I saw a long line of mountains towering up to +immeasurable heights, their summits covered with eternal ice and +snow. There the sun blazed low in the sky, elevated but a few degrees +above the mountain crests, which gleamed in gold and purple under its +fiery rays. The sun seemed enlarged to unusual dimensions, and the +mountains ran away on every side like the segment of some infinite +circle. At the base of the mountains lay a land all green with +vegetation, where cultivated fields were visible, and vineyards and +orchards and groves, together with forests of palm and all manner +of trees of every variety of hue, which ran up the sides of the +mountains till they reached the limits of vegetation and the regions +of snow and ice. + +Here in all directions there were unmistakable signs of human +life--the outlines of populous cities and busy towns and hamlets; +roads winding far away along the plain or up the mountain-sides, and +mighty works of industry in the shape of massive structures, terraced +slopes, long rows of arches, ponderous pyramids, and battlemented +walls. + +From the land I turned to the sea. I saw before me an expanse of water +intensely blue--an extent so vast that never before in all my ocean +voyages had anything appeared at all comparable with it. Out at sea, +wherever I had been, the water had always limited the view; the +horizon had never seemed far away; ships soon sank below it, and the +visible surface of the earth was thus always contracted; but here, to +my bewilderment, the horizon appeared to be removed to an immeasurable +distance and raised high in the air, while the waters were prolonged +endlessly. Starting from where I was, they went away to inconceivable +distances, and the view before me seemed like a watery declivity +reaching for a thousand miles, till it approached the horizon far up +in the sky. Nor was it any delusion of the senses that caused this +unparalleled spectacle. I was familiar with the phenomena of the +mirage, and knew well that there was nothing of that kind here; for +the mirage always shows great surfaces of stillness, or a regular +vibration--glassy tides and indistinct distances; but here everything +was sharply defined in the clear atmosphere: the sky overhung a deep +blue vault; the waves danced and sparkled in the sun; the waters +rolled and foamed on every side; and the fresh breeze, as it blew over +the ocean, brought with it such exhilarating influences that it acted +upon me like some reviving cordial. + +From the works of nature I turned to those of man. These were visible +everywhere: on the land, in cities and cultivated fields and mighty +constructions; on the sea, in floating craft, which appeared wherever +I turned my eyes--boats like those of fishermen, ships long and low, +some like galleys, propelled by a hundred oars, others provided with +one huge square-sail, which enabled them to run before the wind. +They were unlike any ships which I had ever seen; for neither in the +Mediterranean nor in Chinese waters were there any craft like these, +and they reminded me rather of those ancient galleys which I had seen +in pictures. + +I was lost in wonder as to where I was, and what land this could be to +which I had been brought. I had not plunged into the interior of the +earth, but I had been carried under the mountains, and had emerged +again into the glad light of the sun. Could it be possible, I thought, +that Agnew's hope had been realized, and that I had been carried into +the warm regions of the South Pacific Ocean? Yet in the South Pacific +there could be no place like this--no immeasurable expanse of waters, +no horizon raised mountain high. It seemed like a vast basin-shaped +world, for all around me the surface appeared to rise, and I was in +what looked like a depression; yet I knew that the basin and the +depression were an illusion, and that this appearance was due to +the immense extent of level surface with the environment of lofty +mountains. I had crossed the antarctic circle; I had been borne onward +for an immense distance. Over all the known surface of the earth no +one had ever seen anything like this; there were but two places +where such an immeasurable plain was possible, and those were at +the flattened poles. Where I was I now knew well. I had reached the +antarctic pole. Here the earth was flat--an immense level with no +roundness to lessen the reach of the horizon but an almost even +surface that gave an unimpeded view for hundreds of miles. + +The subterranean channel had rushed through the mountains and had +carried me here. Here came all the waters of the Northern ocean +pouring into this vast polar sea, perhaps to issue forth from it by +some similar passage. Here, then, was the South Pole--a world by +itself: and how different from that terrible, that iron land on the +other side of the mountains!--not a world of ice and frost, but one +of beauty and light, with a climate that was almost tropical in its +warmth, and lands that were covered with the rank luxuriance of a +teeming vegetable life. I had passed from that outer world to this +inner one, and the passage was from death unto life, from agony and +despair to sunlight and splendor and joy. Above all, in all around me +that which most impressed me now was the rich and superabundant life, +and a warmth of air which made me think of India. It was an amazing +and an unaccountable thing, and I could only attribute it to the +flattening of the poles, which brought the surface nearer to the +supposed central fires of the earth, and therefore created a heat +as great as that of the equatorial regions. Here I found a tropical +climate--a land warmed not by the sun, but from the earth itself. Or +another cause might be found in the warm ocean currents. Whatever the +true one might be, I was utterly unable to form a conjecture. + +But I had no time for such speculations as these. After the first +emotions of wonder and admiration had somewhat subsided, I began to +experience other sensations. I began to remember that I had eaten +nothing for a length of time that I had no means of calculating, and +to look around to see if there was any way of satisfying my hunger. +The question arose now, What was to be done? After my recent terrible +experience I naturally shrank from again committing myself to the +tender mercies of strange tribes; yet further thought and examination +showed me that the people of this strange land must be very different +from those frightful savages on the other side of the mountains. +Everywhere I beheld the manifest signs of cultivation and +civilization. Still, I knew that even civilized people would not +necessarily be any kinder than savages, and that I might be seized +and flung into hopeless imprisonment or slavery. + +So I hesitated, yet what could I do? My hunger was beginning to be +insupportable. I had reached a place where I had to choose between +starvation on the one hand, or a venture among these people on the +other. To go back was impossible. Who could breast those waters in the +tremendous subterranean channel, or force his way back through such +appalling dangers? Or, if that were possible, who could ever hope to +breast those mighty currents beyond, or work his way amid everlasting +ice and immeasurable seas? No; return was impossible. I had been +flung into this world of wonders, and here would be my home for the +remainder of my days; though I could not now imagine whether those +days would be passed in peace or in bitter slavery and sorrow. Yet the +decision must be made and the risk must be run. It must be so. I must +land here, venture among these people, and trust in that Providence +which had hitherto sustained me. + +Having thus resolved at all hazards to try my fate, I rowed in toward +the shore. Thus far I had seen galleys passing and small boats, but +they had taken no notice of me, for the reason that they were too far +away to perceive anything about me that differed from any other boat; +but now, as I rowed, I noticed a galley coming down toward me. She +seemed to be going in toward the shore at the very point at which I +was aiming, and her course and mine must soon meet if I continued to +row. After some hesitation I concluded to make signals to her, so as +to attract attention; for, now that I had resolved to venture among +the people here, I was anxious to end my suspense as soon as possible. +So I continued rowing, and gradually drew nearer. The galley was +propelled by oars, of which there were fifty on either side. The stem +was raised, and covered in like a cabin. At length I ceased rowing, +and sat watching her. I soon saw that I was noticed, but this did +not occur till the galley was close by me--so close, indeed, that I +thought they would pass without perceiving me. I raised my hands, +waved them, and gave a cry. The galley at once stopped, a boat was +lowered, and some men descended and rowed toward me. + +They were men of strange appearance--very small in stature and slender +in frame. Their hair was black and straight, their features were quite +regular, and their general expression was one of great gentleness. I +was surprised to notice that they kept their eyes almost closed, as +though they were weak and troubled by the glare of the sun. With their +half-closed eyes they blinked at me, and then one who appeared to be +their chief spoke to me. I understood not a word; and then I answered +him in English, which, of course, was equally unintelligible to him. +I then made signs, pointing to the mountains and endeavoring to make +known to him that I had come from beyond them--that I had suffered +shipwreck, that I had drifted here, and that I needed assistance. Of +all this it was quite evident that they understood nothing except the +fact that I needed help. The moment that they comprehended this they +took me in tow and rowed back to the galley. + +I found the galley to be about one hundred and fifty feet in length. +For about two thirds of this length forward it was open and filled +with seats, where there were about a hundred rowers, who all looked +like those that I had first seen, all being of small stature, +slender frames, and, moreover, all being apparently distressed by +the sunlight. There was in all of them the same mild and gentle +expression. In complexion and general outline of features they were +not unlike Arabs, but they were entirely destitute of that hardness +and austerity which the latter have. They all had beards, which were +dressed in a peculiar way in plaits. Their costume varied. The rowers +wore a coarse tunic, with a girdle of rope. The officers wore tunics +of fine cloth and very elegant mantles, richly embroidered, and with +borders of down. They all wore broad-brimmed hats, and the one who +seemed to be chief had on his some golden ornaments. + +Here once more I tried to explain to them who I was. They looked at +me, examining me all over, inspecting my gun, pistol, coat, trousers, +boots, and hat, and talking all the time among themselves. They did +not touch me, but merely showed the natural curiosity which is felt at +the sight of a foreigner who has appeared unexpectedly. There was a +scrupulous delicacy and a careful and even ceremonious politeness in +their attitude toward me which was at once amazing and delightful. All +fear and anxiety had now left me; in the gentle manners and amiable +faces of these people I saw enough to assure me of kind treatment; +and in my deep joy and gratitude for this even my hunger was for a +time forgotten. + +At length the chief motioned to me to follow him. He led the way to +the cabin, where, opening the door, he entered, and I followed, after +which the others came in also and then the door was shut. At first I +could see nothing. There were no windows whatever, and only one or two +slight crevices through which the light came. After a time my eyes +grew more accustomed to the darkness, and I could see that the cabin +was a spacious compartment, adorned with rich hangings of some unknown +material. There was a large table and seats. Taking me by the hand, +the chief led me to this, where I seated myself, while the others +remained standing. Then some of them went away, and soon returned with +food and drink. The food was of different kinds--some tasting like +goose, others like turkey, others like partridge. It was all the flesh +of fowls, though, judging from the slices before me, they must have +been of great size. I wondered much at the behavior of the officers +of the ship, who all, and the chief himself more than all, stood and +waited upon me; but it was a new world, and I supposed that this must +be the fashion; so I made no objections, but accepted the situation +and ate with a thankful heart. + +As the first keenness of my appetite was satisfied I had more leisure +to make observations. I noticed that the eyes of my new friends no +longer blinked; they were wide open; and, so far as I could make +them out, their faces were much improved. Weakness of eyes seemed +common among these people, and therefore the officers had their cabin +darkened, while the unfortunate rowers had to labor in the blazing +sun. Such was my conclusion, and the fact reminded me of the miserable +fellahin of Egypt, who have ophthalmia from the blazing sun and +burning sand. + +After the repast they brought me water in a basin, and all stood +around me. One held the basin, another a towel, another a flask, +another took a sponge and proceeded to wash my face and hands. +This was all strange to me, yet there was nothing left for me but +submission. Then the chief, who had stood looking on with a smile on +his face took off his rich furred mantle and handed it to me. I was +half inclined to refuse it, but was afraid of giving offence, so I +accepted it, and he himself fastened it around my shoulders. The +others seemed actually to envy the chief, as though he had gained some +uncommon good-fortune. Then they offered me various drinks, of which +I tasted several kinds. Some were sweet waters of different flavors, +others tasted like mild wine, one was a fermented drink, light, sweet, +and very agreeable to the palate. I now wished to show my generous +entertainers that I was grateful; so I raised my cup, bowed to all +of them, particularly the chief, and drank their health. They all +watched this ceremony with very sober faces, and I could not quite +make out whether they took my meaning or not. They certainly did not +look pleased, and it seemed to me as though they felt hurt at any +expression of gratitude, so I concluded for the future to abstain +from all such demonstrations. + +Yet with every moment the manners of these people grew more +bewildering. It was strange, indeed, for me to find myself so suddenly +the centre of interest and of generous intentions. For a moment the +thought occurred to me that they regarded me as some wonderful being +with superior powers, and were trying to propitiate me by these +services; yet I soon saw that these services were not at all acts +of propitiation; they looked rather like those loving and profuse +attentions which a family showers down upon some dear one long absent +and at last returned, and with this my wonder grew greater than ever. + +The galley had long since resumed her progress. I heard the steady +beat of the oars as they all moved in time, and at length the motion +ceased. The chief then signed to me and went out. I followed, and the +rest came after. And now as I emerged from the gloom of the cabin, I +found myself once more in the glorious light of day, and saw that we +had reached the land. The galley was hauled up alongside a stone quay, +and on the shore there were buildings and walls and trees and people. +The chief went ashore at once and I accompanied him. We walked for +some distance along a road with stone walls on either side, from +behind which there arose trees that from a distance had looked like +palms. I now found them to be giant ferns, arching overhead with their +broad fanlike leaves and branches in dense masses, making the roadway +quite dark in the shadow. Astonished as I was at the sight of these +trees, I soon forgot them in a still more astonishing sight, for after +going onward about a hundred paces I stopped, and found myself in a +wide space where four cross-roads met. Here there were three birds of +gigantic stature. They had vast bodies, short legs, short necks, and +seemed as large as an ordinary-sized ox. Their wings were short, and +evidently could not be used for flight; their beaks were like that of +a sea-gull; each one had a man on his back, and was harnessed to a +car. The chief motioned to me to enter one of these cars. I did so. He +followed, and thereupon the driver started the bird, which set forth +with long, rapid strides, at a pace fast as that of a trotting horse. +So astonished was I that for some time I did not notice anything else; +but at length, when my first feeling had subsided, I began to regard +other objects. All the way the dense fern foliage arched overhead, +throwing down deep shadows. They grew on either side in dense rows, +but between their stalks I could see the country beyond, which lay +all bright in the sunlight. + +Here were broad fields, all green with verdure; farther away arose +clumps of tree-ferns; at every step of the way new vistas opened; amid +the verdure and the foliage were the roofs of structures that looked +like pavilions, and more massive edifices with pyramidal roofs. Our +road constantly ascended, and at length we came to a crossing. This +was a wide terrace at the slope of the mountain; on the lower side was +a row of massive stone edifices with pyramidal roofs, while on the +upper there were portals which seemed to open into excavated caverns. +Here, too, on either side arose the giant ferns, overarching and +darkening the terrace with their deep shadow. From this point I looked +back, and through the trunks of the tree-ferns I could see fields +and pavilions and the pyramidal roofs of massive edifices, and +broad, verdant slopes, while in the distance there were peeps of the +boundless sea. We continued on our way without stopping, and passed +several successive terraces like the first, with the same caverns on +the upper side and massive edifices on the lower, until at last the +ascent ended at the fifth terrace, and here we turned to the left. +Now the view became more varied. The tree-ferns arose on either side, +arching overhead; on my right were the portals that opened into +caverns, on my left solid and massive houses, built of great blocks of +stone, with pyramidal roofs. As far as I could judge, I was in a city +built on the slope of a mountain, with its streets formed thus of +successive terraces and their connecting cross-ways, one half its +habitations consisting of caverns, while the other half were pavilions +and massive stone structures. Few people, however, were to be seen. +Occasionally I saw one or two groping along with their eyes half +shut, seeking the darkest shadows; and it seemed to me that this +extraordinary race of men had some natural and universal peculiarity +of eyesight which made them shun the sunlight, and seek the darkness +of caves and of dense, overshadowing foliage. + +At length we came to a place where the terrace ran back till it formed +a semicircle against the mountain slope, when several vast portals +appeared. Here there was a large space, where the tree-ferns grew in +long lines crossing each other, and making a denser shade than usual. +On the lower side were several stone edifices of immense size; and +in the middle of the place there arose a singular structure, shaped +like a half pyramid, with three sides sloping, and the fourth +perpendicular, flat on the top, which was approached by a flight of +steps. We now went on until we reached the central portal of the range +of caverns, and here we stopped. The chief got out and beckoned to me. +I followed. He then led the way into the cavern, while I, full of +wonder, walked behind him. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCEPTICISM + + +Thus far Melick had been reading the manuscript, but at this point he +was interrupted by the announcement that dinner was ready. Upon this +he stopped abruptly; for on board the Falcon dinner was the great +event of the day, and in its presence even the manuscript had to be +laid aside. Before long they were all seated around the dining-table +in the sumptuous cabin, prepared to discuss the repast which had been +served up by the genius of the French chef whom Lord Featherstone +had brought with him. + +Let us pause here for a moment to take a minuter survey of these four +friends. In the first place, there was Lord Featherstone himself, +young, handsome, languid, good-natured to a fault, with plenty of +muscle if he chose to exert it, and plenty of brain if he chose to +make use of it--a man who had become weary of the monotony of high +life, and, like many of his order, was fond of seeking relief from the +ennui of prosperity amid the excitements of the sea. Next to him was +Dr. Congreve, a middle-aged man, with iron-gray hair, short beard and +mustache, short nose, gray eyes, with spectacles, and stoutish body. +Next came Noel Oxenden, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, a college +friend of Featherstone's--a tall man, with a refined and intellectual +face and reserved manner. Finally, there was Otto Melick, a +litterateur from London, about thirty years of age, with a wiry and +muscular frame, and the restless manner of one who lives in a +perpetual fidget. + +For some time nothing was said; they partook of the repast in silence; +but at length it became evident that they were thinking of the +mysterious manuscript. Featherstone was the first to speak. + +"A deuced queer sort of thing this, too," said he, "this manuscript. +I can't quite make it out. Who ever dreamed of people living at the +South Pole--and in a warm climate, too? Then it seems deuced odd, too, +that we should pick up this copper cylinder with the manuscript. I +hardly know what to think about it." + +Melick smiled. "Why, it isn't much to see through," said he. + +"See through what?" said the doctor, hastily, pricking up his ears +at this, and peering keenly at Melick through his spectacles. + +"Why, the manuscript, of course." + +"Well," said the doctor, "what is it that you see? What do you make +out of it?" + +"Why, anyone can see," said Melick, "that it's a transparent hoax, +that's all. You don't mean to say, I hope, that you really regard it +in any other light?" + +"A transparent hoax!" repeated the doctor. "Will you please state why +you regard it in that light?" + +"Certainly," said Melick. "Some fellow wanted to get up a sensation +novel and introduce it to the world with a great flourish of trumpets, +and so he has taken this way of going about it. You see, he has +counted on its being picked up, and perhaps published. After this he +would come forward and own the authorship." + +"And what good would that do?" asked the doctor, mildly. "He couldn't +prove the authorship, and he couldn't get the copyright." + +"Oh, of course not; but he would gain notoriety, and that would give +him a great sale for his next effort." + +The doctor smiled. "See here, Melick," said he, "you've a very vivid +imagination, my dear fellow; but come, let us discuss this for a +little while in a common-sense way. Now how long should you suppose +that this manuscript has been afloat?" + +"Oh, a few months or so," said Melick. + +"A few months!" said the doctor. "A few years you mean. Why, man, +there are successive layers of barnacles on that copper cylinder which +show a submersion of at least three years, perhaps more." + +"By Jove! yes," remarked Featherstone. "Your sensation novelist must +have been a lunatic if he chose that way of publishing a book." + +"Then, again," continued the doctor, "how did it get here?" + +"Oh, easily enough," answered Melick. "The ocean currents brought it." + +"The ocean currents!" repeated the doctor. "That's a very vague +expression. What do you mean? Of course it has been brought here by +the ocean currents." + +"Why, if it were thrown off the coast of England it would be carried +away, in the ordinary course of things, and might make the tour of the +world." + +"The ocean currents," said the doctor, "have undoubtedly brought this +to us. Of that I shall have more to say presently--but just now, in +reference to your notion of a sensation novelist, and an English +origin, let me ask your opinion of the material on which it is +written. Did you ever see anything like it before? Is it paper?" + +"No," said Melick; "it is evidently some vegetable substance. No doubt +the writer has had it prepared for this very purpose, so as to make it +look natural." + +"Do you know what is is?" asked the doctor. + +"No." + +"Then I'll tell you; it's papyrus." + +"Papyrus?" + +"Yes, actual papyrus. You can find but little of that in existence at +the present day. It is only to be found here and there in museums. +I know it perfectly well, however, and saw what it was at the first +glance. Now, I hold that a sensation novelist would never have thought +of papyrus. If he didn't wish to use paper, he could have found a +dozen other things. I don't see how he could have found anyone able to +prepare such a substance as this for writing. It must have come from a +country where it is actually in use. Now, mark you, the papyrus-plant +may still be found growing wild on the banks of the upper Nile, and +also in Sicily, and it is made use of for ropes and other things of +that sort. But as to making writing material out of it, that is hardly +possible for the art is lost. The ancient process was very elaborate +and this manuscript is written on leaves which resembled in a +marvellous manner those of the Egyptian papyrus books. There are two +rolls at Marseilles which I have seen and examined, and they are +identical with this. Now these papyrus leaves indicate much mechanical +skill, and have a professional look. They seem like the work of an +experienced manufacturer." + +"I don't see," said Melick, obstinately, "why one shouldn't get +papyrus now and have it made up into writing material." + +"Oh, that's out of the question," said the doctor. "How could it +ever enter into anyone's head? How could your mere sensation-monger +procure the raw material? That of itself would be a work of immense +difficulty. How could he get it made up? That would be impossible. +But, apart from this, just consider the strong internal evidence that +there is as to the authenticity of the manuscript. Now, in the first +place, there is the description of Desolation Island, which is +perfectly accurate. But it is on his narrative beyond this that I lay +chief stress. I can prove that the statements here are corroborated +by those of Captain Ross in his account of that great voyage from +which he returned not very long ago." + +The doctor, who had been talking with much enthusiasm, paused here to +take breath, and then went on: + +"I happen to know all about that voyage, for I read a full report of +it just before we started, and you can see for yourselves whether this +manuscript is credible or not. + +"Captain James Clarke Ross was sent forth on his expedition in 1839. +On January 1, 1841, he passed the antarctic circle in 178 degrees east +longitude. On the 11th he discovered land in 70 degrees 41' south +latitude, 172 degrees 36' east longitude. He found that the land was +a continuous coast, trending southward, and rising to peaks of ten +thousand feet in height, all covered with ice and snow. On the 12th +he landed and took possession in the name of the Queen. After this he +continued his course as far as 78 degrees 4' south latitude, tracing a +coast-line of six hundred miles. Observe, now how all this coincides +with More's narrative. Well, I now come to the crowning statement. In +77 degrees 32' south latitude, 167 degrees east longitude, he came in +sight of two enormous volcanoes over twelve thousand feet in height. +One of these was in an active state of eruption. To this he gave the +name of Mount Erebus. The other was quiet; it was of somewhat less +height, and he gave it the name of Mount Terror. Mark, now, how +wonderfully this resembles More's account. Well, just here his +progress was arrested by a barrier which presented a perpendicular +wall of over a hundred and fifty feet in height, along which he +coasted for some distance. On the following year he penetrated six +miles farther south, namely, 78 degrees 11' south latitude, 161 +degrees 27' west longitude. At this point he was again stopped by the +impassable cliffs, which arose here like an eternal barrier, while +beyond them he saw a long line of lofty mountains covered with ice +and snow." + +"Did you hear the result of the American expedition?" asked Melick. + +"Yes," replied the doctor. "Wilkes pretends to have found a continent, +but his account of it makes it quite evident to my mind that he saw +nothing but ice. I believe that Wilkes's antarctic continent will some +day be penetrated by ships, which will sail for hundreds of miles +farther south. All that is wanted is a favorable season. But mark the +coincidence between Ross's report and More's manuscript. This must +have been written at least three years ago, and the writer could not +have known anything about Ross's discoveries. Above all, he could not +have thought of those two volcanoes unless he had seen them." + +"But these volcanoes mentioned by More are not the Erebus and Terror, +are they?" said Lord Featherstone. + +"Of course not; they are on the other side of the world." + +"The whole story," said Melick, "may have been written by one of +Ross's men and thrown overboard. If I'd been on that expedition I +should probably have written it to beguile the time." + +"Oh yes," said the doctor; "and you would also have manufactured the +papyrus and the copper cylinder on board to beguile the time." + +"I dare say the writer picked up that papyrus and the copper cylinder +in China or Japan, and made use of it in this way." + +"Where do you make out the position of More's volcanoes?" asked +Featherstone. + +"It is difficult to make it out accurately," said the doctor. "More +gives no data. In fact he had none to give. He couldn't take any +observations." + +"The fact is," said Melick, "it's not a sailor's yarn at all. No +sailor would ever express himself in that way. That's what struck me +from the first. It has the ring of a confounded sensation-monger all +through." + +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, but took no notice of this. + +"You see," he continued, addressing himself to the others, "Desolation +Island is in 50 degrees south latitude and 70 degrees east longitude. +As I make out, More's course led him over about ten degrees of +longitude in a southwest course. That course depended altogether upon +the ocean currents. Now there is a great antarctic drift-current, +which flows round the Cape of Good Hope and divides there, one half +flowing past the east coast of Africa and the other setting across +the Indian Ocean. Then it unites with a current which flows round the +south of Van Dieman's Land, which also divides, and the southernmost +current is supposed to cross the Pacific until it strikes Cape Horn, +around which it flows, dividing as before. Now my theory is, that +south of Desolation Island--I don't know how far--there is a great +current setting toward the South Pole, and running southwest through +degrees of longitude 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, east of Greenwich; and +finally sweeping on, it would reach More's volcanoes at a point which +I should judge to be about 80 degrees south latitude and 10 degrees +west longitude. There it passes between the volcanoes and bursts +through the vast mountain barrier by a subterranean way, which has +been formed for it in past ages by some primeval convulsion of nature. +After this it probably sweeps around the great South Polar ocean, and +emerges at the opposite side, not far from the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror." + +Here the doctor paused, and looked around with some self-complacency. + +"Oh," said Melick, "if you take that tone, you have us all at your +mercy. I know no more about the geography of the antarctic circle than +I do of the moon. I simply criticize from a literary point of view, +and I don't like his underground cavern with the stream running +through it. It sounds like one of the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. +Nor do I like his description; he evidently is writing for effect. +Besides, his style is vicious; it is too stilted. Finally, he has +recourse to the stale device of a sea-serpent." + +"A sea-serpent!" repeated the doctor. "Well, for my part I feel by +no means inclined to sneer at a sea-serpent. Its existence cannot +be proved, yet it cannot be pooh-poohed. Every schoolboy knows that +the waters of the sea were once filled with monsters more tremendous +than the greatest sea-serpent that has ever been imagined. The +plesiosaurus, with its snakelike head, if it existed now, would be +called a sea-serpent. Some of these so-called fossil animals may have +their representatives still living in the remoter parts of the world. +Think of the recently discovered ornithorhynchus of Australia!" + +"If you please, I'd really much rather not," said Melick with a +gesture of despair. "I haven't the honor of the gentleman's +acquaintance." + +"Well, what do you think of his notice of the sun, and the long light, +and his low position on the horizon?" + +"Oh, that's all right," said Melick. "Anyone who chose to get up this +thing would of course read up about the polar day, and all that. +Everyone knows that at the poles there is a six-months' day, followed +by a six-months' night." + +"You are a determined sceptic," said the doctor. + +"How is it about the polar day?" asked Featherstone. + +"Well," said the doctor, "at the poles themselves there is one day +of six months, during which the sun never sets, and one night of six +months, during which he never rises. In the spaces between the polar +circles the quantities of the continuous day and continuous night vary +in accordance with the distance from the pole. At the north point of +Nova Zembla, 75 degrees north latitude, there is uninterrupted light +from May 1st to August 12th, and uninterrupted darkness from November +8th to February 9th. At the arctic circle at the summer solstice the +day is twenty-four hours long. At the antarctic circle at the same +time the night is twenty-four hours long." + +Upon this Melick filled the doctor's wine-glass with a great deal of +ceremony. + +"After all those statistics," he said, "you must feel rather dry. You +should take a drink before venturing any further." + +The doctor made no reply, but raised the glass to his lips and +swallowed the wine in an abstracted way. + +"The thing that struck me most," said Oxenden, "in all that has been +read thus far, is the flatness of the South Pole, and the peculiar +effect which this produces on the landscape." + +"I must say," added Melick, "that the writer has got hold of a very +good idea there, and has taken care to put it forward in a very +prominent fashion." + +"What is the difference," asked Oxenden, "between the two diameters of +the earth, the polar and the equatorial? Is it known?" + +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "that's the very question I was going to +ask. I've always heard that the earth is flattened at the poles, but +never knew how much. Is there any way by which people can find out?" + +The doctor drew a long breath, and beamed upon the company with a +benevolent smile. + +"Oh yes," said he; "I can answer that question, if you care to know +and won't feel bored." + +"Answer it, then, my dear fellow, by all means," said Featherstone, +in his most languid tone. + +"There are two ways," said the doctor, "by which the polar compression +of the earth has been found out. One is by the measurement of arcs +on the earth's surface; the other is by experiments with pendulums +or weights with regard to the earth's gravity at different places. +The former of these methods is, perhaps, the more satisfactory. +Measurements of arcs have been made on a very extensive scale in +different parts of the world--in England, France, Lapland, Peru, and +India. Mr. Ivory, who devoted himself for years to an exhaustive +examination of the subject, has deduced that the equatorial radius of +the earth is over 3962 miles, and the polar radius over 3949 miles. +This makes the depression at either pole upward of thirteen miles. A +depression of over thirteen miles, as you must plainly see, should +produce strange results in the scenery at the poles. Of course, if +there are mountains, no difference would be noticed between this and +any other part of the earth's surface; but if there is water, why, +we ought to expect some such state of things as More describes. The +gravitation test has also been tried, with very nearly the same +result. The surface of the earth at the equator, being farthest from +the centre of gravity, indicates the least weight in bodies; but at +the poles, where the surface is nearest the centre of gravity, there +must be the greatest weight. It is found, in fact, that the weight +of bodies increases in passing from the equator to the poles. By +experiments made in this way the polar compression is ascertained to +be the same as I have mentioned." + +"What effect would this have on the climate at the poles?" asked +Oxenden. + +"That's a complicated question," said the doctor. "In answer to that +we must leave ascertained facts and trust to theories, unless, indeed, +we accept as valid the statements of this remarkable manuscript. +For my own part, I see no reason why it should not be as More says. +Remember, this polar world is thirteen miles nearer to the centre of +the earth. Whether this should affect the climate or not, depends upon +the nature of the earth's interior. That interior, according to the +popular theory of the present day is a mass of fire. This theory +affirms that the earth was once a red-hot mass, which has cooled down; +but the cooling process has only take place on the surface, leaving +the interior still a molten mass of matter in a state of intense heat +and combustion. At the poles the surface is thus thirteen miles nearer +to these tremendous fires. Of course it may be supposed that the +earth's crust is of about equal thickness on all parts; yet still, +even if this be so, thirteen miles ought to make some difference. Now +at the North Pole there seem to be causes at work to counterbalance +the effect of the internal heat, chiefly in the enormous accumulation +of polar ice which probably hems it in on every side; and though many +believe in an open polar sea of warm water at the North Pole, yet +still the effect of vast ice-masses and of cold submarine currents +must be to render the climate severe. But at the South Pole it is +different. The observations of Ross and of More show us that there is +a chain of mountains of immense height, which seem to encircle the +pole. If this be so, and I see no reason to disbelieve it, then the +ice of the outer seas must be kept away altogether from that strange +inner sea of which More speaks. Ross saw the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror; More saw two others. How many more there may be it is +impossible to say; but all this shows that the effect of the earth's +internal fires is very manifest in that region, and More has +penetrated to a secluded world, which lies apart by itself, free from +the influence of ice-masses, left to feel the effect of the internal +fires, and possessing what is virtually a tropical climate." + +"Well," said Melick, "there is no theory however wild and fantastic, +which some man of science will not be ready to support and to fortify +by endless arguments, all of the most plausible kind. For my own part, +I still believe More and his south polar world to be no more authentic +than Sindbad the Sailor." + +But the others evidently sympathized with the doctor's view, and +regarded Melick as carrying his scepticism to an absurd excess. + +"How large do you suppose this south polar ocean to be?" asked +Featherstone. + +"It is impossible to answer that question exactly," said the doctor. +"It may be, as More hints, a thousand miles in extent, or only five +hundred, or two hundred. For my own part, however, I feel like +taking More's statements at their utmost value; and the idea that +I have gathered from his narrative is that of a vast sea like the +Mediterranean, surrounded by impassable mountains, by great and +fertile countries, peopled with an immense variety of animals, with +a fauna and flora quite unlike those of the rest of the world; +and, above all, with great nations possessing a rare and unique +civilization, and belonging to a race altogether different from +any of the known races of men." + +"Well," said Melick, "that at least is the idea which the writer of +the manuscript tries to convey." + +By this time they had finished dinner. + +"And now," said Featherstone, "let's have some more of the manuscript. +Melick is tired of it, I dare say. I would relieve him, but I'm an +infernally bad reader. Doctor, what do you say? Will you read the next +instalment!" + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, briskly. + +"Very well, then," said Featherstone; "we will all be your attentive +hearers." + +And now the doctor took up the manuscript and began to read. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAVE-DWELLERS + + +The cavern into which the chief led me was very spacious, but had +no light except that which entered through the portal. It was with +difficulty that I could see anything, but I found that there were many +people here moving about, all as intent upon their own pursuits as +those which one encounters in the streets of our cities. As we went +on farther the darkness increased, until at last I lost sight of the +chief altogether, and he had to come back and lead me. After going +a little farther we came to a long, broad passage-way like a +subterranean street, about twenty feet in width, and as many in +height. Here there were discernible a few twinkling lamps, which +served to make the darkness less intense and enabled me to see the +shadowy figures around. These were numerous, and all seemed busy, +though what their occupation might be I could not guess. I was amazed +at the extent of these caverns, and at the multitude of the people. I +saw also that from the nature of their eyes the sunlight distressed +them, and in this cavern gloom they found their most congenial +dwelling-place. From what I had thus far seen, this extraordinary +people shrank from the sunlight; and when they had to move abroad they +passed over roads which were darkened as much as possible by the deep +shadows of mighty ferns, while for the most part they remained in +dark caverns, in which they lived and moved and had their being. It +was a puzzle to me whether the weakness of their eyes had caused +this dislike of light, or the habit of cave-dwelling had caused this +weakness of eyes. Here, in this darkness, where there was but a faint +twinkle from the feeble lamps, their eyes seemed to serve them as well +as mine did in the outer light of day; and the chief, who outside had +moved with an uncertain step, and had blinked painfully at objects +with his eyes almost closed, now appeared to be in his proper element; +and while I hesitated like a blind man and groped along with a +faltering step, he guided me, and seemed to see everything with +perfect vision. + +At length we stopped, and the chief raised up a thick, heavy mat which +hung like an unwieldly curtain in front of a doorway. This the chief +lifted. At once a blaze of light burst forth, gleaming into the dark, +and appearing to blind him. His eyes closed. He held up the veil for +me to pass through. I did so. He followed, and then groped his way +slowly along, while I accompanied and assisted him. + +I now found myself in a large grotto with an arched roof, from which +was suspended an enormous lamp, either golden or gilded. All around +were numerous lamps. The walls were adorned with rich hangings; +couches were here, with soft cushions, and divans and ottomans; soft +mats were on the floor, and everything gave indications of luxury and +wealth. Other doors, covered with overhanging mats, seemed to lead out +of this grotto. To one of these the chief walked, and raising the mat +he led the way into another grotto like the last, with the same bright +lights and the same adornments, but of smaller size. Here I saw +someone who at once took up all my attention. + +It was a young maiden. Her face and form, but especially her eyes, +showed her to be of quite a different race from these others. To me +she was of medium height, yet she was taller than any of the people +here that I had hitherto seen. Her complexion was much lighter; her +hair was dark, luxuriant, and wavy, and arranged in a coiffure secured +with a golden band. Her features were of a different cast from those +of the people here, for they were regular in outline and of exquisite +beauty; her nose was straight; she had a short upper lip, arched +eyebrows finely pencilled, thin lips, and well-rounded chin. But the +chief contrast was in her eyes. These were large, dark, liquid, with +long lashes, and with a splendid glow in their lustrous depths. She +stood looking at me with her face full of amazement; and as I caught +the gaze of her glorious eyes I rejoiced that I had at last found one +who lived in the light and loved it--one who did not blink like a bat, +but looked me full in the face, and allowed me to see all her soul +revealed. The chief, who still was pained by the glare of light, kept +his eyes covered, and said a few hasty words to the maiden. After this +he hurried away, leaving me there. + +The maiden stood for a moment looking at me. As the chief spoke to +her a change came over her face. She looked at me in silence, with +an expression of sad and mournful interest, which seemed to increase +every moment. At length she approached and said something in the same +strange language which the chief had used. I shook my head and replied +in English, whereupon she shook her head with a look of perplexity. +Then, anxious to conciliate her, I held out my hand. She looked at +it in some surprise. Upon this I took her hand, and pressed it to my +lips, feeling, however, somewhat doubtful as to the way in which she +might receive such an advance. To my great delight she accepted it in +a friendly spirit, and seemed to consider it my foreign fashion of +showing friendship and respect. She smiled and nodded, and pointed to +my gun, which thus far I had carried in my hand. I smiled and laid +it down. Then she pointed to a seat. I sat down, and then she seated +herself close by me, and we looked at each other in mutual wonder and +mutual inquiry. + +I was full of amazement at thus meeting with so exquisite a being, +and lost myself in conjectures as to her race, her office, and her +position here. Who was she, or what? She was unlike the others, and +reminded me of those Oriental beauties whose portraits I had seen in +annuals and illustrated books. Her costume was in keeping with such +a character. She wore a long tunic that reached from the neck to the +ground, secured at the waist with a golden girdle; the sleeves were +long and loose; over this she had a long mantle; on her feet were +light slippers, white and glistening. All about her, in her room and +in her costume, spoke of light and splendor and luxury. To these +others who shrank so from the light she could not be related in any +way. The respect with which she was treated by the chief, the peculiar +splendor of her apartments, seemed to indicate some high rank. Was +she, then, the queen of the land? Was she a princess? I could not +tell. At any rate, whatever she was, she seemed anxious to show me +the utmost attention. Her manner was full of dignity and sweet +graciousness, and she appeared particularly anxious to make herself +understood. At first she spoke in a language that sounded like that of +the chief, and was full of gutturals and broad vowels; afterward she +spoke in another that was far more euphonious. I, on the other hand +spoke in English and in French; but of course I was as unintelligible +to her as she was to me. + +Language was, therefore, of no use. It was necessary to go back to +first principles and make use of signs, or try to gain the most +elementary words of her language; so first of all I pointed to her, +and tried to indicate that I wanted to know her name. She caught my +meaning at once, and, pointing to herself, she looked fixedly at me +and said, "Almah, Almah!" + +I repeated these words after her, saying, "Almah, Almah!" She smiled +and nodded, and then pointed to me with a look of inquiry that plainly +asked for my name. I said "Adam More." She repeated this, and it +sounded like "A-tam-or." But as she spoke this slowly her smile died +away. She looked anxious and troubled, and once more that expression +of wondering sadness came over her face. She repeated my name over and +over in this way with a mournful intonation that thrilled through me, +and excited forebodings of evil. "Atamor, Atamor!" And always after +that she called me "Atamor." + +But now she sat for some time, looking at me with a face full of pity +and distress. At this I was greatly astonished; for but a moment +before she had been full of smiles, and it was as though something in +my name had excited sorrowful thoughts. Yet how could that be, since +she could never by any possibility have heard my name before? The +beautiful Almah seemed to be not altogether happy, or why should she +be so quick to sadness? There was a mystery about all this which was +quite unaccountable. + +It was a singular situation, and one which excited within me feelings +of unutterable delight. This light and splendor, this warmth and +peace--what a contrast it offered to the scenes through which I had +but lately passed! Those scenes of horror, of ice and snow, of storm +and tempest, of cold and hunger, of riven cliff and furious ocean +stream, and, above all, that crowning agony in the bleak iron-land of +the cannibals--from all these I had escaped. I had been drawn down +under the earth to experience the terrors of that unspeakable passage, +and had at last emerged to light and life, to joy and hope. In this +grotto I had found the culmination of all happiness. It was like a +fairy realm; and here was one whose very look was enough to inspire +the most despairing soul with hop and peace and happiness. The, only +thing that was now left to trouble me was this mournful face of Almah. +Why did she look at me with such sad interest and such melancholy +meaning? Did she know of any evil fate in store for me? Yet how could +there be any evil fate to be feared from people who had received me +with such unparalleled generosity? No, it could not be; so I resolved +to try to bring back again the smile that had faded out of her face. + +I pointed to her, and said, "Almah." + +She said, "Atam-or." + +And the smile did not come back, but the sadness remained in her face. + +My eager desire now was to learn her language, and I resolved at once +to acquire as many words and phrases as possible. I began by asking +the names of things, such as "seat," "table," "mat," "coat," "hat," +"shoe," "lamp," "floor," "wall," and all the common objects around. +She gave all the names, and soon became so deeply interested that her +sadness departed, and the smile came back once more. For my own part, +I was always rather quick at learning languages. I had a correct ear +and a retentive memory; in my wanderings round the world I had picked +up a smattering of many languages, such as French, Italian, Spanish, +Arabic, German, Hindoostanee, and a few others. The words which I +learned from Almah had a remote resemblance to Arabic; and, in fact, +my knowledge of Arabic was actually of some assistance, though how it +was that these people should have a language with that resemblance +was certainly a mystery, and I did not try to solve it. The beautiful +Almah soon grew immensely interested in my efforts to learn, and also +in the English words which I gave when I pointed to any object. + +Thus I pointed to myself, and said "Man," then pointing to her, I +said, "Woman." She laughed, and pointing to me said "Iz," and pointing +to herself said, "Izza." Then I pointed to the row of lights, and +said "Light;" she did the same, and said, "Or." Then her face grew +mournful, and she pointed to me, saying "Atam-or." It struck me then +that there was some chance resemblance between "or," the word meaning +"light," and one of the syllables of my name as she pronounced it, and +that this might cause her sadness; but as I could make out nothing of +this, I dismissed the thought, and went on with my questions. This +took up the time, until at length someone appeared who looked like a +servant. He said something, whereupon Almah arose and beckoned to me +to follow. I did so, and we went to a neighboring apartment, where +there was spread a bounteous repast. Here we sat and ate, and Almah +told me the names of all the dishes. After dinner we returned to the +room. + +It was a singular and a delightful position. I was left alone with the +beautiful Almah, who herself showed the utmost graciousness and the +kindest interest in me. I could not understand it, nor did I try to; +it was enough that I had such a happy lot. For hours we thus were +together, and I learned many words. To insure remembrance, I wrote +them down in my memorandum-book with a pencil and both of these were +regarded by Almah with greatest curiosity. She felt the paper, +inspected it, touched it with her tongue, and seemed to admire it +greatly; but the pencil excited still greater admiration. I signed to +her to write in the book. She did so, but the characters were quite +unlike anything that I had ever seen. They were not joined like our +writing and like Arabic letters, but were separate like our printed +type, and were formed in an irregular manner. She then showed me a +book made of a strange substance. It was filled with characters like +those which she had just written. The leaves were not at all like +paper, but seemed like some vegetable product, such as the leaves of +a plant or the bark of a tree. They were very thin, very smooth, all +cut into regular size, and fastened together by means of rings. This +manuscript is written upon the same material. I afterward found that +it was universally used here, and was made of a reed that grows in +marshes. + +Here in these vast caverns there was no way by which I could tell the +progress of time, but Almah had her own way of finding out when the +hours of wakeful life were over. She arose and said, "Salonla." This I +afterward found out to be common salutation of the country. I said it +after her. She then left me. Shortly afterward a servant appeared, +who took me to a room, which I understood to be mine. Here I found +everything that I could wish, either for comfort or luxury; and as I +felt fatigue, I flung myself upon the soft bed of down, and soon was +sound asleep. + +I slept for a long time. When I awoke I heard sounds in the distance, +and knew that people were moving. Here in these caverns there was no +difference between day and night, but, by modes of which I was +ignorant, a regular succession was observed of waking times and +sleeping times. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAVERN OF THE DEAD + + +On going forth into the outer grotto I saw the table spread with a +sumptuous repast, and the apartment in a blaze of light. Almah was not +here; and though some servants made signs for me to eat, yet I could +not until I should see whether she was coming or not. I had to wait +for a long time, however; and while I was waiting the chief entered, +shading his eyes with his hand from the painful light. He bowed +low with the most profound courtesy, saying, "Salonla," to which I +responded in the same way. He seemed much pleased at this, and made a +few remarks, which I did not understand; whereupon, anxious to lose no +time in learning the language, I repeated to him all the words I knew, +and asked after others. I pointed to him and asked his name. He said, +"Kohen." This, however, I afterward found was not a name, but a title. +The "Kohen" did not remain long, for the light was painful. After his +departure I was alone for some time, and at length Almah made her +appearance. I sprang to meet her, full of joy, and took her hand in +both of mine and pressed it warmly. She smiled, and appeared quite +free from the melancholy of the previous day. + +We ate our breakfast together, after which we went out into the world +of light, groping our way along through the dark passages amid the +busy crowd. Almah could see better than I in the darkness; but she was +far from seeing well, and did not move with that easy step and perfect +certainty which all the others showed. Like me, she was a child of +light, and the darkness was distressing to her. As we went on we were +seen by all, but were apparently not considered prisoners. On the +contrary, all looked at us with the deepest respect, and bowed low +or moved aside, and occasionally made little offerings of fruit or +flowers to one or the other of us. It seemed to me that we were +treated with equal distinction; and if Almah was their queen, I, their +guest, was regarded with equal honor. Whatever her rank might be, +however, she was to all appearance the most absolute mistress of +her own actions, and moved about among all these people with the +independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank. + +At length we emerged into the open air. Here the contrast to the +cavern gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and +splendor, so that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which +had seemed so dark when I was here before, it now appeared light and +cheerful. Almah turned to the right, and we walked along the terrace. +But few people were visible. They shrank from the light, and kept +themselves in the caverns. Then after a few steps we came to the base +of a tall half-pyramid, the summit of which was above the tops of the +trees. I pointed to this, as though I wished to go up. Almah hesitated +for a moment, and seemed to shrink back, but at length, overcoming her +reluctance, began the ascent. A flight of stony steps led up. On +reaching the top, I found it about thirty feet long by fifteen wide, +with a high stone table in the middle. At that moment, however, I +scarce noticed the pyramid summit, and I only describe it now because +I was fated before long to see it with different feelings. What I then +noticed was the vast and wondrous display of all the glories of nature +that burst at once upon my view. There was that same boundless sea, +rising up high toward the horizon, as I had seen it before, and +suggesting infinite extent. There were the blue waters breaking into +foam, the ships traversing the deep, the far-encircling shores green +in vegetation, the high rampart of ice-bound mountains that shut in +the land, making it a world by itself. There was the sun, low on the +horizon, which it traversed on its long orbit, lighting up all these +scenes till the six-months day should end and the six-months night +begin. + +For a long time I stood feasting my eyes upon all this splendor, and +at length turned to see whether Almah shared my feelings. One look was +enough. She stood absorbed in the scene, as though she were drinking +in deep draughts of all this matchless beauty. I felt amazed at this; +I saw how different she seemed from the others, and could not account +for it. But as yet I knew too little of the language to question her, +and could only hope for a future explanation when I had learned more. + +We descended at length and walked about the terrace and up and down +the side streets. All were the same as I had noticed before--terraced +streets, with caverns on one side and massive stone structures on the +other. I saw deep channels, which were used as drains to carry down +mountain torrents. I did not see all at this first walk, but I +inspected the whole city in many subsequent walks until its outlines +were all familiar. I found it about a mile long and about half a +mile wide, constructed in a series of terraces, which rose one above +another in a hollow of the mountains round a harbor of the sea. On my +walks I met with but few people on the streets, and they all seemed +troubled with the light. I saw also occasionally some more of those +great birds, the name of which I learned from Almah; it was "opkuk." + +For some time my life went on most delightfully. I found myself +surrounded with every comfort and luxury. Almah was my constant +associate, and all around regarded us with the profoundest respect. +The people were the mildest, most gentle, and most generous that I had +ever seen. The Kohen seemed to pass most of his time in making new +contrivances for my happiness. This strange people, in their dealings +with me and with one another, seemed animated by a universal desire to +do kindly acts; and the only possible objection against them was their +singular love of darkness. + +My freedom was absolute. No one watched me. Almah and I could go where +we chose. So far as I could perceive, we were quite at liberty, if we +wished, to take a boat and escape over the sea. It seemed also quite +likely that if we had ordered out a galley and a gang of oarsmen, we +should have been supplied with all that we might want in the most +cheerful manner. Such a thought, however, was absurd. Flight! Why +should I think of flying? + +I had long ago lost all idea of time; and here, where it was for the +present perpetual day, I was more at a loss than ever. I supposed that +it was somewhere in the month of March, but whether at the beginning +or the end I could not tell. The people had a regular system of +wake-time and sleep-time, by which they ordered their lives; but +whether these respective times were longer or shorter than the days +and nights at home I could not tell at that time, though I afterward +learned all about it. On the whole, I was perfectly content--nay, +more, perfectly happy; more so, indeed, than ever in my life, and +quite willing to forget home and friends and everything in the society +of Almah. While in her company there was always one purpose upon which +I was most intent, and that was to master the language. I made rapid +progress, and while she was absent I sought out others, especially the +Kohen, with whom to practice. The Kohen was always most eager to aid +me in every conceivable way or to any conceivable thing; and he had +such a gentle manner and showed such generous qualities that I soon +learned to regard him with positive affection. + +Almah was always absent for several hours after I rose in the morning, +and when she made her appearance it was with the face and manner of +one who had returned from some unpleasant task. It always took some +time for her to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed. I +soon felt a deep curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and +office here, and as my knowledge of the language increased I began +to question her. My first attempts were vain. She looked at me with +indescribable mournfulness and shook her head. This, however, only +confirmed me in my suspicions that her duties, whatever they might be, +were of a painful nature; so I urged her to tell me, and asked her as +well as I could if I might not share them or help her in some way. To +all this, however, she only returned sighs and mournful looks for an +answer. It seemed to me, from her manner and from the general behavior +of the people, that there was no express prohibition on my learning +anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after this, I +besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she +refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more +of the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and +effect, until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections. + +"It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I +do not wish to lessen your happiness. But you must know all soon; and +so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you +may come the next jom." + +This meant the next day, jom being the division of time corresponding +with our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot +all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next jom I arose +sooner than usual and went forth. I found Almah waiting for me. She +looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile. + +"You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you +still wish it, why, I will take you with me." + +At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went +through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep. +Then we went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day +which here knew no night, but prolonged itself into months. For a +while Almah stood looking forth between the trees to where the bright +sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to +the left. I followed. On coming to the next portal she went in. I +followed, and found myself in a rough cavern, dark and forbidding. +Traversing this we came to an inner doorway, closed with a heavy mat. +This she raised, and passed through, while I went in after her. + +I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which +served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous +extent. Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a +hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone +steps. All around, as far as I could see in the obscure light, there +were niches in the walls, each one containing a figure with a light +burning at its feet. I took them for statues. Almah pointed in silence +to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see +it. + +The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no +statue that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelled human form--a +hideous sight. It was dark and dried; it was fixed in a sitting +posture, with its hands resting on its knees, and its hollow eyes +looking forward. On its head was the mockery of a wreath of flowers, +while from its heart there projected the handle and half of the blade +of a knife which had been thrust there. What was the meaning of this +knife? It seemed to tell of a violent death. Yet the flowers must +surely be a mark of honor. A violent death with honor, and the +embalmed remains--these things suggested nothing else than the horrid +thought of a human sacrifice. I looked away with eager and terrible +curiosity. I saw all the niches, hundreds upon hundreds, all filled +with these fearful occupants. I turned again with a sinking heart to +Almah. Her face was full of anguish. + +"This is my duty," said she. "Every jom I must come here and crown +these victims with fresh flowers." + +A feeling of sickening horror overwhelmed me. Almah had spoken these +words and stood looking at me with a face of woe. This, then, was that +daily task from which she was wont to return in such sadness--an +abhorrent task to her, and one to which familiarity had never +reconciled her. What was she doing here? What dark fate was it that +thus bound this child of light to these children of darkness? or why +was she thus compelled to perform a service from which all her nature +revolted? I read in her face at this moment a horror equal to my own; +and at the sight of her distress my own was lessened, and there arose +within me a profound sympathy and a strong desire to do something to +alleviate her misery. + +"This is no place for you," continued Almah. "Go, and I will soon join +you." + +"No," said I, using her language after my own broken fashion--"no, I +will not go--I will stay, I will help, if you will permit." + +She looked at me earnestly, and seemed to see that my resolution was +firmly fixed, and that I was not to be dissuaded from it. + +"Very well," said she; "if you do stay and help me, it will be a great +relief." + +With these simple words she proceeded to carry out her work. At the +foot of the pyramid there was a heap of wreaths made out of fresh +flowers, and these were to be placed by her on the heads of the +embalmed corpses. + +"This work," said she, "is considered here the highest and most +honorable that can be performed. It is given to me out of kindness, +and they cannot understand that I can have any other feelings in the +performance than those of joy and exultation--here among the dead and +in the dark." + +I said nothing, but followed and watched her, carrying the wreaths and +supplying her. She went to each niche in succession, and after taking +the wreath off each corpse she placed a fresh one on, saying a brief +formula at each act. By keeping her supplied with wreaths I was able +to lighten her task, so much so that, whereas it usually occupied her +more than two hours, on the present occasion it was finished in less +than half an hour. She informed me that those which she crowned were +the corpses of men who had been sacrificed during the present +season--by season meaning the six months of light; and that though +many more were here, yet they wore crowns of gold. At the end of ten +years they were removed to public sepulchres. The number of those +which had to be crowned by her was about a hundred. Her work was only +to crown them, the labor of collecting the flowers and weaving the +wreaths and attending to the lamps being performed by others. + +I left this place with Almah, sad and depressed. She had not told me +why these victims had been sacrificed, nor did I feel inclined to +ask. A dark suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath +all their amiable ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of +a frightful kind; and that beyond all my present brightness and +happiness there might be a fate awaiting me too horrible for thought. +Yet I did not wish to borrow trouble. What I had seen and heard was +quite enough for one occasion. I was anxious, rather, to forget it +all. Nor did Almah's words or manner in any way reassure me. She was +silent and sad and preoccupied. It was as though she knew the worst, +and knowing it, dared not speak; as though there was something more +horrible which she dared not reveal. For my part, I feared it so that +I dared not ask. It was enough for me just then to know that my mild +and self-denying and generous entertainers were addicted to the +abhorrent custom of human sacrifices. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SACRED HUNT + + +On that very jom the Kohen informed me that they were about +to set forth on the "sacred hunt," an event which always occurred +toward the end of the season, and he kindly invited me to go. I, +eager to find any relief from the horrible thoughts that had taken +possession of me, and full of longing for active exertion, at once +accepted the invitation. I was delighted to hear Almah say that she +too was going; and I learned at the same time that in this strange +land the women were as fond of hunting as the men, and that on such +occasions their presence was expected. + +The sacred hunt was certainly a strange one. I saw that it was to +take place on the water; for a great crowd, numbering over a hundred, +went down to the harbor and embarked on board a galley, on which +there were a hundred others, who served as rowers. The hunters were +all armed with long, light javelins and short swords. Some of these +were offered to me, for as yet no one supposed that my rifle and +pistol were instruments of destruction, or anything else than +ornaments. My refusal to accept their weapons created some surprise, +but with their usual civility they did not press their offers +further. It was evident that this hunting expedition was only made in +obedience to some hallowed custom; for the light of the sun pained +their eyes, and all their movements were made with uncertainty and +hesitation. With these a hunt by sunlight is the same as a hunt by +night would be with us. There was the same confusion and awkwardness. + +The Kohen was in command. At his word the galley started, and the +rowers pulled out to sea with long, regular strokes. I was anxious to +know what the expedition was aimed at, and what were the animals that +we expected to get; but I could not make out Almah's explanations. +Her words suggested something of vague terror, vast proportions, and +indescribable ferocity; but my ignorance of the language prevented me +from learning anything more. + +We went along the coast for a few miles, and then came to the mouth +of a great river, which seemed to flow from among the mountains. The +current was exceedingly swift, and as I looked back it seemed to me +that it must be the very stream which had borne me here into this +remote world. I afterward found out that this was so--that this +stream emerges from among the mountains, flowing from an unknown +source. It was over this that I had been borne in my sleep, after +I had emerged from the subterranean darkness, and it was by this +current that I had been carried into the open sea. As we crossed the +estuary of this river I saw that the shores on either side were low, +and covered with the rankest vegetation; giant trees of fern, vast +reeds and grasses, all arose here in a dense growth impassable to +man. Upon the shallow shores the surf was breaking; and here in +the tide I saw objects which I at first supposed to be rocks, +but afterward found out to be living things. They looked like +alligators, but were far larger than the largest alligators known +to us, besides being of far more terrific aspect. Toward these the +galley was directed, and I now saw with surprise that these were +the objects of the sacred hunt. + +Suddenly, as the galley was moving along at half-speed, there +arose out of the water a thing that looked like the folds of a giant +hairy serpent, which, however, proved to be the long neck of an +incredible monster, whose immense body soon afterward appeared above +the water. With huge fins he propelled himself toward us; and his +head, twenty feet in the air, was poised as though about to attack. +The head was like that of an alligator, the open jaws showed a +fearful array of sharp teeth, the eyes were fiercely glowing, the +long neck was covered with a coarse, shaggy mane, while the top of +the body, which was out of the water, was incased in an impenetrable +cuirass of bone. Such a monster as this seemed unassailable, +especially by men who had no missile weapons, and whose eyes were so +dim and weak. I therefore expected that the galley would turn and +fly from the attack, for the monster itself seemed as large as our +vessel; but there was not the slightest thought of flight. On the +contrary, every man was on the alert; some sprang to the bow and +stood there, awaiting the first shock; others, amidship, stood +waiting for the orders of the Kohen. Meanwhile the monster +approached, and at length, with a sweep of his long neck, came down +upon the dense crowd at the bows. A dozen frail lances were broken +against his horny head, a half-dozen wretches were seized and +terribly torn by those remorseless jaws. Still none fled. All rushed +forward, and with lances, axes, knives, and ropes they sought to +destroy the enemy. Numbers of them strove to seize his long neck. In +the ardor of the fight the rowers dropped their oars and hurried to +the scene, to take part in the struggle. The slaughter was sickening, +but not a man quailed. Never had I dreamed of such blind and +desperate courage as was now displayed before my horror-stricken +eyes. Each sought to outdo the other. They had managed to throw ropes +around the monster's neck, by which he was held close to the galley. +His fierce movements seemed likely to drag us all down under the +water; and his long neck, free from restraint, writhed and twisted +among the struggling crowd of fighting men, in the midst of whom was +the Kohen, as desperate and as fearless as any. + +All this had taken place in a very short space of time, and I had +scarce been able to comprehend the full meaning of it all. As for +Almah, she stood pale and trembling, with a face of horror. At last +it seemed to me that every man of them would be destroyed, and that +they were all throwing their lives away to no purpose whatever. Above +all, my heart was wrung for the Kohen, who was there in the midst of +his people, lifting his frail and puny arm against the monster. I +could endure inaction no longer. I had brought my arms with me, as +usual; and now, as the monster raised his head, I took aim at his +eye and fired. The report rang out in thunder. Almah gave a shriek, +and amid the smoke I saw the long, snake-like neck of the monster +sweeping about madly among the men. In the water his vast tail was +lashing the surface of the sea, and churning it into foam. Here I +once more took aim immediately under the fore-fin, where there was +no scaly covering. Once more I fired. This time it was with fatal +effect; and after one or two convulsive movements the monster, with +a low, deep bellow, let his head fall and gasped out his life. + +I hurried forward. There lay the frightful head, with its long +neck and shaggy mane, while all around was a hideous spectacle. +The destruction of life had been awful. Nineteen were dead, and +twenty-eight were wounded, writhing in every gradation of agony, some +horribly mangled. The rest stood staring at me in astonishment, not +understanding those peals of thunder that had laid the monster low. +There was no terror or awe, however--nothing more than surprise; +and the Kohen, whose clothes were torn into shreds and covered with +blood, looked at me in bewilderment. I said to him, out of my small +stock of words, that the wounded ought at once to be cared for. At +this he turned away and made some remarks to his men. + +I now stood ready to lend my own services, if needful. I expected +to take a part in the tender attentions which were the due of these +gallant souls, who had exhibited such matchless valor; these men who +thought nothing of life, but flung it away at the command of their +chief without dreaming of flight or of hesitation. Thus I stood +looking on in an expectant attitude, when there came a moment in +which I was simply petrified with horror; for the Kohen drew his +knife, stooped over the wounded man nearest him, and then stabbed him +to the heart with a mortal wound. The others all proceeded to do the +same, and they did it in the coolest and most business-like manner, +without any passion, without any feeling of any kind, and, indeed, +with a certain air of gratification, as though they were performing +some peculiarly high and sacred duty. The mildness and benevolence of +their faces seemed actually heightened, and the perpetration of this +unutterable atrocity seemed to affect these people in the same way in +which the performance of acts of humanity might affect us. + +For my own part, I stood for a few moments actually motionless from +perplexity and horror; then, with a shriek, I rushed forward as if +to prevent it; but I was too late. The unutterable deed was done, +and the unfortunate wounded, without an exception, lay dead beside +their slain companions. As for myself, I was only regarded with fresh +wonder, and they all stood blinking at me with their half-closed +eyes. Suddenly the Kohen fell prostrate on his knees before me, and +bowing his head handed me his bloody knife. + +"Atam-or," said he, "give me also the blessing of darkness and death!" + +At these strange words, following such actions, I could say nothing. +I was more bewildered than ever, and horror and bewilderment made me +dumb. I turned away and went aft to Almah, who had seen it all. She +looked at me with an anxious gaze, as if to learn what the effect of +all this had been on me. I could not speak a word, but with a vague +sense of the necessity of self-preservation, I loaded my rifle, and +tried in vain to make out what might be the meaning of this union of +gentleness and kindness with atrocious cruelty. Meanwhile, the men +all went to work upon various tasks. Some secured lines about the +monster so as to tow it astern; others busied themselves with the +corpses, collecting them and arranging them in rows. At length we +returned, towing the monster astern. + +I could not speak until I was back again in the lighted rooms and +alone with Almah; then I told her, as well as I could, the horror +that I felt. + +"It was honor to those brave men," said she. + +"Honor!" said I. "What! to kill them?" + +"Yes," said she; "it is so with these people; with them death is the +highest blessing. They all love death and seek after it. To die for +another is immortal glory. To kill the wounded was to show that they +had died for others. The wounded wished it themselves. You saw how +they all sought after death. These people were too generous and +kind-hearted to refuse to kill them after they had received wounds." + +At this my perplexity grew deeper than ever, for such an +explanation as this only served to make the mystery greater. + +"Here," said she, "no one understands what it is to fear death. +They all love it and long for it; but everyone wishes above all to +die for others. This is their highest blessing. To die a natural +death in bed is avoided if possible." + +All this was incomprehensible. + +"Tell me, Almah," I said--"you hate darkness as I do--do you not +fear death?" + +"I fear it above all things," said Almah. "To me it is the horror +of life; it is the chief of terrors." + +"So it is with me," said I. "In my country we call death the King +of Terrors." + +"Here," said Almah, "they call death the Lord of Joy." + +Not long after, the Kohen came in, looking as quiet, as gentle, +and as amiable as ever. He showed some curiosity about my rifle, +which he called a sepet-ram, or "rod of thunder." Almah also +showed curiosity. I did not care to explain the process of loading +it to the Kohen, though Almah had seen me load it in the galley, +and I left him to suppose that it was used in some mysterious way. +I cautioned him not to handle it carelessly, but found that this +caution only made him the more eager to handle it, since the prospect +of an accident found an irresistible attraction. I would not let it +go out of my own hands, however; and the Kohen, whose self-denial +was always most wonderful to me, at once checked his curiosity. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE SWAMP MONSTER + + +A few joms after, I was informed by the Kohen that there was to be +another sacred hunt. At first I felt inclined to refuse, but on +learning that Almah was going, I resolved to go also; for Almah, +though generally mistress of her actions, had nevertheless certain +duties to perform, and among these was the necessity of accompanying +hunting-parties. I did not yet understand her position here, nor had I +heard from her yet how it was that she was so different from the rest +of them. That was all to be learned at a future time. For the present +I had to be satisfied with knowing that she belonged to a different +nation, who spoke a different language, and that all her thoughts and +feelings were totally different from those of the people among whom +she was living. She loved the light, she feared death, and she had +never been able in the slightest degree to reconcile herself to the +habits of these people. This I could readily understand, for to me it +seemed as though they lived in opposition to nature itself. + +We went out into the daylight, and then I saw a sight which filled me +with amazement. I saw a flock of birds larger than even the opkuks. +They were called "opmahera." They seemed as tall as giraffes, and +their long legs indicated great powers of running. Their wings were +very short, and not adapted for flight. They were very tractable, and +were harnessed for riding in a peculiar way; lines like reins were +fastened to the wings, and the driver, who sat close by the neck, +guided the bird in this way. Each bird carried two men, but for Almah +and me there was a bird apiece. An iron prod was also taken by each +driver as a spur. I did not find out until afterward how to drive. At +that time the prospect of so novel a ride was such an exciting one +that I forgot everything else. The birds seemed quiet and docile. I +took it for granted that mine was well trained, and would go with the +others of his own accord. We all mounted by means of a stone platform +which stood by the pyramid, and soon were on our way. + +The speed was amazing; the fastest race-horse at home is slow compared +with this. It was as swift as an ordinary railway train, if not more +so. For some minutes the novelty of my situation took away all other +thoughts, and I held the reins in my hands without knowing how to use +them. But this mattered not, for the well-trained bird kept on after +the others, while Almah on her bird was close behind me. The pace, as +I said, was tremendous, yet no easier motion can be imagined. The bird +bounded along with immense leaps, with wings outstretched, but its +feet touched the ground so lightly that the motion seemed almost equal +to flying. We did not confine ourselves to the roads, for the birds +were capable of going over any kind of country in a straight line. On +this occasion we passed over wide fields and rocky mountain ridges +and deep swamps and sand wastes at the same speed, until at length +we reached a vast forest of dense tree-ferns, where the whole band +stopped for a short time, after which we took up a new direction, +moving on more slowly. The forest grew up out of a swamp, which +extended as far as the eye could reach from the sea to the mountains. +Along the edge of this forest we went for some time, until at length +there came a rushing, crackling sound, as of something moving there +among the trees, crushing down everything in its progress. We halted, +and did not have to wait long; for soon, not far away, there emerged +from the thick forest a figure of incredible size and most hideous +aspect. + +It looked like one of those fabled dragons such as may be seen in +pictures, but without wings. It was nearly a hundred feet in length, +with a stout body and a long tail, covered all over with impenetrable +scales. It hind-legs were rather longer than its fore-legs, and it +moved its huge body with ease and rapidity. Its feet were armed with +formidable claws. But its head was most terrific. It was a vast mass +of bone, with enormous eyes that glared like fire; its jaws opened to +the width of six or eight feet, and were furnished with rows of sharp +teeth, while at the extremity of its nose there was a tusk several +feet long, like the horn of a rhinoceros, curving backward. All this +I took in at the first glance, and the next instant the whole band +of hunters, with their usual recklessness, flung themselves upon the +monster. + +For a short time all was the wildest confusion--an intermingling of +birds and men, with the writhing and roaring beast. With his huge +claws and his curved horn and his wide jaws he dealt death and +destruction all around; yet still the assailants kept at their work. +Many leaped down to the ground and rushed close up to the monster, +thrusting their lances into the softer and more unprotected parts +of his body; while others, guiding their birds with marvellous +dexterity, assailed him on all sides. The birds, too, were kept well +to their work; nor did they exhibit any fear. It was not until they +were wounded that they sought to fly. Still, the contest seemed too +unequal. The sacrifice of life was horrible. I saw men and birds +literally torn to pieces before my eyes. Nevertheless, the utter +fearlessness of the assailants confounded me. In spite of the +slaughter, fresh crowds rushed on. They clambered over his back, and +strove to drive their lances under his bony cuirass. In the midst of +them I saw the Kohen. By some means he had reached the animal's back, +and was crawling along, holding by the coarse shaggy mane. At length +he stopped, and with a sudden effort thrust his lance into the +monster's eye. The vast beast gave a low and terrible howl; his +immense tail went flying all about; in his pain he rolled over and +over, crushing underneath him in his awful struggles all who were +nearest. I could no longer be inactive. I raised my rifle, and as the +beast in his writhings exposed his belly I took aim at the soft flesh +just inside his left fore-leg, and fired both barrels. + +At that instant my bird gave a wild, shrill scream and a vast bound +into the air, and then away it went like the wind--away, I know not +where. That first bound had nearly jerked me off; but I managed to +avoid this and now instinctively clung with all my might to the bird's +neck, still holding my rifle. The speed of the bird was twice as great +as it had been before--as the speed of a runaway horse surpasses +that of the same horse when trotting at his ordinary rate and under +control. I could scarcely make out where I was going. Rocks, hills, +swamps, fields, trees, sand, and sea all seemed to flash past in one +confused assemblage, and the only thought in my mind was that I was +being carried to some remote wilderness, to be flung there bruised and +maimed among the rocks, to perish helplessly. Every moment I expected +to be thrown, for the progress of the bird was not only inconceivably +swift, but it also gave immense leaps into the air; and it was only +its easy mode of lighting on the ground after each leap that saved me +from being hurled off. As it was, however, I clung instinctively to +the bird's neck, until at last it came to a stop so suddenly that my +hands slipped, and I fell to the ground. + +I was senseless for I know not how long. When at last I revived I +found myself propped up against a bank, and Almah bathing my head with +cold water. Fortunately, I had received no hurt. In falling I had +struck on my head, but it was against the soft turf, and though I +was stunned, yet on regaining my senses no further inconvenience was +experienced. The presence of Almah was soon explained. The report of +the rifle had startled her bird also, which had bounded away in terror +like mine; but Almah understood how to guide him, and managed to keep +him after me, so as to be of assistance in case of need. She had been +close behind all the time, and had stopped when I fell, and come to +my assistance. + +The place was a slope looking out upon an arm of the sea, and +apparently remote from human abode. The scenery was exquisitely +beautiful. A little distance off we saw the edge of the forest; the +open country was dotted with clumps of trees; on the other side of the +arm of the sea was an easy declivity covered with trees of luxuriant +foliage and vast dimensions; farther away on one side rose the icy +summits of impassable mountains; on the other side there extended +the blue expanse of the boundless sea. The spot where I lay was +over-shadowed by the dense foliage of a tree which was unlike anything +that I had ever seen, and seemed like some exaggerated grass; at our +feet a brook ran murmuring to the shore; in the air and all around +were innumerable birds. + +The situation in which I found myself seemed inexpressibly sweet, and +all the more so from the gentle face of Almah. Would it not be well, +I thought, to remain here? Why should Almah go back to her repulsive +duties? Why should we return to those children of blood, who loved +death and darkness? Here we might pass our days together unmolested. +The genial climate would afford us warmth; we needed no shelter except +the trees, and as for food, there were the birds of the air in +innumerable flocks. + +I proposed this to her; she smiled sadly. "You forget," said she, +"this season of light will not last much longer. In a few more joms +the dark season will begin, and then we should perish in a place like +this." + +"Are there no caverns here?" + +"Oh no. This country has no inhabitants. It is full of fierce wild +beasts. We should be destroyed before one jom." + +"But must we go back?" said I. "You have a country. Where is it? See, +here are these birds. They are swift. They can carry us anywhere. +Come, let us fly, and you can return to your own country." + +Almah shook her head. "These birds," said she, "cannot go over the +sea, or through these endless forests. My country can only be reached +by sea." + +"Can we not hurry back, seize a boat, and go? I know how to sail over +the water without oars." + +"We certainly might leave the country; but there is another +difficulty. The dark season is coming, and we should never be able +to find our way. Besides, the sea is full of monsters, and you and +I would perish." + +"At any rate, let us try. I have my sepet-ram." + +"We could never find our way." + +"Only tell me," said I, "where it lies, and I will go by the stars." + +"The trouble is," said she, "that even if we did succeed in reaching +my land, I should be sent back again; for I was sent here as a sacred +hostage, and I have been here four seasons." + +But in the midst of this conversation a sound arrested our +attention--heavy, puffing, snorting sound, as of some living thing. +Hastily I started up, rifle in hand, and looked; and as I looked I +felt my nerves thrill with horror. There, close by the shore, I saw a +vast form--a living thing--full sixty feet in length. It had a body +like that of an elephant, the head of a crocodile, and enormous +glaring eyes. Its immense body was covered with impenetrable armor, +and was supported on legs long enough to allow it to run with great +speed. It differed in many respects from the monster of the swamp--the +legs being longer, the tail shorter and thinner, and its head and jaws +larger and longer. I shrank back, thinking of seizing Almah and +hiding. But I saw that she had already taken the alarm, and with more +presence of mind than I had she had hurried to the birds, who were +standing near, and had made them lie down. As I turned, she beckoned +to me without a word. I hurried to her. She told me to mount. I did so +at once; she did the same. Scarce had we mounted than the monster +perceived us, and with a terrible bellow came rushing toward us. Almah +drove her goad deep into her bird, which at once rose and went off +like the wind, and mine started to follow. The vast monster came on. +His roar sounded close behind, and I heard the clash of his tremendous +jaws; but the swift bird with a bound snatched me from his grasp, and +bore me far away out of his reach. Away I went like the wind. Almah +was ahead, looking back from time to time, and waving her hand +joyously. So we went on, returning on our course at a speed almost as +great as that with which we had come. By this time the novelty had in +part worn away, and the easy motion gave me confidence. I noticed that +we were travelling a wild, uninhabited, and rocky district by the +sea-side. Before me the country spread far away, interspersed with +groves, terminating in forests, and bounded in the far distance by +mountains. The country here was so rough that it seemed as if nothing +could pass over it except such creatures as these--the opmaheras. + +At length we arrived at the spot which we had left--the scene of the +hunt. We could see it from afar, for the opmaheras stood quietly +around, and the men were busy elsewhere. As we drew nearer I saw the +vast body of the monster. They had succeeded in killing it, yet--oh +heavens, at what a cost! One half of all the party lay dead. The rest +were unharmed, and among these was the Kohen. He greeted me with a +melancholy smile. That melancholy smile, however, was not caused by +the sad fate of his brave companions, but, as I afterward learned, +simply and solely because he himself had not gained his death. When I +saw that there were no wounded, a dark suspicion came over me that the +wounded had again been put to death. I did not care to ask. The truth +was too terrible to hear, and I felt glad that accident had drawn me +away. It was all a dark and dreadful mystery. These people were the +most gentle, the most self-sacrificing, and the most generous in the +world; yet their strange and unnatural love of death made them capable +of endless atrocities. Life and light seemed to them as actual evils, +and death and darkness the only things worthy of regard. + +Almah told me that they were going to bring the monster home, and had +sent for opkuks to drag it along. The dead were also to be fetched +back. There was no further necessity for us to remain, and so we +returned at once. + +On the way, Almah said, "Do not use the sepet-ram again. You can do +no good with it. You must not make it common. Keep it. The time may +come when you will need it: you are not fond of death." + +I shuddered. + +"Never forget," she said, "that here death is considered the chief +blessing. It is useless for you to interfere in their ways. You cannot +change them." + +Some more joms passed. The bodies were embalmed, and Almah had more +victims to crown with garlands in the horrible cheder nebilin. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BALEFUL SACRIFICE + + +I resolved to go on no more sacred hunts. I was sickened at the +horrible cruelty, the needless slaughter, the mad self-sacrifice which +distinguished them. I was overwhelmed with horror at the merciless +destruction of brave comrades, whose wounds, so gallantly received, +should have been enough to inspire pity even in a heart of stone. The +gentleness, the incessant kindness, the matchless generosity of these +people seemed all a mockery. What availed it all when the same hand +that heaped favors upon me, the guest, could deal death without +compunction upon friends and relatives? It seemed quite possible for +the Kohen to kill his own child, or cut the throat of his wife, if the +humor seized him. And how long could I hope to be spared among a +people who had this insane thirst for blood? + +Some more joms had passed, and the light season had almost ended. +The sun had been sinking lower and lower. The time had at last come +when only a portion of his disk would be visible for a little while +above the hills, and then he would be seen no more for six months of +our time. This was the dark season, and, as I had already learned, its +advent was always hailed with joy and celebrated with solemn services, +for the dark season freed them from their long confinement, permitted +them to go abroad, to travel by sea and land, to carry on their great +works, to indulge in all their most important labors and favorite +amusements. The Kohen asked me to be present at the great festival, +and I gladly consented. There seemed to be nothing in this that +could be repellent. As I was anxious to witness some of their purely +religious ceremonies, I wished to go. When I told Almah, she looked +sad, but said nothing. I wondered at this, and asked her if she was +going. She informed me that she would have to go, whereupon I assured +her that this was an additional reason why I should go. + +I went with Almah. The Kohen attended us with his usual kind and +gracious consideration. It seemed almost as though he was our servant. +He took us to a place where we could be seated, although all the +others were standing. Almah wished to refuse, but I prevailed upon her +to sit down, and she did so. + +The scene was upon the semicircular terrace in front of the cavern, +and we were seated upon a stone platform beside the chief portal. A +vast crowd was gathered in front. Before us arose the half-pyramid of +which I have already spoken. The light was faint. It came from the +disk of the sun, which was partly visible over the icy crest of the +distant mountains. Far away the sea was visible, rising high over the +tops of the trees, while overhead the brighter stars were plainly +discernible. + +The Kohen ascended the pyramid, and others followed. At the base +there was a crowd of men, with emaciated forms and faces, and coarse, +squalid attire, who looked like the most abject paupers, and seemed +the lowest in the land. As the Kohen reached the summit there arose a +strange sound--a mournful, plaintive chant, which seemed to be sung +chiefly by the paupers at the base of the pyramid. The words of this +chant I could not make out, but the melancholy strain affected me +in spite of myself. There was no particular tune, and nothing like +harmony; but the effect of so many voices uniting in this strain was +very powerful and altogether indescribable. In the midst of this I saw +the crowd parting asunder so as to make way for something; and through +the passage thus formed I saw a number of youths in long robes, who +advanced to the pyramid, singing as they went. Then they ascended the +steps, two by two, still singing, and at length reached the summit, +where they arranged themselves in order. There were thirty of them and +they arranged themselves in three rows of ten each, and as they stood +they never ceased to sing, while the paupers below joined in the +strain. + +And now the sun was almost hidden, and there was only the faintest +line from the upper edge of his disk perceptible over the icy +mountain-tops. The light was a softened twilight glow. It was to be +the last sight of the sun for six months, and this was the spectacle +upon which he threw his parting beam. So the sun passed away, and then +there came the beginning of the long dark season. At first, however, +there was rather twilight than darkness, and this twilight continued +long. All this only served to heighten the effect of this striking +scene; and as the light faded away, I looked with increasing curiosity +upon the group at the top of the pyramid. Almah was silent. I half +turned, and said something to her about the beauty of the view. She +said nothing, but looked at me with such an expression that I was +filled with amazement. I saw in her face something like a dreadful +anticipation--something that spoke of coming evil. The feeling was +communicated to me, and I turned my eyes back to the group on the +pyramid with vague fears in my soul. + +Those fears were but too well founded, for now the dread ceremony +began. The Kohen drew his knife, and placed himself at the head of the +stone table. One of the youths came forward, stepped upon it, and lay +down on his back with his head toward the Kohen. The mournful chant +still went on. Then the Kohen raised his knife and plunged it into the +heart of the youth. I sat for a moment rooted to the spot; then a +groan burst from me in spite of myself. Almah caught my hands in hers, +which were as cold as ice. + +"Be firm," she said, "or we are both lost. Be firm, Atam-or!" + +"I must go," said I, and I tried to rise. + +"Don't move," she said, "for your life! We are lost if you move. Keep +still--restrain yourself--shut your eyes." + +I tried to do so, but could not. There was a horrible fascination +about the scene which forced me to look and see all. The Kohen took +the victim, and drawing it from the altar, threw it over the precipice +to the ground beneath. Then a loud shout burst forth from the great +crowd. "Sibgu Sibgin! Ranenu! Hodu lecosck!" which means, "Sacrifice +the victims! Rejoice! Give thanks to darkness!" + +Then another of the youths went forward amid the singing, and laid +himself down to meet the same fate; and again the corpse was flung +from the top of the pyramid, and again the shout arose. All the others +came forward in the same manner. Oh, horrible, horrible, thrice +horrible spectacle! I do not remember how I endured it. I sat there +with Almah, trying to restrain myself as she had entreated me, more +for her sake than for my own, a prey to every feeling of horror, +anguish, and despair. How it all ended I do not know, nor do I know +how I got away from the place; for I only remember coming back to my +senses in the lighted grotto, with Almah bending anxiously over me. + +After this there remained a dark mystery and an ever-present horror. I +found myself among a people who were at once the gentlest of the human +race and the most blood-thirsty--the kindest and the most cruel. This +mild, amiable, and self-sacrificing Kohen, how was it possible that +he should transform himself to a fiend incarnate? And for me and for +Almah, what possible hope could there be? What fate might they have +in reserve for us? Of what avail was all this profound respect, this +incessant desire to please, this attention to our slightest wish, this +comfort and luxury and splendor, this freedom of speech and action? +Was it anything better than a mockery? Might it not be the shallow +kindness of the priest to the victim reserved for the sacrifice? Was +it, after all, in any degree better than the kindness of the cannibal +savages on those drear outer shores who received us with such +hospitality, but only that they might destroy us at last? Might they +not all belong to the same race, dwelling as they did in caverns, +shunning the sunlight, and blending kindness with cruelty? It was an +awful thought! + +Yet I had one consolation. Almah was with me, and so long as she was +spared to me I could endure this life. I tried for her sake to resist +the feelings that were coming over me. I saw that she too was a prey +to ever-deepening sadness. She felt as I did, and this despair of soul +might wreck her young life if there were no alleviation. And so I +sought to alleviate her distress and to banish her sadness. The songs +of these people had much impressed me; and one day, as I talked about +this with Almah, she brought forth a musical instrument of peculiar +shape, which was not unlike a guitar, though the shape was square and +there were a dozen strings. Upon this she played, singing at the same +time some songs of a plaintive character. An idea now occurred to me +to have an instrument made according to my own plans, which should be +nothing less than a violin. Almah was delighted at the proposal, and +at once found a very clever workman, who under my direction succeeded +in producing one which served my purpose well. I was a good violinist, +and in this I was able to find solace for myself and for Almah for +many a long hour. + +The first time that I played was memorable. As the tones floated +through the air they caught the ears of those outside, and soon great +numbers came into the apartment, listening in amazement and in rapt +attention. Even the painful light was disregarded in the pleasure of +this most novel sensation, and I perceived that if the sense of sight +was deficient among them, that of hearing was sufficiently acute. +I played many times, and sometimes sang from among the songs of +different nations; but those which these people liked best were the +Irish and Scottish melodies--those matchless strains created by the +genius of the Celtic race, and handed down from immemorial ages +through long generations. In these there was nothing artificial, +nothing transient. They were the utterance of the human heart, and in +them there was that touch of nature which makes all men kin. These +were the immortal passions which shall never cease to affect the soul +of man, and which had power even here; the strains of love, of +sadness, and of pathos were sweet and enticing to this gentle race; +for in their mild manners and their outburst of cruelty they seemed to +be not unlike the very race which had created this music, since the +Celt is at once gentle and blood-thirsty. + +I played "Tara," "Bonnie Doon," "The Last Rose of Summer," "The Land +of the Leal," "Auld Lang Syne," "Lochaber." They stood entranced, +listening with all their souls. They seemed to hunger and thirst after +this music, and the strains of the inspired Celtic race seemed to come +to them like the revelation of the glory of heaven. Then I played more +lively airs. Some I played a second time, singing the words. They +seemed eager to have the same one played often. At last a grisly +thought came to me: it was that they would learn these sweet strains, +and put their own words to them so as to use them at the awful +sacrifices. After that I would play no more. + +It is a land of tender love and remorseless cruelty. Music is +all-powerful to awaken the one, but powerless to abate the other; and +the eyes that weep over the pathetic strains of "Lochaber" can gaze +without a tear upon the death-agonies of a slaughtered friend. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE AWFUL "MISTA KOSEK" + + +The terrible sacrifice marked the end of the light season. The dark +season had now begun, which would last for half the coming year. No +more sunlight would now be visible, save at first for a few joms, +when at certain times the glare would be seen shooting up above the +icy crests of the mountains. Now the people all moved out of the +caverns into the stone houses on the opposite side of the terraces, +and the busy throng transferred themselves and their occupations to +the open air. This with them was the season of activity, when all +their most important affairs were undertaken and carried out; the +season, too, of enjoyment, when all the chief sports and festivals +took place. Then the outer world all awoke to life; the streets were +thronged, fleets of galleys came forth from their moorings, and the +sounds of labor and of pleasure, of toil and revelry, arose into the +darkened skies. Then the city was a city of the living, no longer +silent, but full of bustle, and the caverns were frequented but +little. This cavern life was only tolerable during the light season, +when the sun-glare was over the land; but now, when the beneficent and +grateful darkness pervaded all things, the outer world was infinitely +more agreeable. + +To me, however, the arrival of the dark season brought only additional +gloom. I could not get rid of the thought that I was reserved for some +horrible fate, in which Almah might also be involved. We were both +aliens here, in a nation of kind-hearted and amiable miscreants--of +generous, refined, and most self-denying fiends; of men who were +highly civilized, yet utterly wrong-headed and irreclaimable in their +blood-thirsty cruelty. The stain of blood-guiltiness was over all the +land. What was I, that I could hope to be spared? The hope was +madness, and I did not pretend to indulge it. + +The only consolation was Almah. The manners of these people were such +that we were still left as unconstrained as ever in our movements, and +always, wherever we went, we encountered nothing but amiable smiles +and courteous offices. Everyone was always eager to do anything for +us--to give, to go, to act, to speak, as though we were the most +honored of guests, the pride of the city. The Kohen was untiring in +his efforts to please. He was in the habit of making presents every +time he came to see me, and on each occasion the present was of a +different kind; at one time it was a new robe of curiously wrought +feathers, at another some beautiful gem, at another some rare fruit. +He also made incessant efforts to render my situation pleasant, and +was delighted at my rapid progress in acquiring the language. + +On the jom following the sacrifice I accompanied Almah as she went +to her daily task, and after it was over I asked when the new victims +would be placed here. "How long does it take to embalm them?" I added. + +Almah looked at me earnestly. "They will not bring them here; they +will not embalm them," said she. + +"Why not?" I asked; "what will they do with them?" + +"Do not ask," said she. "It will pain you to know." + +In spite of repeated solicitation she refused to give me any +satisfaction. I felt deeply moved at her words and her looks. What was +it, I wondered, that could give me pain? or what could there still +be that could excite fear in me, who had learned and seen so much? I +could not imagine. It was evidently some disposal of the bodies of +the victims--that was plain. Turning this over in my mind, with vague +conjectures as to Almah's meaning, I left her and walked along the +terrace until I came to the next cavern. This had never been open +before, and I now entered through curiosity to see what it might be. +I saw a vast cavern, quite as large as the cheder nebilin, full of +people, who seemed to be engaged in decorating it. Hundreds were at +work, and they had brought immense tree-ferns, which were placed on +either side in long rows, with their branches meeting and interlacing +at the top. It looked like the interior of some great Gothic cathedral +at night, and the few twinkling lights that were scattered here and +there made the shadowy outline just visible to me. + +I asked one of the bystanders what this might be, and he told me that +it was the Mista Kosek, which means the "Feast of Darkness," from +which I gathered that they were about to celebrate the advent of the +dark season with a feast. From what I knew of their character this +seemed quite intelligible, and there was much beauty and taste in the +arrangements. All were industrious and orderly, and each one seemed +most eager to assist his neighbor. Indeed, there seemed to be a +friendly rivalry in this which at times amounted to positive violence; +for more than once when a man was seen carrying too large a burden, +someone else would insist on taking it from him. At first these +altercations seemed exactly like the quarrels of workmen at home, but +a closer inspection showed that it was merely the persistent effort +of one to help another. + +I learned that the feast was to take place as soon as the hall was +decorated, and that it would be attended by a great multitude. I felt +a great interest in it. There seemed something of poetic beauty in +this mode of welcoming the advent of a welcome season, and it served +to mitigate the horrible remembrance of that other celebration, upon +which I could not think without a shudder. I thought that it would be +pleasant to join with them here, and resolved to ask Almah to come +with me, so that she might explain the meaning of the ceremonies. Full +of this thought, I went to her and told her my wish. She looked at me +with a face full of amazement and misery. In great surprise I +questioned her eagerly. + +"Ask me nothing," said she. "I will answer nothing; but do not think +of it. Do not go near it. Stay in your room till the fearful repast is +over." + +"Fearful? How is it fearful?" I asked. + +"Everything here is fearful," said Almah, with a sigh. "Every season +it grows worse, and I shall grow at length to hate life and love death +as these people do. They can never understand us, and we can never +understand them. Oh, if I could but once more stand in my own dear +native land but for one moment--to see once more the scenes and the +faces that I love so well! Oh, how different is this land from mine! +Here all is dark, all is terrible. There the people love the light and +rejoice in the glorious sun, and when the dark season comes they wait, +and have no other desire than long day. There we live under the sky, +in the eye of the sun. We build our houses, and when the dark season +comes we fill them with lamps that make a blaze like the sun itself." + +"We must try to escape," I said, in a low voice. + +"Escape!" said she. "That is easy enough. We might go now; but where?" + +"Back," said I, "to your own country. See, the sky is dotted with +stars: I can find my way by them." + +"Yes," said she, "if I could only tell you where to go; but I cannot. +My country lies somewhere over the sea, but where, I know not. Over +the sea there are many lands, and we might reach one even worse than +this." + +"Perhaps," said I, "the Kohen might allow us to go away to your +country, and send us there. He is most generous and most amiable. He +seems to spend most of his time in efforts to make us happy. There +must be many seamen in this nation who know the way. It would be worth +trying." + +Almah shook her head. "You do not understand these people," said she. +"Their ruling passion is the hatred of self, and therefore they are +eager to confer benefits on others. The only hope of life that I have +for you and for myself is in this, that if they kill us they will lose +their most agreeable occupation. They value us most highly, because +we take everything that is given us. You and I now possess as our own +property all this city and all its buildings, and all the people have +made themselves our slaves." + +At this I was utterly bewildered. + +"I don't understand," said I. + +"I suppose not," said Almah; "but you will understand better after you +have been here longer. At any rate, you can see for yourself that the +ruling passion here is self-denial and the good of others. Everyone is +intent upon this, from the Kohen up to the most squalid pauper." + +"_Up_ to the most squalid pauper?" said I. "I do not understand you. +You mean _down_ to the most squalid pauper." + +"No," said Almah; "I mean what I say. In this country the paupers form +the most honored and envied class." + +"This is beyond my comprehension," said I. "But if this is really so, +and if these people pretend to be our slaves, why may we not order out +a galley and go?" + +"Oh, well, with you in your land, if a master were to order his slaves +to cut his throat and poison his children and burn his house, would +the slaves obey?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Well, our slaves here would not--in fact could not--obey a command +that would be shocking to their natures. They think that we are in the +best of all lands, and my request to be sent home would be utterly +monstrous." + +"I suppose," said I, "they would kill us if we asked them to do so?" + +"Yes," said Almah; "for they think death the greatest blessing." + +"And if at the point of death we should beg for life, would they spare +us?" + +"Certainly not," said Almah. "Would you kill a man who asked for +death? No more would these people spare a man who asked for life." + +All this was so utterly incomprehensible that I could pursue the +subject no further. I saw, however, that Almah was wretched, dejected, +and suffering greatly from home-sickness. Gladly would I have taken +her and started off on a desperate flight by sea or land--gladly would +I have dared every peril, although I well knew what tremendous perils +there were; but she would not consent, and believed the attempt to be +useless. I could only wait, therefore, and indulge the hope that at +last a chance of escape might one day come, of which she would be +willing to avail herself. + +Almah utterly refused to go to the feast, and entreated me not to go; +but this only served to increase my curiosity, and I determined to see +it for myself, whatever it was. She had seen it, and why should not I? +Whatever it might be, my nerves could surely stand the shock as well +as hers. Besides, I was anxious to know the very worst; and if there +was anything that could surpass in atrocity what I had already +witnessed, it were better that I should not remain in ignorance of it. + +So at length, leaving Almah, I returned to the hall of the feast. I +found there a vast multitude, which seemed to comprise the whole +city--men, women, children, all were there. Long tables were laid out. +The people were all standing an waiting. A choir was singing plaintive +strains that sounded like the chant of the sacrifice. Those nearest me +regarded me with their usual amiable smiles, and wished to conduct me +to some place of honor; but I did not care about taking part in this +feast. I wished to be a mere spectator, nothing more. I walked past +and came to the next cavern. This seemed to be quite as large as the +other. There was a crowd of people here also, and at one end there +blazed an enormous fire. It was a furnace that seemed to be used for +cooking the food of this banquet, and there was a thick steam rising +from an immense cauldron, while the air was filled with an odor like +that of a kitchen. + +All this I took in at a glance, and at the same instant I saw +something else. There were several very long tables, which stood at +the sides of the cavern and in the middle, and upon each of these I +saw lying certain things covered over with cloths. The shape of these +was more than suggestive--it told me all. It was a sight of +horror--awful, tremendous, unspeakable! For a moment I stood +motionless staring; then all the cavern seemed to swim around me. I +reeled, I fell, and sank into nothingness. + +When I revived I was in the lighted grotto, lying on a couch, with +Almah bending over me. Her face was full of tenderest anxiety, yet +there was also apparent a certain solemn gloom that well accorded with +my own feelings. As I looked at her she drew a long breath, and buried +her face in her hands. + +After a time my recollection returned, and all came back to me. I rose +to a sitting posture. + +"Do not rise yet," said Almah, anxiously; "you are weak." + +"No," said I; "I am as strong as ever; but I'm afraid that you are +weaker." + +Almah shuddered. + +"If you had told me exactly what it was, I would not have gone." + +"I could not tell you," said she. "It is too terrible to name. Even +the thought is intolerable. I told you not to go. Why did you go?" + +She spoke in accents of tender reproach, and there were tears in her +eyes. + +"I did not think of anything so hideous as that," said I. "I thought +that there might be a sacrifice, but nothing worse." + +I now learned that when I fainted I had been raised most tenderly, +and the Kohen himself came with me as I was carried back, and he +thought that Almah would be my most agreeable nurse. The Kohen was +most kind and sympathetic, and all the people vied with one another +in their efforts to assist me--so much so that there was the greatest +confusion. It was only by Almah's express entreaty that they retired +and left me with her. + +Here was a new phase in the character of this mysterious people. +Could I ever hope to understand them? Where other people are cruel to +strangers, or at best indifferent, these are eager in their acts of +kindness; they exhibit the most unbounded hospitality, the most lavish +generosity, the most self-denying care and attention; where others +would be offended at the intrusion of a stranger, and enraged at +his unconquerable disgust, these people had no feeling save pity, +sympathy, and a desire to alleviate his distress. And yet--oh, and +yet!--oh, thought of horror!--what was this that I had seen? The +abhorrent savages in the outer wilderness were surely of the same race +as these. They too received us kindly, they too lavished upon us their +hospitality, and yet there followed the horror of that frightful +repast. Here there had been kindness and generosity and affectionate +attention, to be succeeded by deeds without a name. Ah me! what an +hour that was! And yet it was as nothing compared to what lay before +me in the future. + +But the subject was one of which I dared not speak--one from which I +had to force my thoughts away. I took the violin and played "Lochaber" +till Almah wept, and I had to put it away. Then I begged her to play +or sing. She brought an instrument like a lute, and upon this she +played some melancholy strains. At length the Kohen came in. His +mild, benevolent face never exhibited more gentle and affectionate +sympathy than now. He seated himself, and with eyes half closed, as +usual, talked much; and yet, with a native delicacy which always +distinguished this extraordinary man, he made no allusion to the +awful Mista Kosek. For my own part, I could not speak. I was +absent-minded, overwhelmed with gloom and despair, and at the same +time full of aversion toward him and all his race. One question, +however, I had to put. + +"Who were the victims of the Mista Kosek?" + +"They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims +of the sacrifice." + +I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's +lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his +usual consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +I LEARN MY DOOM + + +Horror is a feeling that cannot last long; human nature is +incapable of supporting it. Sadness, whether from bereavement, or +disappointment, or misfortune of any kind, may linger on through life. +In my case, however, the milder and more enduring feeling of sadness +had no sufficient cause for existence. The sights which I had seen +inspired horror, and horror only. But when the first rush of this +feeling had passed there came a reaction. Calmness followed, and then +all the circumstances of my life here conspired to perpetuate that +calm. For here all on the surface was pleasant and beautiful; all the +people were amiable and courteous and most generous. I had light and +luxury and amusements. Around me there were thousands of faces, all +greeting me with cordial affection, and thousands of hands all ready +to perform my slightest wish. Above all, there was Almah. Everything +combined to make her most dear to me. My life had been such that I +never before had seen anyone whom I loved; and here Almah was the one +congenial associate in a whole world of aliens: she was beautiful +and gentle and sympathetic, and I loved her dearly, even before I +understood what my feelings were. One day I learned all, and found +that she was more precious to me than all the world. + +It was one jom when she did not make her appearance as usual. On +asking after her I learned that she was ill. At this intelligence +there came over me a feeling of sickening anxiety and fear. Almah ill! +What if it should prove serious? Could I endure life here without her +sweet companionship? Of what value was life without her? And as I +asked myself these questions I learned that Almah had become dearer +to me than life itself, and that in her was all the sunshine of my +existence. While she was absent, life was nothing; all its value, all +its light, its flavor, its beauty, were gone. I felt utterly crushed. +I forgot all else save her illness, and all that I had endured seemed +as nothing when compared with this. + +In the midst of my own anxiety I was surprised to find that the whole +community was most profoundly agitated. Among all classes there seemed +to be but one thought--her illness. I could overhear them talking I +could see them wait outside to hear about her. It seemed to be the one +subject of interest, beside which all others were forgotten. The Kohen +was absorbed in her case; all the physicians of the city were more or +less engaged in her behalf; and there came forward as volunteers every +woman in the place who had any knowledge of sick-duties. I was +somewhat perplexed, however, at their manner. They were certainly +agitated and intensely interested, yet not exactly sad. Indeed, from +what I heard it seemed as though this strange people regarded sickness +as rather a blessing than otherwise. This, however, did not interfere +in the slightest degree with the most intense interest in her, and the +most assiduous attention. The Kohen in particular was devoted to her. +He was absent-minded, silent, and full of care. On the whole, I felt +more than ever puzzled, and less able than ever to understand these +people. I loved them, yet loathed them; for the Kohen I had at once +affection and horror. He looked like an anxious father, full of +tenderest love for a sick child--full also of delicate sympathy with +me; and yet I knew all the time that he was quite capable of plunging +the sacrificial knife in Almah's heart and of eating her afterward. + +But my own thoughts were all of Almah. I learned how dear she was. +With her the brightness of life had passed; without her existence +would be intolerable. Her sweet voice, her tender and gracious manner, +her soft touch, her tender, affectionate smile, her mournful yet +trustful look--oh, heavens! would all these be mine no more? I could +not endure the thought. At first I wandered about, seeking rest and +finding none; and at length I sat in my own room, and passed the time +in listening, in questioning the attendants, in wondering what I +should do if she should be taken from me. + +At length on one blessed jom, the Kohen came to me with a bright +smile. + +"Our darling Almah is better," said he. "Eat, I beseech you. She is +very dear to all of us, and we have all felt for her and for you. But +now all danger is past. The physicians say that she will soon be +well." There were tears in his eyes as he spoke. It may have been +caused by the bright light, but I attributed this to his loving heart, +and I forgot that he was a cannibal. I took his hands in mine and +pressed them in deep emotion. He looked at me with a sweet and gentle +smile. + +"I see it all," said he, in a low voice--"you love her, Atam-or." + +I pressed his hands harder, but said nothing. Indeed, I could not +trust myself to speak. + +"I knew it," said he; "it is but natural. You are both of a different +race from us; you are both much alike, and in full sympathy with one +another. This draws you together. When I first saw you I thought that +you would be a fit companion for her here--that you would lessen her +gloom, and that she would be pleasant to you. I found out soon that I +was right, and I felt glad, for you at once showed the fullest +sympathy with one another. Never till you came was Almah happy with +us; but since you have come she has been a different being, and there +has been a joyousness in her manner that I never saw before. You have +made her forget how to weep; and as for yourself, I hope she has made +your life in this strange land seem less painful, Atam-or." + +At all this I was so full of amazement that I could not say one word. + +"Pardon me," continued he, "if I have said anything that may seem like +an intrusion upon your secret and most sacred feelings. I could not +have said it had it not been for the deep affection I feel for Almah +and for you, and for the reason that I am just now more moved than +usual, and have less control over my feelings." + +Saying this, he pressed my hand and left me. It was not the custom +here to shake hands, but with his usual amiability he had adopted my +custom, and used it as naturally as though he had been to the manner +born. + +I was encouraged now. The mild Kohen came often to cheer me. He talked +much about Almah--about her sweet and gracious disposition, the love +that all felt for her, the deep and intense interest which her illness +had aroused. In all this he seemed more like a man of my own race than +before, and in his eager desire for her recovery he failed to exhibit +that love for death which was his nature. So it seemed: yet this +desire for her recovery did not arise out of any lack of love for +death; its true cause I was to learn afterward; and I was to know that +if he desired Almah's recovery now, it was only that she might live +long enough to encounter death in a more terrific form. But just then +all this was unknown, and I judged him by myself. + +At last I learned that she was much better, and would be out on the +following jom. This intelligence filled me with a fever of eager +anticipation, so great that I could think of nothing else. Sleep was +impossible. I could only wait, and try as best I might to quell my +impatience. At last the time came. I sat waiting. The curtain was +drawn aside. I sprang up, and, hurrying toward her, I caught her in my +arms and wept for joy. Ah me, how pale she looked! She bore still the +marks of her illness. She seemed deeply embarrassed and agitated at +the fervor of my greeting; while I, instead of apologizing or trying +to excuse myself, only grew more agitated still. + +"Oh, Almah," I cried. "I should have died if you had not come back to +me! Oh, Almah, I love you better than life and I never knew how dearly +I loved you till I thought that I had lost you! Oh, forgive me, but I +must tell you--and don't weep, darling." + +She was weeping as I spoke. She said nothing, but twined her arms +around my neck and wept on my breast. After this we had much to say +that we had never mentioned before. I cannot tell the sweet words that +she said to me; but I now learned that she had loved me from the +first--when I came to her in her loneliness, when she was homesick and +heartsick; and I came, a kindred nature, of a race more like her own; +and she saw in me the only one of all around her whom it was possible +not to detest, and therefore she loved me. + +We had many things to say to one another, and long exchanges of +confidence to make. She now for the first time told me all the sorrow +that she had endured in her captivity--sorrow which she had kept +silent and shut up deep within her breast. At first her life here had +been so terrible that it had brought her down nearly to death. After +this she had sunk into dull despair; she had grown familiar with +horrors and lived in a state of unnatural calm. From this my arrival +had roused her. The display of feeling on my part had brought back +all her old self, and roused anew all those feelings which in her had +become dormant. The darkness, the bloodshed, the sacrifices, all these +affected me as they had once affected her. I had the same fear of +death which she had. When I had gone with her to the cheder nebilin, +when I had used my sepet-ram to save life, she had perceived in me +feelings and impulses to which all her own nature responded. Finally, +when I asked about the Mista Kosek, she warned me not to go. When I +did go she was with me in thought and suffered all that I felt, until +the moment when I was brought back and laid senseless at her feet. + +"Then," said Almah, "I felt the full meaning of all that lies before +us." + +"What do you mean by that?" I asked, anxiously. "You speak as though +there were something yet--worse than what has already been; yet +nothing can possibly be worse. We have seen the worst; let us now try +to shake off these grisly thoughts, and be happy with one another. +Your strength will soon be back, and while we have one another we can +be happy even in this gloom." + +"Ah me," said Almah, "it would be better now to die. I could die happy +now, since I know that you love me." + +"Death!" said I; "do not talk of it--do not mention that word. It is +more abhorrent than ever. No, Almah, let us live and love--let us +hope--let us fly." + +"Impossible!" said she, in a mournful voice. "We cannot fly. There is +no hope. We must face the future, and make up our minds to bear our +fate." + +"Fate!" I repeated, looking at her in wonder and in deep concern. +"What do you mean by our fate? Is there anything more which you know +and which I have not heard?" + +"You have heard nothing," said she, slowly; "and all that you have +seen and heard is as nothing compared with what lies before us. For +you and for me there is a fate--inconceivable, abhorrent, +tremendous!--a fate of which I dare not speak or even think, and from +which there is no escape whatever." + +As Almah said this she looked at me with an expression in which terror +and anguish were striving with love. Her cheeks, which shortly before +had flushed rosy red in sweet confusion, were now pallid, her lips +ashen; her eyes were full of a wild despair. I looked at her in +wonder, and could not say a word. + +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "I am afraid of death!" + +"Almah," said I, "why will you speak of death? What is this fate which +you fear so much?" + +"It is this," said she hurriedly and with a shudder, "you and I are +singled out. I have been reserved for years until one should be found +who might be joined with me. You came. I saw it all at once. I have +known it--dreaded it--tried to fight against it. But it was of no use. +Oh, Atam-or, our love means death; for the very fact that you love me +and I love you seals our doom!" + +"Our doom? What doom?" + +"The sacrifice!" exclaimed Almah, with another shudder. In her voice +and look there was a terrible meaning, which I could not fail to take. +I understood it now, and my blood curdled in my veins. Almah clung to +me despairingly. + +"Do not leave me!" she cried--"do not leave me! I have no one but you. +The sacrifice, the sacrifice! It is our doom the great sacrifice--at +the end of the dark season. It is at the amir. We must go there to +meet our doom." + +"The amir?" I asked; "what is that?" + +"It is the metropolis," said she. + +I was utterly overwhelmed, yet still I tried to console her; but the +attempt was vain. + +"Oh!" she cried, "you will not understand. The sacrifice is but a +part--it is but the beginning. Death is terrible; yet it may be +endured--if there is only death. But oh!--oh think!--think of that +which comes after--the Mista Kosek!" + +Now the full meaning flashed upon me, and I saw it all. In an instant +there arose in my mind the awful sacrifice on the pyramid and the +unutterable horror of the Mista Kosek. Oh, horror, horror, +horror! Oh, hideous abomination and deed without a name! I could not +speak. I caught her in my arms, and we both wept passionately. + +The happiness of our love was now darkened by this tremendous cloud +that lowered before us. The shock of this discovery was overpowering, +and some time elapsed before I could rally from it. Though Almah's +love was sweet beyond expression, and though as the time passed I +saw that every jom she regained more and more of her former +health and strength, still I could not forget what had been revealed. +We were happy with one another, yet our happiness was clouded, and +amid the brightness of our love there was ever present the dread +spectre of our appalling doom. + +These feelings, however, grew fainter. Hope is ever ready to arise; +and I began to think that these people, though given to evil ways, +were after all kind-hearted, and might listen to entreaty. Above all, +there was the Kohen, so benevolent, so self-denying, so amiable, so +sympathetic. I could not forget all that he had said during Almah's +illness, and it seemed more than probable that an appeal to his better +nature might not be without effect. I said as much to Almah. + +"The Kohen," said she; "why, he can do nothing." + +"Why not? He is the chief man here, and ought to have great +influence." + +"You don't understand," said she, with a sigh. "The Kohen is the +lowest and least influential man in the city." + +"Why, who are influential if he is not?" I asked. + +"The paupers," said Almah. + +"The paupers!" I exclaimed, in amazement. + +"Yes," said Almah. "Here among these people the paupers form the most +honored, influential, and envied portion of the community." + +This was incomprehensible. Almah tried to explain, but to no purpose, +and I determined to talk to the Kohen. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE + + +I determined to talk to the Kohen, and try for myself whether he might +not be accessible to pity. This greatest of cannibals might, indeed, +have his little peculiarities, I thought, and who has not?--yet at +bottom he seemed full of tender and benevolent feeling; and as he +evidently spent his whole time in the endeavor to make us happy, it +seemed not unlikely that he might do something for our happiness in a +case where our very existence was at stake. + +The Kohen listened with deep attention as I stated my case. I did this +fully and frankly. I talked of my love for Almah and of Almah's love +for me; our hope that we might be united so as to live happily in +reciprocal affection; and I was going on to speak of the dread that +was in my heart when he interrupted me: + +"You speak of being united," said he. "You talk strangely. Of course +you mean that you wish to be separated." + +"Separated!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean? Of course we wish to be +united." + +The Kohen stared at me as I said this with the look of one who was +quite puzzled; and I then went on to speak of the fate that was before +us, and to entreat his sympathy and his aid that we might be saved +from so hideous a doom. To all these words the Kohen listened with an +air of amazement, as though I were saying incomprehensible things. + +"You have a gentle and an affectionate nature," I said--"a nature full +of sympathy with others, and noble self-denial." + +"Of course," said the Kohen, quickly, as though glad to get hold of +something which he could understand, "of course we are all so, for we +are so made. It is our nature. Who is there who is not self-denying? +No one can help that." + +This sounded strange indeed; but I did not care to criticize it. I +came to my purpose direct and said, + +"Save us from our fate." + +"Your fate?" + +"Yes, from death--that death of horror." + +"Death?--horror? What do you mean by horror?" said the Kohen, in an +amazement that was sincere and unfeigned. "I cannot comprehend your +meaning. It seems as though you actually dislike death; but that is +not conceivable. It cannot be possible that you fear death." + +"Fear death!" I exclaimed, "I do--I do. Who is there that does not +fear it?" + +The Kohen stared. + +"I do not understand you," he said. + +"Do you not understand," said I, "that death is abhorrent to +humanity?" + +"Abhorrent!" said the Kohen; "that is impossible. Is it not the +highest blessing? Who is there that does not long for death? Death is +the greatest blessing, the chief desire of man--the highest aim. And +you--are you not to be envied in having your felicity so near? above +all, in having such a death as that which is appointed for you--so +noble, so sublime? You must be mad; your happiness has turned your +head." + +All this seemed like hideous mockery, and I stared at the Kohen with a +gaze that probably strengthened his opinion of my madness. + +"Do you love death?" I asked at length, in amazement. + +"Love death? What a question! Of course I love death--all men do; who +does not? Is it not human nature? Do we not instinctively fly to meet +it whenever we can? Do we not rush into the jaws of sea-monsters, or +throw ourselves within their grasp? Who does not feel within him this +intense longing after death as the strongest passion of his heart?" + +"I don't know--I don't know," said I. "You are of a different race; I +do not understand what you say. But I belong to a race that fears +death. I fear death and love life; and I entreat you, I implore you to +help me now in my distress, and assist me so that I may save my life +and that of Almah." + +"I--I help you!" said the Kohen, in new amazement. "Why do you come to +me--to me, of all men? Why, I am nothing here. And help you to +live--to live! Who ever heard of such a thing?" + +And the Kohen looked at me with the same astonishment which I should +evince if a man should ask me to help him to die. + +Still, I persisted in my entreaty for his help. + +"Such a request," said he, "is revolting; you must be mad. Such a +request outrages all the instincts of humanity. And even if I could do +such violence to my own nature as to help you to such a thing, how do +you think I could face my fellow-men, or how could I endure the +terrible punishment which would fall upon me?" + +"Punishment!" said I. "What! would you be punished?" + +"Punished!" said the Kohen. "That, of course, would be inevitable. I +should be esteemed an unnatural monster and the chief of criminals. My +lot in life now is painful enough; but in this case my punishment +would involve me in evils without end. Riches would be poured upon me; +I should be raised to the rank of Kohen Gadol; I should be removed +farther away than ever from the pauper class--so far, indeed, that all +hope in life would be over. I should be made the first and noblest and +richest in all the land." + +He spoke these words just as if he had said, "the lowest, meanest, +poorest, and most infamous." It sounded like fresh mockery, and I +could not believe but that he was amusing himself at my expense. + +"This is cruel," said I. "You are mocking me." + +"Cruel?--cruel?" said he; "what is cruel? You mean that such a fate +would be cruel for me." + +"No, no," said I; "but alas! I see we cannot understand one another." + +"No," said the Kohen, musingly, as he looked at me. "No, it seems not; +but tell me, Atam-or, is it possible that you really fear death--that +you really love life?" + +"Fear death!--love life!" I cried. "Who does not? Who can help it? Why +do you ask me that?" + +The Kohen clasped his hands in amazement. + +"If you really fear death," said he, "what possible thing is there +left to love or to hope for? What, then, do you think the highest +blessing of man?" + +"Long life," said I, "and riches and requited love." + +At this the Kohen started back, and stared at me as though I were a +raving madman. + +"Oh, holy shades of night!" he exclaimed. "What is that you say? What +do you mean?" + +"We can never understand one another, I fear," said I. "The love of +life must necessarily be the strongest passion of man. We are so made. +We give up everything for life. A long life is everywhere considered +as the highest blessing; and there is no one who is willing to die, no +matter what his suffering may be. Riches also are desired by all, for +poverty is the direst curse that can embitter life; and as to requited +love, surely that is the sweetest, purest, and most divine joy that +the human heart may know." + +At this the Kohen burst forth in a strain of high excitement: + +"Oh, sacred cavern gloom! Oh, divine darkness! Oh, impenetrable +abysses of night! What, oh, what is this! Oh, Atam-or, are you mad? +Alas! it must be so. Joy has turned your brain; you are quite +demented. You call good evil, and evil good; our light is your +darkness, and our darkness your light. Yet surely you cannot be +altogether insane. Come, come, let us look further. How is it! Try now +to recall your reason. A long life--a life, and a long one! Surely +there can be no human being in a healthy state of nature who wishes to +prolong his life; and as to riches, it is possible that anyone exists +who really and honestly desires riches? Impossible! And requited love! +Oh, Atam-or, you are mad to-day! You are always strange, but now you +have quite taken leave of your senses. I cannot but love you, and yet +I can never understand you. Tell me, and tell me truly, what is it +that you consider evils, if these things that you have mentioned are +not the very worst?" + +He seemed deeply in earnest and much moved. I could not understand +him, but could only answer his questions with simple conciseness. + +"Poverty, sickness, and death," said I, "are evils; but the worst of +all evils is unrequited love." + +At these words the Kohen made a gesture of despair. + +"It is impossible to understand this," said he. "You talk calmly; you +have not the air of a madman. If your fellow-countrymen are all like +you, then your race is an incomprehensible one. Why, death is the +greatest blessing. We all long for it; it is the end of our being. As +for riches, they are a curse, abhorred by all. Above all, as to love, +we shrink from the thought of requital. Death is our chief blessing, +poverty our greatest happiness, and unrequited love the sweetest lot +of man." + +All this sounded like the ravings of a lunatic, yet the Kohen was not +mad. It seemed also like the mockery of some teasing demon; but the +gentle and self-denying Kohen was no teasing demon, and mockery with +him was impossible. I was therefore more bewildered than ever at this +reiteration of sentiments that were so utterly incomprehensible. He, +on the other hand, seemed as astonished at my sentiments and as +bewildered, and we could find no common ground on which to meet. + +"I remember now," said the Kohen, in a musing tone, "having heard of +some strange folk at the Amir, who profess to feel as you say you +feel, but no one believes that they are in earnest; for although they +may even bring themselves to think that they are in earnest in their +professions, yet after all everyone thinks that they are +self-deceived. For you see, in the first place, these feelings which +you profess are utterly unnatural. We are so made that we cannot help +loving death; it is a sort of instinct. We are also created in such a +way that we cannot help longing after poverty. The pauper must always, +among all men, be the most envied of mortals. Nature, too, has made us +such that the passion of love, when it arises, is so vehement, so +all-consuming that it must always struggle to avoid requital. This is +the reason why, when two people find that they love each other, they +always separate and avoid one another for the rest of their lives. +This is human nature. We cannot help it; and it is this that +distinguishes us from the animals. Why, if men were to feel as you say +you feel, they would be mere animals. Animals fear death; animals love +to accumulate such things as they prize; animals, when they love, go +in pairs, and remain with one another. But man, with his intellect, +would not be man if he loved life and desired riches and sought for +requited love." + +I sank back in despair. "You cannot mean all this," I said. + +He threw at me a piteous glance. "What else can you believe or feel?" +said he. + +"The very opposite. We are so made that we hate and fear death; to us +he is the King of Terrors. Poverty is terrible also, since it is +associated with want and woe; it is, therefore, natural to man to +strive after riches. As to the passion of love, that is so vehement +that the first and only thought is requital. Unrequited love is +anguish beyond expression--anguish so severe that the heart will often +break under it." + +The Kohen clasped his hands in new bewilderment. + +"I cannot understand," said he. "A madman might imagine that he loved +life and desired riches; but as to love, why even a madman could not +think of requital, for the very nature of the passion of love is the +most utter self-surrender, and a shrinking from all requital; +wherefore, the feeling that leads one to desire requital cannot be +love. I do not know what it can be--indeed, I never heard of such a +thing before, and the annals of the human race make no mention of such +a feeling. For what is love? It is the ardent outflow of the whole +being--the yearning of one human heart to lavish all its treasures +upon another. Love is more than self-denial; it is self-surrender and +utter self-abnegation. Love gives all away, and cannot possibly +receive anything in return. A requital of love would mean selfishness, +which would be self-contradiction. The more one loves, the more he +must shrink from requital." + +"What!" cried I, "among you do lovers never marry?" + +"Lovers marry? Never!" + +"Do married people never love one another?" + +The Kohen shook his head. + +"It unfortunately sometimes happens so," said he, "and then the result +is, of course, distressing. For the children's sake the parents will +often remain with one another, but in many cases they separate. No one +can tell the misery that ensues where a husband and wife love one +another." + +The conversation grew insupportable. I could not follow the Kohen in +what seemed the wildest and maddest flights of fancy that ever were +known; so I began to talk of other things, and gradually the Kohen was +drawn to speak of his own life. The account which he gave of himself +was not one whit less strange than his previous remarks, and for this +reason I add it here. + +"I was born," said he, "in the most enviable of positions. My father +and mother were among the poorest in the land. Both died when I was a +child, and I never saw them. I grew up in the open fields and public +caverns, along with the most esteemed paupers. But, unfortunately for +me, there was something wanting in my natural disposition. I loved +death, of course, and poverty, too, very strongly; but I did not have +that eager and energetic passion which is so desirable, nor was I +watchful enough over my blessed estate of poverty. Surrounded as I was +by those who were only too ready to take advantage of my ignorance or +want of vigilance, I soon fell into evil ways, and gradually, in spite +of myself, I found wealth pouring in upon me. Designing men succeeded +in winning my consent to receive their possessions; and so I gradually +fell away from that lofty position in which I was born. I grew richer +and richer. My friends warned me, but in vain. I was too weak to +resist; in fact, I lacked moral fibre, and had never learned how to +say 'No.' So I went on, descending lower and lower in the scale of +being. I became a capitalist, an Athon, a general officer, and finally +Kohen. + +"At length, on one eventful day, I learned that one of my associates +had by a long course of reckless folly become the richest man in all +the country. He had become Athon, Melek, and at last Kohen Gadol. It +was a terrible shock, but I trust a salutary one. I at once resolved +to reform. That resolution I have steadily kept, and have at least +saved myself from descending any lower. It is true, I can hardly hope +to become what I once was. It is only too easy to grow rich; and, you +know, poverty once forfeited can never return except in rare +instances. I have, however, succeeded in getting rid of most of my +wealth, chiefly through the fortunate advent of Almah and afterward of +yourself. This, I confess, has been my salvation. Neither of you had +any scruples about accepting what was bestowed, and so I did not feel +as though I was doing you any wrong in giving you all I had in the +world. Most of the people of this city have taken advantage of your +extraordinary indifference to wealth, and have made themselves paupers +at your expense. I had already become your slave, and had received the +promise of being elevated to the rank of scullion in the cavern of the +Mista Kosek. But now, since this event of your love for Almah, I +hope to gain far more. I am almost certain of being made a pauper, and +I think I can almost venture to hope some day for the honor of a +public death." + +To such a story I had nothing to say. It was sheer madness; yet it was +terribly suggestive, and showed how utterly hopeless was my effort to +secure the assistance of such a man toward my escape from death. + +"A public death!" I said, grimly. "That will be very fortunate! And do +you think that you will gain the dignity of being eaten up afterward?" + +The Kohen shook his head in all seriousness. + +"Oh no," said he; "that would be far beyond my deserts. That is an +honor which is only bestowed upon the most distinguished." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE KOSEKIN + + +These people call themselves the Kosekin. Their chief characteristic, +or, at least, their most prominent one, is their love of darkness, +which perhaps is due to their habit of dwelling in caves. Another +feeling, equally strong and perhaps connected with this, is their love +of death and dislike of life. This is visible in many ways, and +affects all their character. It leads to a passionate self-denial, an +incessant effort to benefit others at their own expense. Each one +hates life and longs for death. He, therefore, hates riches, and all +things that are associated with life. + +Among the Kosekin everyone makes perpetual efforts to serve others, +which, however, are perpetually baffled by the unselfishness of these +others. People thus spend years in trying to overreach one another, so +as to make others richer than themselves. In a race each one tries to +keep behind; but as this leads to confusion, there is then a universal +effort for each one to be first, so as to put his neighbor in the +honorable position of the rear. It is the same way in a hunt. Each one +presses forward, so as to honor his companion by leaving him behind. +Instead of injuring, everyone tries to benefit his neighbor. When one +has been benefited by another, he is filled with a passion which may +be called Kosekin revenge--namely, a sleepless and vehement desire to +bestow some adequate and corresponding benefit on the other. Feuds +are thus kept up among families and wars among nations. For no one is +willing to accept from another any kindness, any gift, or any honor, +and all are continually on the watch to prevent themselves from being +overreached in this way. Those who are less watchful than others are +overwhelmed with gifts by designing men, who wish to attain to the +pauper class. The position of Almah and myself illustrates this. Our +ignorance of the blessings and honors of poverty led us to receive +whatever was offered us. Taking advantage of our innocence and +ignorance, the whole city thereupon proceeded to bestow their property +upon us, and all became paupers through our fortunate arrival. + +No one ever injures another unless by accident, and when this occurs +it affords the highest joy to the injured party. He has now a claim on +the injurer; he gets him into his power, is able to confer benefits on +him and force upon him all that he wishes. The unhappy injurer, thus +punished by the reception of wealth, finds himself helpless; and where +the injury is great, the injured man may bestow upon the other all his +wealth and attain to the envied condition of a pauper. + +Among the Kosekin the sick are objects of the highest regard. All +classes vie with one another in their attentions. The rich send their +luxuries; the paupers, however, not having anything to give, go +themselves and wait on them and nurse them. For this there is no help, +and the rich grumble, but can do nothing. The sick are thus sought out +incessantly, and most carefully tended. When they die there is great +rejoicing, since death is a blessing; but the nurses labor hard to +preserve them in life, so as to prolong the enjoyment of the high +privilege of nursing. Of all sick the incurable are most honored, +since they require nursing always. Children also are highly honored +and esteemed, and the aged too, since both classes require the care of +others and must be the recipients of favors which all are anxious to +bestow. Those who suffer from contagious diseases are more sought +after than any other class, for in waiting on these there is the +chance of gaining the blessing of death; indeed, in these cases much +trouble is usually experienced from the rush of those who insist on +offering their services. + +For it must never be forgotten that the Kosekin love death as we love +life; and this accounts for all those ceremonies which to me were so +abhorrent, especially the scenes of the Mista Kosek. To them a dead +human body is no more than the dead body of a bird: there is no awe +felt, no sense of sanctity, of superstitious horror; and so I learned, +with a shudder, that the hate of life is a far worse thing than the +fear of death. This desire for death is, then, a master-passion, and +is the key to all their words and acts. They rejoice over the death of +friends, since those friends have gained the greatest of blessings; +they rejoice also at the birth of children, since those who are born +will one day gain the bliss of death. + +For a couple to fall in love is the signal for mutual self-surrender. +Each insists on giving up the loved one; and the more passionate the +love is, the more eager is the desire to have the loved one married to +someone else. Lovers have died broken-hearted from being compelled to +marry one another. Poets here among the Kosekin celebrate unhappy love +which has met with this end. These poets also celebrate defeats +instead of victories, since it is considered glorious for one nation +to sacrifice itself to another; but to this there are important +limitations, as we shall see. Poets also celebrate street-sweepers, +scavengers, lamp-lighters, laborers, and above all, paupers, and pass +by as unworthy of notice the authors, Meleks, and Kohens of the land. + +The paupers here form the most honorable class. Next to these are the +laborers. These have strikes as with us; but it is always for harder +work, longer hours, or smaller pay. The contest between capital and +labor rages, but the conditions are reversed; for the grumbling +capitalist complains that the laborer will not take as much pay as he +ought to while the laborer thinks the capitalist too persistent in his +efforts to force money upon him. + +Here among the Kosekin the wealthy class forms the mass of the people, +while the aristocratic few consist of the paupers. These are greatly +envied by the others, and have many advantages. The cares and burdens +of wealth, as well as wealth itself, are here considered a curse, and +from all these the paupers are exempt. There is a perpetual effort on +the part of the wealthy to induce the paupers to accept gifts, just +as among us the poor try to rob the rich. Among the wealthy there is +a great and incessant murmur at the obstinacy of the paupers. Secret +movements are sometimes set on foot which aim at a redistribution of +property and a levelling of all classes, so as to reduce the haughty +paupers to the same condition as the mass of the nation. More than +once there has been a violent attempt at a revolution, so as to force +wealth on the paupers; but as a general thing these movements have +been put down and their leaders severely punished. The paupers have +shown no mercy in their hour of triumph; they have not conceded one +jot to the public demand, and the unhappy conspirators have been +condemned to increased wealth and luxury, while the leaders have +been made Meleks and Kohens. Thus there are among the Kosekin the +unfortunate many who are cursed with wealth, and the fortunate few who +are blessed with poverty. These walk while the others ride, and from +their squalid huts look proudly and contemptuously upon the palaces of +their unfortunate fellow-countrymen. + +The love of death leads to perpetual efforts on the part of each to +lay down his life for another. This is a grave difficulty in hunts and +battles. Confined prisoners dare not fly, for in such an event the +guards kill themselves. This leads to fresh rigors in the captivity of +the prisoners in case of their recapture, for they are overwhelmed +with fresh luxuries and increased splendors. Finally, if a prisoner +persist and is recaptured, he is solemnly put to death, not, as with +us, by way of severity, but as the last and greatest honor. Here +extremes meet; and death, whether for honor or dishonor, is all the +same--death--and is reserved for desperate cases. But among the +Kosekin this lofty destiny is somewhat embittered by the agonizing +thought on the part of the prisoner, who thus gains it, that his +wretched family must be doomed, not, as with us, to poverty and want, +but, on the contrary, to boundless wealth and splendor. + +Among so strange a people it seemed singular to me what offences could +possibly be committed which could be regarded and punished as crimes. +These, however, I soon found out. Instead of robbers, the Kosekin +punished the secret bestowers of their wealth on others. This is +regarded as a very grave offence. Analogous to our crime of piracy +is the forcible arrest of ships at sea and the transfer to them of +valuables. Sometimes the Kosekin pirates give themselves up as slaves. +Kidnapping, assault, highway robbery, and crimes of violence have +their parallel here in cases where a strong man, meeting a weaker, +forces himself upon him as his slave or compels him to take his purse. +If the weaker refuse, the assailant threatens to kill himself, which +act would lay the other under obligations to receive punishment from +the state in the shape of gifts and honors, or at least subject him +to unpleasant inquiries. Murder has its counterpart among the Kosekin +in cases where one man meets another, forces money on him, and kills +himself. Forgery occurs where one uses another's name so as to confer +money on him. + +There are many other crimes, all of which are severely punished. The +worse the offence is, the better is the offender treated. Among the +Kosekin capital punishment is imprisonment amid the greatest splendor, +where the prisoner is treated like a king, and has many palaces and +great retinues; for that which we consider the highest they regard as +the lowest, and with them the chief post of honor is what we would +call the lowest menial office. Of course, among such a people, any +suffering from want is unknown, except when it is voluntary. The +pauper class, with all their great privileges, have this restriction, +that they are forced to receive enough for food and clothing. Some, +indeed, manage by living in out-of-the-way places to deprive +themselves of these, and have been known to die of starvation; but +this is regarded as dishonorable, as taking an undue advantage of a +great position, and where it can be proved, the children and relatives +of the offender are severely punished according to the Kosekin +fashion. + +State politics here move, like individual affairs, upon the great +principle of contempt for earthly things. The state is willing to +destroy itself for the good of other states; but as other states are +in the same position, nothing can result. In times of war the object +of each army is to honor the other and benefit it by giving it the +glory of defeat. The contest is thus most fierce. The Kosekin, through +their passionate love of death, are terrible in battle; and when they +are also animated by the desire to confer glory on their enemies by +defeating them, they generally succeed in their aim. This makes them +almost always victorious, and when they are not so not a soul returns +alive. Their state of mind is peculiar. If they are defeated they +rejoice, since defeat is their chief glory; but if they are victorious +they rejoice still more in the benevolent thought that they have +conferred upon the enemy the joy, the glory, and the honor of defeat. + +Here all shrink from governing others. The highest wish of each is to +serve. The Meleks and Kohens, whom I at first considered the highest, +are really the lowest orders; next to these come the authors, then the +merchants, then farmers, then artisans, then laborers, and, finally, +the highest rank is reached in the paupers. Happy the aristocratic, +the haughty, the envied paupers! The same thing is seen in their +armies. The privates here are highest in rank, and the officers come +next in different graduations. These officers, however, have the +command and the charge of affairs as with us; yet this is consistent +with their position, for here to obey is considered nobler than to +command. In the fleet the rowers are the highest class; next come the +fighting-men; and lowest of all are the officers. War arises from +motives as peculiar as those which give rise to private feuds; as, for +instance, where one nation tries to force a province upon another; +where they try to make each other greater; where they try to benefit +unduly each other's commerce; where one may have a smaller fleet or +army than has been agreed on, or where an ambassador has been +presented with gifts, or received too great honor or attention. + +In such a country as this, where riches are disliked and despised, I +could not imagine how people could be induced to engage in trade. +This, however, was soon explained. The laborers and artisans have to +perform their daily work, so as to enable the community to live and +move and have its being. Their impelling motive is the high one of +benefiting others most directly. They refuse anything but the very +smallest pay, and insist on giving for this the utmost possible labor. +Tradesmen also have to supply the community with articles of all +sorts; merchants have to sail their ships to the same end--all being +animated by the desire of effecting the good of others. Each one tries +not to make money, but to lose it; but as the competition is sharp and +universal, this is difficult, and the larger portion are unsuccessful. +The purchasers are eager to pay as much as possible, and the merchants +and traders grow rich in spite of their utmost endeavors. The wealthy +classes go into business so as to lose money, but in this they seldom +succeed. It has been calculated that only two per cent in every +community succeed in reaching the pauper class. The tendency is for +all the labors of the working-class to be ultimately turned upon the +unfortunate wealthy class. The workmen being the creators of wealth, +and refusing to take adequate pay, cause a final accumulation of the +wealth of the community in the hands of the mass of the non-producers, +who thus are fixed in their unhappy position, and can hope for no +escape except by death. The farmers till the ground, the fishermen +fish, the laborers toil, and the wealth thus created is pushed from +these incessantly till it all falls upon the lowest class--namely, the +rich, including Athons, Meleks, and Kohens. It is a burden that is +often too heavy to be borne; but there is no help for it, and the +better-minded seek to cultivate resignation. + +Women and men are in every respect absolutely equal, holding precisely +the same offices and doing the same work. In general, however, it is +observed that women are a little less fond of death than men, and a +little less unwilling to receive gifts. For this reason they are very +numerous among the wealthy class, and abound in the offices of +administration. Women serve in the army and navy as well as men, and +from their lack of ambition or energetic perseverance they are usually +relegated to the lower ranks, such as officers and generals. To my +mind it seemed as though the women were in all the offices of honor +and dignity, but in reality it was the very opposite. The same is true +in the family. The husbands insist on giving everything to the wives +and doing everything for them. The wives are therefore universally the +rulers of the household while the husbands have an apparently +subordinate, but, to the Kosekin, a more honorable position. + +As to the religion of the Kosekin, I could make nothing of it. They +believe that after death they go to what they call the world of +darkness. The death they long for leads to the darkness that they +love; and the death and the darkness are eternal. Still, they persist +in saying that the death and the darkness together form a state of +bliss. They are eloquent about the happiness that awaits them there in +the sunless land--the world of darkness; but for my own part, it +always seemed to me a state of nothingness. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +BELIEF AND UNBELIEF + + +The doctor was here interrupted by Featherstone, who, with a yawn, +informed him that it was eleven o'clock, and that human endurance had +its limits. Upon this the doctor rolled up the manuscript and put it +aside for the night, after which supper was ordered. + +"Well," said Featherstone, "what do you think of this last?" + +"It contains some very remarkable statements," said the doctor. + +"There are certainly monsters enough in it," said Melick-- + + "'Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.'" + +"Well, why not?" said the doctor. + +"It seems to me," said Melick, "that the writer of this has peopled +his world with creatures that resemble the fossil animals more than +anything else." + +"The so-called fossil animals," said the doctor, "may not be extinct. +There are fossil specimens of animals that still have living +representatives. There is no reason why many of those supposed to be +extinct may not be alive now. It is well known that many very +remarkable animals have become extinct within a comparatively recent +period. These great birds, of which More speaks, seem to me to belong +to these classes. The dodo was in existence fifty years ago, the moa +about a hundred years ago. These great birds, together with others, +such as the epiornis and palapteryx, have disappeared, not through the +ordinary course of nature, but by the hand of man. Even in our +hemisphere they may yet be found. Who can tell but that the moa or the +dodo may yet be lurking somewhere here in the interior of Madagascar, +of Borneo, or of Papua?" + +"Can you make out anything about those great birds?" asked +Featherstone. "Do they resemble anything that exists now, or has ever +existed?" + +"Well, yes, I think so," said the doctor. "Unfortunately, More is not +at all close or accurate in his descriptions; he has a decidedly +unscientific mind, and so one cannot feel sure; yet from his general +statements I think I can decide pretty nearly upon the nature and the +scientific name of each one of his birds and animals. It is quite +evident to me that most of these animals belong to races that no +longer exist among us, and that this world at the South Pole has many +characteristics which are like those of what is known as the Coal +Period. I allude in particular to the vast forests of fern, of +gigantic grasses and reeds. At the same time the general climate and +the atmosphere seem like what we may find in the tropics at present. +It is evident that in More's world various epochs are represented, and +that animals of different ages are living side by side." + +"What do you think of the opkuk?" asked Featherstone, with a yawn. + +"Well, I hardly know." + +"Why, it must be a dodo, of course," said Melick, "only magnified." + +"That," said the doctor, gravely, "is a thought that naturally +suggests itself; but then the opkuk is certainly far larger than the +dodo." + +"Oh, More put on his magnifying-glasses just then." + +"The dodo," continued the doctor, taking no notice of this, "in other +respects corresponds with More's description of the opkuk. Clusius and +Bontius give good descriptions and there is a well-known picture of +one in the British Museum. It is a massive, clumsy bird, ungraceful in +its form with heavy movements, wings too short for flight, little or +no tail, and down rather than feathers. The body, according to +Bontius, is as big as that of the African ostrich, but the legs are +very short. It has a large head, great black eyes, long bluish-white +bill, ending in a beak like that of a vulture, yellow legs, thick and +short, four toes on each foot solid, long, and armed with sharp black +claws. The flesh particularly on the breast, is fat and esculent. Now, +all this corresponds with More's account, except as to the size of the +two, for the opkuks are as large as oxen." + +"Oh, that's nothing," said Melick; "I'm determined to stand up for the +dodo." With this he burst forth singing-- + + "Oh, the dodo once lived, but he doesn't live now; + Yet why should a cloud overshadow our brow? + The loss of that bird ne'er should trouble our brains, + For though he is gone, still our claret remains. + Sing do-do--jolly do-do! + Hurrah! in his name let our cups overflow." + +"As for your definition, doctor," continued Melick, "I'll give you one +worth a dozen of yours: + + "'Twas a mighty bird; those strong, short legs were never known to fail, + And he felt a glory of pride while thinking of that little tail, + And his beak was marked with vigor, curving like a wondrous hook; + Thick and ugly was his body--such a form as made one look!" + +"Melick," said Featherstone, "you're a volatile youth. You mustn't +mind him, doctor. He's a professional cynic, sceptic, and scoffer. +Oxenden and I, however, are open to conviction, and want to know more +about those birds and beasts. Can you make anything out of the +opmahera?" + +The doctor swallowed a glass of wine, and replied: + +"Oh yes; there are many birds, each of which may be the opmahera. +There's the fossil bird of Massachusetts, of which nothing is left but +the footprints; but some of these are eighteen inches in length, and +show a stride of two yards. The bird belonged to the order of the +Grallae, and may have been ten or twelve feet in height. Then there +is the Gastornis parisiensis, which was as tall as an ostrich, as +big as an ox, and belongs to the same order as the other. Then there +is the Palapteryx, of which remains have been found in New Zealand, +which was seven or eight feet in height. But the one which to my mind +is the real counterpart of the opmahera is the Dinornis gigantea, +whose remains are also found in New Zealand. It is the largest bird +known, with long legs, a long neck, and short wings, useless for +flight. One specimen that has been found is upward of thirteen feet in +height. There is no reason why some should not have been much taller. +More compares its height to that of a giraffe. The Maoris call this +bird the Moa, and their legends and traditions are full of mention +of it. When they first came to the island, six or seven hundred years +ago, they found these vast birds everywhere, and hunted them for food. +To my mind the dinornis is the opmahera of More. As to riding on them, +that is likely enough; for ostriches are used for this purpose, and +the dinornis must have been far stronger and fleeter than the ostrich. +It is possible that some of these birds may still be living in the +remoter parts of our hemisphere." + +"What about those monsters," asked Featherstone, "that More speaks of +in the sacred hunt?" + +"I think," said the doctor, "that I understand pretty well what they +were, and can identify them all. As the galley passed the estuary +of that great river, you remember that he mentions seeing them on +the shore. One may have been the Ichthyosaurus. This, as the name +implies, is a fish-lizard. It has the head of a lizard, the snout of +a dolphin, the teeth of an alligator, enormous eyes, whose membrane +is strengthened by a bony frame, the vertebrae of fishes, sternum and +shoulder-bones like those of the lizard, and the fins of a whale. +Bayle calls it the whale of the saurians. Another may have been the +Cheirotherium. On account of the hand-shaped marks made by its paws, +Owen thinks that it was akin to the frogs; but it was a formidable +monster, with head and jaws of a crocodile. Another may have been the +Teleosaurus, which resembled our alligators. It was thirty-five feet +in length. Then there was the Hylaeosaurus, a monster twenty-five +feet in length, with a cuirass of bony plates." + +"But none of these correspond with More's description of the monster +that fought with the galley." + +"No," said the doctor, "I am coming to that now. That monster could +have been no other than the Plesiosaurus, one of the most wonderful +animals that has ever existed. Imagine a thing with the head of a +lizard, the teeth of a crocodile, the neck of a swan, the trunk and +tail of a quadruped, and the fins of a whale. Imagine a whale with its +head and neck consisting of a serpent, with the strength of the former +and the malignant fury of the latter, and then you will have the +plesiosaurus. It was an aquatic animal, yet it had to remain near or +on the surface of the water, while its long, serpent-like neck enabled +it to reach its prey above or below with swift, far-reaching darts. +Yet it had no armor, and could not have been at all a match for the +ichthyosaurus. More's account shows, however, that it was a fearful +enemy for man to encounter." + +"He seems to have been less formidable than that beast which they +encountered in the swamp. Have you any idea what that was?" + +"I think it can have been no other than the Iguanodon," said the +doctor. "The remains of this animal show that it must have been the +most gigantic of all primeval saurians. Judging from existing remains +its length was not less than sixty feet, and larger ones may have +existed. It stood high on its legs; the hind ones were larger than the +fore. The feet were massive and armed with tremendous claws. It lived +on the land and fed on herbage. It had a horny, spiky ridge all along +its back. Its tail was nearly as long as its body. Its head was short, +its jaws enormous, furnished with teeth of a very elaborate structure, +and on its muzzle it carried a curved horn. Such a beast as this might +well have caused all that destruction of life on the part of his +desperate assailants of which More speaks. + +"Then there was another animal," continued the doctor, who was +evidently discoursing upon a favorite topic. "It was the one that came +suddenly upon More while he was resting with Almah after his flight +with the run-away bird. That I take to be the Megalosaurus. This +animal was a monster of tremendous size and strength. Cuvier thought +that it might have been seventy feet in length. It was carnivorous, +and therefore more ferocious than the iguanodon, and more ready to +attack. Its head was like that of a crocodile, its body massive like +that of an elephant, yet larger; its tail was small, and it stood high +on its legs, so that it could run with great speed. It was not covered +with bony armor, but had probably a hide thick enough to serve the +purpose of shell or bone. Its teeth were constructed so as to cut with +their edges, and the movement of the jaws produced the combined effect +of knife and saw, while their inward curve rendered impossible the +escape of prey that had once been caught. It probably frequented +the river banks, where it fed upon reptiles of smaller size which +inhabited the same places. + +"More," continued the doctor, "is too general in his descriptions. He +has not a scientific mind, and he gives but few data; yet I can bring +before myself very easily all the scenes which he describes, +particularly that one in which the megalosaurus approaches, and he +rushes to mount the dinoris so as to escape. I see that river, with +its trees and shrubs, all unknown now except in museums--the +vegetation of the Coal Period--the lepidodendron, the lepidostrobus, +the pecopteris, the neuropteris, the lonchopteris, the odontopteris, +the sphenopteris, the cyclopteris, the sigellaria veniformis, the +sphenophyllium, the calamites--" + +Melick started to his feet. + +"There, there!" he cried, "hold hard, doctor. Talking of calamities, +what greater calamity can there be than such a torrent of unknown +words? Talk English, doctor, and we shall be able to appreciate you; +but to make your jokes, your conundrums, and your brilliant witticisms +in a foreign language isn't fair to us, and does no credit either to +your head or your heart." + +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, and took no notice of Melick's +ill-timed levity. + +"All these stories of strange animals," said Oxenden, "may be very +interesting, doctor, but I must say that I am far more struck by +the account of the people themselves. I wonder whether they are an +aboriginal race, or descendants of the same stock from which we came?" + +"I should say," remarked the doctor, confidently, "that they are, +beyond a doubt, an aboriginal and autochthonous race." + +"I differ from you altogether," said Oxenden, calmly. + +"Oh," said the doctor, "there can be no doubt about it. Their +complexion, small stature, and peculiar eyes--their love of darkness, +their singular characteristics, both physical and moral, all go to +show that they can have no connection with the races in our part of +the earth." + +"Their peculiar eyes," said Oxenden, "are no doubt produced by +dwelling in caves for many generations." + +"On the contrary," said the doctor, "it is their peculiarity of eye +that makes them dwell in caves." + +"You are mistaking the cause for the effect, doctor." + +"Not at all; it is you who are making that mistake." + +"It's the old debate," said Melick. "As the poet has it: + + "'Which was first, the egg or the hen? + Tell me, I pray, ye learned men!'" + +"There are the eyeless fishes of the great cave of Kentucky," said +Oxenden, "whose eyes have become extinct from living in the dark." + +"No," cried the doctor; "the fish that have arisen in that lake have +never needed eyes, and have never had them." + +Oxenden laughed. + +"Well," said he, "I'll discuss the question with you on different +grounds altogether, and I will show clearly that these men, these +bearded men, must belong to a stock that is nearly related to our own, +or, at least, that they belong to a race of men with whom we are all +very familiar." + +"I should like very much to have you try it," said the doctor. + +"Very well," said Oxenden. "In the first place, I take their +language." + +"Their language!" + +"Yes. More has given us very many words in their language. Now he +himself says that these words had an Arabic sound. He was slightly +acquainted with that language. What will you say if I tell you that +these words are still more like Hebrew?" + +"Hebrew!" exclaimed the doctor, in amazement. + +"Yes, Hebrew," said Oxenden. "They are all very much like Hebrew +words, and the difference is not greater than that which exists +between the words of any two languages of the Aryan family." + +"Oh, if you come to philology I'll throw up the sponge," said the +doctor. "Yet I should like to hear what you have to say on that +point." + +"The languages of the Aryan family," said Oxenden, "have the same +general characteristics, and in all of them the differences that exist +in their most common words are subject to the action of a regular law. +The action of the law is best seen in the changes which take place in +the mutes. These changes are indicated in a summary and comprehensive +way by means of what is called 'Grimm's Law.' Take Latin and English, +for instance. 'Grimm's Law' tells us, among other things, that in +Latin and in that part of English which is of Teutonic origin, a +large number of words are essentially the same, and differ merely in +certain phonetic changes. Take the word 'father.' In Latin, as also +in Greek, it is 'pater.' Now the Latin 'p' in English becomes 'f;' +that is, the thin mute becomes the aspirated mute. The same change +may be seen in the Latin 'piscis,' which in English is 'fish,' and +the Greek '[pi upsilon rho]' which in English is 'fire.' Again, if the +Latin or Greek word begins with an aspirate, the English word begins +with a medial; thus the Latin 'f' is found responsive to the English +'b,' as in Latin 'fagus,' English 'beech,' Latin 'fero,' English +'bear.' Again, if the Latin or Greek has the medial, the English has +the thin, as in Latin 'duo,' English 'two,' Latin 'genu,' English +'knee.' Now, I find that in many of the words which More mentions this +same 'Grimm's Law' will apply; and I am inclined to think that if they +were spelled with perfect accuracy they would show the same relation +between the Kosekin language and the Hebrew that there is between the +Saxon English and the Latin." + +The doctor gave a heavy sigh. + +"You're out of my depth, Oxenden," said he. "I'm nothing of a +philologist." + +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "I like this. This is equal to your list +of the plants of the Coal Period, doctor. But I say, Oxenden, while +you are about it, why don't you give us a little dose of Anglo-Saxon +and Sanscrit? By Jove! the fellow has Bopp by heart, and yet he +expects us to argue with him." + +"I have it!" cried Melick. "The Kosekin are the lost Ten Tribes. +Oxenden is feeling his way to that. He is going to make them out to be +all Hebrew; and then, of course, the only conclusion will be that they +are the Ten Tribes, who after a life of strange vicissitudes have +pulled up at the South Pole. It's a wonder More didn't think of +that--or the writer of this yarn, whoever he may be. Well, for my +part, I always took a deep interest in the lost Ten Tribes, and +thought them a fine body of men." + +"Don't think they've got much of the Jew about them," said +Featherstone, languidly. "They hate riches and all that, you know. +Break a Jew's heart to hear of all that property wasted, and money +going a-begging. Not a bad idea, though, that of theirs about money. +Too much money's a howwid baw, by Jove!" + +"Well," continued Oxenden, calmly resuming, and taking no notice of +these interruptions, "I can give you word after word that More has +mentioned which corresponds to a kindred Hebrew word in accordance +with 'Grimm's Law.' For instance, Kosekin 'Op,' Hebrew 'Oph;' Kosekin +'Athon,' Hebrew 'Adon;' Kosekin 'Salon,' Hebrew 'Shalom.' They are +more like Hebrew than Arabic, just as Anglo-Saxon words are more like +Latin or Greek than Sanscrit." + +"Hurrah!" cried Melick, "we've got him to Sanscrit at last! Now, +Oxenden, my boy, trot out the 'Hitopadesa,' the 'Megha Dhuta,' the +'Rig Veda.' Quote 'Beowulf' and Caedmon. Gives us a little Zeno, and +wind up with 'Lalla Rookh' in modern Persian." + +"So I conclude," said Oxenden, calmly, ignoring Melick, "that the +Kosekin are a Semitic people. Their complexion and their beards show +them to be akin to the Caucasian race, and their language proves +beyond the shadow of a doubt that they belong to the Semitic branch of +that race. It is impossible for an autochthonous people to have such a +language." + +"But how," cried the doctor--"how in the name of wonder did they get +to the South Pole?" + +"Easily enough," interrupted Melick--"Shem landed there from Noah's +ark, and left some of his children to colonize the country. That's as +plain as a pikestaff. I think, on the whole, that this idea is better +than the other one about the Ten Tribes. At any rate they are both +mine, and I warn all present to keep their hands off them, for on my +return I intend to take out a copyright." + +"There's another thing," continued Oxenden, "which is of immense +importance, and that is their habit of cave-dwelling. I am inclined to +think that they resorted to cave-dwelling at first from some +hereditary instinct or other, and that their eyes and their whole +morals have become affected by this mode of life. Now, as to +ornamented caverns, we have many examples--caverns adorned with a +splendor fully equal to anything among the Kosekin. There are in India +the great Behar caves, the splendid Karli temple with its magnificent +sculptures and imposing architecture, and the cavern-temples of +Elephanta; there are the subterranean works in Egypt, the temple of +Dendera in particular; in Petra we have the case of an entire city +excavated from the rocky mountains; yet, after all, these do not bear +upon the point in question, for they are isolated cases; and even +Petra, though it contained a city, did not contain a nation. But there +is a case, and one which is well known, that bears directly upon this +question, and gives us the connecting link between the Kosekin and +their Semitic brethren in the northern hemisphere." + +"What is that?" asked the doctor. + +"The Troglodytes," said Oxenden, with impressive solemnity. + +"Well, and what do you make out of the Troglodytes?" + +"I will explain," said Oxenden. "The name Trolodytes is given to +various tribes of men, but those best known and celebrated under this +name once inhabited the shores of the Red Sea, both on the Arabian and +the Egyptian side. They belonged to the Arabian race, and were +consequently a Semitic people. Mark that, for it is a point of the +utmost importance. Now, these Troglodytes all lived in caverns, which +were formed partly by art and partly by nature, although art must have +had most to do with the construction of such vast subterranean works. +They lived in great communities in caverns, and they had long tunnels +passing from one community to another. Here also they kept their +cattle. Some of these people have survived even to our own age; for +Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, saw them in Nubia. + +"The earliest writer who mentions the Troglodytes was Agatharcides, of +Cnidos. According to him they were chiefly herdsmen. Their food was +the flesh of cattle, and their drink a mixture of milk and blood. They +dressed in the skins of cattle; they tattooed their bodies. They were +very swift of foot, and were able to run down wild beasts in the hunt. +They were also greatly given to robbery, and caravans passing to and +fro had to guard against them. + +"One feature in their character has to my mind a strange significance, +and that is their feelings with regard to death. It was not the +Kosekin love of death, yet it was something which must certainly be +considered as approximating to it. For Agatharcides says that in their +burials they were accustomed to fasten the corpse to a stake, and then +gathering round, to pelt it with stones amid shouts of laughter and +wild merriment. They also used to strangle the old and infirm, so as +to deliver them from the evils of life. These Troglodytes, then, were +a nation of cave-dwellers, loving the dark--not exactly loving death, +yet at any rate regarding it with merriment and pleasure; and so I +cannot help seeing a connection between them and the Kosekin." + +"Yes," said the doctor, "but how did they get to the South Pole?" + +"That," said Oxenden, "is a question which I do not feel bound to +answer." + +"Oh, it is easy enough to answer that," said Melick. "They, of course, +dug through the earth." + +Oxenden gave a groan. + +"I think I'll turn in for the night," said he, rising. Upon this the +others rose also and followed his example. + +On the following morning the calm still continued. None of the party +rose until very late, and then over the breakfast-table they discussed +the manuscript once more, each from his own point of view, Melick +still asserting a contemptuous scepticism--Oxenden and the doctor +giving reasons for their faith, and Featherstone listening without +saying much on either side. + +At length it was proposed to resume the reading of the manuscript, +which task would now devolve upon Oxenden. They adjourned to the deck, +where all disposed themselves in easy attitudes to listen to the +continuation of More's narrative. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A VOYAGE OVER THE POLE + + +The discovery of our love had brought a crisis in our fate for me and +Almah. The Kohen hailed it with joy, for now was the time when he +would be able to present us to the Kohen Gadol. Our doom was certain +and inevitable. We were to be taken to the amir; we were to be kept +until the end of the dark season, and then we were both to be publicly +sacrificed. After this our bodies were to be set apart for the hideous +rites of the Mista Kosek. Such was the fate that lay before us. + +The Kohen was now anxious to take us to the amir. I might possibly +have persuaded him to postpone our departure, but I saw no use in +that. It seemed better to go, for it was possible that amid new scenes +and among new people there might be hope. This, too, seemed probable +to Almah, who was quite anxious to go. The Kohen pressed forward the +preparations, and at length a galley was ready for us. + +This galley was about three hundred feet in length and fifty in width, +but not more than six feet in depth. It was like a long raft. The +rowers, two hundred in number, sat on a level with the water, one +hundred on each side. The oars were small, being not more than twelve +feet in length, but made of very light, tough material, with very +broad blades. The galley was steered with broad-bladed paddles at both +ends. There was no mast or sail. Astern was a light poop, surrounded +by a pavilion, and forward there was another. At the bow there was +a projecting platform, used chiefly in fighting the thannin, or +sea-monsters, and also in war. There were no masts or flags or gay +streamers; no brilliant colors; all was intensely black, and the +ornaments were of the same hue. + +We were now treated with greater reverence than ever, for we were +looked upon as the recipients of the highest honor that could fall to +any of the Kosekin--namely, the envied dignity of a public death. As +we embarked the whole city lined the public ways, and watched us from +the quays, from boats, and from other galleys. Songs were sung by a +chosen choir of paupers, and to the sound of this plaintive strain we +moved out to sea. + +"This will be a great journey for me," said the Kohen, as we left the +port. "I hope to be made a pauper at least, and perhaps gain the honor +of a public death. I have known people who have gained death for less. +There was an Athon last year who attacked a pehmet with forty men +and one hundred and twenty rowers. All were killed or drowned except +himself. In reward for this he gained the mudecheb, or death +recompense. In addition to this he was set apart for the Mista Kosek." + +"Then, with you, when a man procures the death of others he is +honored?" + +"Why, yes; how could it be otherwise?" said the Kohen. "Is it not the +same with you? Have you not told me incredible things about your +people, among which there were a few that seemed natural and +intelligible? Among these was your system of honoring above all men +those who procure the death of the largest number. You, with your +pretended fear of death, wish to meet it in battle as eagerly as we +do, and your most renowned men are those who have sent most to death." + +To this strange remark I had no answer to make. + +The air out at sea now grew chillier. The Kohen noticed it also, and +offered me his cloak, which I refused. He seemed surprised, and +smiled. + +"You are growing like one of us," said he. "You will soon learn that +the greatest happiness in life is to do good to others and sacrifice +yourself. You already show this in part. When you are with Almah you +act like one of the Kosekin. You watch her to see and anticipate her +slightest wish; you are eager to give her everything. She, on the +other hand, is equally eager to give up all to you. Each one of you is +willing to lay down life for the other. You would gladly rush upon +death to save her from harm, much as you pretend to fear death; and so +I see that with Almah you will soon learn how sweet a thing death may +be." + +"To live without her," said I, "would be so bitter that death with her +would indeed be sweet. If I could save her life by laying down my own, +death would be sweeter still; and not one of you Kosekin would meet it +so gladly." + +The Kosekin smiled joyously. + +"Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou +hast transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of +us altogether. For see, how is it now? You pretend to love riches and +life, and yet you are ready to give up everything for Almah." + +"Gladly, gladly!" I exclaimed. + +"Yes," he said, "all that you have--you would gladly lavish on her, +and would rejoice to make yourself a pauper for her sweet sake. You +also would rejoice equally to give up life for her. Is it not so?" + +"It is," said I. + +"Then I see by this that Almah has awakened within you your true human +nature. Thus far it has lain dormant; it has been concealed under a +thousand false and unnatural habits, arising from your strange native +customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where +nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and +with Almah you are like the Kosekin. Soon you will learn new lessons, +and will find out that there is a new and a final self-abnegation in +perfect love; and your love will never rest till you have separated +yourself from Almah, so that love can have its perfect work." + +The sea now opened wide before us, rising up high as if half-way to +the zenith, giving the impression of a vast ascent to endless +distances. Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy +outlines of the mountains; above was the sky, all clear, with faint +aurora-flashes and gleaming stars. Hand-in-hand with Almah I stood and +pointed out the constellations as we marked them while she told me of +the different divisions known among the Kosekin as well as her own +people. There, high in the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not +exactly at the pole, nor yet of very great brightness, but still +sufficiently noticeable. + +Looking back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phoenix and the Crane; +higher up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was +the beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were +the Sword-fish and the Flying-fish. Turning to look forward, we beheld +a more splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between +the Centaur, which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there +blazed the bright stars of the Southern Cross--a constellation, if not +the brightest, at least the most conspicuous and attractive in all the +heavens. All around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then, +over the stern, gleamed the splendid lustre of Achernar, on the left +the brilliant glow of Alpha Robur and Canopus, and low down before +us the bright light of Argo. It was a scene full of splendor +and fascination. After a time a change came over the sky: the +aurora-flashes, at first faint, gradually increased in brilliancy till +the stars grew dim, and all the sky, wherever the eye might turn from +the horizon to the zenith, seemed filled with lustrous flames of every +conceivable hue. Colossal beams radiated from the pole toward the +horizon till the central light was dissipated, and there remained +encircling us an infinite colonnade of flaming pillars that towered +to the stars. These were all in motion, running upon one another, +incessantly shifting and changing; new scenes forever succeeded to +old; pillars were transformed to pyramids, pyramids to fiery bars; +these in their turn were transformed to other shapes, and all the +while one tint of innumerable hues overspread the entire circle of +the sky. + +Our voyage occupied several joms; but our progress was continuous, +for different sets of rowers relieved one another at regular +intervals. On the second jom a storm broke out. The sky had been +gathering clouds during sleeping-time, and when we awoke we found the +sea all lashed to fury, while all around the darkness was intense. The +storm grew steadily worse; the lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, +and at length the sea was so heavy that rowing was impossible. Upon +this the oars were all taken in, and the galley lay tossing upon the +furious sea, amid waves that continually beat upon her. + +And now a scene ensued that filled me with amazement, and took +away all my thoughts from the storm. It seemed impossible that so +frail a bark could stand the fury of the waves. Destruction was +inevitable, and I was expecting to see the usual signs of grief +and despair--wondering, too, how these rowers would preserve their +subordination. But I had forgotten in my excitement the strange +nature of the Kosekin. Instead of terror there was joy, instead of +wild despair there was peace and serene delight. + +The lightning-flashes revealed a wonderful scene. There were all the +rowers, each one upon his seat, and from them all there came forth +a chant which was full of triumph, like a song of public welcome to +some great national hero, or a song of joy over victory. The officers +embraced one another and exchanged words of delight. The Kohen, after +embracing all the others, turned to me, and, forgetting my foreign +ways, exclaimed, in a tone of enthusiastic delight, + +"We are destroyed! Death is near! Rejoice!" + +Accustomed as I was to the perils of the sea, I had learned to face +death without flinching. Almah, too, was calm, for to her this death +seemed preferable to that darker fate which awaited us; but the words +of the Kohen jarred upon my feelings. + +"Do you not intend to do anything to save the ship?" I asked. + +He laughed joyously. + +"There's no occasion," said he. "When the oars are taken in we always +begin to rejoice. And why not? Death is near--it is almost certain. +Why should we do anything to distract our minds and mar our joy? For +oh, dear friend, the glorious time has come when we can give up +life--life, with all its toils, its burdens, its endless bitternesses, +its perpetual evils. Now we shall have no more suffering from +vexatious and oppressive riches, from troublesome honors, from a +surplus of food, from luxuries and delicacies, and all the ills of +life." + +"But what is the use of being born at all?" I asked, in a wonder that +never ceased to rise at every fresh display of Kosekin feeling. + +"The use?" said the Kohen. "Why, if we were not born, how could we +know the bliss of dying, or enjoy the sweetness of death? Death is the +end of being--the one sweet hope and crown and glory of life, the one +desire and hope of every living man. The blessing is denied to none. +Rejoice with me, oh Atam-or! you will soon know its blessedness as +well as I." + +He turned away. I held Almah in my arms, and we watched the storm by +the lightning-flashes and waited for the end. But the end came not. +The galley was light, broad, and buoyant as a life-boat; at the same +time it was so strongly constructed that there was scarcely any twist +or contortion in the sinewy fabric. So we floated buoyantly and safely +upon the summit of vast waves, and a storm that would have destroyed +a ship of the European fashion scarcely injured this in the slightest +degree. It was an indestructible as a raft and as buoyant as a bubble; +so we rode out the gale, and the death which the Kosekin invoked did +not come at all. + +The storm was but short-lived; the clouds dispersed, and soon went +scudding over the sky; the sea went down. The rowers had to take their +oars once more, and the reaction that followed upon their recent +rejoicing was visible in universal gloom and dejection. As the clouds +dispersed the aurora lights came out more splendid than ever, and +showed nothing but melancholy faces. The rowers pulled with no life or +animation; the officers stood about sighing and lamenting; Almah and I +were the only ones that rejoiced over this escape from death. + +Joms passed. We saw other sights; we met with galleys and saw many +ships about the sea. Some were moved by sails only; these were +merchant ships, but they had only square sails, and could not sail in +any other way than before the wind. Once or twice I caught glimpses +of vast shadowy objects in the air. I was startled and terrified; +for, great as were the wonders of this strange region, I had not yet +suspected that the air itself might have denizens as tremendous as the +land or the sea. Yet so it was, and afterward during the voyage I saw +them often. One in particular was so near that I observed it with +ease. It came flying along in the same course with us, at a height of +about fifty feet from the water. It was a frightful monster, with a +long body and vast wings like those a bat. Its progress was swift, and +it soon passed out of sight. To Almah the monster created no surprise; +she was familiar with them, and told me that they were very abundant +here, but that they never were known to attack ships. She informed me +that they were capable of being tamed if caught when young, though in +her country they were never made use of. The name given by the Kosekin +to these monsters is athaleb. + +At length we drew near to our destination. We reached a large harbor +at the end of a vast bay: here the mountains extended around, and +before us there arose terrace after terrace of twinkling lights +running away to immense distances. It looked like a city of a million +inhabitants, though it may have contained far less than that. By the +brilliant aurora light I could see that it was in general shape and +form precisely like the city that we had left, though far larger and +more populous. The harbor was full of ships and boats of all sorts, +some lying at the stone quays, others leaving port, others entering. +Galleys passed and repassed, and merchant ships with their clumsy +sails, and small fishing-boats. From afar arose the deep hum of a vast +multitude and the low roar that always ascends from a popular city. + +The galley hauled alongside her wharf, and we found ourselves at +length in the mighty amir of the Kosekin. The Kohen alone landed; +the rest remained on board, and Almah and I with them. + +Other galleys were here. On the wharf workmen were moving about. Just +beyond were caverns that looked like warehouses. Above these was a +terraced street, where a vast multitude moved to and fro--a living +tide as crowded and as busy as that in Cheapside. + +After what seemed a long time the Kohen returned. This time he came +with a number of people, all of whom were in cars drawn by opkuks. +Half were men and half women. These came aboard, and it seemed as +though we were to be separated; for the women took Almah, while the +men took me. Upon this I entreated the Kohen not to separate us. I +informed him that we were both of a different race from his, that we +did not understand their ways; we should be miserable if separated. + +I spoke long and with all the entreaty possible to one with my limited +acquaintance with the language. My words evidently impressed them: +some of them even wept. + +"You make us sad," said the Kohen. "Willingly would we do everything +that you bid, for we are your slaves; but the state law prevents. +Still, in your case, the law will be modified; for you are in such +honor here that you may be considered as beyond the laws. For the +present, at least, we cannot separate you." + +These words brought much consolation. After this we landed, and Almah +and I were still together. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE WONDERS OF THE "AMIR" + + +We were drawn on cars up to the first terraced street, and here we +found the vast multitude which we had seen from a distance. Crossing +this street, we ascended and came to another precisely like it; then, +still going on, we came to a third. Here there was an immense space, +not overgrown with trees like the streets, but perfectly open. In the +midst arose a lofty pyramid, and as I looked at it I could not refrain +from shuddering; for it looked like the public altar, upon which in +due time I should be compelled to make my appearance, and be offered +up as a victim to the terrific superstitions of the Kosekin. + +Crossing this great square, we came to a vast portal, which opened +into a cavern with twinkling lights. The city itself extended above +this, for we could see the terraced streets rising above our heads; +but here our progress ended at the great cavern in the chief square, +opposite the pyramid. + +On entering the cavern we traversed an antechamber, and then passing +on we reached a vast dome, of dimensions so great that I could +perceive no end in that gloom. The twinkling lights served only to +disclose the darkness and to indicate the immensity of the cavern. In +the midst there arose two enormous columns, which were lost in the +gloom above. + +It was only by passing through this that we learned its great extent. +We at length came to the other end, and here we saw numerous passages +leading away. The Kohen led us through one of these, and after passing +through several other domes of smaller dimensions we at length reached +an apartment where we stopped. This place was furnished with couches +and hangings, and lighted with flaming lamps. The light was +distressing to those who had accompanied us, and many of them left, +while the few who remained had to cover their eyes. Here we found that +all preparations had been made. The apartments were all illuminated, +though our love of light never ceased to be a matter of amazement to +the Kosekin, and a bounteous repast was spread for us. But the Kohen +and the others found the light intolerable, and soon left us to +ourselves. + +After the repast some women appeared to take Almah to her chamber, +and, with the usual kindness of the Kosekin, they assured her that she +would not be expected to obey the law of separation, but that she was +to remain here, where she would be always within reach of me. + +After her departure there came to visit me the lowest man in all the +land of the Kosekin, though, according to our view, he would be +esteemed the highest. This was the Kohen Gadol. His history +had already been told me. I had learned that through lack of Kosekin +virtue he had gradually sunk to this position, and now was compelled +to hold in his hands more wealth, power, and display than any other +man in the nation. + +He was a man of singular appearance. The light was not so troublesome +to him as to the others--he merely kept his eyes shaded; but he +regarded me with a keen look of inquiry that was suggestive of +shrewdness and cunning. I confess it was with a feeling of relief +that I made this discovery; for I longed to find someone among this +singular people who was selfish, who feared death, who loved life, who +loved riches, and had something in common with me. This I thought I +perceived in the shrewd, cunning face of the Kohen Gadol, and I was +glad; for I saw that while he could not possibly be more dangerous to +me than those self-sacrificing, self-denying cannibals whom I had thus +far known, he might prove of some assistance, and might help me to +devise means of escape. If I could only find someone who was a coward, +and selfish and avaricious--if this Kohen Gadol could but be he--how +much brighter my life would be! And so there happened to me an +incredible thing, that my highest wish was now to find in the Kohen +Gadol cowardice, avarice, and selfishness. + +The Kohen was accompanied by a young female, richly attired, who, I +afterward learned, was his daughter. Her name was Layelah, and she +filled the office of Malca, which signifies queen; and though +honorable with us above all, is among the Kosekin the lowest in the +land. Layelah was so beautiful that I looked at her in amazement. She +was very tall for one of the Kosekin, which made her stature equal +to that of an ordinary girl with us; her hair was rich, dark and +luxuriant, gathered about her head in great masses and bound by a +golden band. Her features were delicate and perfect in their outline; +her expression was noble and commanding. Her eyes were utterly unlike +those of the other Kosekin; the upper lids had a slight droop, but +that was all, and that was the nearest approach to the national blink. +Her first entrance into the room seemed to dazzle her, and she shaded +her eyes for a few moments, but after that she looked at me fixedly, +and seemed to suffer no more inconvenience than I did. The perfect +liberty of women among the Kosekin made this visit from her quite as +natural as that of her father; and though she said but little on this +occasion, she was an attentive listener and close observer. + +Their visit was long, for they were evidently full of curiosity. They +had heard much about me and wished to see more. It was the first time +that I had found among the Kosekin the slightest desire to know where +I had come from. Hitherto all had been content with the knowledge +that I was a foreigner. Now, however, I found in the Kohen Gadol and +Layelah a curiosity that was most eager and intense. They questioned +me about my country, about the great world beyond the mountains, about +the way in which I had come here, about the manners and customs of my +countrymen. They were eager to know about those great nations of which +I spoke, who loved light and life; about men who loved themselves +better than others; of that world where men feared death and loved +life, and sought after riches and lived in the light. + +The sleeping-time came and passed, and my visitors were still full of +eager questionings. It was Layelah who at last thought of the lateness +of the hour. At a word from her the Kohen Gadol rose, with many +apologies, and prepared to go. But before he left he said: + +"When I was a child I was shipwrecked, and was taken up a ship which +conveyed me to a nation beyond the sea. There I grew up to manhood. I +learned their language and manners and customs, and when I returned +home I found myself an alien here: I do not love darkness or death, I +do not hate riches, and the result is that I am what I am. If I were +like the rest of my countrymen, my lot would make me miserable; but as +it is I prefer it to any other, and consider myself not the lowest but +the greatest in the land. My daughter is like me, and instead of being +ashamed of her station she is proud of it, and would not give it up +even to become a pauper. I will see you again. I have much to say." + +With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving +me more hopeful than I had been for a long time. + +For many joms following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and +from Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these +other visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other +Kosekin, that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she +might wish to be with me. Their visits were always long, and we +had much to say; but what I lost of sleep I always made up on the +following jom. The Kohen Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face, +interested me greatly; but Layelah, with her proud face and air of +command, was a positive wonder. + +I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of +advanced views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical," +it matters not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings +differed from those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal +to a revolution in politics and morals. + +The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without +which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but +they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had +to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with +vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to +have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and +in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of +the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly, +notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar +doctrines. These were formulated as follows: + + 1. A man should not love others better than himself. + 2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of. + 3. Other things are to be preferred to death. + 4. Poverty is not the best state for man. + 5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness. + 6. Lovers may sometimes marry. + 7. To serve is not more honorable than to command. + 8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory. + 9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence. + 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of + wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich. + +These articles were considered both by the Kohen Gadol and by Layelah +to be remarkable for their audacity, and were altogether too advanced +for mention by any except the chosen few. With the multitude he had to +deal differently, and had to work his way by concealing his opinions. +He had made a great conspiracy, in which he was still engaged, and had +gained immense numbers of adherents by allowing them to give him their +whole wealth. Through his assistance many Athons and Kohens and Meleks +had become artisans laborers, and even paupers; but all were bound by +him to the strictest secrecy. If anyone should divulge the secret, it +would be ruin to him and to many others; for they would at once be +punished by the bestowal of the extremest wealth, by degradation to +the rank of rulers and commanders, and by the severest rigors of +luxury, power, splendor, and magnificence known among the Kosekin. +Overwhelmed thus with the cares of government, crushed under the +weight of authority and autocratic rule, surrounded by countless +slaves all ready to die for them, their lives would be embittered +and their punishment would be more than they could bear. But the +philosophic Kohen Gadol dared all these punishments, and pursued his +way calmly and pertinaciously. + +Nothing surprised the Kohen Gadol so much as the manner in which I +received his confidences. He half expected to startle me by his +boldness, but was himself confounded by my words. I told him that in +my country self was the chief consideration, self-preservation the law +of nature; death the King of Terrors; wealth the object of universal +search, poverty the worst of evils; unrequited love nothing less than +anguish and despair; to command others the highest glory; victory, +honor; defeat, intolerable shame; and other things of the same sort, +all of which sounded in his ears, as he said, with such tremendous +force that they were like peals of thunder. He shook his head +despondently; he could not believe that such views as mine could ever +be attained to among the Kosekin. But Layelah was bolder, and with all +a woman's impetuosity grasped at my fullest meaning and held it firm. + +"He is right," said Layelah--"the heaven-born Atam-or. He shall be our +teacher. The rich shall be esteemed, the poor shall be down-trodden; +to rule over others shall be glorious, to serve shall be base; victory +shall be an honor, defeat a shame; selfishness, self-seeking, luxury, +and indulgence shall be virtues; poverty, want, and squalor shall be +things of abhorrence and contempt." + +The face of Layelah glowed with enthusiasm as she said these words, +and I saw in her a daring, intrepid, and high-hearted woman, full of a +woman's headlong impetuosity and disregard of consequences. In me she +saw one who seemed to her like a prophet and teacher of a new order +of things, and her whole soul responded to the principles which I +announced. It required immense strength of mind and firmness of soul +to separate herself from the prevalent sentiment of her nation; and +though nature had done much for her in giving her a larger portion of +original selfishness than was common to her people, still she was a +child of the Kosekin, and her daring was all the more remarkable. And +so she went further than her father, and adopted my extreme views when +he shrank back, and dared more unflinchingly the extremest rigors of +the national law, and all that the Kosekin could inflict in the way of +wealth, luxury, supreme command, palatial abodes, vast retinues of +slaves, and the immense degradation of the queenly office. + +I spoke to her in a warning voice about her rashness. + +"Oh," said she, "I have counted the cost, and am ready to accept all +that they can inflict. I embrace the good cause, and will not give it +up--no, not even if they could increase my wealth a thousand-fold, +and sentence me to live a hundred seasons. I can bear their utmost +inflictions of wealth, power, magnificence; I could even bear being +condemned to live forever in the light. Oh, my friend, it is the +conviction of right and the support of conscience that strengthens one +to bear the greatest evils that man can inflict." + +From these words it was evident to me that Layelah was a true child of +the Kosekin; for though she was of advanced sentiments she still used +the language of her people, and spoke of the punishments of the law as +though they were punishments in reality. Now, to me and to Almah these +so-called punishments seemed rewards. + +It was impossible for me to avoid feeling a very strong regard for +this enthusiastic and beautiful girl; all the more, indeed, because +she evinced such an undisguised admiration for me. She evidently +considered me some superior being, from some superior race; and +although my broken and faulty way of speaking the language was +something of a trial, still she seemed to consider every word I +uttered as a maxim of the highest wisdom. The tritest of truths, the +commonest of platitudes, the most familiar of proverbs or old saws +current among us were eagerly seized by Layelah, and accepted as +truths almost divine--as new doctrines for the guidance of the human +race. These she would discuss with me; she would put them into better +and more striking language, and ask for my opinion. Then she would +write them down. + +For the Kosekin knew the art of writing. They had an alphabet of their +own, which was at once simple and very scientific. There were no +vowels, but only consonant sounds, the vowels being supplied in +reading, just as if one should write the words fthr or dghtr, and +read them father and daughter. Their letters were as follows: P, K, T, +B, G, D, F, Ch, Th, M, L, N, S, H, R. There were also three others, +which have no equivalents in English. + +It soon became evident to me that Layelah had a complete ascendancy +over her father; that she was not only the Malca of the amir, but +the presiding spirit and the chief administrative genius of the whole +nation of the Kosekin. She seemed to be a new Semiramis--one who might +revolutionize an empire and introduce a new order of things. Such, +indeed, was her high ambition, and she plainly avowed it to me; but +what was more, she frankly informed me that she regarded me as a +Heaven-sent teacher--as one who in this darkness could tell her of the +nations of light--who could instruct her in the wisdom of other and +greater races, and help her to accomplish her grand designs. + +As for Almah, she seemed quite beneath the notice of the aspiring +Layelah. She never noticed her, she never spoke of her, and she always +made her visits to me after Almah had gone. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DARK MAIDEN LAYELAH + + +Layelah at length began to make pointed remarks about Almah. + +"She loves you," said she, "and you love her. How is it that you do +not give each other up?" + +"I would die rather than give up Almah," said I. + +Layelah smiled. "That sounds strange to the Kosekin," said she, "for +here to give up your love and to die are both esteemed the greatest +possible blessings. But Almah should give you up. It is the women with +us who make the beginning. Women generally fall in love first, and it +is expected that they will tell their love first. The delicacy of a +woman's feelings makes this natural, for if a man tells his love to a +woman who does not love him, it shocks her modesty; while if a woman +tells a man, he has no modesty to shock." + +"That is strange," said I; "but suppose the man does not love the +woman?" + +"Why, no woman wants to be loved; she only wants to love." + +At this I felt somewhat bewildered. + +"That," said Layelah, "is unrequited love, which is the chief blessing +here, though for my part I am a philosopher, and would wish when I +love to be loved in return." + +"And then," said I, "if so, would you give up your lover, in +accordance with the custom of your country?" + +Layelah's dark eyes rested on me for a moment with a glance of intense +earnestness and profound meaning. She drew a long breath, and then +said, in a low, tremulous voice, + +"Never!" + +Layelah was constantly with me, and at length used to come at an +earlier time, when Almah was present. Her manner toward Almah was full +of the usual Kosekin courtesy and gracious cordiality. She was still +intent upon learning from me the manners, customs, and principles of +action of the race to which I belonged. She had an insatiable thirst +for knowledge, and her curiosity extended to all of those great +inventions which are the wonder of Christendom. Locomotives and +steamboats were described to her under the names of "horses of fire" +and "ships of fire"; printing was "letters of power"; the electric +telegraph, "messages of lightning"; the organ, "lute of giants," +and so on. Yet, in spite of the eagerness with which she made her +inquiries, and the diligence with which she noted all down, I could +see that there was in her mind something lying beneath it all--a far +more earnest purpose, and a far more personal one, than the pursuit of +useful knowledge. + +Layelah was watchful of Almah; she seemed studying her to see how far +this woman of another race differed from the Kosekin. She would often +turn from me and talk with Almah for a long time, questioning her +about her people and their ways. Almah's manner was somewhat reserved, +and it was rendered somewhat more so from the fact that her mind was +always full of the prospect of our impending doom. Each jom as it +came and went brought us nearer to that awful time, and the hour was +surely coming when we should be taken to the outer square and to the +top of the pyramid of sacrifice. + +Once Layelah sat for some time silent and involved in thought. At +length she began to speak to me. + +"Almah," said she, "is very different from us. She loves you and you +love her. She ought to give you up. Almah, you ought to give up +Atam-or, since you love him." + +Almah looked confused, and made some reply to the effect that she +belonged to a different race with different customs. + +"But you should follow our customs. You are one of us now. You can +easily find another who will take him." + +Almah threw a piteous glance at me and said nothing. + +"I," said Layelah, "will take him." + +She spoke these words with an air of magnanimity, as though putting it +in the light of a favor to Almah; but Almah did not make any reply, +and after some silence Layelah spoke of something else. + +Not long after we were alone together, and Layelah returned to the +subject. She referred to Almah's want of sympathy with the manners of +the Kosekin, and asserted that she ought to aim after a separation. + +"I love her," said I, with great warmth, "and will never give her up." + +"But she must give you up; it is the woman's place to take the first +step. I should be willing to take you." + +As Layelah said this she looked at me very earnestly, as if anxious to +see how I accepted this offer. It was for me a most embarrassing +moment. I loved Almah, but Layelah also was most agreeable, and I +liked her very much; indeed, so much so that I could not bear to say +anything that might hurt her feelings. Among all the Kosekin there was +not one who was not infinitely inferior to her in my eyes. Still, I +loved Almah, and I told her so again, thinking that in this way I +might repel her without giving offence. + +But Layelah was quite ready with her reply. + +"If you love Almah," said she, "that is the very reason why you should +marry me." + +This made me feel more embarrassed than ever. + +I stammered something about my own feelings--the manners and customs +of my race--and the fear that I had of acting against my own +principles. "Besides," I added, "I'm afraid it would make you +unhappy." + +"Oh no," said Layelah, briskly; "on the contrary, it would make me +very happy indeed." + +I began to be more and more aghast at this tremendous frankness, and +was utterly at a loss what to say. + +"My father," continued Layelah, "is different from the other Kosekin, +and so am I. I seek requital for love, and do not think it an evil." + +A sudden thought now suggested itself, and I caught at it as a last +resort. + +"You have," said I, "some lover among the Kosekin. Why do you not +marry him?" + +Layelah smiled. + +"I have no lover that I love," said she, "among the Kosekin." + +My feeble effort was thus a miserable failure. I was about saying +something concerning the Kosekin alphabet or something else of an +equally appropriate nature, when she prevented me. + +"Atam-or," said she, in a low voice. + +"Layelah," said I, with my mind full of confusion. + +"I love you!" + +She sat looking at me with her beautiful face all aglow her dark eyes +fixed on mine with an intense and eager gaze. I looked at her and said +not one single word. Layelah was the first to break the awkward +silence. + +"You love Almah, Atam-or; but say, do you not love me? You smile at +me, you meet me always when I come with warm greetings, and you seem +to enjoy yourself in my society. Say, Atam-or, do you not love me?" + +This was a perilous and a tremendous moment. The fact is, I did like +Layelah very much indeed, and I wanted to tell her so; but my +ignorance of the language did not allow me to observe those nice +distinctions of meaning which exist between the words "like" and +"love." I knew no other word than the one Kosekin word meaning "love," +and could not think of any meaning "like." It was, therefore, a very +trying position for me. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, floundering and stammering in my confusion, "I +love you; I--" + +But here I was interrupted without waiting for any further words; the +beautiful creature flung her arms around me and clung to me with a +fond embrace. As for me, I was utterly confounded, bewildered, and +desperate. I thought of my darling Almah, whom alone I loved. It +seemed at that moment as though I was not only false to her, but as if +I was even endangering her life. My only thought now was to clear up +my meaning. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, as I sat with her arms around me, and with my +own around her slender waist, "I do not want to hurt your feelings." + +"Oh, Atam-or! oh, my love! never, never did I know such bliss as +this." + +Here again I was overwhelmed, but I still persisted in my effort. + +"Dear Layelah," said I, "I love Almah most dearly and most tenderly." + +"Oh, Atam-or, why speak of that? I know it well. And so by our Kosekin +law you give her up; among us, lovers never marry. So you take me, +your own Layelah, and you will have me for your bride; and my love for +you is ten thousand times stronger than that of the cold and +melancholy Almah. She may marry my papa." + +This suggestion filled me with dismay. + +"Oh no," said I. "Never, never will I give up Almah!" + +"Certainly not," said Layelah; "you do not give her up--she gives you +up." + +"She never will," said I. + +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "I will tell her that you wish it." + +"I do not wish it," said I. "I love her, and will never give her up." + +"It's all the same," said Layelah. "You cannot marry her at all. No +one will marry you. You and Almah are victims and the State has given +you the matchless honor of death. Common people who love one another +may marry if they choose, and take the punishment which the law +assigns but illustrious victims who love cannot marry, and so, my +Atam-or, you have only me." + +I need not say that all this was excessively embarrassing I was +certainly fond of Layelah, and liked her too much to hurt her +feelings. Had I been one of the Kosekin I might perhaps have managed +better; but being a European, a man of the Aryan race--being such, and +sitting there with the beautiful Layelah lavishing all her affections +upon me--why, it stands to reason that I could not have the heart to +wound her feelings in any way. I was taken at an utter disadvantage. +Never in my life had I heard of women taking the initiative. Layelah +had proposed to me, she would not listen to refusal, and I had not the +heart to wound her. I had made all the fight I could by persisting in +asserting my love for Almah, but all my assertions were brushed +lightly aside as trivial things. + +Let any gentleman put himself in my situation, and ask himself what he +would do. What would he do if such a thing could happen to him at +home? But there such a thing could not happen, and so there is no use +in supposing an impossible case. At any rate I think I deserve +sympathy. Who could keep his presence of mind under such +circumstances? With us a young lady who loves one man can easily repel +another suitor; but here it was very different, for how could I repel +Layelah? Could I turn upon her and say "Unhand me"? Could I say "Away! +I am another's"? Of course I couldn't; and what's worse, if I had said +such things Layelah would have smiled me down into silence. The fact +is, it doesn't do for women to take the initiative--it's not fair. I +had stood a good deal among the Kosekin. Their love of darkness, their +passion for death, their contempt of riches, their yearning after +unrequited love, their human sacrifices, their cannibalism, all had +more or less become familiar to me, and I had learned to acquiesce in +silence; but now when it came to this--that a woman should propose to +a man--it really was more than a fellow could stand. I felt this at +that moment very forcibly; but then the worst of it was that Layelah +was so confoundedly pretty, and had such a nice way with her, that +hang me if I knew what to say. + +Meanwhile Layelah was not silent; she had all her wits about her. + +"Dear papa," said she, "would make such a nice husband for Almah. He +is a widower, you know. I could easily persuade him to marry her. He +always does whatever I ask him to do." + +"But victims cannot marry, you said." + +"No," said Layelah, sweetly, "they cannot marry one another, but Almah +may marry dear papa, and then you and I can be married, and it will be +all very nice indeed." + +At this I started away. + +"No," said I, indignantly, "it won't be nice. I'm engaged to be +married to Almah, and I'm not going to give her up." + +"Oh, but she gives you up, you know," said Layelah, quietly. + +"Well, but I'm not going to be given up." + +"Why, how unreasonable you are, you foolish boy!" said Layelah, in her +most caressing manner. "You have nothing at all to do with it." + +At this I was in fresh despair, and then a new thought came, which I +seized upon. + +"See here," said I, "why can't I marry both of you? I'm engaged to +Almah, and I love her better than all the world. Let me marry her and +you too." + +At this Layelah laughed long and merrily. Peal after peal of laughter, +musical and most merry, burst from her. It was contagious; I could not +help joining in, and so we both sat laughing. It was a long time +before we regained our self-control. + +"Why, that's downright bigamy!" exclaimed Layelah with fresh laughter. +"Why, Atam-or, you're mad!" and so she went off again in fresh peals +of laughter. It was evident that my proposal was not at all shocking, +but simply comical, ridiculous, and inconceivable in its absurdity. It +was to her what the remark of some despairing beauty would be among us +who, when pressed by two lovers should express a confused willingness +to marry both. It was evident that Layelah accepted it as a ludicrous +jest. + +Laughter was all very well, of course; but I was serious and felt that +I ought not to part with Layelah without some better understanding, +and so I once more made an effort. + +"All this," said I, in a mournful tone, "is a mere mockery. What have +I to say about love and marriage? If you loved me as you say, you +would not laugh, but weep. You forget what I am. What am I? A victim, +and doomed--doomed to a hideous fate--a fate of horror unutterable. +You cannot even begin to imagine the anguish with which I look forward +to that fate which impends over me and Almah. Marriage--idle word! +What have I to do with marriage? What has Almah? There is only one +marriage before us--the dread marriage with death! Why talk of love to +the dying? The tremendous ordeal, the sacrifice, is before us and +after that there remains the hideous Mista Kosek!" + +At this Layelah sprang up, with her whole face and attitude full of +life and energy. + +"I know, I know," said she, quickly; "I have arranged for all. Your +life shall be saved. Do you think that I have consented to your death? +Never! You are mine. I will save you. I will show you what we can do. +You shall escape." + +"Can you really save me?" I cried. + +"I can." + +"What! in spite of the whole nation?" + +Layelah laughed scornfully. + +"I can save you," said she. "We can fly. There are other nations +beside ours. We can find some land among the Gojin where we can live +in peace. The Gojin are not like us." + +"But Almah?" said I. + +The face of Layelah clouded. + +"I can only save you," said she. + +"Then I will stay and die with Almah," said I, obstinately. + +"What!" said Layelah, "do you not fear death?" + +"Of course I do," said I; "but I'd rather die than lose Almah." + +"But it's impossible to save both of you." + +"Then leave me and save Almah," said I. + +"What! would you give up your life for Almah?" + +"Yes, and a thousand lives," said I. + +"Why," said Layelah, "now you talk just like the Kosekin. You might as +well be one of us. You love death for the sake of Almah. Why not be +more like the Kosekin, and seek after a separation from Almah?" + +Layelah was not at all offended at my declaration of love for Almah. +She uttered these words in a lively tone, and then said that it was +time for her to go. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FLYING MONSTER + + +I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled me +with excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awake +I thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might be +Layelah's plan of escape, for I might then make use of it to save +Almah. I determined to find out all about it on the following +jom--to question her as to the lands of the Gojin, to learn all her +purpose. It might be that I could make use of that very plan to save +Almah; but if not, why then I was resolved to remain and meet my fate +with her. If Layelah could be induced to take both of us, I was of +course resolved to go, trusting to chance as to the claims of Layelah +upon me, and determined at all hazards to be faithful to Almah; but if +she should positively refuse to save Almah, then I thought it possible +that I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of escape something of +which I might avail myself. I could not imagine what it was, but it +seemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, especially for +a desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by means of some +boat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could make use of +a sail so as to elude pursuit, and could guide myself by the stars. +The only thing that I wanted to know was the situation of the lands of +the Gojin. + +On the following jom the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite early +and spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devoting +himself in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me that +Layelah had obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and that +the old villain actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah. +To Almah herself I had said nothing whatever about the proposal of +Layelah, so that she was quite ignorant of the intentions of her +companion; but it was excessively annoying to me to see such +proceedings going on under my own eyes. At the same time I felt that +it would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; and I was also quite +sure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted from me by +anyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. It was +very trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, my +jealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party of +philosophical Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibals +whom I first met. As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of any +disturbance in my mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, as +inquisitive, and as affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, and +devoted herself to me with an abandon that was quite irresistible. + +After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she was +alone. + +"I have come," said she, "to show you the way in which we can escape, +whenever you decide to do so." + +It was the thing above all others which I wished to know, and +therefore I questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of my +questions she only replied that she would show me, and I might judge +for myself. + +Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleries +and vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was the +sleeping-time, and only those were visible who had some duties which +kept them up later than usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feebly +illuminated the general gloom. At length we came to an immense cavern, +which was darker than ever, and without any lamps at all. Through a +vast portal, which was closed with a barred gateway, the beams of the +brilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed something of the interior. + +Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stood +waiting by her side, wondering what means of escape could be found in +this cavern. As I stood I heard through the still air the sound as of +living things. For a time I saw nothing, but at length I descried a +vast, shadowy form moving forward toward the portal, where the +darkness was less. It was a form of portentous size and fearful shape, +and I could not make out at first the nature of it. It surpassed all +that I had ever seen. Its head was large and its jaws long, armed with +rows of terrible teeth like those of a crocodile. Its body was of +great size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as to maintain itself in an +upright attitude, and in that position its height was over twelve +feet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has yet to be +told. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I saw +descending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings, +which shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about as +fast as that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemed +like some enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yet +again like one of those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but in +whose actual existence I had never believed. Yet here I saw one living +and moving before me--an actual dragon, with the exception of a tail; +for that appendage, which plays so great a part in all the pictures of +dragons, had no place here. This beast had but a short caudal +appendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings. + +For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I +shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm. + +"Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb." + +"But won't it--won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder. + +"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole." + +At this I shrank away still farther. + +"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, +besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at +feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four +others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up +nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed." + +"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an +incredulous tone. + +"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are +taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service +here for a hundred seasons and more." + +At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer +to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no +means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than +ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On +its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of +its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood +near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up, +as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous +back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased. + +"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping." + +"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully. + +"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his +back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him." + +"What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back--"fly! Do you mean to say that +you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?" + +"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is +harness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see +him harnessed?" + +"Very much indeed," said I. + +Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The +huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two +long straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting +tip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which +there was attached a grappling-iron. + +"We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with these +reins. When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looks +dull now, but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle he +would be off like the wind." + +"But can he carry both of us?" I asked. + +"Easily," said Layelah. "He can carry three persons without fatigue." + +"Could you mount on his back now, and show me how you sit?" + +Layelah readily assented, and mounted with the greatest ease, seating +herself on the broadest part of the back between the wings. + +"Here," said she, "is room for you. Will you not come?" + +For an instant I hesitated; but then the sight of her, seated there as +coolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed up +also, though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monster +was abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself close +behind Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with the +grapple just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she went +on to explain the whole process by which the mighty monster was guided +through the air. + +No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb than +all fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, and +how docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with the +greatest ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat. +"Familiarity breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror had +passed away, I felt perfect confidence, and under the encouragement of +Layelah I had become like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first is +terrified by the sight of the elephant, but soon gains courage enough +to mount upon his back. With my new-found courage and presence of mind +I listened most attentively to all of Layelah's explanations, and +watched most closely the construction and fastening of the harness; +for the thought had occurred to me that this athaleb might be of avail +in another way--that if I did not fly with Layelah, I might fly with +Almah. This thought was only of a vague and shadowy character--a dim +suggestion, the carrying out of which I scarce dared to think +possible; still, it was in my mind, and had sufficient power over me +to make me very curious as to the plans of Layelah. I determined to +find out where she proposed to go, and how far; to ask her about the +dangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It seemed, I confess, +rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them for +another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me at +that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and +honorable. + +"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. The +athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear +that they will put you to death--a land where the people love light +and life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to +go now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be +far away." + +She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to +be beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her +proposal away with a question: + +"How far is it," I asked, "to that land?" + +"It is too far for one flight," said Layelah. "We go first over the +sea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where +there are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb +on fish, which are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his way +there well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacred +ceremony. He has done this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows his +way there and back perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when we +leave Magones, in reaching the land of the Orin." + +"The Orin?" I repeated. "Who are they?" + +"They are a people among the Gojin who love life and light. It is +their land that I wish to reach, if possible." + +"Where is it?" I asked, eagerly. + +"I cannot explain," said Layelah. "I can only trust to my own skill, +and hope to find the place. We may have to pass over different lands +of the Gojin, and if so we may be in danger." + +"What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?" +I asked. + +"To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize +of death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the +Kosekin." + +"Is Magones barren?" + +"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains +and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the +middle of the sea." + +"How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence. + +"From here?--why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that +is all." + +"But shall we not be prevented?" + +"Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone +is eager to help his neighbor." + +"But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing +for flight, would they not stop me?" + +"No." + +I was amazed at this. + +"But," said I, "am I not a victim--preserved for the great sacrifice?" + +"You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like. +Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the +highest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high +dignity, and no one dreams that you are anxious to escape." + +"But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?" + +"Certainly not." + +"What would they do for a victim?" + +"They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some +distinguished pauper." + +"But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at +my entreaty?" + +"Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty. +That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of +such a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to +help each other to such a fate." + +"But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not +pursue me?" + +"Oh no." + +"Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?" + +"Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens--these are not worthy of the +honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to +this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who +are chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich +and powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed." + +"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in +that way?" + +"Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible. +On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the +very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and +blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible +for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am +Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated +by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of +one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and +new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally +known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth +and new offices and powers, which I do not want." + +"But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?" + +"No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now." + +"Why, what do you want?" I asked. + +"You!" said she, with a sweet smile. + +I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might +divert the conversation. + +Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing +tone: + +"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you +love her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that +I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to +say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing +of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the +Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?" + +I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent +effort. + +"Are there any other athalebs here?" + +"Oh yes." + +"How many?" + +"Four." + +"Are they all as tame as this?" + +"Oh yes, all quite as tame; there is no difference whatever." + +Upon this I left the back of the athaleb, and Layelah also descended, +after which she proceeded to show me the other monsters. At length she +unharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ESCAPE + + +On the following jom I told everything to Almah. I told her that +Layelah was urging me to fly with her, and that I had found out all +about her plans. I described the athalebs, informed her about the +direction which we were to take, the island of fire, and the country +of the Orin. At this intelligence Almah was filled with delight, and +for the first time since we had come to the amir there were smiles +of joy upon her face. She needed no persuasion. She was ready to set +forth whenever it was fitting, and to risk everything upon this +enterprise. She felt as I did, and thought that the wildest attempt +was better than this dull inaction. + +Death was before us here, and every jom as it passed only brought it +nearer. True, we were treated with the utmost kindness, we lived in +royal splendor, we had enormous retinues; but all this was a miserable +mockery, since it all served as the prelude to our inevitable doom. +For that doom it was hard indeed to wait. Anything was better. Far +better would it be to risk all the dangers of this unusual and amazing +flight, to brave the terrors of that drear isle of fire, Magones; +better to perish there of starvation, or to be killed by the hands +of hostile Gojin, than to wait here and be destroyed at last by +the sacrificial knife of these smiling, generous, kind-hearted, +self-sacrificing fiends; to be killed--ay, and afterward borne to the +tremendous Mista Kosek. + +There was a difficulty with Layelah that had to be guarded against: in +the first place that she might not suspect, and again that we might +choose our time of escape when she would not be at all likely to find +us out. We resolved to make our attempt without any further delay. +Layelah was with us for the greater part of that jom, and the Kohen +Gadol also gave us much of his company. Layelah did not seem to have +any suspicions whatever of my secret purpose; for she was as bright, +as amiable, and as devoted to me as ever, while the Kohen Gadol sought +as before to make himself agreeable to Almah. I did not think fit +to tell her about Layelah's proposal, and therefore she was quite +ignorant of the secret plans of the Kohen Gadol, evidently attributing +his attention to the unfailing amiability of the Kosekin. + +Layelah came again after Almah had retired, and spent the time in +trying to persuade me to fly with her. The beautiful girl was +certainly never more engaging, nor was she ever more tender. Had it +not been for Almah it would have been impossible to resist such sweet +persuasions; but as it was I did resist. Layelah, however, was not at +all discouraged, nor did she lose any of her amiability; but when she +took leave it was with a smile and sweet words of forgiveness on her +lips for what she called my cruelty. After she left I remained for a +time with a painful sense of helplessness. The fact is my European +training did not fit me for encountering such a state of things as +existed among the Kosekin. It's very easy to be faithful to one's own +true-love in England, when other fair ladies hold aloof and wait to +be sought; but here among the Kosekin, women have as much liberty in +making love as men, and there is no law or custom about it. If a woman +chooses she can pay the most desperate attentions, and play the part +of a distracted lover to her heart's content. In most cases the +women actually take the initiative, as they are more impressible and +impulsive than men; and so it was that Layelah made me the object of +her persistent assault--acting all the time, too, in accordance with +the custom of the country, and thus having no thought whatever of +indelicacy, since, according to the Kosekin, she was acting simply in +accordance with the rights of every woman. Now, where a woman is urged +by one ardent lover to dismiss her other lover, she may sometimes find +it difficult to play her part satisfactorily; but in my case I did not +play my part satisfactorily at all; the ordeal was too hard, and I was +utterly unable to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of +character which the occasion demanded. + +Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have +said, with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time +succeeded in regaining my presence of mind. + +Almah was waiting, and she soon joined me. We gathered a few articles +for the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which +I had not used here, and then we set forth. Leaving our apartments +we traversed the long passages, and at length came to the cavern of +the athalebs. We met several people on the way, who looked at us +with smiles, but made no other sign. It was evident that they had no +commission to watch us, and that thus far Layelah's information was +correct. + +Upon entering the cavern of the athalebs my first feeling was one of +helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever in my own powers of +managing these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could +harness them; but the emergency was a pressing one, and there was no +help for it. I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my +chief desire was to secure one of the athalebs. The faint light served +to disclose nothing but gloom; and I waited for a while, hoping that +one of them would come forward as before. But waiting did no good, +for no movement was made, and I had to try what I could do myself to +rouse them. So I walked farther in toward the back part of the cavern, +peering through the gloom, while Almah remained near the entrance. + +As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone moving. I thought +it was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peering through the +gloom, when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work +which I could not make out. For a moment I stood in amazement and +despair, for it seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man +would at once divine my intent. While I stood thus he turned and gave +me a very courteous greeting, after which, in the usual manner of the +Kosekin, he asked me with much amiability what he could do for me. I +muttered something about seeing the athalebs, upon which he informed +me that he would show them to me with pleasure. + +He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low +position of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post involving +duties like those of ostlers or grooms among us, but which here +indicated high rank and honor. He was proud of his title of "Epet," +which means servant, and more than usually obliging. I at once took +advantage of his complaisance, and requested him to show me the +athalebs. Upon this he led the way farther on, where I could see +through the gloom the shadowy outlines of four monsters, all of which +were resting in an upright posture against the wall, with their claws +fixed on a shelf of rock. They looked more than ever like dragons, or +rather like enormous bats, for their wings were disclosed hanging in +loose leathern folds. + +"Can they be roused," I asked, "and made to move?" + +"Oh yes," said the Epet, and without waiting for any further request +he proceeded to pull at the loose fan-like wing of the nearest one. +The monster drew himself together, gave a flutter with his wings, and +then moved back from the wall. + +"Make him walk," said I, eagerly. + +The Epet at this pulled upon his wing once more, and the athaleb moved +forward. + +"Bring him to the portal, so that I may see him," said I. + +The Epet, still holding the athaleb's wing, pulled at him, and thus +guided him toward the portal. I was amazed at the docility of this +terrific monster; yet, after all, I thought that it was no more +astonishing than the docility of the elephant, which in like manner +allows itself to be guided by the slightest pressure. A child may lead +a vast elephant with ease, and here with equal ease the Epet led the +athaleb. He led him up near to the portal, where the aurora light +beamed through far brighter than the brightest moon, and disclosed all +the vast proportions of the monster. I stood and looked on for some +time in silence, quite at a loss what to do next. + +And now Layelah's words occurred to me as to the perfect willingness +of the Kosekin to do anything which one might wish. She had insisted +on it that they would not prevent our flight, and had given me to +understand that they would even assist me if I should ask them. This +is what now occurred to me, and I determined to make a trial. So I +said: + +"I should like to fly in the air on the athaleb. Will you harness +him?" + +I confess it was with some trepidation that I said this, but the +feeling was soon dissipated. The Epet heard my words with perfect +coolness, as though they conveyed the most natural request in the +world, and then proceeded to obey me, just as at home a servant might +hear and obey his master, who might say, "I should like to take a +ride; will you harness the bay mare?" + +So the Epet proceeded to harness the athaleb, and I watched him in +silence; but it was the silence of deep suspense, and my heart +throbbed painfully. There was yet much to be risked. The gates had +to be opened. Others might interfere. Layelah might come. All these +thoughts occurred to me as I watched the Epet; and though the labor of +harnessing the athaleb was simple and soon performed, still the time +seemed long. So the collar was secured around the neck of the athaleb, +with the grapple attached, and the lines were fastened to the wings, +and then Almah and I mounted. + +The Epet now stood waiting for further orders. + +"Open the gates," said I. + +The Epet did so. + +Almah was seated on the back of the athaleb before me, holding on to +the coarse mane; I, just behind, held the reins in my hand. The gates +were opened wide. A few people outside, roused by the noise of the +opening gates, stood and looked on. They had evidently no other +feeling but curiosity. + +All was now ready and the way was open, but there was an unexpected +difficulty--the athaleb would not start, and I did not know how to +make him. I had once more to apply for help to the Epet. + +"How am I to make him start?" I asked. + +"Pull at the collar to make him start, and pull at both reins to make +him stop," said the Epet. + +Upon this I pulled at the collar. + +The athaleb obeyed at once. He rose almost erect, and moved out +through the gate. It was difficult to hold on, but we did so. On +reaching the terrace outside, the athaleb expanded his vast wings, +which spread out over a space of full fifty feet, and then with +vigorous motions raised himself in the air. + +It was a moment full of terror to both of us; the strange sensation of +rising in the air, the quivering muscles of the athaleb at the working +of the enormous pinions, the tremendous display of strength, all +combined to overwhelm me with a sense of utter helplessness. With one +hand I clung to the stiff mane of the monster; with the other I held +Almah, who was also grasping the athaleb's hair; and thus for some +time all thought was taken up in the one purpose of holding on. But at +length the athaleb lay in the air in a perfectly horizontal position; +the beat of the wings grew more slow and even, the muscular exertion +more steady and sustained. We both began to regain some degree of +confidence, and at length I raised myself up and looked around. + +It did not seem long since we had left; but already the city was far +behind, rising with its long, crescent terraces, sparkling and +twinkling with innumerable lights. We had passed beyond the bay; the +harbor was behind us, the open sea before us, the deep water beneath. +The athaleb flew low, not more than a hundred feet above the water, +and maintained that distance all the time. It seemed, indeed, as if he +might drop into the water at any time; but this was only fancy, for he +was perfect master of all his movement and his flight was swift and +well sustained. + +Overhead the sky was filled with the glory of the aurora beams, which +spread everywhere, flashing out from the zenith and illuminating the +earth with a glow brighter than that of the brightest moon; beneath, +the dark waters of the sea extended, with the waves breaking into +foam, and traversed by galleys, by merchant-ships, and by the navies +of the Kosekin. Far away the surface of the sea spread, with that +marvellous appearance of an endless ascent, as though for a thousand +miles, rising thus until it terminated half-way up the sky; and so +it rose up on every side, so that I seemed to be at the bottom of +a basin-shaped world--an immense and immeasurable hollow--a world +unparalleled and unintelligible. Far away, at almost infinite +distances, arose the long lines of mountains, which, crowned with ice, +gleamed in the aurora light, and seemed like a barrier that made +forever impossible all ingress and egress. + +On and on we sped. At length we grew perfectly accustomed to the +situation, the motion was so easy and our seats were so secure. There +were no obstacles in our way, no roughness along our path; for that +pathway was the smooth air, and in such a path there could be no +interruption, no jerk or jar. After the first terror had passed there +remained no longer any necessity for holding on--we could sit and look +around with perfect freedom; and at length I rose to my feet, and +Almah stood beside me, and thus we stood for a long time, with all +our souls kindled into glowing enthusiasm by the excitement of that +adventurous flight, and the splendors of that unequalled scene. + +At length the aurora light grew dim. Then came forth the stars, +glowing and burning in the black sky. Beneath there was nothing +visible but the darkness of the water, spotted with phosphorescent +points, while all around a wall of gloom arose which shut out from +view the distant shores. + +Suddenly I was aware of a noise like the beat of vast wings, and these +wings were not those of our athaleb. At first I thought it was the +fluttering of a sail, but it was too regular and too long continued +for that. At length I saw through the gloom a vast shadowy form in the +air behind us, and at once the knowledge of the truth flashed upon me. +It was another monster flying in pursuit! + +Were we pursued? Were there men on his back? Should I resist? I held +my rifle poised, and was resolved to resist at all hazards. Almah saw +it all, and said nothing. She perceived the danger, and in her eyes I +saw that she, like me, would prefer death to surrender. The monster +came nearer and nearer, until at last I could see that he was alone, +and that none were on his back. But now another fear arose. He might +attack our athaleb, and in that way endanger us. He must be prevented +from coming nearer; yet to fire the rifle was a serious matter. I had +once before I earned the danger of firing under such circumstances, +when my opmahera had fled in terror at the report, and did not wish to +experience the danger which might arise from a panic-stricken athaleb; +and so as I stood there I waved my arms and gesticulated violently. +The pursuing athaleb seemed frightened at such an unusual occurrence, +for he veered off, and soon was lost in the darkness. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE ISLAND OF FIRE + + +At last there appeared before us what seemed like a long line of +dull-red fires, and as we looked we could see bursts of flame at +fitful intervals, which shone out for a few moments and then died +away. Upon this now our whole attention was fixed; for it seemed as +though we were approaching our destination, and that this place was +the Island of Fire--a name which, from present appearances, was fully +justified. As we went on and drew steadily nearer, the mass of glowing +fire grew larger and brighter, and what at first had seemed a line was +broken up into different parts, one of which far surpassed the others. +This was higher in the air, and its shape was that of a long, thin, +sloping line, with a burning, glowing globule at each end. It seemed +like lava running down from the crater of a volcano, and this +appearance was made certainty on a nearer approach; for we saw at the +upper point, which seemed the crater, an outburst of flame, followed +by a new flow of the fiery stream. In other places there were similar +fires, but they were less bright, either because they were smaller or +more remote. + +At length we heard beneath us the roar of breakers, and saw long white +lines of surf beating upon the shore. Our athaleb now descended and +alighted; we clambered to the ground, and I, taking the grapple, fixed +it securely between two sharp rocks. We were at last on Magones, the +Island of Fire. + +The brightness of the aurora light had left us, but it needed not +this to show us the dismal nature of the land to which we had come. +It was a land of horror, where there was nothing but the abomination +of desolation--a land overstrewn with blasted fragments of fractured +lava-blocks, intermixed with sand, from which there arose black +precipices and giant mountains that poured forth rivers of fire and +showers of ashes and sheets of flame. A tremendous peak arose before +us, with a crest of fire and sides streaked with red torrents of +molten lava; between us and it there spread away a vast expanse of +impassable rocks--a scene of ruin and savage wildness which cannot be +described, and all around was the same drear and appalling prospect. +Here in the night-season--the season of darkness and of awful +gloom--we stood in this land of woe; and not one single sign appeared +of life save the life that we had brought with us. As for food, it was +vain to think of it. To search after it would be useless. It seemed, +indeed, impossible to move from the spot where we were. Every moment +presented some new discovery which added to the horror of Magones. + +But Almah was weary, for our flight had been long, and she wished to +rest. So I found a place for her where there was some sand between +two rocks, and here she lay down and went to sleep. I sat at a little +distance off on a shelf of the rock, with my back against it, and +here, after a little time, I also went to sleep. + +At length we awoke. But what a waking! There was no morning dawn, no +blessed returning light to greet our eyes. We opened our eyes to the +same scenes upon which we had closed them, and the darkness was still +deep and dense around us. Over us both there was a sense of utter +depression, and I was so deeply plunged into it that I found it +impossible to rouse myself, even for the sake of saying words of cheer +to Almah. I had brought a few fragments of food, and upon these we +made our breakfast; but there was the athaleb to feed, and for him I +found nothing, nor could I think of anything--unless he could feed +upon rocks and sand. Yet food for him was a matter of the highest +consequence, for he was all our support and stay and hope; and if the +monster were deprived of food he might turn upon us and satisfy upon +us his ravenous appetite. These thoughts were painful indeed, and +added to my despondency. + +Suddenly I heard the sound of running water. I started away toward the +place from which the sound came, and found, only a little distance +off, a small brook trickling along on its way to the shore. I called +Almah, and we both drank and were refreshed. + +This showed an easy way to get to the shore, and I determined to go +there to see if there were any fish to be found. Shell-fish might be +there, or the carcasses of dead fish thrown up by the sea, upon which +the athaleb might feed. I left my pistol with Almah, telling her to +fire it if she heard me fire, for I was afraid of losing my way, +and therefore took this precaution. I left it lying on the rock +full-cocked, and directed her to point it in the air and pull the +trigger. It was necessary to take these precautions, as of course she +was quite ignorant of its nature. After this I left her and tried to +follow the torrent. + +This, however, I soon found to be impossible, for the brook on +reaching a huge rock plunged underneath it and became lost to view. I +then went toward the shore as well as I could--now climbing over sharp +rocks, now going round them, until at length after immense labor I +succeeded in reaching the water. Here the scene was almost as wild +as the one I had left. There was no beach whatever--nothing but a +vast extent of wild fragments of fractured lava-blocks, which were +evidently the result of some comparatively recent convulsion of +nature, for their edges were still sharp, and the water had not worn +even those which were within its grasp to anything like roundness, +or to anything else than the jagged and shattered outlines which had +originally belonged to them. All the shore thus consisted of vast +rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in foam. + +Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore for a long +distance, but without seeing any change. I was unwilling to go back +baffled, yet I was at length compelled to do so. But the necessity of +feeding the athaleb was pressing, and I saw that our only course now +would be to mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other. +But where could we go? That I could not imagine, and could only +conclude to trust altogether to the instinct of the athaleb, which +might guide him to places where he might obtain food. Such a course +would involve great risk for we might be carried into the midst of +vast flocks of these monsters; yet there was nothing else to be done. + +I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the sea. At +length I found a place where the walking was somewhat easier, and went +in this way up into the island and away from the sea. It seemed to +lead in the direction where I wished to go. At length it seemed as if +I had walked far enough, yet I could see no signs of Almah. I shouted, +but there was no answer. I shouted again and again, but with the like +result. Then I fired my rifle and listened. In response there came the +report of the pistol far away behind me. It was evident that in coming +back along the shore I had passed by the place where Almah was. There +was nothing now left but to retrace my steps and this I accordingly +did. I went back to the shore, and returned on my steps, shouting all +the time, until at length I was rejoiced to hear the answering shout +of Almah. After this it was easy to reach her. + +We now took up the grapple and once more mounted. The athaleb, eager +to be off, raised himself quickly in the air, and soon our late +resting-place was far behind. His flight was now different from what +it was before. Then he stood off in one straight line for a certain +fixed destination, as though under some guidance; for though I did not +direct him, still his long training had taught him to fly to Magones. +But now training and guidance were both wanting, and the athaleb was +left to the impulse of his hunger and the guidance of his instinct; so +he flew no longer in one undeviating straight line, but rose high, and +bent his head down low, and flew and soared in vast circles, even as I +have seen a vulture or a condor sweep about while searching for food. +All the while we were drawing farther and farther away from the spot +which we had left. + +We passed the lofty volcano; we saw more plainly the rivers of molten +lava; we passed vast cliffs and bleak mountains, all of which were +more terrific than all that we had left behind. Now the darkness +lessened, for the aurora was brightening in the sky, and gathering up +swiftly and gloriously all its innumerable beams, and flashing forth +its lustrous glow upon the world. To us this was equal to the return +of day; it was like a blessed dawn. Light had come, and we rejoiced +and were exceeding glad. + +Now we saw before us, far beyond the black precipices, a broad bay +with sloping shores, and a wide beach which seemed like a beach of +sand. The surf broke here, but beyond the surf was the gentle sandy +declivity, and beyond this there appeared the shores, still rocky and +barren and desolate, but far preferable to what we had left behind. +Far away in the interior arose lofty mountains and volcanoes, while +behind us flamed the burning peak which we had passed. + +Here the athaleb wheeled in long, circuitous flights, which grew lower +and lower, until at length he descended upon the sandy beach, where +I saw a vast sea-monster lying dead. It had evidently been thrown up +here by the sea. It was like one of those monsters which I had seen +from the galley of the Kohen at the time of the sacred hunt. By this +the athaleb descended, and at once began to devour it, tearing out +vast masses of flesh, and exhibiting such voracity and strength of +jaw that I could scarcely bear to look upon the sight. I fastened +the grapple securely to the head of the dead monster, and leaving +the athaleb to feed upon it, Almah and I went up the beach. + +On our way we found rocks covered with sea-weed, and here we sought +after shell-fish. Our search was at length rewarded, for suddenly I +stumbled upon a place where I found some lobsters. I grasped two of +these, but the others escaped. Here at last I had found signs of life, +but they were of the sea rather than of the shore. Delighted with my +prey, I hastened to Almah to show them to her. She recognized them at +once, and I saw that they were familiar to her. I then spoke of eating +them, but at this proposal she recoiled in horror. She could not give +any reason for her repugnance, but merely said that among her people +they were regarded as something equivalent to vermin, and I found that +she would no more think of eating one than I would think of eating a +rat. Upon this I had to throw them away, and we once more resumed our +search. + +At last we came to a place where numbers of dead fish lay on the sand. +Nearer the water they were more fresh, and not at all objectionable. +I picked up a few which looked like our common smelt, and found that +Almah had no objection to these. But now the question arose how to +cook them; neither of us could eat them raw. A fire was necessary, yet +a fire was impossible; for on the whole island there was probably not +one single combustible thing. Our discovery, therefore, seemed to have +done us but little good, and we seemed destined to starvation, when +fortunately a happy thought suggested itself. In walking along I saw +far away the glow of some lava which had flowed to the shore at the +end of the sandy beach, and was probably cooling down at the water's +edge. Here, then, was a natural fire, which might serve us better than +any contrivance of our own, and toward this we at once proceeded. It +was about two miles away; but the beach was smooth, and we reached +the place without any difficulty. + +Here we found the edge of that lava flood which seemed eternally +descending from the crater beyond. The edge which was nearest the +water was black; and the liquid fire, as it rolled down, curled over +this in a fantastic shape, cooling and hardening into the form which +it thus assumed. Here, after some search, I found a crevice where I +could approach the fire, and I laid the fish upon a crimson rock, +which was cooling and hardening into the shape of a vast ledge of +lava. In this way, by the aid of nature, the fish were broiled, and +we made our repast. + +There was nothing here to invite a longer stay, and we soon returned +to the athaleb. We found the monster, gorged with food, asleep, +resting upon his hind legs, with his breast supported against the vast +carcass. Almah called it a jantannin. It was about sixty feet in +length and twenty in thickness, with a vast horny head, ponderous +jaws, and back covered with scales. Its eyes were of prodigious size, +and it had the appearance of a crocodile, with the vast size of a +whale. It was unlike a crocodile, however; for it had fins rather than +paws, and must have been as clumsy on the land as a seal or a walrus. +It lay on its side, and the athaleb had fed itself from the uncovered +flesh of its belly. + +There was nothing here to induce us to stay, and so we wandered along +the beach in the other direction. On our right was the bay; on our +left the rocky shore, which, beginning at the beach, ran back into +the country, a waste of impassable rocks, where not a tree or plant +or blade of grass relieved the appalling desolation. Once or twice +we made an attempt to penetrate into the country, where openings +appeared. These openings seemed like the beds of dried-up torrents. We +were able to walk but a few paces for invariably we would come to some +immense blocks of rock, which barred all farther progress. In this +way we explored the beach for miles, until it terminated in a savage +promontory that rose abruptly from the sea against which the huge +billows broke in thunder. + +Then we retraced our steps, and again reached the spot where the +athaleb was asleep by the jantannin. Almah was now too weary to walk +any farther, nor was it desirable to do so; for, indeed, we had +traversed all that could be visited. On one side of the beach was the +sea, on the other the impassable rocks; at one end the promontory, at +the other the lava fires. There was nothing more for us to do but to +wait here until the athaleb should awake, and then our actions would +depend upon what we might now decide. + +This was the question that was now before us, and this we began to +consider. We both felt the most unspeakable aversion for the island, +and to remain here any longer was impossible. We would once more have +to mount the athaleb, and proceed to some other shore. But where? +Ah! there was the question! Not on the island, for it did not seem +possible that in all its extent there could be one single spot capable +of affording a resting-place. Layelah's information with regard to +Magones had made that much plain. I had not taken in her full meaning, +but now mine eyes had seen it. Yet where else could we go? Almah could +not tell where under the sky lay that land which she loved; I could +not guess where to go to find the land of the Orin. Even if I did +know, I did not feel able to guide the course of the athaleb; and I +felt sure that if we were to mount again, the mighty monster would +wing his flight back to the very place from which we had escaped--the +amir. These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We felt that we had +gained nothing by our flight, and that our future was dark indeed. The +only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the course of the +athaleb in some different direction altogether, so that we should not +be carried back to the Kosekin. + +And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this jom, we thought of +sleep. Almah lay down upon the sand, and I seated myself, leaning +against a rock, a little distance off, having first reloaded my rifle +and pistol. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +RECAPTURE + + +How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep there +sounded voices, which at first intermingled themselves with my dreams, +but gradually became separate and sounded from without, rousing me +from my slumbers. I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw +was so amazing that in an instant all sleep left me. I started to my +feet, and gazed in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me. + +The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed +everything--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantannin, the +promontory, all--more plainly and more luminously than before; but +it was not any of these things that now excited my attention and +rendered me dumb. I saw Almah standing there at a little distance, +with despairing face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while +immediately before me, regarding me with a keen glance and an air of +triumph, was Layelah. + +"Ataesmzori alonla," said she, with a sweet smile, giving me the +usual salutation of the Kosekin. + +I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as before, looking +first at her and then at Almah. + +The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the Kosekin, +excited me to madness. I seized my rifle, and raised it as if to take +aim; but Almah, who understood the movement, cried to me: + +"Put down your sepet-ram, Atam-or! you can do nothing for me. The +Kosekin are too numerous." + +"Sepet-ram!" said Layelah; "what do you mean by that? If your +sepet-ram has any power, do not try to use it, Atam-or, or else +I shall have to order my followers to give to Almah the blessing of +death." + +At this my rifle was lowered: the whole truth flashed upon me, and I +saw, too, the madness of resistance. I might kill one or two, but the +rest would do as Layelah said, and I should speedily be disarmed. Well +I knew how powerless were the thunders of my fire-arms to terrify +these Kosekin; for the prospect of death would only rouse them to a +mad enthusiasm, and they would all rush upon me as they would rush +upon a jantannin--to slay and be slain. The odds were too great. A +crowd of Europeans could be held in check far more easily than these +death-loving Kosekin. The whole truth was thus plain: we were +prisoners, and were at their mercy. + +Layelah showed no excitement or anger whatever. She looked and spoke +in her usual gracious and amiable fashion, with a sweet smile on her +face. + +"We knew," said she, "that you would be in distress in this desolate +place, and that you would not know where to go from Magones; and so we +have come, full of the most eager desire to relieve your wants. We +have brought with us food and drink, and are ready to do everything +for you that you may desire. We have had great trouble in finding you, +and have coursed over the shores for vast distances, and far over the +interior, but our athalebs found you at last by their scent. And we +rejoice to have found you in time, and that you are both so well, for +we have been afraid that you had been suffering. Nay, Atam-or, do not +thank us; thanks are distasteful to the Kosekin: these brave followers +of mine will all be amply rewarded for this, for they will all be made +paupers; but as for myself, I want no higher reward than the +delightful thought that I have saved you from suffering." + +The beautiful, smiling Layelah, who addressed me in this way with her +sweet voice, was certainly not to be treated as an enemy. Against her +a rifle could not be levelled; she would have looked at me with the +same sweet smile, and that smile would have melted all my resolution. +Nor could I even persist in my determination to remain. Remain! For +what? For utter despair! And yet where else could we go? + +"You do not know where lie the lands of the Orin," said Layelah. "The +athaleb does not know. You could not guide him if you did know. You +are helpless on his back. The art of driving an athaleb is difficult, +and cannot be learned without long and severe practice. My fear was +that the athaleb might break away from you and return, leaving you to +perish here. Had you tried to leave this place he would have brought +you back to the amir." + +To this I said nothing--partly because it was so true that I had no +answer to make, and partly also out of deep mortification and +dejection. My pride was wounded at being thus so easily baffled by a +girl like Layelah, and all my grief was stirred by the sadness of +Almah. In her eyes there seemed even now the look of one who sees +death inevitable, and the glance she gave to me was like an eternal +farewell. + +Almah now spoke, addressing herself to Layelah. + +"Death," said she, in a voice of indescribable mournfulness, "is +better here than with you. We would rather die here than go back. Let +us, I pray you, receive the blessing of death here. Let us be paupers +and exiles, and die on Magones." + +Layelah heard this, and stood for a moment in deep thought. + +"No one but a stranger," said she at length, "would ask such a favor +as that. Do you not know that what you ask is among the very highest +honors of the Kosekin? Who am I that I can venture to grant such a +request as that? Ask for anything in my power, and I will be glad to +grant it. I have already arranged that you shall be separated from +Atam-or; and that, surely, is a high privilege. I might consent to +bind you hand and foot, after the manner of the more distinguished +Asirin; you may also be blindfolded if you wish it. I might even +promise, after we return to the amir, to keep you confined in utter +darkness, with barely sufficient food to keep you alive until the +time of the sacrifice; in short, there is no blessing known among +the Kosekin that I will not give so long as it is in my power. And +so, beloved Almah," continued Layelah, "you have every reason for +happiness; you have all the highest blessings known among the Kosekin: +separation from your lover, poverty, want, darkness; and, finally, the +prospect of inevitable death ever before you as the crowning glory of +your lot." + +These words seemed to the Kosekin the very excess of magnanimity, and +involuntary murmurs of admiration escaped them; although it is just +possible that they murmured at the greatness of the favor that was +offered. But to me it sounded like fiendish mockery, and to Almah it +sounded the same; for a groan escaped her, her fortitude gave way, she +sank on her knees, buried her head in her hands, and wept. + +"Almah," cried I, in a fury, "we will not go back--we will not be +separated! I will destroy all the athalebs, and we shall all perish +here together. At least, you and I will not be separated." + +At this Almah started up. + +"No, no," said she--"no; let us go back. Here we have nothing but +death." + +"But we have death also at the amir, and a more terrible one," said I. + +"If you kill the athalebs," said Layelah, "I will give Almah the +blessing of death." + +At this I recoiled in horror, and my resolution again gave way. + +"You have some mysterious power of conferring death," continued +Layelah, "with what Almah calls your sepet-ram; but do not kill the +athalebs, for it will do you no good. Almah would then receive the +blessing of death. My followers, these noble Kosekin, would rejoice in +thus gaining exile and death on Magones. As for myself, it would be my +highest happiness to be here alone with you. With you I should live +for a few sweet joms, and with you I should die; so go on--kill the +athalebs if you wish." + +"Do not!" cried Almah--"do not! There is no hope. We are their +prisoners, and our only hope is in submission." + +Upon this all further thought of resistance left me, and I stood in +silence, stolidly waiting for their action. As I looked around I +noticed a movement near the jantannin, and saw several athalebs +there, which were devouring its flesh. I now went over to Almah and +spoke with her. We were both full of despair. It seemed as though we +might never meet again. We were to be separated now; but who could say +whether we should be permitted to see each other after leaving this +place? We had but little to say. I held her in my arms, regardless of +the presence of others; and these, seeing our emotion, at once moved +away, with the usual delicacy of the Kosekin, and followed Layelah to +the jantannin to see about the athalebs. + +At last our interview was terminated. Layelah came and informed us +that all was ready for our departure. We walked sadly to the place, +and found the athalebs crouched to receive their riders. There were +four beside ours. Layelah informed me that I was to go with her, and +Almah was to go on another athaleb. I entreated her to let Almah go +with me; but she declined, saying that our athaleb could only carry +two, as he seemed fatigued, and it would not be safe to overload him +for so long a flight. I told her that Almah and I could go together on +the same athaleb; but she objected on the ground of my ignorance of +driving. And so, remonstrances and objections being alike useless, I +was compelled to yield to the arrangements that had been made. Almah +mounted on another athaleb. I mounted with Layelah, and then the great +monsters expanded their mighty wings, rose into the air, and soon were +speeding over the waters. + +We went on in silence for some time. I was too despondent to say a +word, and all my thoughts turned toward Almah, who was now separated +from me--perhaps forever. The other athalebs went ahead, at long +intervals apart, flying in a straight line, while ours was last. +Layelah said nothing. She sat in front of me; her back was turned +toward me; she held in her hands the reins, which hung quite loose at +first, but after a while she drew them up, and seemed to be directing +our course. For some time I did not notice anything in particular, for +my eyes were fixed upon the athaleb immediately before us, upon which +was seated the loved form of Almah, which I could easily recognize. +But our athaleb flew slowly, and I noticed that we were falling +behind. I said this to Layelah, but she only remarked that it was +fatigued with its long journey. To this I objected that the others had +made as long a journey, and insisted that she should draw nearer. This +she at first refused to do; but at length, as I grew persistent, she +complied, or pretended to do so. In spite of this, however, we again +fell behind, and I noticed that this always happened when the reins +were drawn tight. On making this discovery I suddenly seized both +reins and let them trail loose, whereupon the athaleb at once showed a +perceptible increase of speed, which proved that there was no fatigue +in him whatever. This I said to Layelah. + +She acquiesced with a sweet smile, and taking the reins again, she sat +around so as to face me, and said: + +"You are very quick. It is no use to try to deceive you, Atam-or: I +wish to fall behind." + +"Why?" + +"To save you." + +"To save me?" + +"Yes. I can take you to the land of the Orin. Now is the time to +escape from death. If you go back you must surely die; but now, if you +will be guided by me, I can take you to the land of the Orin. There +they all hate death, they love life, they live in the light. There you +will find those who are like yourself; there you can love and be +happy." + +"But what of Almah?" I asked. + +Layelah made a pretty gesture of despair. + +"You are always talking of Almah," said she. "What is Almah to you? +She is cold, dull, sad! She never will speak. Let her go." + +"Never!" said I. "Almah is worth more than all the world to me." + +Layelah sighed. + +"I can never, never, never," said she, "get from you the least little +bit of a kind word--even after all that I have done for you, and when +you know that I would lie down and let you trample me under your feet +if it gave you any pleasure." + +"Oh, that is not the question at all," said I. "You are asking me to +leave Almah--to be false to her--and I cannot." + +"Among the Kosekin," said Layelah, "it is the highest happiness for +lovers to give one another up." + +"I am not one of the Kosekin," said I. "I cannot let her go away--I +cannot let her go back to the amir--to meet death alone. If she dies +she shall see me by her side, ready to die with her." + +At this Layelah laughed merrily. + +"Is it possible," said she, "that you believe that? Do you not know +that if Almah goes back alone she will not die?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, she can only die when you are in her company. She has lived for +years among us, and we have waited for someone to appear whom she +might love, so that we might give them both the blessing of death. If +that one should leave her, Almah could not receive the blessing. She +would be compelled to live longer, until some other lover should +appear. Now, by going with me to the land of the Orin, you will save +Almah's life--and as for Almah, why, she will be happy--and dear papa +is quite willing to marry her. You must see, therefore, dear Atam-or, +that my plan is the very best that can be thought of for all of us, +and above all for Almah." + +This, however, was intolerable; and I could not consent to desert +Almah, even if by doing so I should save her life. My own nature +revolted from it. Still it was not a thing which I could dismiss on +the instant. The safety of Almah's life, indeed, required +consideration; but then the thought came of her wonder at my +desertion. Would she not think me false? Would not the thought of my +falsity be worse than death? + +"No," said I, "I will not leave her--not even to save her life. Even +among us there are things worse than death. Almah would rather die by +the sacrificial knife than linger on with a broken heart." + +"Oh no," said Layelah, sweetly; "she will rejoice that you are safe. +Do you not see that while you are together death is inevitable, but if +you separate you may both live and be happy?" + +"But she will think me dead," said I, as a new idea occurred. "She +will think that some accident has befallen me." + +"Oh no, she won't," said Layelah; "she will think that you have gone +off with me." + +"Then that will be worse, and I would rather die, and have her die +with me, than live and have her think me false." + +"You are very, very obstinate," said Layelah, sweetly. + +I made no reply. During this conversation I had been too intent upon +Layelah's words to notice the athalebs before me; but now as I looked +up I saw that we had fallen far behind, and that Layelah had headed +our athaleb in a new direction. Upon this I once more snatched the +reins from her, and tried to return to our former course. This, +however, I was utterly unable to do. + +Layelah laughed. + +"You will have to let me guide our course," said she. "You can do +nothing. The athaleb will now go in a straight line to the land of the +Orin." + +Upon this I started up in wild excitement. + +"Never, never, never!" I cried, in a fury. "I will not; I will destroy +this athaleb and perish in the water!" + +As I said this I raised my rifle. + +"What are you going to do?" cried Layelah, in accents of fear. + +"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!" + +Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a +smile. + +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, +when we have started for the land of the Orin?" + +"We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish +in the sea!" + +"Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb. You are no more +than an insect; your rod is a weak thing, and will break on his iron +frame." + +It was evident that Layelah had not the slightest idea of the powers +of my rifle. There was no hesitation on my part. I took aim with the +rifle. At that moment I was desperate. I thought of nothing but the +swift flight of the athaleb, which was bearing me away forever from +Almah. I could not endure that thought, and still less could I endure +the thought that she should believe me false. It was therefore in a +wild passion of rage and despair that I levelled my rifle, taking aim +as well as I could at what seemed a vital part under the wing. The +motion of the wing rendered this difficult, however, and I hesitated +a moment, so as to make sure. All this time Layelah stood looking +at me with a smile on her rosy lips and a merry twinkle in her +eyes--evidently regarding my words as empty threats and my act as +a vain pretence, and utterly unprepared for what was to follow. + +Suddenly I fired both barrels in quick succession. The reports rang +out in thunder over the sea. The athaleb gave a wild, appalling +shriek, and fell straight down into the water, fluttering vainly with +one wing, while the other hung down useless. A shriek of horror burst +from Layelah. She started back, and fell from her standing-place into +the waves beneath. The next instant we were all in the water +together--the athaleb writhing and lashing the water into foam, while +I involuntarily clung to his coarse mane, and expected death every +moment. + +But death did not come; for the athaleb did not sink, but floated with +his back out of the water, the right pinion being sunk underneath and +useless, and the left struggling vainly with the sea. But after a time +he folded up the left wing and drew it close in to his side, and +propelled himself with his long hind-legs. His right wing was broken, +but he did not seem to have suffered any other injury. + +Suddenly I heard a cry behind me: + +"Atam-or! oh, Atam-or!" + +I looked around and saw Layelah. She was swimming in the water, and +seemed exhausted. In the agitation of the past few moments I had lost +sight of her, and had thought that she was drowned; but now the sight +of her roused me from my stupor and brought me back to myself. She was +swimming, yet her strokes were weak and her face was full of despair. +In an instant I had flung off my coat, rolled up the rifle and pistol +in its folds, and sprung into the water. A few strokes brought me to +Layelah. A moment more and I should have been too late. I held her +head out of water, told her not to struggle, and then struck out to go +back. It would have been impossible for me to do this, encumbered with +such a load, had I not fortunately perceived the floating wing of the +athaleb close beside me. This I seized, and by means of it drew myself +with Layelah alongside; after which I succeeded in putting her on the +back of the animal, and soon followed myself. + +The terror of the rifle had overwhelmed her, and the suddenness of the +catastrophe had almost killed her. She had struggled in the water for +a long time, and had called to me in vain. Now she was quite +exhausted, and lay in my arms trembling and sobbing. I spoke to her +encouragingly, and wrapped her in my coat, and rubbed her hands and +feet, until at last she began to recover. Then she wept quietly for a +long time; then the weeping fit passed away. She looked up with a +smile, and in her face there was unutterable gratitude. + +"Atam-or," said she, "I never loved death like the rest of the +Kosekin; but now--but now--I feel that death with you would be sweet." + +Then tears came to her eyes, and I found tears coming to my own, so +that I had to stoop down and kiss away the tears of Layelah. As I did +so she twined both her arms around my neck, held me close to her, and +sighed. + +"Oh, Atam-or, death with you is sweet! And now you cannot reproach +me-- You have done this yourself, with your terrible power; and you +have saved my life to let me die with you. You do not hate me, then, +Atam-or, do you? Just speak once to a poor little girl, and say that +you do not hate her!" + +All this was very pitiable. What man that had a heart in his breast +could listen unmoved to words like these, or look without emotion upon +one so beautiful, so gentle, and so tender? It was no longer Layelah +in triumph with whom I had to do, but Layelah in distress: the light +banter, the teasing, mocking smile, the kindling eye, the ready +laugh--all were gone. There was nothing now but mournful +tenderness--the timid appeal of one who dreaded a repulse, the glance +of deep affection, the abandonment of love. + +I held Layelah in my arms, and I thought of nothing now but words of +consolation for her. Life seemed over; death seemed inevitable; and +there, on the back of the athaleb, we floated on the waters and waited +for our doom. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +FALLING, LIKE ICARUS, INTO THE SEA + + +The aurora light, which had flamed brightly, was now extinct, and +darkness was upon the face of the deep, where we floated on the back +of the monster. He swam, forcing himself onward with his hind-legs, +with one broad wing folded up close. Had both been folded up the +athaleb could have swum rapidly; but the broken wing lay expanded +over the water, tossing with the waves, so that our progress was but +slight. Had it not been for this, the athaleb's own instinct might +have served to guide him toward some shore which we might have hoped +to reach before life was extinct; but as it was, all thought of +reaching any shore was out of the question, and there arose before us +only the prospect of death--a death, too, which must be lingering and +painful and cruel. Thus amid the darkness we floated, and the waves +dashed around us, and the athaleb never ceased to struggle in the +water, trying to force his way onward. It seemed sweet at that moment +to have Layelah with me, for what could have been more horrible than +loneliness amid those black waters? and Layelah's mind was made up +to meet death with joy, so that her mood conveyed itself to me. And +I thought that since death was inevitable it were better to meet +it thus, and in this way end my life--not amid the horrors of the +sacrifice and the Mista Kosek, but in a way which seemed natural to +a seafaring man like myself, and with which I had long familiarized my +thoughts. For I had fallen upon a world and among people which were +all alien and unintelligible to me; and to live on would only open the +way to new and worse calamities. There was peace also in the thought +that my death would snatch the prospect of death from Almah. She would +now be safe. It was only when we were together as lovers that death +threatened her; but now since I was removed she could resume her +former life, and she might remember me only as an episode in that +life. That she would remember me I felt sure, and that she would weep +for me and mourn after me was undeniable; but time as it passed would +surely alleviate that grief, and Almah would live and be happy. +Perhaps she might yet regain her native land and rejoin her loved +kindred, whom she would tell of the stranger from an unknown shore who +had loved her, and through whose death she had gained her life. Such +were the thoughts that filled my mind as I floated over the black +water with darkness all around, as I held Layelah in my arms, with my +coat wrapped around her, and murmured in her ear tender words of +consolation and sympathy. + +A long, long time had passed--but how long I know not--when suddenly +Layelah gave a cry, and started up on her knees, with her head bent +forward listening intently. I too listened, and I could distinctly +hear the sound of breakers. + +It was evident that we were approaching some shore; and, from what I +remembered of the shore of Magones, such a shore meant death, and +death alone. We stood up and tried to peer through the gloom. At +length we saw a whole line of breakers, and beyond all was black. We +waited anxiously in that position, and drew steadily nearer. It was +evident that the athaleb was desirous of reaching that shore, and we +could do nothing but await the result. + +But the athaleb had his wits about him, and swam along on a line with +the breakers for some distance, until at length an opening appeared, +into which he directed his course. Passing through this we reached +still water, which seemed like a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef. +The athaleb swam on farther, and at length we saw before us an island +with a broad, sandy beach, beyond which was the shadowy outline of a +forest. Here the monster landed, and dragged himself wearily upon the +sand, where he spread his vast bulk out, and lay panting heavily. We +dismounted--I first, so as to assist Layelah; and then it seemed as if +death were postponed for a time, since we had reached this place where +the rich and rank vegetation spoke of nothing but vigorous life. + +Fortune had indeed dealt strangely with me. I had fled with Almah, and +with her had reached one desolate shore, and now I found myself with +Layelah upon another shore, desolate also, but not a savage +wilderness. This lonely island, ringed with the black ocean waters, +was the abode of a life of its own, and there was nothing here to +crush the soul into a horror of despair like that which was caused by +the tremendous scenes on Magones. + +In an instant Layelah revived from her gloom. She looked around, +clapped her little hands, laughed aloud, and danced for joy. + +"Oh, Atam-or," she cried, "see--see the trees, see the grass, the +bushes! This is a land of wonder. As for food, you can call it down +from the sky with your sepet-ram, or we can find it on the rocks. +Oh, Atam-or! life is better than death, and we can live here, and we +can be happy. This shall be better to us than the lands of the Orin, +for we shall be alone, and we shall be all in all to one another." + +I could not help laughing, and I said: + +"Layelah, this is not the language of the Kosekin. You should at once +go to the other side of this island, and sit down and wait for death." + +"Never," said Layelah; "you are mine, Atam-or, and I never will leave +you. If you wish me to die for you, I will gladly lay down my life; +but I will not leave you. I love you, Atam-or; and now, whether it be +life or death, it is all the same so long as I have you." + +Our submersion in the sea and our long exposure afterward had chilled +both of us, but Layelah felt it most. She was shivering in her wet +clothes in spite of my coat which I insisted on her wearing, and I +determined, if possible, to kindle a fire. Fortunately my powder was +dry, for I had thrown off my flask with my coat before jumping into +the sea, and thus I had the means of creating fire. I rubbed wet +powder over my handkerchief, and then gathered some dried sticks and +moss. After this I found some dead trees, the boughs of which were +dry and brittle, and in the exercise I soon grew warm, and had the +satisfaction of seeing a great heap of fagots accumulating. I fired +my pistol into the handkerchief, which, being saturated with powder, +caught the fire, and this I blew into a flame among the dried moss. +A bright fire now sprang up and blazed high in the air; while I, in +order to have an ample supply of fuel, continued to gather it for a +long time. At length, as I came back, I saw Layelah lying on the sand +in front of the fire, sound asleep. I was glad of this, for she was +weary, and had seemed so weak and tremulous that I had felt anxious; +so now I arranged my coat over her carefully, and then sat down for a +time to think over this new turn which my fortune had taken. + +This island was certainly very unlike Magones, yet I had no surety but +that it might be equally destitute of food. This was the first +question, and I could not think of sleep until I had found out more +about the place. The aurora light, which constantly brightens and +lessens in this strange world, was now shining gloriously, and I set +forth to explore the island. The beach was of fine sand all the way. +The water was smooth, and shut in on every side by an outer reef +against which the sea-waves broke incessantly. As I walked I soon +perceived what the island was; for I had often seen such places before +in the South Pacific. It was, in fact, a coral islet, with a reef of +rocks encircling it on every side. The vegetation, however, was unlike +anything in the world beyond; for it consisted of many varieties of +tree-ferns, that looked like palms, and giant grasses, and bamboo. The +island was but small, and the entire circuit was not over a mile. I +saw nothing that looked like food, nor did it seem likely that in so +small a place there could be enough sustenance for us. Our only hope +would be from the sea, yet even here I could see no signs of any sort +of shell-fish. On the whole the prospect was discouraging, and I +returned to the starting-point with a feeling of dejection; but this +feeling did not trouble me much at that time: my chief thought was of +rest, and I flung myself down on the sand and fell asleep. + +I was awakened by a cry from Layelah. Starting up, I saw her standing +and looking into the sky. She was intensely excited. As soon as she +saw me she rushed toward me and burst into tears, while I, full of +wonder, could only stare upward. + +"Oh!" cried Layelah, "they've turned back--they've found us! We shall +have to leave our dear, lovely island. Oh, Atam-or, I shall lose you +now; for never, never, never again will you have one thought of love +for your poor Layelah!" + +With these words she clung sobbing to me. For my part I do not +remember what I said to soothe her, for the sight above was so amazing +that it took up all my attention. The aurora shone bright, and in the +sky I saw two vast objects wheeling and circling, as if about to +descend. I recognized them at once as athalebs; but as their backs +were hid from view by their immense wings, I could not make out +whether they were wanderers about to alight of their own accord, or +guided here by riders--perhaps by the Kosekin from whom we had been +parted. + +This much at least I remember. I said to Layelah that these athalebs +were wild ones, which had come here because they saw or scented our +wounded one; but Layelah shook her head with mournful meaning. + +"Oh no," said she; "Almah has come back for you. This fire-light has +guided them. If you had not made the fire they never, never, never +could have found us; but now all is lost." + +There was no time for conversation or discussion. The athalebs drew +swiftly nearer and nearer, descending in long circuits, until at +length they touched the ground not far away on the wide sandy beach. +Then we saw people on their backs, and among them was Almah. We +hurried toward them, and Almah rushed into my arms, to the great +disgust of Layelah, for she was close beside me and saw it all. She +gave an exclamation of grief and despair, and hurried away. + +From Almah I learned that our disappearance had caused alarm; that two +of the athalebs had come back in search of us; that they had been to +Magones, and had searched over the seas, and were just about giving us +up as lost, when the fire-light had attracted their attention and +drawn them here. + +I said nothing at that time about the cause of our disappearance, but +merely remarked that the athaleb had fallen into the sea and swam +here. This was sufficient. They had to remain here for some time +longer to rest their athalebs. At length we prepared to depart. Our +wounded athaleb was left behind to take care of himself. I was taken +with Almah, and Layelah went on the other. We were thus separated; and +so we set forth upon our return, and at length arrived at the amir. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +GRIMM'S LAW AGAIN + + +Dinner was now announced, and Oxenden laid the manuscript aside; +whereupon they adjourned to the cabin, where they proceeded to discuss +both the repast and the manuscript. + +"Well," said Featherstone, "More's story seems to be approaching a +crisis. What do you think of it now, Melick? Do you still think it a +sensational novel?" + +"Partly so," said Melick; "but it would be nearer the mark to call it +a satirical romance." + +"Why not a scientific romance?" + +"Because there's precious little science in it, but a good deal of +quiet satire." + +"Satire on what?" asked Featherstone. "I'll be hanged if I can see +it." + +"Oh, well," said Melick, "on things in general. The satire is directed +against the restlessness of humanity; its impulses, feelings, hopes, +and fears--all that men do and feel and suffer. It mocks us by +exhibiting a new race of men, animated by passions and impulses which +are directly the opposite of ours, and yet no nearer happiness than we +are. It shows us a world where our evil is made a good, and our good +an evil; there all that we consider a blessing is had in +abundance--prolonged and perpetual sunlight, riches, power, fame--and +yet these things are despised, and the people, turning away from them, +imagine that they can find happiness in poverty, darkness, death, and +unrequited love. The writer thus mocks at all our dearest passions and +strongest desires; and his general aim is to show that the mere search +for happiness per se is a vulgar thing, and must always result in +utter nothingness. The writer also teaches the great lesson that the +happiness of man consists not in external surroundings, but in the +internal feelings, and that heaven itself is not a place, but a state. +It is the old lesson which Milton extorted from Satan: + + "'What matter where, if I be still the same--' + +"Or again: + + "'The mind is its own place, and of itself + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven--'" + +"That's good too," cried Oxenden. "That reminds me of the German +commentators who find in the Agamemnon of AEschylus or the OEdipus +of Sophocles or the Hamlet of Shakespeare motives and purposes +of which the authors could never have dreamed, and give us a +metaphysical, beer-and-tobacco, High-Dutch Clytemnestra or Antigone or +Lady Macbeth. No, my boy, More was a simple sailor, and had no idea of +satirizing anything." + +"How, then, do you account for the perpetual undercurrent of meaning +and innuendo that may be found in every line?" + +"I deny that there is anything of the sort," said Oxenden. "It is a +plain narrative of facts; but the facts are themselves such that they +give a new coloring to the facts of our own life. They are in such +profound antithesis to European ways that we consider them as being +written merely to indicate that difference. It is like the Germania +of Tacitus, which many critics still hold to be a satire on Roman +ways, while as a matter of fact it is simply a narrative of German +manners and customs." + +"I hope," cried Melick, "that you do not mean to compare this awful +rot and rubbish to the Germania of Tacitus?" + +"By no means," said Oxenden; "I merely asserted that in one respect +they were analogous. You forced on the allusion to the Germania by +calling this 'rot and rubbish' a satirical romance." + +"Oh, well," said Melick, "I only referred to the intention of the +writer. His plan is one thing and his execution quite another. His +plan is not bad, but he fails utterly in his execution. The style is +detestable. If he had written in the style of a plain seaman, and +told a simple unvarnished tale, it would have been all right. In order +to carry out properly such a plan as this the writer should take Defoe +as his model, or, still better, Dean Swift. Gulliver's Travels and +Robinson Crusoe show what can be done in this way, and form a +standard by which all other attempts must be judged. But this writer +is tawdry; he has the worst vices of the sensational school--he shows +everywhere marks of haste, gross carelessness, and universal +feebleness. When he gets hold of a good fancy, he lacks the patience +that is necessary in order to work it up in an effective way. He is a +gross plagiarist, and over and over again violates in the most glaring +manner all the ordinary proprieties of style. What can be more absurd, +for instance, than the language which he puts into the mouth of +Layelah? Not content with making her talk like a sentimental +boarding-school, bread-and-butter English miss, he actually forgets +himself so far as to put in her mouth a threadbare joke, which +everyone has heard since childhood." + +"What is that?" + +"Oh, that silly speech about the athaleb swallowing its victuals +whole." + +"What's the matter with that?" asked Oxenden. "It's merely a chance +resemblance. In translating her words into English they fell by +accident into that shape. No one but you would find fault with them. +Would it have been better if he had translated her words into the +scientific phraseology which the doctor made use of with regard to the +ichthyosaurus? He might have made it this way: 'Does it bite?' 'No; it +swallows its food without mastication.' Would that have been better? +Besides, it's all very well to talk of imitating Defoe and Swift; but +suppose he couldn't do it?" + +"Then he shouldn't have written the book." + +"In that case how could his father have heard about his adventures?" + +"His father!" exclaimed Melick. "Do you mean to say that you still +accept all this as bona fide?" + +"Do you mean to say," retorted Oxenden, "that you still have any doubt +about the authenticity of this remarkable manuscript?" + +At this each looked at the other; Melick elevated his eyebrows, and +Oxenden shrugged his shoulders, but each seemed unable to find words +to express his amazement at the other's stupidity, and so they took +refuge in silence. + +"What do you understand by this athaleb, doctor?" asked Featherstone. + +"The athaleb?" said the doctor. "Why, it is clearly the pterodactyl." + +"By-the-bye," interrupted Oxenden, "do please take notice of that +name. It affords another exemplification of 'Grimm's Law.' The Hebrew +word is 'ataleph,' and means bat. The Kosekin word is 'athaleb.' Here +you see the thin letter of Hebrew represented by the aspirated letter +of the Kosekin language, while the aspirated Hebrew is represented by +the Kosekin medial." + +"Too true," exclaimed Melick, in a tone of deep conviction; "and now, +Oxenden, won't you sing us a song?" + +"Nonsense," said Featherstone; "let the doctor tell us about the +athaleb." + +"Well," resumed the doctor, "as I was saying, it must be undoubtedly +the pterodactyl. It is a most extraordinary animal, and is a species +of flying lizard, although differing from the lizard in many respects. +It has the head and neck of a bird, the trunk and tail of an ordinary +mammal, the jaws and teeth of a reptile, and the wings of a bat. Owen +describes one whose sweep of wings exceeded twenty feet, and many have +been found of every gradation of size down to that of a bat. There is +no reason why they should not be as large as More says; and I for my +part do not suspect him of exaggeration. Some have supposed that a +late, lingering individual may have suggested the idea of the fabulous +dragon--an idea which seems to be in the minds of nearly all the human +race, for in the early records of many nations we find the destruction +of dragons assigned to their gods and heroes. The figure of the +pterodactyl represents pretty closely that which is given to the +dragons. It is not impossible that they may have existed into the +period which we call prehistoric, and that monsters far larger than +any which we have yet discovered may have lingered until the time when +man began to increase upon the earth, to spread over its surface, and +to carve upon wood and stone representations of the most striking +objects around him. When the living pterodactyls had disappeared the +memory of them was preserved; some new features were added, and the +imagination went so far as to endow them with the power of belching +forth smoke and flames. Thus the dragon idea pervaded the minds of +men, and instead of a natural animal it became a fabulous one. + +"The fingers of the forelegs were of the ordinary dimensions, and +terminated with crooked nails, and these were probably used to suspend +themselves from trees. When in repose it rested on its hind legs like +a bird, and held its neck curving behind, so that its enormous head +should not disturb its equilibrium. The size and form of the feet, of +the leg, and of the thigh prove that they could hold themselves erect +with firmness, their wings folded, and move about in this way like +birds, just as More describes them as doing. Like birds they could +also perch on trees, and could crawl like bats and lizards along the +rocks and cliffs. + +"Some think that they were covered with scales, but I am of the +opinion that they had a horny hide, with a ridge of hair running down +their backs--in which opinion I am sustained by More's account. The +smaller kinds were undoubtedly insectivorous, but the larger ones must +have been carnivorous, and probably fed largely on fish." + +"Well, at any rate," said Melick, gravely, "this athaleb solves the +difficult question as to how the Troglodytes emigrated to the South +Pole." + +"How?" asked the doctor. + +"Why, they must have gone there on athalebs! Your friends the +pterodactyls probably lingered longest among the Troglodytes, who, +seeing that they were rapidly dying out, concluded to depart to +another and a better world. One beauty of this theory is that it +cannot possibly be disproved; another is that it satisfies all the +requirements of the case; a third is that it accounts for the +disappearance of the pterodactyls in our world, and their appearance +at the South Pole; and there are forty or fifty other facts, all +included in this theory, which I have not time just now to enumerate, +but will try to do so after we have finished reading the manuscript. I +will only add that the athaleb must be regarded as another link which +binds the Kosekin to the Semitic race." + +"Another link?" said Oxenden. "That I already have; and it is one that +carries conviction with it." + +"All your arguments invariably do, my dear fellow." + +"What is it?" asked the doctor. + +"The Kosekin alphabet," said Oxenden. + +"I can't see how you can make anything out of that," said the doctor. + +"Very well, I can easily explain," replied Oxenden. "In the first +place we must take the old Hebrew alphabet. I will write down the +letters in their order first." + +Saying this he hastily jotted down some letters on a piece of paper, +and showed to the doctor the following: + + Labials. Palatals. Linguals. + A B C (or G) D + E F Ch (or H) Dh (or Th) + I Liquids, L M N + O P K T + +"That," said he, "is substantially the order of the old Hebrew +alphabet." + +"But," said the doctor, "the Kosekin alphabet differs in its order +altogether from that." + +"That very difference can be shown to be all the stronger proof of a +connection between them," said Oxenden. + +"I should like to know how." + +"The fact is," said Oxenden, "these letters are represented +differently in the two languages in exact accordance with Grimm's +Law." + +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "Grimm's Law again!" + +"According to that law," continued Oxenden, "the letters of the +alphabet ought to change their order. Now let us leave out the vowels +and linguals, and deal only with the mutes. First, we have in the +Hebrew alphabet the medials B, G, and D. Very well; in the Kosekin we +have standing first the thin letters, or tenues, according to Grimm's +Law, namely, P, K, T. Next we have in the Hebrew the aspirates F, Ch, +Dh. In the Kosekin alphabet we have corresponding to them the medials +B, G, D. Next we have in the Hebrew the tenues, or thin letters P, K, +T. In the Kosekin we have the corresponding aspirates F, Ch, Th. The +vowels, liquids, and sibilants need not be regarded just here, for the +proof from the mutes is sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man." + +"Well," said Melick, "I for one am thoroughly satisfied, and don't +need another single word. The fact is, I never knew before the +all-sufficient nature of Grimm's Law. Why, it can unlock any mystery! +When I get home I must buy one--a tame one, if possible--and keep him +with me always. It is more useful to a literary man than to any other. +It is said that with a knowledge of Grimm's Law a man may wander +through the world from Iceland to Ceylon, and converse pleasantly in +all the Indo-European languages. More must have had Grimm's Law stowed +away somewhere about him; and that's the reason why he escaped the +icebergs, the volcanoes, the cannibals, the subterranean channel +monster, and arrived at last safe and sound in the land of the +Kosekin. What I want is Grimm's Law--a nice tidy one, well trained, in +good working order, and kind in harness; and the moment I get one I +intend to go to the land of the Kosekin myself." + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +OXENDEN PREACHES A SERMON + + +"Magones," said the doctor, "is clearly a volcanic island, and, taken +in connection with the other volcanoes around, shows how active must +be the subterranean fires at the South Pole. It seems probable to me +that the numerous caves of the Kosekin were originally fissures in the +mountains, formed by convulsions of nature; and also that the places +excavated by man must consist of soft volcanic rock, such as +pumice-stone, or rather tufa, easily worked, and remaining permanently +in any shape into which it may be fashioned. As to Magones, it seems +another Iceland; for there are the same wild and hideous desolation, +the same impassable wildernesses, and the same universal scenes of +ruin, lighted up by the baleful and tremendous volcanic fires." + +"But what of that little island on which they landed?" asked +Featherstone. "That, surely, was not volcanic." + +"No," said the doctor; "that must have been a coral island." + +"By-the-bye, is it really true," asked Featherstone, "that these coral +islands are the work of little insects?" + +"Well, they may be called insects," replied the doctor; "they are +living zoophytes of most minute dimensions, which, however, compensate +for their smallness of size by their inconceivable numbers. Small as +these are they have accomplished infinitely more than all that ever +was done by the ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, the pterodactyl, and +the whole tribe of monsters that once filled the earth. Immense +districts and whole mountains have been built up by these minute +creatures. They have been at work for ages, and are still at work. It +is principally in the South Seas that their labors are carried on. +Near the Maldive Islands they have formed a mass whose volume is equal +to the Alps. Around New Caledonia they have built a barrier of reefs +four hundred miles in length, and another along the northeast coast of +Australia a thousand miles in length. In the Pacific Ocean, islands, +reefs, and islets innumerable have been constructed by them, which +extend for an immense distance. + +"The coral islands are called 'atolls.' They are nearly always +circular, with a depression in the centre. They are originally made +ring-shaped, but the action of the ocean serves to throw fragments of +rock into the inner depression, which thus fills up; firm land +appears; the rock crumbles into soil; the winds and birds and currents +bring seeds here, and soon the new island is covered with verdure. +These little creatures have played a part in the past quite as +important as in the present. All Germany rests upon a bank of coral; +and they seem to have been most active during the Oolitic Period." + +"How do the creatures act?" asked Featherstone. + +"Nobody knows," replied the doctor. + +A silence now followed, which was at last broken by Oxenden. + +"After all," said he, "these monsters and marvels of nature form the +least interesting feature in the land of the Kosekin. To me the people +themselves are the chief subject of interest. Where did they get that +strange, all-pervading love of death, which is as strong in them as +love of life is in us?" + +"Why, they got it from the imagination of the writer of the +manuscript," interrupted Melick. + +"Yes, it's easy to answer it from your point of view; yet from my +point of view it is more difficult. I sometimes think that it may be +the strong spirituality of the Semitic race, carried out under +exceptionally favorable circumstances to the ultimate results; for the +Semitic race more than all others thought little of this life, and +turned their affections to the life that lives beyond this. The +Kosekin may thus have had a spiritual development of their own, which +ended in this. + +"Yet there may be another reason for it, and I sometimes think that +the Kosekin may be nearer to the truth than we are. We have by nature +a strong love of life--it is our dominant feeling--but yet there is in +the minds of all men a deep underlying conviction of the vanity of +life, and the worthlessness. In all ages and among all races the best, +the purest, and the wisest have taught this truth--that human life is +not a blessing; that the evil predominates over the good; and that our +best hope is to gain a spirit of acquiescence with its inevitable +ills. All philosophy and all religions teach us this one solemn truth, +that in this life the evil surpasses the good. It has always been so. +Suffering has been the lot of all living things, from the giant of the +primeval swamps down to the smallest zoophyte. It is far more so with +man. Some favored classes in every age may furnish forth a few +individuals who may perhaps lead lives of self-indulgence and luxury; +but to the mass of mankind life has ever been, and must ever be, a +prolonged scene of labor intermingled with suffering. The great Indian +religions, whether Brahmanic or Buddhistic, teach as their cardinal +doctrine that life is an evil. Buddhism is more pronounced in this, +for it teaches more emphatically than even the Kosekin that the chief +end of man is to get rid of the curse of life and gain the bliss of +Nirvana, or annihilation. True, it does not take so practical a form +as among the Kosekin, yet it is believed by one-third of the human +race as the foundation of the religion in which they live and die. We +need not go to the Kosekin, however, for such maxims as these. The +intelligent Hindoos, the Chinese, the Japanese, with many other +nations, all cling firmly to this belief. Sakyamoum Gautama Buddha, +the son and heir of a mighty monarch, penetrated with the conviction +of the misery of life, left his throne, embraced a life of voluntary +poverty, want, and misery, so that he might find his way to a better +state--the end before him being this, that he might ultimately escape +from the curse of existence. He lived till old age, gained innumerable +followers, and left to them as a solemn legacy the maxim that not to +exist is better than to exist; that death is better than life. Since +his day millions of his followers have upheld his principles and lived +his life. Even among the joyous Greeks we find this feeling at times +bursting forth it comes when we least expect it, and not even a +Kosekin poet could express this view more forcibly than Sophocles in +the OEdipus at Colonus: + + "'Not to be born surpasses every lot; + And the next best lot by far, when one is born + Is to go back whence he came as soon as possible; + For while youth is present bringing vain follies, + What woes does it not have, what ills does it not bear-- + Murders, factions, strife, war, envy, + But the extreme of misery is attained by loathsome old age-- + Old age, strengthless, unsociable, friendless, + Where all evils upon evils dwell together.'" + +"I'll give you the words of a later poet," said Melick, "who takes +a different view of the case. I think I'll sing them, with your +permission." + +Melick swallowed a glass of wine and then sang the following: + + "'They may rail at this life: from the hour I began it + I found it a life full of kindness and bliss, + And until they can show me some happier planet, + More social and bright, I'll content me with this. + As long as the world has such lips and such eyes + As before me this moment enraptured I see, + They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies, + But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.' + +"What a pity it is," continued Melick, "that the writer of this +manuscript had not the philological, theological, sociological, +geological, palaeological, ontological, ornithological, and all the +other logical attainments of yourself and the doctor! He could then +have given us a complete view of the nature of the Kosekin, morally +and physically; he could have treated of the geology of the soil, the +ethnology of the people, and could have unfolded before us a full and +comprehensive view of their philosophy and religion, and could have +crammed his manuscript with statistics. I wonder why he didn't do it +even as it was. It must have been a strong temptation." + +"More," said Oxenden, with deep impressiveness, "was a simple-minded +though somewhat emotional sailor, and merely wrote in the hope that +his story might one day meet the eyes of his father. I certainly +should like to find some more accurate statements about the science, +philosophy, and religion of the Kosekin; yet, after all, such things +could not be expected." + +"Why not?" said Melick; "it was easy enough for him." + +"How?" asked Oxenden. + +"Why, he had only to step into the British Museum, and in a couple of +hours he could have crammed up on all those points in science, +philosophy, ethnology, and theology, about which you are so anxious to +know." + +"Well," said Featherstone, "suppose we continue our reading? I believe +it is my turn now. I sha'n't be able to hold out so long as you did, +Oxenden, but I'll do what I can." + +Saying this, Featherstone took the manuscript and went on to read. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IN PRISON + + +It was with hearts full of the gloomiest forebodings that we returned +to the amir, and these we soon found to be fully justified. The +athalebs descended at that point from which they had risen--namely, on +the terrace immediately in front of the cavern where they had been +confined. We then dismounted, and Layelah with the Kosekin guards +accompanied us to our former chambers. There she left us, saying that +a communication would be sent to us. + +We were now left to our own conjectures. + +"I wonder what they will do to us?" said I. + +"It is impossible to tell," said Almah. + +"I suppose," said I, "they will punish us in some way; but then +punishment among the Kosekin is what seems honor and reward to me. +Perhaps they will spare our lives, for that in their eyes ought to be +the severest punishment and the deepest disgrace imaginable." + +Almah sighed. + +"The Kosekin do not always act in this matter as one would suppose," +said she. "It is quite likely that they may dread our escaping, and +may conclude to sacrifice us at once." + +On the next jom I had a visit from the Kohen Gadol. He informed me +that the paupers had held a Council of State, in which they had made a +special examination of our late flight. He and Layelah had both been +examined, as well as the Kosekin who had gone after us; but Layelah's +testimony was by far the most important. + +The Council of State gathered from Layelah's report that we had fled +to Magones for the especial purpose of gaining the most blessed of +deaths; that she pursued us in the interest of the state; and that we +on her arrival had generously surrendered our own selfish desires, and +had at once returned. + +We learned that much gratification was felt by the council, and also +expressed, at Layelah's account and at our action. + +First, at our eager love of death, which was so natural in their +eyes; secondly, at the skill which we had shown in selecting Magones; +and finally, at our generosity in giving up so readily the blessed +prospect of exile and want and death, so as to come back to the +amir. Had we been Kosekin our acts would have been natural enough; +but, being foreigners, it was considered more admirable in us, and it +seemed to show that we were equal to the Kosekin themselves. It was +felt, however, that in our eager rush after death we had been somewhat +selfish; but as this probably arose from our ignorance of the law, it +might be overlooked. On the whole it was decided that we ought to be +rewarded, and that, too, with the greatest benefits that the Kosekin +could bestow. What these benefits were the Kohen Gadol could not say; +and thus we were left, as before, in the greatest possible anxiety. We +still dreaded the worst. The highest honors of these men might well +awaken apprehension; for they thought that the chief blessings were +poverty and darkness and death. + +Layelah next came to see me. She was as amiable as ever, and showed no +resentment at all. She gave me an account of what had happened at the +Council of State, which was the same as what I had heard from the +Kohen Gadol. + +I asked her why she had made such a report of us. + +"To conciliate their good-will," said Layelah. "For if they thought +that you had really fled from death from a love of life, they would +have felt such contempt for you that serious harm might have +happened." + +"Yes," said I; "but among the Kosekin what you call harm would +probably have been just what I want. I should like to be viewed with +contempt, and considered unworthy of death and the Mista Kosek, and +other such honors." + +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "but that doesn't follow; for you see the +paupers love death so intensely that they long to bestow it on all; +and if they knew that you were afraid of it, they would be tempted to +bestow it upon you immediately, just to show you how delightful a +thing it is. And that was the very thing that I was trying to guard +against." + +"Well," said I, "and what is the result? Do you know what their +decision is?" + +"Yes," said Layelah. + +"What is it?" I asked, eagerly. + +Layelah hesitated. + +"What is it?" I cried again, full of impatience. + +"I'm afraid it will not sound very pleasant to you," said Layelah, +"but at any rate your life is spared for the present. They have +decided to give you what they call the greatest possible honors and +distinctions." + +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. For my part these words +sounded ominous, and were full of the darkest meaning. + +"Tell me all," I said; "don't keep me in suspense." + +"Well," said Layelah, "I'm afraid you will think it hard; but I must +tell you. I will tell it, therefore, as briefly and formally as +possible. + +"First, then, they have decreed the blessing of separation. You and +Almah must now be parted, since this is regarded as the highest bliss +of lovers. + +"Secondly, they have decreed the blessing of poverty. All these +luxuries will be taken away, and you will be raised to an equality in +this respect with the great paupers. + +"Thirdly, you are to have the blessing of darkness. You are to be +removed from this troublesome and vexatious light, which here is +regarded as a curse, and henceforth live without it. + +"Fourthly, the next decree is the high reward of imprisonment. You are +to be delivered from the evils of liberty, and shut up in a dark +cavern, from which it will be impossible to escape or to communicate +with anyone outside. + +"Fifthly, you are to associate with the greatest of the paupers, the +class that is the most honored and influential. You will be present at +all their highest councils, and will have the privilege of perpetual +intercourse with those reverend men. They will tell you of the joys of +poverty, the happiness of darkness, and the bliss of death." + +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. + +"Is there anything more?" I gasped. + +"No," said she. "Is not that enough? Some were in favor of bestowing +immediate death, but they were outvoted by the others. You surely +cannot regret that." + +Layelah's words sounded like the words of a mocking demon. Yet she did +not wish to distress me; she had merely stated my sentence in formal +language, without any attempt to soften its tremendous import. As for +me, I was overwhelmed with despair. There was but one thought in my +mind--it was not of myself, but of Almah. + +"And Almah?" I cried. + +"Almah," said Layelah--"she will have the same; you are both included +in the same sentence." + +At this a groan burst from me. Horror overwhelmed me. I threw myself +down upon the floor and covered my face with my hands. All was lost! +Our fate--Almah's fate--was darkness, imprisonment, and death. Could +anything be imagined that might mitigate such woes as these? Could +anything be conceived of as more horrible? Yes; there remained +something more, and this was announced by Layelah. + +"Finally," said she, "it has been decreed that you shall not only have +the blessing of death, but that you shall have the rare honor of +belonging to the chosen few who are reserved for the Mista Kosek. +Thus far this had not been granted. It was esteemed too high an honor +for strangers; but now, by an exercise of unparalleled liberality, the +Grand Council of Paupers have added this, as the last and best, to the +high honors and rewards which they have decreed for you and Almah." + +To this I had nothing to say; I was stupefied with horror. To such +words what answer could be made? At that moment I could think of +nothing but this tremendous sentence--this infliction of appalling +woes under the miserable name of blessings! I could not think of +Layelah; nor did I try to conjecture what her motives might be in thus +coming to me as the messenger of evil. I could not find space amid +my despair for speculations as to her own part in this, or stop to +consider whether she was acting the part of a mere messenger, or was +influenced by resentment or revenge. All this was far away from my +thoughts; for all my mind was filled with the dread sentence of the +Council of Paupers and the baleful prospect of the woes that awaited +us. + +On the next jom I saw Almah. She had already learned the awful +tidings. She met me with a face of despair; for there was no longer +any hope, and all that remained for us was a last farewell. After this +we parted, and each of us was taken to our respective prison. + +I was taken along dark passages until I came to a cavern with a low, +dark portal. Upon entering I found the darkness deeper than usual, +and there was only one solitary lamp, which diffused but a feeble ray +through the gloom. The size of the place could not be made out. I +saw here a group of human beings, and by the feeble ray of the lamp +I perceived that they were wan and thin and emaciated, with scant +clothing, all in rags, squalor, misery, and dirt; with coarse hair +matted together, and long nails and shaggy beards. They reminded me in +their personal appearance of the cannibals of the outer shore. These +hideous beings all gathered around me, blinking at me with their +bleary eyes and grinning with their abominable faces, and then each +one embraced me. The filth, squalor, and unutterable foulness of +these wretches all combined to fill my soul with loathing, and the +inconceivable horror of that embrace wellnigh overwhelmed me. Yet, +after all, it was surpassed by the horror of the thought that Almah +might be at that very moment undergoing the same experience; and for +her such a thing must be worse than for me. + +I retreated as far as possible from them, deep into the thick +darkness, and sat down. No convicted felon at the last hour of life, +no prisoner in the dungeons of the Inquisition, ever could have +suffered more mental agony than I did at that moment. The blessings, +the awful blessings of the Kosekin were descending upon my miserable +head--separation from Almah, squalor and dirt, imprisonment, the +society of these filthy creatures, darkness, the shadow of death, and +beyond all the tremendous horrors of the Mista Kosek! + +I do not know how the time passed, for at first I was almost stupefied +with despair; nor could I ever grow reconciled to the society of +these wretches, scarce human, who were with me. Some food was +offered me--filthy stuff, which I refused. My refusal excited warm +commendation; but I was warned against starving myself, as that was +against the law. In my despair I thought of my pistol and rifle, +which I still kept with me--of using these against my jailors, and +bursting forth; but this wild impulse soon passed away, for its utter +hopelessness was manifest. My only hope, if hope it was, lay in +waiting, and it was not impossible that I might see Almah again, +if only once. + +Joms passed away, I know not how. The Chief Pauper, who is the +greatest man in the land of the Kosekin, made several attempts to +converse with me, and was evidently very condescending and magnanimous +in his own eyes; but I did not meet his advances graciously--he was +too abhorrent. He was a hideous wretch, with eyes nearly closed and +bleary, thick, matted hair, and fiendish expression--in short, a devil +incarnate in rags and squalor. + +But as the joms passed I found it difficult to repel my associates. +They were always inflicting their society upon me, and thrusting on me +nasty little acts of kindness. The Chief Pauper was more persistent +than all, with his chatter and his disgusting civilities. He was +evidently glad to get hold of a fresh subject for his talkative +genius; he was a very garrulous cannibal, and perhaps my being a +foreigner made me more interesting in his eyes. + +The chief topic of his discourse was death. He hated life, loved +death, longed for it in all its forms, whether arising from disease +or from violence. He was an amateur in corpses, and had a larger +experience in dead bodies than any other man in the nation. + +I could not help asking him once why he did not kill himself, and be +done with it. + +"That," said he, "is not allowed. The temptation to kill one's self is +one of the strongest that human nature can experience, but it is one +that we must struggle against, of course, for it is against all law. +The greatest blessing must not be seized. It must be given by nature +or man. Those who violate the blessed mystery of death are infamous." + +He assured me that he had all his life cultivated the loftiest +feelings of love to others. His greatest happiness consisted in doing +good to others, especially in killing them. The blessing of death, +being the greatest of all blessings, was the one which he loved best +to bestow upon others; and the more he loved his fellow-creatures +the more he wished to give them this blessing. "You," said he, "are +particularly dear to me, and I should rather give to you the blessing +of death than to any other human being. I love you, Atam-or, and I +long to kill you at this moment." + +"You had better not try it," said I, grimly. + +He shook his head despondingly. + +"Oh no," said he; "it is against the law. I must not do it till the +time comes." + +"Do you kill many?" I asked. + +"It is my pleasing and glorious office," he replied, "to kill more +than any other; for, you must know, I am the Sar Tabakin" (chief of +the executioners). + +The Chief Pauper's love of death had grown to be an all-absorbing +passion. He longed to give death to all. As with us there are certain +philanthropists who have a mania for doing good, so here the pauper +class had a mania for doing what they considered good in this way. The +Chief Pauper was a sort of Kosekin Howard or Peabody, and was regarded +by all with boundless reverence. To me, however, he was an object +of never-ending hate, abhorrence, and loathing; and, added to this, +was the thought that there might be here some equally hideous +female--someone like the nightmare hag of the outer sea--a torment +and a horror to Almah. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE CEREMONY OF SEPARATION + + +Separated from Almah, surrounded by foul fiends, in darkness and the +shadow of death, with the baleful prospect of the Mista Kosek, it +was mine to endure the bitterest anguish and despair; and in me these +feelings were all the worse from the thought that Almah was in a +similar state, and was enduring equal woes. All that I suffered in my +present condition she too was suffering--and from this there was no +possibility of escape. Perhaps her surroundings were even worse, and +her sufferings keener; for who could tell what these people might +inflict in their strange and perverted impulses? + +Many joms passed, and there was only one thing that sustained +me--the hope of seeing Almah yet again, though it were but for a +moment. That hope, however, was but faint. There was no escape. The +gate was barred without and within. I was surrounded by miscreants, +who formed the chief class in the state and the ruling order. The +Chief Pauper was the highest magistrate in the land, from whose +opinion there was no appeal, and the other paupers here formed the +Kosekin senate. Here, in imprisonment and darkness, they formed a +secret tribunal and controlled everything. They were objects of envy +to all. All looked forward to this position as the highest object of +human ambition, and the friends and relatives of those here rejoiced +in their honor. Their powers were not executive, but deliberative. To +the Meleks and Athons was left the exercise of authority, but their +acts were always in subordination to the will of the paupers. + +"I have everything that heart can wish," said the Chief Pauper to +me once. "Look at me, Atam-or, and see me as I stand here: I have +poverty, squalor, cold, perpetual darkness, the privilege of killing +others, the near prospect of death, and the certainty of the Mista +Kosek--all these I have, and yet, Atam-or, after all, I am not happy." + +To this strange speech I had nothing to say. + +"Yes," continued the Chief Pauper, in a pensive tone, "for twenty +seasons I have reigned as chief of the Kosekin in this place. My +cavern is the coldest, squalidest, and darkest in the land. My raiment +is the coarsest rags. I have separated from all my friends. I have had +much sickness. I have the closest captivity. Death, darkness, poverty, +want, all that men most live and long for, are mine to satiety; and +yet, as I look back and count the joms of my life to see in how many +I have known happiness, I find that in all they amount to just seven! +Oh, Atam-or, what a comment is this on the vanity of human life!" + +To this I had no answer ready; but by way of saying something, I +offered to kill him on the spot. + +"Nay, nay, Atam-or," said he, with a melancholy smile, "do not tempt +me. Leave me to struggle with temptations by myself, and do not +seek to make me falter in my duty. Yes, Atam-or, you behold in me a +melancholy example of the folly of ambition; for I often think, as +I look down from my lofty eminence, that after all it is as well to +remain content in the humble sphere in which we are placed at birth; +for perhaps, if the truth were known, there is quite as much real +happiness among the rich and splendid--among the Athons and Meleks." + +On this occasion I took advantage of the Chief Pauper's softer mood +to pour forth an earnest entreaty for him to save Almah's life, or at +least to mitigate her miseries. Alas! he was inexorable. It was like +an appeal of some mad prisoner to some gentle-hearted governor in +Christendom, entreating him to put some fellow-prisoner to death, or +at least to make his confinement more severe. + +The Chief Pauper stared at me in horror. + +"You are a strange being, Atam-or," said he, gently. "Sometimes I +think you mad. I can only say that such a request is horrible to me +beyond all words. Such degradation and cruelty to the gentle and +virtuous Almah is outrageous and forever impossible; no, we will not +deprive her of a single one of those blessings which she now enjoys." + +I turned away in despair. + +At length one jom the Chief Pauper came to me with a smile and said, + +"Atam-or, let me congratulate you on this joyous occasion." + +"What do you mean?" I asked. + +"You are to have your ceremony of separation." + +"Separation!" I repeated. + +"Yes," said he. "Almah has given notice to us. She has announced her +intention of giving you up, and separating from you. With us the +woman always gives the announcement in such cases. We have fixed the +ceremony for the third jom from this, and I hope you will not think +it too soon." + +This strange intelligence moved me greatly. I did not like the idea of +a ceremony of separation; but behind this there rose the prospect of +seeing Almah, and I felt convinced that she had devised this as a mode +of holding communication with me, or at least of seeing me again. +The thought of Layelah was the only thing that interfered with this +belief, for it might be her doings after all; yet the fact remained +that I was to see Almah, and in this I rejoiced with exceeding great +joy. + +The appointed jom came. A procession was formed of the paupers. The +chief did not go, as he never left the cavern except on the great +sacrifices and Mista Koseks. The door was opened, and I accompanied +the procession. On our way all was dark, and after traversing many +passages we came at length to the door of a cavern as gloomy as the +one I had left. On entering this I found all dark and drear; and a +little distance before me there was a light burning, around which was +gathered a group of hags hideous beyond all expression. But these I +scarcely noticed; for there amid them, all pale and wan, with her face +now lighted up with joyous and eager expectation, I saw my darling--my +Almah! I caught her in my arms, and for a few moments neither of us +spoke a word. She sobbed upon my breast, but I knew that the tears +which she shed were tears of joy. Nor was our joy checked by the +thought that it was to be so short-lived. It was enough at that moment +that we saw one another--enough that we were in one another's arms; +and so we mingled our tears, and shared one common rapture. And sweet +it was--sweet beyond all expression--the sweetest moment in all my +life; for it had come in the midst of the drear desolation of my heart +and the black despair. It was like a flash of lightning in the intense +darkness, short and sudden indeed, yet still intense while it lasted, +and in an instant filling all with its glow. + +"I did this," murmured Almah, "to see you and to save you." + +"Save me!" I repeated. + +"Yes," said she. "I have seen Layelah. She told me that there is this +chance and this one only to save you. I determined to try it. I cannot +bear to think of you at the sacrifice--and for love of me meeting your +death--for I would die to save you, Atam-or." + +I pressed her closer in my arms. + +"Oh, Almah," said I, "I would die to save you! and if this ceremony +will save you I will go through with it, and accept my fate whatever +it may be." + +We were now interrupted. + +The women--the hags of horror--the shriek-like ones, as I may call +them, or the fiend-like, the female fiends, the foul ones--they were +all around us; and one there was who looked so exactly like the +nightmare hag of the outer sea that I felt sure she must be the same, +who by some strange chance had come here. Such, indeed, is quite +likely, for there may have been a pass over the mountains to the land +of the Kosekin; and those savage cannibals may all have been honored +Kosekin exiles, dwelling in poverty, want, woe, and darkness, all of +which may have been allotted to them as a reward for eminent virtues. +And so here she was, the nightmare hag, and I saw that she recognized +me. + +A circle was now formed around us, and the light stood in the middle. +The nightmare hag also stood within the circle on the other side of +the light opposite us. The beams of the lamp flickered through the +darkness, faintly illuminating the faces of the horrible creatures +around, who, foul and repulsive as harpies, seemed like unclean +beasts, ready to make us their prey. Their glances seemed to menace +death; their blear eyes rested upon us with a horrid eager hunger. My +worst fears at that moment seemed realized; for I saw that Almah's +associates were worse than mine, and her fate had been more bitter. +And I wondered how it had been possible for her to live among such +associates; or, even though she had lived thus far, whether it would +be possible for her to endure it longer. + +And now there arose a melancholy chant from the old hags around--a +dreadful strain, that sounded like a funeral dirge, sung in shrill, +discordant voices, led by the nightmare hag, who as she sang waved +in her hand a kind of club. All the time I held Almah in my arms, +regardless of those around us, thinking only of her from whom I must +soon again be separated, and whom I must leave in this drear abode to +meet her fearful fate alone. The chant continued for some time, and as +long as it continued it was sweet to me; for it prolonged the meeting +with Almah, and postponed by so much our separation. + +At length the chant ceased. The nightmare hag looked fixedly at us, +and spoke these words: + +"You have embraced for the last time. Henceforth there is no more +sorrow in your love. You may be happy now in being forever disunited, +and in knowing the bliss of eternal separation. As darkness is better +than light, as death is better than life, so may you find separation +better than union." + +She now gave a blow with her club at the lamp, which broke it to atoms +and extinguished the flame. She continued: + +"As the baleful light is succeeded by the blessed darkness, so may +you find the light of union followed by the blessed darkness of +separation." + +And now in the deep darkness we stood clasped in one another's arms; +while around us, from the horrible circle of hags, there arose +another chant as harsh and discordant as the previous one, but which, +nevertheless, like that, served at least to keep us together a little +longer. For this reason it sounded sweeter than the sweetest music; +and therefore, when at last the hideous noise ended, I felt a pang of +grief, for I knew that I must now give up Almah forever. + +I was right. The ceremony was over. We had to part, and we parted with +tears of despair. I was led away, and as I went I heard Almah's sobs. +I broke away, and tried to return for one more embrace; but in the +darkness I could not find her, and could only hear her sobs at a +greater distance, which showed that she too was being led away. I +called after her, + +"Farewell, Almah!" + +Her reply came back broken with sobs. + +"Farewell forever, Atam-or!" + +I was once more led away, and again traversed the dark passages, and +again came back to my den, which now seemed dark with the blackness +of despair. + +On my return I was formally and solemnly congratulated by all the +paupers. I should not have received their congratulations had I not +expected that there would be something more. I expected that something +would be said about the result of this act of separation; for Almah +had believed that it would be the means of saving my life, and I +believed that it would be the means of saving her life, and for this +reason each of us had performed our part; although, of course, the joy +of meeting with one another would of itself have been sufficient, and +more than sufficient, to make that ceremony an object of desire. I +thought, therefore, that some statement might now be made to the +effect that by means of this ceremony my status among the Kosekin +would be changed, and that both I and Almah, being no longer +lovers, would be no longer fit for the sacrifice. To my intense +disappointment, however, nothing whatever was said that had the +remotest reference to this. + +On the following jom I determined to ask the Chief Pauper himself +directly; and accordingly, after a brief preamble, I put the question +point-blank: + +"Will our ceremony of separation make any difference as to our +sacrifice?" + +"What?" he asked, with a puzzled expression. + +I repeated the question. + +"I don't understand," said he, still looking puzzled. + +Upon this I once more repeated it. + +"How can that be?" said he at length; "how can the ceremony of +separation have any effect upon your sacrifice? The ceremony of +separation stands by itself as the sign and symbol of an additional +blessing. This new happiness of separation is a great favor, and will +make you the object of new envy and admiration; for few have been so +fortunate as you in all the history of the Kosekin. But you are the +favorite of the Kosekin now, and there is nothing that they will not +do for you." + +"But we were separate before," said I, indignantly. + +"That is true," said he, "in point of fact; but this ceremony makes +your separation a legal thing, and gives it the solemn sanction of +law and of religion. Among the Kosekin one cannot be considered as +a separate man until the ceremony of separation has been publicly +performed." + +"I understood," said I, "that we were chosen to suffer the sacrifice +together because we were lovers, and now since you do not any longer +regard us as lovers, why do you sacrifice us?" + +At this question the Chief Pauper looked at me with one of those +hungry glances of his, which showed how he thirsted for my blood, and +he smiled the smile of an evil fiend. + +"Why do we sacrifice you, Atam-or?" he replied. "Why, because we honor +you both, and love you both so dearly that we are eager to give you +the greatest of all blessings, and to deny you nothing that is in our +power to bestow." + +"Do you mean to sacrifice both of us?" I gasped. + +"Of course." + +"What! Almah too?" + +"Certainly. Why should we be so cruel to the dear child as to deprive +her of so great a boon?" + +At this I groaned aloud and turned away in despair. + +Many joms now passed away. I grew more and more melancholy and +desperate. I thought sometimes of fighting my way out. My fire-arms +were now my chief consolation; for I had fully made up my mind not to +die quietly like a slaughtered calf, but to strike a blow for life, +and meet my death amid slain enemies. In this prospect I found some +satisfaction, and death was robbed of some of its terrors. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE DAY OF SACRIFICE + + +At last the time came. + +It was the end of the dark season. Then, as the sun rises for its +permanent course around the heavens, when the long day of six months +begins, all in the land of the Kosekin is sorrow, and the last of the +loved darkness is mourned over amid the most solemn ceremonies, and +celebrated with the most imposing sacrifices. Then the most honored +in all the land are publicly presented with the blessing of death, +and allowed to depart this hated life, and go to the realms of that +eternal darkness which they love so well. It is the greatest of +sacrifices, and is followed by the greatest of feasts. Thus the busy +season--the loved season of darkness--ends, and the long, hateful +season of light begins, when the Kosekin lurk in caverns, and live in +this way in the presence of what may be called artificial darkness. + +It was for us--for me and for Almah--the day of doom. Since the +ceremony of separation I had not seen her; but my heart had been +always with her. I did not even know whether she was alive or not, but +believed that she must be; for I thought that if she had died I should +have heard of it, as the Kosekin would have rejoiced greatly over such +an event. For every death is to them an occasion of joy, and the death +of one so distinguished and so beloved as Almah would have given rise +to nothing less than a national festival. + +Of time I had but a poor reckoning; but, from the way in which the +paupers kept account of their joms, I judged that about three months +had elapsed since the ceremony of separation. + +The paupers were now all joyous with a hideous joy. The Chief Pauper +was more abhorrent than ever. He had the blood-thirst strong upon +him. He was on that jom to perform his horrible office of Sar +Tabakin, and as he accosted me he smiled the smile of a demon, and +congratulated me on my coming escape from life. To this I had no word +of answer to make; but my hands held my rifle and pistol, and these I +clutched with a firmer grasp as my last hour approached. + +The time of departure at length arrived. Soldiers of the Kosekin came, +following the paupers, who went first, while the guards came after me. +Thus we all emerged into the open air. There the broad terrace already +mentioned spread out before my eyes, filled with thousands upon +thousands of human beings. It seemed as though the entire population +of the city was there, and so densely packed was this great crowd that +it was only with great difficulty that a way was laid open for our +passage. + +Above was the sky, where the stars were twinkling faintly. There was +no longer the light of the aurora australis; the constellations +glimmered but dimly, the moon was shining with but a feeble ray; for +there far away over the icy crests of the lofty mountains I saw a long +line of splendid effulgence, all golden and red--the light of the new +dawn--the dawn of that long day which was now approaching. The sight +of that dawning light gave me new life. It was like a sight of +home--the blessed dawn, the sunlight of a bright day, the glorious +daybreak lost for so long a time, but now at last returning. I feasted +my eyes on the spectacle, I burst into tears of joy, and I felt as +though I could gaze at it forever. But the sun as it travelled was +rapidly coming into view; soon the dazzling glory of its rim would +appear above the mountain crest, and the season of darkness would end. +There was no time to wait, and the guards hurried me on. + +There in the midst of the square rose the pyramid. It was fully a +hundred feet in height, with a broad flat top. At the base I saw a +great crowd of paupers. Through these we passed, and as we did so +a horrible death-chant arose. We now went up the steps and reached +the top. It was about sixty feet square, and upon it there was a +quadrangle of stones set about three feet apart, about sixty in +number, while in the midst was a larger stone. All of these were +evidently intended for sacrificial purposes. + +Scarcely had I reached the top when I saw a procession ascend from +the other side. First came some paupers, then some hags, and then, +followed by other hags, I saw Almah. I was transfixed at the sight. A +thrill passed through every nerve, and a wild impulse came to me to +burst through the crowd, join her, and battle with them all for her +life. But the crowd was too dense. I could only stand and look at her, +and mark the paleness of her face and her mute despair. She saw me, +waved her hand sadly, and gave a mournful smile. There we stood +separated by the crowd, with our eyes fastened on each other, and +all our hearts filled with one deep, intense yearning to fly to one +another's side. + +And now there came up from below, louder and deeper, the awful +death-chant. Time was pressing. The preparations were made. The Chief +Pauper took his station by the central stone, and in his right hand he +held a long, keen knife. Toward this stone I was led. The Chief Pauper +then looked with his blear and blinking eyes to where the dawn was +glowing over the mountain crest, and every moment increasing in +brightness; and then, after a brief survey, he turned and whetted his +knife on the sacrificial stone. After this he turned to me with his +evil face, with the glare of a horrid death-hunger in his ravenous +eyes, and pointed to the stone. + +I stood without motion. + +He repeated the gesture and said, "Lie down here." + +"I will not," said I. + +"But it is on this stone," said he, "that you are to get the blessing +of death." + +"I'll die first!" said I, fiercely, and I raised my rifle. + +The Chief Pauper was puzzled at this. The others looked on quietly, +thinking it probably a debate about some punctilio. Suddenly he seemed +struck with an idea. + +"Yes, yes," said he. "The woman first. It is better so." + +Saying this he walked toward Almah, and said something to the hags. + +At this the chief of them--namely, the nightmare hag--led Almah to the +nearest stone, and motioned to her to lie down. Almah prepared to +obey, but paused a moment to throw at me one last glance and wave her +hand as a last farewell. Then without a word she laid herself down +upon the stone. At this a thrill of fury rushed through all my being, +rousing me from my stupor, impelling me to action, filling my brain +with madness. The nightmare hag had already raised her long keen knife +in the air. Another moment and the blow would have fallen. But my +rifle was at my shoulder; my aim was deadly. The report rang out like +thunder. A wild, piercing yell followed, and when the smoke cleared +away the nightmare hag lay dead at the foot of the altar. I was +already there, having burst through the astonished crowd, and Almah +was in my arms; and holding her thus for a moment, I put myself in +front of her and stood at bay, with my only thought that of defending +her to the last and selling my life as dearly as possible. + +The result was amazing. + +After the report there was for some moments a deep silence, which was +followed by a wild, abrupt outcry from half a million people--the roar +of indistinguishable words bursting forth from the lips of all that +throng, whose accumulated volume arose in one vast thunder-clap of +sound, pealing forth, echoing along the terraced streets, and rolling +on far away in endless reverberations. It was like the roar of mighty +cataracts, like the sound of many waters; and at the voice of that +vast multitude I shrank back for a moment. As I did so I looked down, +and beheld a scene as appalling as the sound that had overawed me. In +all that countless throng of human beings there was not one who was +not in motion; and all were pressing forward toward the pyramid as +to a common centre. On every side there was a multitudinous sea of +upturned faces, extending as far as the eye could reach. All were in +violent agitation, as though all were possessed by one common impulse +which forced them toward me. At such a sight I thought of nothing else +than that I was the object of their wrath, and that they were all with +one common fury rushing toward me to wreak vengeance upon me and upon +Almah for the slaughter of the nightmare hag. + +All this was the work of but a few moments. And now as I stood there +holding Almah--appalled, despairing, yet resolute and calm--I became +aware of a more imminent danger. On the top of the pyramid, at the +report of the rifle, all had fallen down flat on their faces, and +it was over them that I had rushed to Almah's side. But these now +began to rise, and the hags took up the corpse of the dead, and the +paupers swarmed around with cries of "Mut! mut!" (dead! dead!) and +exclamations of wonder. Then they all turned their foul and bleary +eyes toward me, and stood as if transfixed with astonishment. At +length there burst forth from the crowd one who sought to get at me. +It was the Chief Pauper. He still held in his hand the long knife of +sacrifice. He said not a word, but rushed straight at me, and as he +came I saw murder in his look. I did not wait for him, but raising my +rifle, discharged the second barrel full in his face. He fell down a +shattered, blackened heap, dead. + +As the second report thundered out it drowned all other sounds, and +was again followed by an awful silence. I looked around. Those on the +pyramid--paupers and hags--had again flung themselves on their faces. +On the square below the whole multitude were on their knees, with +their heads bowed down low. The silence was more oppressive than +before; it was appalling--it was tremendous! It seemed like the dread +silence that precedes the more awful outburst of the hurricane when +the storm is gathering up all its strength to burst with accumulated +fury upon its doomed victim. + +But there was no time to be lost in staring, and that interval was +occupied by me in hastily reloading my rifle. It was my last resource +now; and if it availed not for defence it might at least serve to be +used against ourselves. With this thought I handed the pistol to +Almah, and hurriedly whispered to her that if I were killed, she could +use it against herself. She took it in silence, but I read in her face +her invincible resolve. + +The storm at last burst. The immense multitude rose to their feet, and +with one common impulse came pressing on from every side toward the +pyramid, apparently filled with the one universal desire of reaching +me--a desire which was now all the more intense and vehement from +these interruptions which had taken place. Why they had fallen on +their knees, why the paupers on the pyramid were still prostrate, I +could not tell; but I saw now the swarming multitude, and I felt that +they were rolling in on every side--merciless, blood-thirsty, +implacable--to tear me to pieces. Yet time passed and they did not +reach me, for an obstacle was interposed. The pyramid had smooth +sides. The stairways that led up to the summit were narrow, and did +not admit of more than two at a time; yet, had the Kosekin been like +other people, the summit of the pyramid would soon have been swarming +with them; but as they were Kosekin, none came up to the top; for at +the base of the pyramid, at the bottom of the steps, I saw a strange +and incredible struggle. It was not, as with us, who should go up +first, but who should go up last; each tried to make his neighbor go +before him. All were eager to go, but the Kosekin self-denial, +self-sacrifice, and love for the good of others made each one +intensely desirous to make others go up. This resulted in a furious +struggle, in which, as fast as anyone would be pushed up the steps a +little way, he would jump down again and turn his efforts toward +putting up others; and thus all the energies of the people were worn +out in useless and unavailing efforts--in a struggle to which, from +the very nature of the case, there could be no end. + +Now those on the pyramid began to rise, and soon all were on their +feet. Cries burst forth from them. All were looking at us, but with +nothing like hostility; it was rather like reverence and adoration, +and these feelings were expressed unmistakably in their cries, among +which I could plainly distinguish such words as these: "Ap Ram!" +"Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!" (The Father of Thunder! Ruler of +Cloud and Darkness! Judge of Death!) These cries passed to those +below. The struggle ceased. All stood and joined in the cry, which was +taken up by those nearest, and soon passed among all those myriads, to +be repeated with thunder echoes far and wide. + +At this it suddenly became plain to me that the danger of death had +passed away; that these people no longer regarded me as a victim, but +rather as some mighty being--some superior, perhaps supernatural +power, who was to be almost worshipped. Hence these prostrations, +these words, these cries, these looks. All these told me that the +bitterness of death had passed away. At this discovery there was, for +a moment, a feeling of aversion and horror within me at filling such a +position; that I, a weak mortal, should dare to receive adoration like +this; and I recoiled at the thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for +life was at stake--not my own merely, but that of Almah; and I was +ready now to go through anything if only I might save her: so, instead +of shrinking from this new part, I eagerly seized upon it, and at once +determined to take advantage of the popular superstition to the +utmost. + +Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the +sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, +throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land. +I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all +who were nearest, in a loud voice: + +"I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am +the Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!" + +At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give +them the blessing of death. + +I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told +her to fire the pistol. A million eyes were fixed on us. She held up +the pistol and fired. Immediately after, I fired both barrels of the +rifle; and as the reports rang out and the smoke cleared away, I heard +a mighty murmur, and once more beheld all prostrate. Upon this I +hurriedly loaded again, and waited for further revelations. All the +time I could not help wondering at the effect produced by the rifle +now, in comparison with the indifference with which it had been +regarded at my first arrival in the country. I could not account for +it, but supposed that the excitement of a great religious festival and +the sudden death of the Chief Pauper and the Chief Hag had probably +deeply impressed them. In the midst of these thoughts the whole +multitude arose; and once more there came to my ears the universal +uproar of innumerable cries, in the midst of which I could hear the +words, "Ap Ram!" "Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!" + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +CONCLUSION + + +In the midst of this the paupers and the hags talked earnestly +together. Some of those who had been nearest in rank to the late Chief +Pauper and Chief Hag were conspicuous in the debate. All looked at me +and at Almah, and pointed toward the sun, which was wheeling along +behind the distant mountain crest, showing a golden disc. Then they +pointed to the dead bodies; and the hags took the Chief Hag, and the +paupers the Chief Pauper, and laid them side by side on the central +altar. After this a hag and a pauper advanced toward us, each carrying +the sacrificial knife which had belonged to the deceased. + +The hag spoke first, addressing Almah, in accordance with the Kosekin +custom, which requires women to take the precedence in many things. + +"Take this," she said, "O Almah, consort of Atam-or, and Co-ruler of +Clouds and Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the +women of the Kosekin." + +She then handed Almah the sacrificial knife of the Chief Hag, which +Almah took in silence. + +Then the pauper presented me with the sacrificial knife of the Chief +Pauper, with the following words: + +"Take this, O Atam-or, Father of Thunder and Ruler of Clouds and +Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the men of the +Kosekin, and Sar Tabakin over the whole nation." + +I received the knife in silence, for I had nothing to say; but now +Almah spoke, as was fitting for her to do, since with the Kosekin the +women must take the precedence; and here it was expected that she +should reply in behalf of both of us. + +So Almah, holding the sacrificial knife, stood looking at them, full +of dignity, and spoke as follows: + +"We will take this, O Kosekin, and we will reward you all. We will +begin our reign over the Kosekin with memorable acts of mercy. These +two great victims shall be enough for the Mista Kosek of this +season. The victims designed for this sacrifice shall have to deny +themselves the blessing of death, yet they shall be rewarded in other +ways; and all the land from the highest to the lowest shall have +reason to rejoice in our rule. + +"To all you hags and paupers we grant the splendid and unparalleled +boon of exile to Magones. There you can have all the suffering which +heart can wish, and inevitable death. To all classes and ranks in +the whole nation we promise to grant a diminution in their wealth by +one-quarter. In the abundance of our mercy we are willing ourselves to +bear the burden of all the offerings that may be necessary in order to +accomplish this. All in the land may at once give up one-quarter of +their whole wealth to us." + +At this the hags and paupers gave a horrible yell of applause. + +"As rulers of Light and Darkness, we will henceforth govern the nation +in the light as well as in the dark. We will sacrifice ourselves so +far to the public good as to live in the light, and in open palaces. +We will consent to undergo the pains of light and splendor, to endure +all the evils of luxury, magnificence, and boundless wealth, for the +good of the Kosekin nation. We will consent to forego the right of +separation, and agree to live together, even though we love one +another. Above all, we will refuse death and consent to live. Can any +rulers do more than this for the good of their people?" + +Another outburst of applause followed. + +"In three joms," continued Almah, "all you hags and paupers shall be +sent to exile and death on Magones. As for the rest of the Kosekin, +hear our words. Tell them from us that the laborers shall all be +elevated to the rank of paupers, the artisans shall be made laborers, +the tradesmen artisans, the soldiers tradesmen, the Athons soldiers, +the Kohens Athons, and the Meleks Kohens. There shall be no Meleks in +all the land. We, in our love for the Kosekin, will henceforth be the +only Meleks. Then all the misery of that low station will rest on us; +and in our low estate as Meleks we shall govern this nation in love +and self-denial. Tell them that we will forego the sacrifice and +consent to live; that we will give up darkness and cavern gloom and +live in light. Tell them to prepare for us the splendid palaces of the +Meleks, for we will take the most sumptuous and magnificent of them +all. Tell all the people to present their offerings. Tell them that we +consent to have endless retinues of servants, soldiers, followers, and +attendants. Tell them that with the advent of Almah and Atam-or a new +era begins for the Kosekin, in which every man may be as poor as he +likes, and riches shall be unknown in the land." + +These extraordinary words seemed to fill the paupers with rapture. +Exclamations of joy burst from them; they prostrated themselves in an +irrepressible impulse of grateful admiration, as though such promises +could only come from superior beings. Then most of them hurried down +to communicate to the people below the glorious intelligence. Soon it +spread from mouth to mouth, and all the people were filled with the +wildest excitement. + +For never before had such a thing been known, and never had such +self-sacrifice been imagined or thought possible, as that the rulers +of the Kosekin could consent to be rich when they might be paupers; to +live together when they might be separate; to dwell in the light when +they might lurk in the deepest cavern gloom; to remain in life when +they might have the blessing of death. Selfishness, fear of death, +love of riches, and love of luxury, these were all unintelligible to +the Kosekin, as much as to us would be self-abnegation, contempt of +death, voluntary poverty, and asceticism. But as with us self-denying +rulers may make others rich and be popular for this, so here among the +Kosekin a selfish ruler might be popular by making others poor. Hence +the words of Almah, as they were made known, gave rise to the wildest +excitement and enthusiasm, and the vast multitude poured forth their +feelings in long shouts of rapturous applause. + +Amid this the bodies of the dead were carried down from the pyramid, +and were taken to the Mista Kosek in a long and solemn procession, +accompanied by the singing of wild and dismal chants. + +And now the sun, rolling along behind the icy mountain crest, rose +higher and higher every moment, and the bright light of a long day +began to illumine the world. There sparkled the sea, rising far away +like a watery wall, with the horizon high up in the sky; there rose +the circle of giant mountains, sweeping away till they were blended +with the horizon; there rose the terraces of the amir, all glowing +in the sunlight, with all its countless houses and cavern-openings and +arching trees and pointing pyramids. Above was the canopy of heaven, +no longer black, no longer studded with stars or glistening with +the fitful shimmer of the aurora, but all radiant with the glorious +sunlight, and disclosing all the splendors of the infinite blue. At +that sight a thrill of joy passed through me. The long, long night +at last was over; the darkness had passed away like some hideous +dream; the day was here--the long day that was to know no shadow +and no decline--when all this world should be illuminated by the +ever-circling sun--a sun that would never set until his long course +of many months should be fully run. My heart swelled with rapture, +my eyes filled with tears. "O Light!" I cried; "O gleaming, golden +Sunlight! O Light of Heaven!--light that brings life and hope to man!" +And I could have fallen on my knees and worshipped that rising sun. + +But the light which was so glorious to us was painful and distressing +to the Kosekin. On the top of the pyramid the paupers crouched, +shading their eyes. The crowd below began to disperse in all +directions, so as to betake themselves to their coverts and to the +caverns, where they might live in the dark. Soon nearly all were gone +except the paupers at the foot of the pyramid, who were awaiting our +commands, and a crowd of Meleks and Athons at a distance. At a gesture +from me the few paupers near us descended and joined those below. + +Almah and I were alone on the top of the pyramid. + +I caught her in my arms in a rapture of joy. This revulsion from the +lowest despair--from darkness and from death back to hope and light +and life--was almost too much to endure. We both wept, but our tears +were those of happiness. + +"You will be all my own now," said I, "and we can fly from this +hateful land. We can be united--we can be married--here before we +start--and you will not be cruel enough to refuse. You will consent, +will you not, to be my wife before we fly from the Kosekin?" + +At this Almah's face became suffused with smiles and blushes. Her +arms were about me, and she did not draw away, but looked up in sweet +confusion and said, + +"Why, as to that--I--I cannot be more your--your wife than I am." + +"What do you mean?" I exclaimed, in wonder. "My wife!" + +Her eyes dropped again, and she whispered: + +"The ceremony of separation is with the Kosekin the most sacred form +of marriage. It is the religious form; the other is merely the civil +form." + +This was unintelligible, nor did I try to understand it. It was enough +to hear this from her own sweet lips; but it was a strange feeling, +and I think I am the only man since Adam that ever was married without +knowing it. + +"As to flight," continued Almah, who had quite adopted the Kosekin +fashion, which makes women take the lead--"as to flight, we need not +hurry. We are all-powerful now, and there is no more danger. We must +wait until we send embassies to my people, and when they are ready to +receive us, we will go. But now let us leave this, for our servants +are waiting for us, and the light is distressing to them. Let us go to +the nearest of our palaces and obtain rest and food." + + +Here Featherstone stopped, yawned, and laid down the manuscript. + +"That's enough for to-day," said he; "I'm tired, and can't read any +more. It's time for supper." + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND *** + +This file should be named msscc10.txt or msscc10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, msscc11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, msscc10a.txt + +Produced by Andrew Sly. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/msscc10.zip b/old/msscc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4864067 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/msscc10.zip diff --git a/old/msscc10h.htm b/old/msscc10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..04d5ef9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/msscc10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10900 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> +<title>A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder</title> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille +#2 in our series by James De Mille + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + + + +Title: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder + +Author: James De Mille + +Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6709] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on January 17, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly. + +</pre> + + + +<h1 align="center">A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder</h1> + +<h2 align="center">By James De Mille</h2> + +<h4>CONTENTS</h4> + +<pre> + + I. The Finding of the Copper Cylinder + II. Adrift in the Antarctic Ocean + III. A World of Fire and Desolation + IV. The Sight of Human Beings + V. The Torrent Sweeping Under the Mountains + VI. The New World + VII. Scientific Theories and Scepticism + VIII. The Cave-Dwellers + IX. The Cavern of the Dead + X. The Sacred Hunt + XI. The Swamp Monster + XII. The Baleful Sacrifice + XIII. The Awful "Mista Kosek" + XIV. I Learn My Doom + XV. The Kohen is Inexorable + XVI. The Kosekin + XVII. Belief and Unbelief + XVIII. A Voyage over the Pole + XIX. The Wonders of the "Amir" + XX. The Dark Maiden Layelah + XXI. The Flying Monster + XXII. Escape + XXIII. The Island of Fire + XXIV. Recapture + XXV. Falling, like Icarus, into the Sea + XXVI. Grimm's Law Again + XXVII. Oxenden Preaches a Sermon + XXVIII. In Prison + XXIX. The Ceremony of Separation + XXX. The Day of Sacrifice + XXXI. Conclusion + + +</pre> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE FINDING OF THE COPPER CYLINDER</h4> + + +<p> +It occurred as far back as February 15, 1850. It happened on that +day that the yacht <i>Falcon</i> lay becalmed upon the ocean between the +Canaries and the Madeira Islands. This yacht <i>Falcon</i> was the property +of Lord Featherstone, who, being weary of life in England, had taken +a few congenial friends for a winter's cruise in these southern +latitudes. They had visited the Azores, the Canaries, and the Madeira +Islands, and were now on their way to the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p> +The wind had failed, a deep calm had succeeded, and everywhere, as far +as the eye could reach, the water was smooth and glassy. The yacht +rose and fell at the impulse of the long ocean undulations, and the +creaking of the spars sounded out a lazy accompaniment to the motion +of the vessel. All around was a watery horizon, except in the one +place only, toward the south, where far in the distance the Peak of +Teneriffe rose into the air.</p> + +<p> +The profound calm, the warm atmosphere, the slow pitching of the +yacht, and the dull creaking of the spars all combined to lull into a +state of indolent repose the people on board. Forward were the crew; +some asleep, others smoking, others playing cards. At the stern were +Oxenden, the intimate friend of Featherstone, and Dr. Congreve, who +had come in the double capacity of friend and medical attendant. +These two, like the crew, were in a state of dull and languid +repose. Suspended between the two masts, in an Indian hammock, lay +Featherstone, with a cigar in his mouth and a novel in his hand, which +he was pretending to read. The fourth member of the party, Melick, was +seated near the mainmast, folding some papers in a peculiar way. His +occupation at length attracted the roving eyes of Featherstone, who +poked forth his head from his hammock, and said in a sleepy voice:</p> + +<p> +"I say, Melick, you're the most energetic fellah I ever saw. By Jove! +you're the only one aboard that's busy. What are you doing?"</p> + +<p> +"Paper boats," said Melick, in a business-like tone.</p> + +<p> +"Paper boats! By Jove!" said Featherstone. "What for?"</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to have a regatta," said Melick. "Anything to kill time, +you know."</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" exclaimed Featherstone again, raising himself higher in his +hammock, "that's not a bad idea. A wegatta! By Jove! glowious! +glowious! I say, Oxenden, did you hear that?"</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean by a regatta?" asked Oxenden, lazily.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I mean a race with these paper boats. We can bet on them, +you know."</p> + +<p> +At this Featherstone sat upright, with his legs dangling out of +the hammock.</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" he exclaimed again. "Betting! So we can. Do you know, +Melick, old chap, I think that's a wegular piece of inspiration. +A wegatta! and we can bet on the best boat."</p> + +<p> +"But there isn't any wind," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"Well, you know, that's the fun of it," said Melick, who went solemnly +on as he spoke, folding his paper boats; "that's the fun of it. For +you see if there was a wind we should be going on ourselves, and the +regatta couldn't come off; but, as it is, the water is just right. +You pick out your boat, and lay your bet on her to race to some given +point."</p> + +<p> +"A given point? But how can we find any?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, easily enough; something or anything--a bubble'll do, or we can +pitch out a bit of wood."</p> + +<p> +Upon this Featherstone descended from his perch, and came near to +examine the proceedings, while the other two, eager to take advantage +of the new excitement, soon joined him. By this time Melick had +finished his paper boats. There were four of them, and they were made +of different colors, namely, red, green, yellow, and white.</p> + +<p> +"I'll put these in the water," said Melick, "and then we can lay our +bets on them as we choose. But first let us see if there is anything +that can be taken as a point of arrival. If there isn't anything, I +can pitch out a bit of wood, in any direction which may seem best."</p> + +<p> +Saying this, he went to the side, followed by the others, and all +looked out carefully over the water.</p> + +<p> +"There's a black speck out there," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"So there is," said Featherstone. "That'll do. I wonder what it is?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, a bit of timber," said Melick. "Probably the spar of some ship."</p> + +<p> +"It don't look like a spar," said the doctor; "it's only a round spot, +like the float of some net."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, it's a spar," said Melick. "It's one end of it, the rest is under +water."</p> + +<p> +The spot thus chosen was a dark, circular object, about a hundred +yards away, and certainly did look very much like the extremity of +some spar, the rest of which was under water. Whatever it was, +however, it served well enough for their present purpose, and no one +took any further interest in it, except as the point toward which the +paper boats should run in their eventful race.</p> + +<p> +Melick now let himself down over the side, and placed the paper boats +on the water as carefully as possible. After this the four stood +watching the little fleet in silence. The water was perfectly still, +and there was no perceptible wind, but there were draughts of air +caused by the rise and fall of the yacht, and these affected the tiny +boats. Gradually they drew apart, the green one drifting astern, the +yellow one remaining under the vessel, while the red and the white +were carried out in the direction where they were expected to go, with +about a foot of space between them.</p> + +<p> +"Two to one on the red!" cried Featherstone, betting on the one which +had gained the lead.</p> + +<p> +"Done," said Melick, promptly taking his offer.</p> + +<p> +Oxenden made the same bet, which was taken by Melick and the doctor.</p> + +<p> +Other bets were now made as to the direction which they would take, as +to the distance by which the red would beat the white, as to the time +which would be occupied by the race, and as to fifty other things +which need not be mentioned. All took part in this; the excitement +rose high and the betting went on merrily. At length it was noticed +that the white was overhauling the red. The excitement grew intense; +the betting changed its form, but was still kept up, until at last +the two paper boats seemed blended together in one dim spot which +gradually faded out of sight.</p> + +<p> +It was now necessary to determine the state of the race, so +Featherstone ordered out the boat. The four were soon embarked, and +the men rowed out toward the point which had been chosen as the end of +the race. On coming near they found the paper boats stuck together, +saturated with water, and floating limp on the surface. An animated +discussion arose about this. Some of the bets were off, but others +remained an open question, and each side insisted upon a different +view of the case. In the midst of this, Featherstone's attention was +drawn to the dark spot already mentioned as the goal of the race.</p> + +<p> +"That's a queer-looking thing," said he, suddenly. "Pull up, lads, a +little; let's see what it is. It doesn't look to me like a spar."</p> + +<p> +The others, always on the lookout for some new object of interest, +were attracted by these words, and looked closely at the thing in +question. The men pulled. The boat drew nearer.</p> + +<p> +"It's some sort of floating vessel," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"It's not a spar," said Melick, who was at the bow.</p> + +<p> +And as he said this he reached out and grasped at it. He failed to get +it, and did no more than touch it. It moved easily and sank, but soon +came up again. A second time he grasped at it, and with both hands. +This time he caught it, and then lifted it out of the water into the +boat. These proceedings had been watched with the deepest interest; +and now, as this curious floating thing made its appearance among +them, they all crowded around it in eager excitement.</p> + +<p> +"It looks like a can of preserved meat," said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"It certainly is a can," said Melick, "for it's made of metal; but as +to preserved meat, I have my doubts."</p> + +<p> +The article in question was made of metal and was cylindrical in +shape. It was soldered tight and evidently contained something. It was +about eighteen inches long and eight wide. The nature of the metal was +not easily perceptible, for it was coated with slime, and covered over +about half its surface with barnacles and sea-weed. It was not heavy, +and would have floated higher out of the water had it not been for +these encumbrances.</p> + +<p> +"It's some kind of preserved meat," said the doctor. "Perhaps +something good--game, I dare say--yes, Yorkshire game-pie. They pot +all sorts of things now."</p> + +<p> +"If it's game," said Oxenden, "it'll be rather high by this time. Man +alive! look at those weeds and shells. It must have been floating for +ages."</p> + +<p> +"It's my belief," said Featherstone, "that it's part of the provisions +laid in by Noah for his long voyage in the ark. So come, let's open +it, and see what sort of diet the antediluvians had."</p> + +<p> +"It may be liquor," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +Melick shook his head.</p> + +<p> +"No," said he; "there's something inside, but whatever it is, it isn't +liquor. It's odd, too. The thing is of foreign make, evidently. I +never saw anything like it before. It may be Chinese."</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "this is getting exciting. Let's go +back to the yacht and open it."</p> + +<p> +The men rowed back to the yacht.</p> + +<p> +"It's meat of some sort," continued the doctor. "I'm certain of that. +It has come in good time. We can have it for dinner."</p> + +<p> +"You may have my share, then," said Oxenden. "I hereby give and +bequeath to you all my right, title, and interest in and to anything +in the shape of meat that may be inside."</p> + +<p> +"Meat cans," said Melick, "are never so large as that."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I don't know about that," said the doctor, "they make up pretty +large packages of pemmican for the arctic expeditions."</p> + +<p> +"But they never pack up pemmican in copper cylinders," said Melick, +who had been using his knife to scrape off the crust from the vessel.</p> + +<p> +"Copper!" exclaimed Oxenden. "Is it copper?"</p> + +<p> +"Look for yourselves," said Melick, quietly.</p> + +<p> +They all looked, and could see, where the knife had cut into the +vessel, that it was as he said. It was copper.</p> + +<p> +"It's foreign work," said Melick. "In England we make tin cans for +everything. It may be something that's drifted out from Mogadore or +some port in Morocco."</p> + +<p> +"In that case," said Oxenden, "it may contain the mangled remains of +one of the wives of some Moorish pasha."</p> + +<p> +By this time they had reached the yacht and hurried aboard. All were +eager to satisfy their curiosity. Search was made for a cold-chisel, +but to no purpose. Then Featherstone produced a knife which was used +to open sardine boxes, but after a faithful trial this proved useless. +At length Melick, who had gone off in search of something more +effective, made his appearance armed with an axe. With this he +attacked the copper cylinder, and by means of a few dexterous blows +succeeded in cutting it open. Then he looked in.</p> + +<p> +"What do you see?" asked Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"Something," said Melick, "but I can't quite make it out."</p> + +<p> +"If you can't make it out, then shake it out," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +Upon this Melick took the cylinder, turned it upside down, shook it +smartly, and then lifted it and pounded it against the deck. This +served to loosen the contents, which seemed tightly packed, but came +gradually down until at length they could be seen and drawn forth. +Melick drew them forth, and the contents of the mysterious copper +cylinder resolved themselves into two packages.</p> + +<p> +The sight of these packages only served to intensify their curiosity. +If it had been some species of food it would at once have revealed +itself, but these packages suggested something more important. What +could they be? Were there treasures inside--jewels, or golden +ornaments from some Moorish seraglio, or strange coin from far Cathay?</p> + +<p> +One of the packages was very much larger than the other. It was +enclosed in wrappers made of some coarse kind of felt, bound tight +with strong cords. The other was much smaller, and, was folded in the +same material without being bound. This Melick seized and began to +open.</p> + +<p> +"Wait a minute," said Featherstone. "Let's make a bet on it. Five +guineas that it's some sort of jewels!"</p> + +<p> +"Done," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +Melick opened the package, and it was seen that Featherstone had lost. +There were no jewels, but one or two sheets of something that looked +like paper. It was not paper, however, but some vegetable product +which was used for the same purpose. The surface was smooth, but the +color was dingy, and the lines of the vegetable fibres were plainly +discernible. These sheets were covered with writing.</p> + +<p> +"Halloa!" cried Melick. "Why, this is English!"</p> + +<p> +At this the others crowded around to look on, and Featherstone in his +excitement forgot that he had lost his bet. There were three sheets, +all covered with writing--one in English, another in French, and a +third in German. It was the same message, written in these three +different languages. But at that moment they scarcely noticed this. +All that they saw was the message itself, with its mysterious meaning.</p> + +<p> +It was as follows:</p> + +<br> + +<p> +"To the finder of this:</p> + +<p> +"Sir,--I am an Englishman, and have been carried by a series of +incredible events to a land from which escape is as impossible as from +the grave. I have written this and committed it to the sea, in the +hope that the ocean currents may bear it within the reach of civilized +man. Oh, unknown friend! whoever you are. I entreat you to let this +message be made known in some way to my father, Henry More, Keswick, +Cumberland, England, so that he may learn the fate of his son. The MS. +accompanying this contains an account of my adventures, which I should +like to have forwarded to him. Do this for the sake of that mercy +which you may one day wish to have shown to yourself.</p> + +<p align="right">"ADAM MORE."</p> + +<br> + +<p> +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, as he read the above, "this is really +getting to be something tremendous."</p> + +<p> +"This other package must be the manuscript," said Oxenden, "and it'll +tell all about it."</p> + +<p> +"Such a manuscript'll be better than meat," said the doctor, +sententiously.</p> + +<p> +Melick said nothing, but, opening his knife, he cut the cords and +unfolded the wrapper. He saw a great collection of leaves, just like +those of the letter, of some vegetable substance, smooth as paper, and +covered with writing.</p> + +<p> +"It looks like Egyptian papyrus," said the doctor. "That was the +common paper of antiquity."</p> + +<p> +"Never mind the Egyptian papyrus," said Featherstone, in feverish +curiosity. "Let's have the contents of the manuscript. You, Melick, +read; you're the most energetic of the lot, and when you're tired the +rest of us will take turns."</p> + +<p> +"Read? Why, it'll take a month to read all this," said Melick.</p> + +<p> +"All the better," said Featherstone; "this calm will probably last a +month, and we shall have nothing to interest us."</p> + +<p> +Melick made no further objection. He was as excited as the rest, and +so he began the reading of the manuscript.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h4 align="center">ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN</h4> + + +<p> +My name is Adam More. I am the son of Henry More, apothecary, Keswick, +Cumberland. I was mate of the ship <i>Trevelyan</i> (Bennet, master), which +was chartered by the British Government to convey convicts to Van +Dieman's Land. This was in 1843. We made our voyage without any +casualty, landed our convicts in Hobart Town, and then set forth on +our return home. It was the 17th of December when we left. From the +first adverse winds prevailed, and in order to make any progress we +were obliged to keep well to the south. At length, on the 6th of +January, we sighted Desolation Island. We found it, indeed, a desolate +spot. In its vicinity we saw a multitude of smaller islands, perhaps a +thousand in number, which made navigation difficult, and forced us to +hurry away as fast as possible. But the aspect of this dreary spot was +of itself enough to repel us. There were no trees, and the multitude +of islands seemed like moss-covered rocks; while the temperature, +though in the middle of the antarctic summer, was from 38° to 58° +Fahr.</p> + +<p> +In order to get rid of these dangerous islands we stood south and +west, and at length found ourselves in south latitude 65°, +longitude 60° east. We were fortunate enough not to find any +ice, although we were within fifteen hundred miles of the South Pole, +and far within that impenetrable icy barrier which, in 1773, had +arrested the progress of Captain Cook. Here the wind failed us, and we +lay becalmed and drifting. The sea was open all around us, except to +the southeast, where there was a low line along the horizon +terminating in a lofty promontory; but though it looked like land we +took it for ice. All around us whales and grampuses were gambolling +and spouting in vast numbers. The weather was remarkably fine and +clear.</p> + +<p> + For two or three days the calm continued, and we drifted along +helplessly, until at length we found ourselves within a few miles of +the promontory above mentioned. It looked like land, and seemed to be +a rocky island rising from the depths of the sea. It was, however, all +covered with ice and snow, and from this there extended eastward as +far as the eye could reach an interminable line of ice, but toward the +southwest the sea seemed open to navigation. The promontory was very +singular in shape, rising up to a peak which was at least a thousand +feet in height, and forming a striking object, easily discovered and +readily identified by any future explorer. We named it, after our +ship, Trevelyan Peak, and then felt anxious to lose sight of it +forever. But the calm continued, and at length we drifted in close +enough to see immense flocks of seals dotting the ice at the foot of +the peak.</p> + +<p> +Upon this I proposed to Agnew, the second mate, that we should go +ashore, shoot some seals, and bring them back. This was partly for the +excitement of the hunt, and partly for the honor of landing in a place +never before trodden by the foot of man. Captain Bennet made some +objections, but he was old and cautious, and we were young and +venturesome, so we laughed away his scruples and set forth. We did not +take any of the crew, owing to the captain's objections. He said that +if we chose to throw away our own lives he could not help it, but that +he would positively refuse to allow a single man to go with us. We +thought this refusal an excess of caution amounting to positive +cowardice, but were unable to change his mind. The distance was not +great, the adventure was attractive, and so the captain's gig was +lowered, and in this Agnew and I rowed ashore. We took with us a +double-barrelled rifle apiece, and also a pistol. Agnew took a glass.</p> + +<p> +We rowed for about three miles, and reached the edge of the ice, which +extended far out from the promontory. Here we landed, and secured the +boat by means of a small grappling-iron, which we thrust into the ice. +We then walked toward the promontory for about a mile, and here we +found a multitude of seals. These animals were so fearless that they +made not the slightest movement as we came up, but stared at us in an +indifferent way. We killed two or three, and then debated whether to +go to the promontory or not. Agnew was eager to go, so as to touch the +actual rock; but I was satisfied with what we had done, and was now +desirous of returning. In the midst of this I felt a flake of snow on +my cheek. I started and looked up. To my great surprise I saw that the +sky had changed since I had last noticed it. When we left the ship it +was clear and blue, but now it was overspread with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and the snow-flakes that had fallen were +ominous of evil. A snow-storm here, in the vicinity of the ice, was +too serious a thing to be disregarded. But one course now remained, +and that was an immediate return to the ship.</p> + +<p> +Each of us seized a seal and dragged it after us to the boat. We +reached it and flung them in. Just at that moment a gun sounded over +the water. It was from the ship--the signal of alarm--the summons from +the captain for our return. We saw now that she had been drifting +since we left her, and had moved southwest several miles. The row back +promised to be far harder than the pull ashore, and, what was worse, +the wind was coming up, the sea was rising, and the snow was +thickening. Neither of us said a word. We saw that our situation was +very serious, and that we had been very foolhardy; but the words were +useless now. The only thing to be done was to pull for the ship with +all our strength, and that was what we did.</p> + +<p> +So we pushed off, and rowed as we had never rowed before. Our progress +was difficult. The sea grew steadily rougher; the wind increased; the +snow thickened; and, worst of all, the day was drawing to a close. We +had miscalculated both as to distance and time. Even if it had +continued calm we should have had to row back in the dark; but now the +sun was setting, and with the darkness we had to encounter the +gathering storm and the blinding snow. We rowed in silence. At every +stroke our situation grew more serious. The wind was from the south, +and therefore favored us to some extent, and also made less of a sea +than would have been produced by a wind from any other quarter; but +then this south wind brought dangers of its own, which we were soon to +feel--new dangers and worse ones. For this south wind drove the ship +farther from us, and at the same time broke up the vast fields of ice +and impelled the fractured masses northward. But this was a danger +which we did not know just then. At that time we were rowing for the +ship, and amid the darkness and the blinding snow and the dashing +waves we heard from time to time the report of signal-guns fired from +the ship to guide us back. These were our only guide, for the darkness +and the snow had drawn the ship from our sight, and we had to be +guided by our hearing only.</p> + +<p> +We were rowing for our lives, and we knew it; but every moment our +situation grew more desperate. Each new report of the gun seemed to +sound farther away. We seemed always to be rowing in the wrong +direction. At each report we had to shift the boat's course somewhat, +and pull toward the last point from which the gun seemed to sound. +With all this the wind was increasing rapidly to a gale, the sea was +rising and breaking over the boat, the snow was blinding us with its +ever-thickening sleet. The darkness deepened and at length had grown +so intense that nothing whatever could be seen--neither sea nor sky, +not even the boat itself--yet we dared not stop; we had to row. Our +lives depended on our efforts. We had to row, guided by the sound of +the ship's gun, which the ever-varying wind incessantly changed, till +our minds grew all confused, and we rowed blindly and mechanically.</p> + +<p> +So we labored for hours at the oars, and the storm continually +increased, and the sea continually rose, while the snow fell thicker +and the darkness grew intenser. The reports of the gun now grew +fainter; what was worse, they were heard at longer intervals, and this +showed us that Captain Bennet was losing heart; that he was giving us +up; that he despaired of finding us, and was now firing only an +occasional gun out of a mournful sense of duty. This thought reduced +us to despair. It seemed as if all our efforts had only served to take +us farther away from the ship, and deprived us of all motive for +rowing any harder than was barely necessary to keep the boat steady. +After a time Agnew dropped his oar and began to bail out the boat--a +work which was needed; for, in spite of our care, she had shipped many +seas, and was one third full of water. He worked away at this while I +managed the boat, and then we took turns at bailing. In this way we +passed the dreary night.</p> + +<p> +Morning came at last. The wind was not so violent, but the snow was so +thick that we could only see for a little distance around us. The ship +was nowhere visible, nor were there any signs of her. The last gun had +been fired during the night. All that we could see was the outline of +a gaunt iceberg--an ominous spectacle. Not knowing what else to do we +rowed on as before, keeping in what seemed our best course, though +this was mere conjecture, and we knew all the time that we might be +going wrong. There was no compass in the boat, nor could we tell the +sun's position through the thick snow. We rowed with the wind, +thinking that it was blowing toward the north, and would carry us in +that direction. We still hoped to come within sound of the ship's gun, +and kept straining our ears incessantly to hear the wished-for report. +But no such sound ever came again, and we heard nothing except the +plash of the waves and the crash of breaking ice. Thus all that day we +rowed along, resting at intervals when exhausted, and then resuming +our labors, until at length night came; and again to the snow and ice +and waves was added the horror of great darkness. We passed that night +in deep misery. We had eaten nothing since we left the ship, but +though exhausted by long fasting and severe labor, the despair of our +hearts took away all desire for food. We were worn out with hard work, +yet the cold was too great to allow us to take rest, and we were +compelled to row so as to keep ourselves from perishing. But fatigue +and drowsiness overcame us, and we often sank into sleep even while +rowing; and then after a brief slumber we would awake with benumbed +limbs to wrestle again with the oars. In this way we passed that +night.</p> + +<p> +Another morning came, and we found to our great joy that the snow had +ceased. We looked eagerly around to see if there were any signs of the +ship. Nothing could be seen of her. Far away on one side rose a peak, +which looked like the place where we had landed. Judging from the +wind, which we still supposed to be southerly, the peak lay toward the +northeast; in which case we had been carried steadily, in spite of all +our efforts, toward the south. About a mile on one side of us the ice +began, and extended far away; while on the other side, at the distance +of some ten miles, there was another line of ice. We seemed to have +been carried in a southwesterly direction along a broad strait that +ran into the vast ice-fields. This discovery showed how utterly +useless our labors had been; for in spite of all, even with the wind +in our favor, we had been drawn steadily in an opposite direction. It +was evident that there was some current here, stronger than all our +strength, which had brought us to this place.</p> + +<p> +We now determined to land on the ice, and try to cook a portion of our +seals. On approaching it we noticed that there was a current which +tended to draw us past the ice in what I supposed to be a +southwesterly direction. This confirmed my worst fears. But now the +labor of landing and building a fire on the ice served to interest us +for a time and divert our thoughts. We brushed away the snow, and then +broke up a box which was in the boat, and also the stern seats. This +we used very sparingly, reserving the rest for another occasion. Then +we cut portions from one of the seals, and laid them in thin strips on +the flames. The cooking was but slight, for the meat was merely +singed; but we were ravenous, and the contact of the fire was enough +to give it an attractive flavor. With this food we were greatly +refreshed; and as for drink, we had all around us an endless extent of +ice and snow. Then, taking our precious fragments of cooked meat, we +returned to the boat and put off. We could scarcely tell what to do +next, and while debating on this point we fell asleep. We slept far +into the night, then awoke benumbed with cold; then took to the oars +till we were weary; then fell asleep again, to be again awakened by +the cold and again to pull at the oars. So the night passed, and +another day came.</p> + +<p> +The snow still held off, but the sky was overcast with dark, +leaden-colored clouds, and looked threatening. Ice was all around us +as before; and the open water had diminished now from ten miles to +five miles of width. The ice on one side was low, but on the opposite +side it arose to the height of one hundred feet. We saw here, as we +watched the shore, that the current which had already borne us thus +far was now stronger than ever, and was carrying us along at a rate +which made all efforts of ours against it utterly useless. And now a +debate arose between us as to the direction of this current. Agnew +suddenly declared his belief that it was running north, while I was +firm in the conviction that it ran south.</p> + +<p> +"There's no use rowing any more," said Agnew. "If it runs south we +can't resist it. It's too strong. But I always like to look on the +bright side, and so I believe it runs north. In that case there is no +use rowing, for it will carry us along fast enough."</p> + +<p> +Then I proposed that we should go ashore on the ice. To this Agnew +objected, but afterward consented, at my earnest request. So we tried +to get ashore, but this time found it impossible; for the ice +consisted of a vast sheet of floating lumps, which looked like the +ruin of bergs that had been broken up in some storm. After this I had +nothing to say, nor was there anything left for us but to drift +wherever the current might carry us.</p> + +<p> +So we drifted for some days, Agnew all the time maintaining that we +were going north, while I was sure that we were going south. The sky +remained as cloudy as ever, the wind varied incessantly, and there was +nothing by which we could conjecture the points of the compass. We +lived on our seal, and for drink we chewed ice and snow. One thing was +certain--the climate was no colder. Agnew laid great stress on this.</p> + +<p> +"You see," said he, "we must be going north. If we were going south we +should be frozen stiff by this time."</p> + +<p> +"Yes; but if we were going north," said I, "we ought to find it +growing warmer."</p> + +<p> +"No," said he, "not with all this ice around us. It's the ice that +keeps the temperature in this cold state."</p> + +<p> +Argument could do no good, and so we each remained true to our +belief--his leading him to hope, and mine dragging me down to despair. +At length we finished the last fragment of the seal that we had +cooked, and, finding ourselves near some firm ice, we went ashore and +cooked all that was left, using the remainder of our wood for fuel, +and all that we dared to remove from the boat. Re-embarking with this, +we drifted on as before.</p> + +<p> +Several more days passed. At last one night I was roused by Agnew. He +pointed far away to the distant horizon, where I saw a deep red glow +as of fire. We were both filled with wonder at the sight, and were +utterly unable to account for it. We knew that it could not be caused +by the sun or the moon, for it was midnight, and the cause lay on the +earth and not in the skies. It was a deep, lurid glow, extending along +the horizon, and seemed to be caused by some vast conflagration.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h4 align="center">A WORLD OF FIRE AND DESOLATION</h4> + + +<p> +At the sight of that deep-red glow various feelings arose within us: +in me there was new dejection; in Agnew there was stronger hope. I +could not think but that it was our ship that was on fire, and was +burning before our eyes. Agnew thought that it was some burning +forest, and that it showed our approach to some habitable and +inhabited land. For hour after hour we watched, and all the time the +current drew us nearer, and the glow grew brighter and more intense. +At last we were too weak to watch any longer, and we fell asleep.</p> + +<p> +On waking our first thoughts were about the fire, and we looked +eagerly around. It was day, but the sky was as gloomy as ever, and the +fire was there before our eyes, bright and terrible. We could now see +it plainly, and discern the cause also. The fire came from two points, +at some distance apart--two peaks rising above the horizon, from which +there burst forth flames and smoke with incessant explosions. All was +now manifest. It was no burning ship, no blazing forest, no land +inhabited by man: those blazing peaks were two volcanoes in a state of +active eruption, and at that sight I knew the worst.</p> + +<p> +"I know where we are now," I said, despairingly.</p> + +<p> +"Where?" asked Agnew.</p> + +<p> +"That," said I, "is the antarctic continent."</p> + +<p> +"The antarctic fiddlestick," said he, contemptuously. "It is far more +likely to be some volcanic island in the South Sea. There's a +tremendous volcano in the Sandwich Islands, and these are something +like it."</p> + +<p> +"I believe," said I, "that these are the very volcanoes that Sir James +Ross discovered last year."</p> + +<p> +"Do you happen to know where he found them?" Agnew asked.</p> + +<p> +"I do not," I answered.</p> + +<p> +"Well, I do," said he, "and they're thousands of miles away from this. +They are south latitude 77°, east longitude 167°; while +we, as I guess, are about south latitude 40°, east longitude +60°."</p> + +<p> +"At any rate," said I, "we're drifting straight toward them."</p> + +<p> +"So I see," said Agnew, dryly. "At any rate, the current will take us +somewhere. We shall find ourselves carried past these volcanic +islands, or through them, and then west to the Cape of Good Hope. +Besides, even here we may find land with animals and vegetation; who +knows?"</p> + +<p> +"What! amid all this ice?" I cried. "Are you mad?"</p> + +<p> +"Mad?" said he; "I should certainly go mad if I hadn't hope."</p> + +<p> +"Hope!" I repeated; "I have long since given up hope."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well," said he, "enjoy your despair, and don't try to deprive me +of my consolation. My hope sustains me, and helps me to cheer you up. +It would never do, old fellow, for both of us to knock under."</p> + +<p> +I said nothing more, nor did Agnew. We drifted on, and all our +thoughts were taken up with the two volcanoes, toward which we were +every moment drawing nearer. As we approached they grew larger and +larger, towering up to a tremendous height. I had seen Vesuvius and +Stromboli and Ætna and Cotopaxi; but these appeared far larger than +any of them, not excepting the last. They rose, like the Peak of +Teneriffe, abruptly from the sea, with no intervening hills to dwarf +or diminish their proportions. They were ten or twelve miles apart, +and the channel of water in which we were drifting flowed between +them.</p> + +<p> +Here the ice and snow ended. We thus came at last to land; but it was +a land that seemed more terrible than even the bleak expanse of ice +and snow that lay behind, for nothing could be seen except a vast and +drear accumulation of lava-blocks of every imaginable shape, without +a trace of vegetation--uninhabited, uninhabitable, and unpassable to +man. But just where the ice ended and the rocks began there was a +long, low reef, which projected for more than a quarter of a mile into +the water, affording the only possible landing-place within sight. +Here we decided to land, so as to rest and consider what was best to +be done.</p> + +<p> +Here we landed, and walked up to where rugged lava-blocks prevented +any further progress. But at this spot our attention was suddenly +arrested by a sight of horror. It was a human figure lying prostrate, +face downward.</p> + +<p> +At this sight there came over us a terrible sensation. Even Agnew's +buoyant soul shrank back, and we stared at each other with quivering +lips. It was some time before we could recover ourselves; then we went +to the figure, and stooped down to examine it.</p> + +<p> +The clothes were those of a European and a sailor; the frame was +emaciated and dried up, till it looked like a skeleton; the face was +blackened and all withered, and the bony hands were clinched tight. It +was evidently some sailor who had suffered shipwreck in these +frightful solitudes, and had drifted here to starve to death in this +appalling wilderness. It was a sight which seemed ominous of our own +fate, and Agnew's boasted hope, which had so long upheld him, now sank +down into a despair as deep as my own. What room was there now for +hope, or how could we expect any other fate than this?</p> + +<p> +At length I began to search the pockets of the deceased.</p> + +<p> +"What are you doing?" asked Agnew, in a hoarse voice.</p> + +<p> +"I'm trying to find out who he is," I said. "Perhaps there may be +papers."</p> + +<p> +As I said this I felt something in the breast-pocket of his jacket, +and drew it forth. It was a leather pocket-book, mouldy and rotten +like the clothing. On opening it, it fell to pieces. There was nothing +in it but a piece of paper, also mouldy and rotten. This I unfolded +with great care, and saw writing there, which, though faded, was still +legible. It was a letter, and there were still signs of long and +frequent perusals, and marks, too, which looked as though made by +tears--tears, perhaps of the writer, perhaps of the reader: who can +tell? I have preserved this letter ever since, and I now fasten it +here upon this sheet of my manuscript.</p> + +<br> + +<p align="center">THE LETTER.</p> + +<p align="right">"Bristol April 20. 1820.</p> + +<p> +"my darling tom</p> + +<p> +"i writ you these few lines in hast i don like youar gon a walen an in +the south sea dont go darlin tom or mebbe ill never se you agin for +ave bad drems of you darlin tom an im afraid so don go my darlin tom +but come back an take anoth ship for America baby i as wel as ever but +mises is pa an as got a new tooth an i think yo otnt go a walen o +darlin tom * * * sea as the wages was i in New York an better go thar +an id like to go ther for good for they gives good wages in America. O +come back my Darlin tom and take me to America an the baby an weel all +live an love an di together</p> + +<p align="center">"Your loving wife Polley Reed."</p> + +<br> + +<p> +I began to read this, but there came a lump in my throat, and I had to +stop. Agnew leaned on my shoulder, and we both read it in silence. He +rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and drew a long breath. Then +he walked away for a little distance, and I put the letter carefully +away in my own pocket-book. After a little while Agnew came back.</p> + +<p> +"More," said he, "do you remember any of the burial-service?"</p> + +<p> +I understood his meaning at once.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," I said, "some of it--a good deal of it, I think."</p> + +<p> +"That's good," said he. "Let's put the poor fellow under ground."</p> + +<p> +"It would be hard to do that," I said; "we'll have to bury him in the +snow."</p> + +<p> +At this Agnew went off for a little distance and clambered over the +rocks. He was not gone long. When he returned he said, "I've found +some crumbled pumice-stone; we can scoop a grave for him there."</p> + +<p> +We then raised the body and carried it to the place which Agnew had +found. So emaciated was the poor dead sailor that his remains were no +heavier than a small boy. On reaching the spot, we found the crumbled +pumice-stone. We placed the body in a crevice among the lava rocks, +and then I said what I could remember of the burial-service. After +this we carried in our hands the crumbled pumice-stone until we had +covered the body, and thus gave the poor fellow a Christian burial.</p> + +<p> +We then returned to the shore.</p> + +<p> +"More, old fellow," said Agnew, "I feel the better for this; the +service has done me good."</p> + +<p> +"And me too," said I. "It has reminded me of what I had forgotten. +This world is only a part of life. We may lose it and yet live on. +There is another world; and if we can only keep that in our minds we +sha'n't be so ready to sink into despair--that is, I sha'n't. Despair +is my weakness; you are more hopeful."</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Agnew, solemnly; "but my hope thus far has referred only +to the safety of my skin. After this I shall try to think of my soul, +and cultivate, not the hope of escape, but the hope full of +immortality. Yes, More, after all we shall live, if not in England, +then, let us hope, in heaven."</p> + +<p> +There was a long silence after this--that kind of silence which one +may preserve who is at the point of death.</p> + +<p> +"I wonder how he got here?" said Agnew, at last. "The letter mentions +a whaler. No doubt the ship has been driven too far south; it has +foundered; he has escaped in a boat, either alone or with others; he +has been carried along this channel, and has landed here, afraid to go +any farther."</p> + +<p> +"But his boat, what has become of that?"</p> + +<p> +"His boat! That must have gone long ago. The letter was written in +1820. At any rate, let's look around."</p> + +<p> +We did so. After some search we found fragments of a rotted rope +attached to a piece of rock.</p> + +<p> +"That," said Agnew, "must have been fastened to the boat; and as for +the boat herself, she has long ago been swept away from this."</p> + +<p> +"What shall we do now?" I said, after a long silence.</p> + +<p> +"There's only one thing," said Agnew. "We must go on."</p> + +<p> +"Go on?" I asked, in wonder.</p> + +<p> +"Certainly," said he, confidently. "Will you stay here? No. Will you +go back? You can't. We must, therefore, go on. That is our only hope."</p> + +<p> +"Hope!" I cried. "Do you still talk of hope?"</p> + +<p> +"Hope?" said Agnew; "of course. Why not? There are no limits to hope, +are there? One can hope anything anywhere. It is better to die while +struggling like a man, full of hope and energy than to perish in +inaction and despair. It is better to die in the storm and furious +waters than to waste away in this awful place. So come along. Let's +drift as before. Let's see where this channel will take us. It will +certainly take us somewhere. Such a stream as this must have some +outlet."</p> + +<p> +"This stream," said I, "will take us to death, and death only. The +current grows swifter every hour. I've heard some old yarn of a vast +opening at each of the poles, or one of them, into which the waters of +the ocean pour. They fall into one, and some say they go through and +come out at the other."</p> + +<p> +Agnew laughed.</p> + +<p> +"That," said he, "is a madman's dream. In the first place, I don't +believe that we are approaching the south, but the north. The warmth +of the climate here shows that. Yes, we are drawing north. We shall +soon emerge into warm waters and bright skies. So come along, and let +us lose no more time."</p> + +<p> +I made no further objection. There was nothing else to be done, and +at the very worst we could not be in greater danger while drifting on +than in remaining behind. Soon, therefore, we were again in the boat, +and the current swept us on as before.</p> + +<p> +The channel now was about four miles wide. On either side arose +the lofty volcanoes vomiting forth flames and smoke with furious +explosions; vast stones were hurled up into the air from the craters; +streams of molten lava rolled down, and at intervals there fell great +showers of ashes. The shores on either side were precipitous and +rugged beyond all description, looking like fiery lava streams which +had been arrested by the flood, and cooled into gloomy, overhanging +cliffs. The lava rock was of a deep, dull slate-color, which at a +distance looked black; and the blackness which thus succeeded to +the whiteness of the snow behind us seemed like the funeral pall of +nature. Through scenes like these we drifted on, and the volcanoes on +either side of the channel towered on high with their fiery floods of +lava, their incessant explosions, their fierce outbursts of flames, +and overhead there rolled a dense black canopy of smoke--altogether +forming a terrific approach to that unknown and awful pathway upon +which we were going. So we passed this dread portal, and then there +lay before us--what? Was it a land of life or a land of death? Who +could say?</p> + +<p> +It was evening when we passed through. Night came on, and the darkness +was illuminated by the fiery glow of the volcanic flames. Worn out +with fatigue, we fell asleep. So the night passed, and the current +bore us on until, at length, the morning came. We awoke, and now, for +the first time in many days, we saw the face of the sun. The clouds +had at last broken, the sky was clear, and behind us the sun was +shining. That sight told us all. It showed us where we were going.</p> + +<p> +I pointed to the sun.</p> + +<p> +"Look there," said I. "There is the sun in the northern sky--behind +us. We have been drifting steadily toward the south."</p> + +<p> +At this Agnew was silent, and sat looking back for a long time. There +we could still see the glow of the volcanic fires, though they were +now many miles away; while the sun, but lately risen, was lying on a +course closer to the horizon than we had ever seen it before.</p> + +<p> +"We are going south," said I--"to the South Pole. This swift current +can have but one ending--there may be an opening at the South Pole, or +a whirlpool like the Maelstrom."</p> + +<p> +Agnew looked around with a smile.</p> + +<p> +"All these notions," said he, "are dreams, or theories, or guesses. +There is no evidence to prove them. Why trouble yourself about a +guess? You and I can guess, and with better reason; for we have now, +it seems, come farther south than any human being who has ever lived. +Do not imagine that the surface of the earth is different at the poles +from what it is anywhere else. If we get to the South Pole we shall +see there what we have always seen--the open view of land or water, +and the boundary of the horizon. As for this current, it seems to me +like the Gulf Stream, and it evidently does an important work in the +movement of the ocean waters. It pours on through vast fields of ice +on its way to other oceans, where it will probably become united with +new currents. Theories about openings at the poles, or whirlpools, +must be given up. Since the Maelstrom has been found to be a fiction, +no one need believe in any other whirlpool. For my own part, I now +believe that this current will bear us on, due south, over the pole, +and then still onward, until at last we shall find ourselves in the +South Pacific Ocean. So cheer up--don't be downhearted; there's still +hope. We have left the ice and snow behind, and already the air is +warmer. Cheer up; we may find our luck turn at any moment."</p> + +<p> +To this I had no reply to make. Agnew's confidence seemed to me to be +assumed, and certainly did not alleviate my own deep gloom, nor was +the scene around calculated to rouse me in the slightest degree out of +my despair. The channel had now lessened to a width of not more than +two miles; the shores on either side were precipitous cliffs, broken +by occasional declivities, but all of solid rock, so dark as to be +almost black, and evidently of volcanic origin. At times there arose +rugged eminences, scarred and riven, indescribably dismal and +appalling. There was not only an utter absence of life here in these +abhorrent regions, but an actual impossibility of life which was +enough to make the stoutest heart quail. The rocks looked like iron. +It seemed a land of iron penetrated by this ocean stream which had +made for itself a channel, and now bore us onward to a destination +which was beyond all conjecture.</p> + +<p> +Through such scenes we drifted all that day. Night came, and in the +skies overhead there arose a brilliant display of the aurora +australis, while toward the north the volcanic fires glowed with +intense lustre. That night we slept. On awakening we noticed a change +in the scene. The shores, though still black and forbidding, were no +longer precipitous, but sloped down gradually to the water; the +climate was sensibly milder, and far away before us there arose a line +of giant mountains, whose summits were covered with ice and snow that +gleamed white and purple in the rays of the sun.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Agnew gave a cry, and pointed to the opposite shore.</p> + +<p> +"Look!" he cried--"do you see? They are men!"</p> + +<p> +I looked, and there I saw plainly some moving figures that were, +beyond a doubt, human beings.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE SIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS</h4> + + +<p> +The sight of human beings, thus unexpectedly found, filled us with +strange feelings--feelings which I cannot explain. The country was +still iron-bound and dark and forbidding, and the stream ran on in a +strong current, deep, black as ink, and resistless as fate; the sky +behind was lighted up by the volcanic glare which still shone from +afar; and in front the view was bounded by the icy heights of a +mountain chain. Here was, indeed, a strange country for a human +habitation; and strange, indeed, were the human beings whom we saw.</p> + +<p> +"Shall we land?" said Agnew.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said I. "Don't be hasty. The elements are sometimes kinder +than men, and I feel safer here, even in this river of death, than +ashore with such creatures as those."</p> + +<p> +Agnew made no reply. We watched the figures on the shore. We saw them +coming down, staring and gesticulating. We drew on nearer to them till +we were able to see them better. A nearer view did not improve them. +They were human beings, certainly, but of such an appalling aspect +that they could only be likened to animated mummies. They were small, +thin, shrivelled, black, with long matted hair and hideous faces. They +all had long spears, and wore about the waist short skirts that seemed +to be made of the skin of some sea-fowl.</p> + +<p> +We could not imagine how these creatures lived, or where. There were +no signs of vegetation of any kind--not a tree or a shrub. There were +no animals; but there were great flocks of birds, some of which seemed +different from anything that we had ever seen before. The long spears +which the natives carried might possibly be used for catching these, +or for fishing purposes. This thought made them seem less formidable, +since they would thus be instruments of food rather than weapons of +war. Meanwhile we drifted on as before, and the natives watched us, +running along the shore abreast of us, so as to keep up with the boat. +There seemed over a hundred of them. We could see no signs of any +habitations--no huts, however humble; but we concluded that their +abodes were farther inland. As for the natives themselves, the longer +we looked at them the more abhorrent they grew. Even the wretched +aborigines of Van Dieman's Land, who have been classed lowest in the +scale of humanity, were pleasing and congenial when compared with +these, and the land looked worse than Tierra del Fuego. It looked like +a land of iron, and its inhabitants like fiends.</p> + +<p> +Agnew again proposed to land, but I refused.</p> + +<p> +"No," I said; "I'd rather starve for a week, and live on hope. Let us +drift on. If we go on we may have hope if we choose, but if we land +here we shall lose even that. Can we hope for anything from such +things as these? Even if they prove friendly, can we live among them? +To stay here is worse than death; our only hope is to go on."</p> + +<p> +Agnew made no reply, and we drifted on for two hours, still followed +by the natives. They made no hostile demonstrations. They merely +watched us, apparently from motives of curiosity. All this time we +were drawing steadily nearer to the line of lofty mountains, which +with their icy crests rose before us like an inaccessible and +impassable barrier, apparently closing up all farther progress; nor +was there any indication of any pass or any opening, however narrow, +through which the great stream might run. Nothing was there but one +unbroken wall of iron cliffs and icy summits. At last we saw that the +sloping shores grew steeper, until, about a mile or two before us, +they changed to towering cliffs that rose up on each side for about a +thousand feet above the water; here the stream ran, and became lost to +view as completely as though swallowed up by the earth.</p> + +<p> +"We can go no farther," said Agnew. "See--this stream seems to make a +plunge there into the mountains. There must be some deep cañon there +with cataracts. To go on is certain death. We must stop here, if only +to deliberate. Say, shall we risk it among these natives? After all, +there is not, perhaps, any danger among them. They are little +creatures and seem harmless. They are certainly not very good-looking; +but then, you know, appearances often deceive, and the devil's not so +black as he's painted. What do you say?"</p> + +<p> +"I suppose we can do nothing else," said I.</p> + +<p> +In fact, I could see that we had reached a crisis in our fate. To go +on seemed certain death. To stop was our only alternative; and as we +were armed we should not be altogether at the mercy of these +creatures. Having made this decision we acted upon it at once, for in +such a current there was no time for delay; and so, seizing the oars, +we soon brought the boat ashore.</p> + +<p> +As we approached, the crowd of natives stood awaiting us, and looked +more repulsive than ever. We could see the emaciation of their bony +frames; their toes and fingers were like birds' claws; their eyes were +small and dull and weak, and sunken in cavernous hollows, from which +they looked at us like corpses--a horrible sight. They stood quietly, +however, and without any hostile demonstration, holding their spears +carelessly resting upon the ground.</p> + +<p> +"I don't like the looks of them," said I. "I think I had better fire a +gun."</p> + +<p> +"Why?" cried Agnew. "For Heaven's sake, man, don't hurt any of them!"</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said I; "I only mean to inspire a little wholesome respect."</p> + +<p> +Saying this I fired in the air. The report rang out with long echoes, +and as the smoke swept away it showed us all the natives on the +ground. They had seated themselves with their hands crossed on their +laps, and there they sat looking at us as before, but with no +manifestation of fear or even surprise. I had expected to see them +run, but there was nothing of the kind. This puzzled us. Still, there +was no time now for any further hesitation. The current was sweeping +us toward the chasm between the cliffs, and we had to land without +delay. This we did, and as I had another barrel still loaded and a +pistol, I felt that with these arms and those of Agnew we should be +able to defend ourselves. It was in this state of mind that we landed, +and secured the boat by means of the grappling-iron.</p> + +<p> +The natives now all crowded around us, making many strange gestures, +which we did not understand. Some of them bowed low, others prostrated +themselves; on the whole these seemed like marks of respect, and it +occurred to me that they regarded us as superior beings of some sort. +It was evident that there was nothing like hostility in their minds. +At the same time, the closer survey which I now made of them filled me +with renewed horror; their meagre frames, small, watery, lack-lustre +eyes, hollow, cavernous sockets, sunken cheeks, protruding teeth, +claw-like fingers, and withered skins, all made them look more than +ever like animated mummies, and I shrank from them involuntarily, as +one shrinks from contact with a corpse.</p> + +<p> +Agnew, however, was very different, and it was evident that he felt no +repugnance whatever. He bowed and smiled at them, and shook hands with +half a dozen of them in succession. The hand-shaking was a new thing +to them, but they accepted it in a proper spirit, and renewed their +bows and prostrations. After this they all offered us their lances. +This certainly seemed like an act of peace and good-will. I shook my +head and declined to touch them; but Agnew accepted one of them, and +offered his rifle in return. The one to whom he offered it refused to +take it. He seemed immensely gratified because Agnew had taken his +lance, and the others seemed disappointed at his refusal to take +theirs. But I felt my heart quake as I saw him offer his rifle, and +still more when he offered it to one or two others, and only regained +my composure as I perceived that his offer was refused by all.</p> + +<p> +They now made motions to us to follow, and we all set forth together.</p> + +<p> +"My dear More," said Agnew, cheerily, "they're not a bad lot. They +mean well. They can't help their looks. You're too suspicious and +reserved. Let's make friends with them, and get them to help us. Do as +I do."</p> + +<p> +I tried to, but found it impossible, for my repugnance was immovable. +It was like the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, +earwigs, or serpents. It was something that defied reason. These +creatures seemed like human vermin.</p> + +<p> +We marched inland for about half a mile, crossed a ridge, and came to +a valley, or rather a kind of hollow, at the other side of which we +found a cave with a smouldering fire in front. The fire was made of +coal, which must exist here somewhere. It was highly bituminous, and +burned with a great blaze.</p> + +<p> +The day was now drawing to a close; far away I could see the lurid +glow of the volcanoes, which grew brighter as the day declined: above, +the skies twinkled with innumerable stars, and the air was filled with +the moan of rushing waters.</p> + +<p> +We entered the cave. As we did so the natives heaped coal upon the +fire, and the flames arose, lighting up the interior. We found here a +number of women and children, who looked at us without either fear or +curiosity. The children looked like little dwarfs; the women were +hags, hideous beyond description. One old woman in particular, who +seemed to be in authority, was actually terrible in her awful and +repulsive ugliness. A nightmare dream never furnished forth a more +frightful object. This nightmare hag prostrated herself before each of +us with such an air of self-immolation that she looked as though she +wished us to kill her at once. The rough cave, the red light of the +fire, all made the scene more awful; and a wild thought came to me +that we had actually reached, while yet living, the infernal world, +and that this was the abode of devils. Yet their actions, it must be +confessed, were far from devilish. Everyone seemed eager to serve us. +Some spread out couches formed of the skins of birds for us to sit on; +others attended to the fire; others offered us gifts of large and +beautiful feathers, together with numerous trinkets of rare and +curious workmanship. This kind attention on their part was a great +puzzle to me, and I could not help suspecting that beneath all this +there must be some sinister design. Resolving to be prepared for the +worst, I quietly reloaded the empty barrel of my rifle and watched +with the utmost vigilance. As for Agnew, he took it all in the most +unsuspicious manner. He made signs to them, shook hands with them, +accepted their gifts, and even tried to do the agreeable to the +formidable hags and the child-fiends around him. He soon attracted the +chief attention, and while all looked admiringly upon him, I was left +to languish in comparative neglect.</p> + +<p> +At length a savory odor came through the cave, and a repast was spread +before us. It consisted of some large fowl that looked like a goose, +but was twice as large as the largest turkey that I had ever seen. The +taste was like that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it +seemed delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready +to welcome any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was, +would not have been unwelcome to any hungry man. It was evident that +these people lived on the flesh of birds of various sorts. All around +us we saw the skins of birds dried with the feathers on, and used for +clothing, for mats, and for ornaments.</p> + +<p> +The repast being finished, we both felt greatly strengthened and +refreshed. Agnew continued to cultivate his new acquaintances, and +seeing me holding back, he said,</p> + +<p> +"More, old fellow, these good people give me to understand that there +is another place better than this, and want me to go with them. Will +you go?"</p> + +<p> +At this a great fear seized me.</p> + +<p> +"Don't go!" I cried--"don't go! We are close by the boat here, and if +anything happens we can easily get to it."</p> + +<p> +Agnew laughed in my face.</p> + +<p> +"Why, you don't mean to tell me," said he, "that you are still +suspicious, and after that dinner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm +us, would they feast us in this style? Nonsense, man! Drop your +suspicions and come along."</p> + +<p> +I shook my head obstinately.</p> + +<p> +"Well," said he, "if I thought there was anything in your suspicions I +would stay by you; but I'm confident they mean nothing but kindness, +so I'm going off to see the place."</p> + +<p> +"You'll be back again?" said I.</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said he, "of course I'll come back, and sleep here."</p> + +<p> +With these words he left, and nearly all the people accompanied him. I +was left behind with the women and children and about a dozen men. +These men busied themselves with some work over bird-skins; the women +were occupied with some other work over feathers. No one took any +notice of me. There did not seem to be any restraint upon me, nor was +I watched in any way. Once the nightmare hag came and offered me a +small roasted fowl, about the size of a woodcock. I declined it, but +at the same time this delicate attention certainly surprised me.</p> + +<p> +I was now beginning to struggle with some success against my feelings +of abhorrence, when suddenly I caught sight of something which chased +away every other thought, and made my blood turn cold in my veins. It +was something outside. At the mouth of the cave--by the fire which was +still blazing bright, and lighting up the scene--I saw four men who +had just come to the cave: they were carrying something which I at +first supposed to be a sick or wounded companion. On reaching the fire +they put it down, and I saw, with a thrill of dismay, that their +burden was neither sick nor wounded, but dead, for the corpse lay +rigid as they had placed it. Then I saw the nightmare hag approach it +with a knife. An awful thought came to me--the crowning horror! The +thought soon proved to be but too well founded. The nightmare hag +began to cut, and in an instant had detached the arm of the corpse, +which she thrust among the coals in the very place where lately she +had cooked the fowl. Then she went back for more.</p> + +<p> +For a moment my brain reeled, and I gasped for breath. Then I rose and +staggered out, I know not how. No one tried to stop me, nor did anyone +follow me; and, for my part, I was ready to blow out the brains of the +first who dared to approach me. In this way I reached the open air, +and passed by the hag and the four men as they were busy at their +awful work. But at this point I was observed and followed. A number of +men and women came after me, jabbering their uncouth language and +gesticulating. I warned them off, angrily. They persisted, and though +none of them were armed, yet I saw that they were unwilling to have me +leave the cave, and I supposed that they would try to prevent me by +force.</p> + +<p> +The absence of Agnew made my position a difficult one. Had it not been +for this I would have burst through them and fled to the boat; but as +long as he was away I felt bound to wait; and though I longed to fly, +I could not for his sake. The boat seemed to be a haven of rest. I +longed to be in her once more, and drift away, even if it should be to +my death. Nature was here less terrible than man; and it seemed better +to drown in the waters, to perish amid rocks and whirlpools, than to +linger here amid such horrors as these. These people were not like +human beings. The vilest and lowest savages that I had ever seen were +not so odious as these. A herd of monkeys would be far more congenial, +a flock of wolves less abhorrent. They had the caricature of the human +form; they were the lowest of humanity; their speech was a mockery of +language; their faces devilish, their kindness a cunning pretence; and +most hideous of all was the nightmare hag that prepared the cannibal +repast.</p> + +<p> +I could not begin hostilities, for I had to wait for Agnew; so I stood +and looked, and then walked away for a little distance. They followed +me closely, with eager words and gesticulations, though as yet no one +touched me or threatened me. Their tone seemed rather one of +persuasion. After a few paces I stood still, with all of them around +me. The horrible repast showed plainly all that was in store for us. +They received us kindly and fed us well only to devote us to the most +abhorrent of deaths. Agnew, in his mad confidence, was only insuring +his own doom. He was putting himself completely in the power of +devils, who were incapable of pity and strangers to humanity. To make +friends with such fiends was impossible, and I felt sure that our only +plan was to rule by terror--to seize, to slay, to conquer. But still I +had to wait for him, and did not dare to resort to violence while he +was absent; so I waited, while the savages gathered round me, +contenting themselves with guarding me, and neither touching me nor +threatening me. And all this time the hag went on, intent on her +preparation of the horrible repast.</p> + +<p> +While standing there looking, listening, waiting for Agnew, I noticed +many things. Far away the volcanoes blazed, and the northern sky was +red with a lurid light. There, too, higher up, the moon was shining +overhead, the sky was gleaming with stars; and all over the heavens +there shone the lustre of the aurora australis, brighter than any I +had ever seen--surpassing the moon and illuminating all. It lighted up +the haggard faces of the devils around me, and it again seemed to me +as though I had died and gone to the land of woe--an iron land, a land +of despair, with lurid fires all aglow and faces of fear.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, there burst upon my ears the report of a gun, which sounded +like a thunder-peal, and echoed in long reverberations. At once I +understood it. My fears had proved true. These savages had enticed +Agnew away to destroy him. In an instant I burst through the crowd +around me, and ran wildly in the direction of that sound, calling his +name, as I ran, at the top of my voice.</p> + +<p> +I heard a loud cry; then another report. I hurried on, shouting his +name in a kind of frenzy. The strange courage of these savages had +already impressed me deeply. They did not fear our guns. They were all +attacking him, and he was alone, fighting for his life.</p> + +<p> +Then there was another report; it was his pistol. I still ran on, and +still shouted to him.</p> + +<p> +At last I received an answer. He had perhaps heard me, and was +answering, or, at any rate, he was warning me.</p> + +<p> +"More," he cried, "fly, fly, fly to the boat! Save yourself!"</p> + +<p> +"Where are you?" I cried, as I still rushed on.</p> + +<p> +"Fly, More, fly! Save yourself! You can't save me. I'm lost. Fly for +your life!"</p> + +<p> +Judging from his cries, he did not seem far away. I hurried on. I +could see nothing of him. All the time the savages followed me. None +were armed; but it seemed to me that they were preparing to fling +themselves upon me and overpower me with their numbers. They would +capture me alive, I thought, bind me, and carry me back, reserving me +for a future time!</p> + +<p> +I turned and waved them back. They took no notice of my gesture. Then +I ran on once more. They followed. They could not run so fast as I +did, and so I gained on them rapidly, still shouting to Agnew. But +there was no response. I ran backward and forward, crossing and +recrossing, doubling and turning, pursued all the time by the savages. +At last, in rage and despair, I fired upon them, and one of them fell. +But, to my dismay, the others did not seem to care one whit; they did +not stop for one moment, but pursued as before.</p> + +<p> +My situation was now plain in all its truth. They had enticed Agnew +away; they had attacked him. He had fought, and had been overpowered. +He had tried to give me warning. His last words had been for me to +fly--to fly: yes, for he well knew that it was better far for me to go +to death through the raging torrent than to meet the fate which had +fallen upon himself. For him there was now no more hope. That he was +lost was plain. If he were still alive he would call to me; but his +voice had been silenced for some time. All was over, and that noble +heart that had withstood so bravely and cheerily the rigors of the +storm, and the horrors of our desperate voyage, had been stilled in +death by the vilest of miscreants.</p> + +<p> +I paused for a moment. Even though Agnew was dead, I could not bear to +leave him, but felt as though I ought to share his fate. The savages +came nearer. At their approach I hesitated no longer. That fate was +too terrible: I must fly.</p> + +<p> +But before I fled I turned in fury to wreak vengeance upon them for +their crimes. Full of rage and despair, I discharged my remaining +rifle-barrel into the midst of the crowd. Then I fled toward the boat. +On the way I had a frightful thought that she might have been sent +adrift; but, on approaching the place, I found her there just as I had +left her. The savages, with their usual fearlessness, still pursued. +For a moment I stood on the shore, with the grapple in my hand and the +boat close by, and as they came near I discharged my pistol into the +midst of them. Then I sprang into the boat; the swift current bore me +away, and in a few minutes the crowd of pursuing demons disappeared +from view.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER V</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE TORRENT SWEEPING UNDER THE MOUNTAINS</h4> + + +<p> +The boat drifted on. The light given by the aurora and the low moon +seemed to grow fainter; and as I looked behind I saw that the distant +glow from the volcanic fires had become more brilliant in the +increasing darkness. The sides of the channel grew steeper, until at +last they became rocky precipices, rising to an unknown height. The +channel itself grew narrower, till from a width of two miles it had +contracted to a tenth of those dimensions; but with this lessening +width the waters seemed to rush far more swiftly. Here I drifted +helplessly, and saw the gloomy, rocky cliffs sweep past me as I was +hurled onward on the breast of the tremendous flood. I was in despair. +The fate of Agnew had prepared me for my own, and I was only thankful +that my fate, since it was inevitable, would be less appalling. Death +seemed certain, and my chief thought now was as to the moment when it +would come. I was prepared. I felt that I could meet it calmly, +sternly, even thankfully; far better was a death here amid the roar of +waters than at the hands of those abhorrent beings by whose treachery +my friend had fallen.</p> + +<p> +As I went on, the precipices rose higher and seemed to overhang, the +channel grew narrower, the light grew fainter, until at last all +around me grew dark. I was floating at the bottom of a vast chasm, +where the sides seemed to rise precipitously for thousands of feet, +where neither watery flood nor rocky wall was visible, and where, far +above, I could see the line of sky between the summits of the cliffs, +and watch the glowing stars. And as I watched them there came to me +the thought that this was my last sight on earth, and I could only +hope that the life which was so swiftly approaching its end might live +again somewhere among those glittering orbs. So I thought; and with +these thoughts I drifted on, I cannot tell how long, until at length +there appeared a vast black mass, where the open sky above me +terminated, and where the lustre of the stars and the light of the +heavens were all swallowed up in utter darkness.</p> + +<p> +This, then, I thought, is the end. Here, amid this darkness, I must +make the awful plunge and find my death I fell upon my knees in the +bottom of the boat and prayed. As I knelt there the boat drew nearer, +the black mass grew blacker. The current swept me on. There were no +breakers; there was no phosphorescent sparkle of seething waters, and +no whiteness of foam. I thought that I was on the brink of some +tremendous cataract a thousand times deeper than Niagara; some fall +where the waters plunged into the depths of the earth; and where, +gathering for the terrific descent, all other movements--all dashings +and writhings and twistings--were obliterated and lost in the one +overwhelming onward rush. Suddenly all grew dark--dark beyond all +expression; the sky above was in a moment snatched from view; I had +been flung into some tremendous cavern; and there, on my knees, with +terror in my heart, I waited for death.</p> + +<p> +The moments passed, and death delayed to come. The awful plunge was +still put off; and though I remained on my knees and waited long, +still the end came not. The waters seemed still, the boat motionless. +It was borne upon the surface of a vast stream as smooth as glass; but +who could tell how deep that stream was, or how wide? At length I rose +from my knees and sank down upon the seat of the boat, and tried to +peer through the gloom. In vain. Nothing was visible. It was the very +blackness of darkness. I listened, but heard nothing save a deep, +dull, droning sound, which seemed to fill all the air and make it +all tremulous with its vibrations. I tried to collect my thoughts. I +recalled that old theory which had been in my mind before this, and +which I had mentioned to Agnew. This was the notion that at each pole +there is a vast opening; that into one of them all the waters of the +ocean pour themselves, and, after passing through the earth, come out +at the other pole, to pass about its surface in innumerable streams. +It was a wild fancy, which I had laughed at under other circumstances, +but which now occurred to me once more, when I was overwhelmed +with despair, and my mind was weakened by the horrors which I had +experienced; and I had a vague fear that I had been drawn into the +very channel through which the ocean waters flowed in their course to +that terrific, that unparalleled abyss. Still, there was as yet no +sign whatever of anything like a descent, for the boat was on even +keel, and perfectly level as before, and it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was moving swiftly or slowly, or standing perfectly +still; for in that darkness there were no visible objects by which +I could find out the rate of my progress; and as those who go up in +balloons are utterly insensible of motion, so was I on those calm +but swift waters.</p> + +<p> +At length there came into view something which arrested my attention +and engrossed all my thoughts. It was faint glow that at first caught +my gaze; and, on turning to see it better, I saw a round red spot +glowing like fire. I had not seen this before. It looked like the moon +when it rises from behind clouds, and glows red and lurid from the +horizon; and so this glowed, but not with the steady light of the +moon, for the light was fitful, and sometimes flashed into a baleful +brightness, which soon subsided into a dimmer lustre. New alarm arose +within me, for this new sight suggested something more terrible than +anything that I had thus far thought of. This, then, I thought, was to +be the end of my voyage; this was my goal--a pit of fire, into which I +should be hurled! Would it be well, I thought, to wait for such a +fate, and experience such a death-agony? Would it not be better for me +to take my own life before I should know the worst? I took my pistol +and loaded it, so as to be prepared, but hesitated to use it until my +fate should be more apparent. So I sat, holding my pistol, prepared to +use it, watching the light, and awaiting the time when the glowing +fires should make all further hope impossible. But time passed, and +the light grew no brighter; on the contrary, it seemed to grow +fainter. There was also another change. Instead of shining before me, +it appeared more on my left. From this it went on changing its +position until at length it was astern. All the time it continued to +grow fainter, and it seemed certain that I was moving away from it +rather than toward it. In the midst of this there occurred a new +thought, which seemed to account for this light--this was, that it +arose from these same volcanoes which had illuminated the northern sky +when I was ashore, and followed me still with their glare. I had been +carried into this darkness, through some vast opening which now lay +behind me, disclosing the red volcano glow, and this it was that +caused that roundness and resemblance to the moon. I saw that I was +still moving on away from that light as before, and that its changing +position was due to the turning of the boat as the water drifted it +along, now stern foremost, now sidewise, and again bow foremost. From +this it seemed plainly evident that the waters had borne me into some +vast cavern of unknown extent, which went under the mountains--a +subterranean channel, whose issue I could not conjecture. Was this the +beginning of that course which should ultimately become a plunge deep +down into some unutterable abyss? or might I ever hope to emerge again +into the light of day--perhaps in some other ocean--some land of ice +and frost and eternal night? But the old theory of the flow of water +through the earth had taken hold of me and could not be shaken off. I +knew some scientific men held the opinion that the earth's interior is +a mass of molten rock and pent-up fire, and that the earth itself had +once been a burning orb, which had cooled down at the surface; yet, +after all, this was only a theory, and there were other theories which +were totally different. As a boy I had read wild works of fiction +about lands in the interior of the earth, with a sun at the centre, +which gave them the light of a perpetual day. These, I knew, were only +the creations of fiction; yet, after all, it seemed possible that the +earth might contain vast hollow spaces in its interior--realms of +eternal darkness, caverns in comparison with which the hugest caves on +the surface were but the tiniest cells. I was now being borne on to +these. In that case there might be no sudden plunge, after all. The +stream might run on for many thousand miles through this terrific +cavern gloom, in accordance with natural laws; and I might thus live, +and drift on in this darkness, until I should die a lingering death of +horror and despair.</p> + +<p> +There was no possible way of forming any estimate as to speed. All was +dark, and even the glow behind was fading away; nor could I make any +conjecture whatever as to the size of the channel. At the opening it +had been contracted and narrow; but here it might have expanded itself +to miles, and its vaulted top might reach almost to the summit of +the lofty mountains. While sight thus failed me, sound was equally +unavailing, for it was always the same--a sustained and unintermittent +roar, a low, droning sound, deep and terrible, with no variations +of dashing breakers or rushing rapids or falling cataracts. Vague +thoughts of final escape came and went; but in such a situation hope +could not be sustained. The thick darkness oppressed the soul; and +at length even the glow of the distant volcanoes, which had been +gradually diminishing, grew dimmer and fainter, and finally faded out +altogether. That seemed to me to be my last sight of earthly things. +After this nothing was left. There was no longer for me such a thing +as sight; there was nothing but darkness--perpetual and eternal night. +I was buried in a cavern of rushing waters, to which there would be no +end, where I should be borne onward helplessly by the resistless tide +to a mysterious and an appalling doom.</p> + +<p> +The darkness grew so intolerable that I longed for something to dispel +it, if only for a moment. I struck a match. The air was still, and the +flame flashed out, lighting up the boat and showing the black water +around me. This made me eager to see more. I loaded both barrels of +the rifle, keeping my pistol for another purpose, and then fired one +of them. There was a tremendous report, that rang in my ears like a +hundred thunder-volleys, and rolled and reverberated far along, and +died away in endless echoes. The flash lighted up the scene for an +instant, and for an instant only; like the sudden lightning, it +revealed all around. I saw a wide expanse of water, black as ink--a +Stygian pool; but no rocks were visible, and it seemed as though I +had been carried into a subterranean sea.</p> + +<p> +I loaded the empty barrel and waited. The flash of light had revealed +nothing, yet it had distracted my thoughts, and the work of reloading +was an additional distraction. Anything was better than inaction. I +did not wish to waste my ammunition, yet I thought that an occasional +shot might serve some good purpose, if it was only to afford me some +relief from despair.</p> + +<p> +And now, as I sat with the rifle in my hands, I was aware of a +sound--new, exciting, different altogether from the murmur of +innumerable waters that filled my ears, and in sharp contrast with +the droning echoes of the rushing flood. It was a sound that spoke of +life. I heard quick, heavy pantings, as of some great living thing; +and with this there came the noise of regular movements in the water, +and the foaming and gurgling of waves. It was as though some living, +breathing creature were here, not far away, moving through these +midnight waters; and with this discovery there came a new fear--the +fear of pursuit. I thought that some sea-monster had scented me in +my boat, and had started to attack me. This new fear aroused me to +action. It was a danger quite unlike any other which I had ever known; +yet the fear which it inspired was a feeling that roused me to action, +and prompted me, even though the coming danger might be as sure as +death, to rise against it and resist to the last. So I stood up with +my rifle and listened, with all my soul in my sense of hearing. The +sounds arose more plainly. They had come nearer. They were immediately +in front. I raised my rifle and took aim. Then in quick succession two +reports thundered out with tremendous uproar and interminable echoes, +but the long reverberations were unheeded in the blaze of sudden light +and the vision that was revealed. For there full before me I saw, +though but for an instant, a tremendous sight. It was a vast monster, +moving in the waters against the stream and toward the boat. Its head +was raised high, its eyes were inflamed with a baleful light, its +jaws, opened wide, bristled with sharp teeth, and it had a long neck +joined to a body of enormous bulk, with a tail that lashed all the +water into foam. It was but for an instant that I saw it, and then +with a sudden plunge the monster dived, while at the same moment all +was as dark as before.</p> + +<p> +Full of terror and excitement, I loaded my rifle again and waited, +listening for a renewal of the noise. I felt sure that the monster, +balked of his prey, would return with redoubled fury, and that I +should have to renew the conflict. I felt that the dangers of the +subterranean passage and of the rushing waters had passed away, and +that a new peril had arisen from the assault of this monster of the +deep. Nor was it this one alone that was to be dreaded. Where one was, +others were sure to be; and if this one should pass me by it would +only leave me to be assailed by monsters of the same kind, and these +would probably increase in number as I advanced farther into this +realm of darkness. And yet, in spite of these grisly thoughts, I +felt less of horror than before, for the fear which I had was now +associated with action; and as I stood waiting for the onset and +listening for the approach of the enemy, the excitement that ensued +was a positive relief from the dull despair into which I had sunk but +a moment before.</p> + +<p> +Yet, though I waited for a new attack, I waited in vain. The monster +did not come back. Either the flash and the noise had terrified him, +or the bullets had hit him, or else in his vastness he had been +indifferent to so feeble a creature as myself; but whatever may have +been the cause, he did not emerge again out of the darkness and +silence into which he had sunk. For a long time I stood waiting; then +I sat down, still watchful, still listening, but without any result, +until at length I began to think that there was no chance of any new +attack. Indeed, it seemed now as though there had been no attack at +all, but that the monster had been swimming at random without any +thought of me, in which case my rifle-flashes had terrified him more +than his fearful form had terrified me. On the whole this incident +had greatly benefited me. It had roused me from my despair. I grew +reckless, and felt a disposition to acquiesce in whatever fate might +have in store for me.</p> + +<p> +And now, worn out with fatigue and exhausted from long watchfulness +and anxiety, I sank down in the bottom of the boat and fell into a +deep sleep.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER VI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE NEW WORLD</h4> + + +<p> +How long I slept I do not know. My sleep was profound, yet disturbed +by troubled dreams, in which I lived over again all the eventful +scenes of the past; and these were all intermingled in the wildest +confusion. The cannibals beckoned to us from the peak, and we landed +between the two volcanoes. There the body of the dead sailor received +us, and afterward chased us to the boat. Then came snow and volcanic +eruptions, and we drifted amid icebergs and molten lava until we +entered an iron portal and plunged into darkness. Here there were vast +swimming monsters and burning orbs of fire and thunderous cataracts +falling from inconceivable heights, and the sweep of immeasurable +tides and the circling of infinite whirlpools; while in my ears there +rang the never-ending roar of remorseless waters that came after us, +with all their waves and billows rolling upon us. It was a dream in +which all the material terrors of the past were renewed; but these +were all as nothing when compared with a certain deep underlying +feeling that possessed my soul--a sense of loss irretrievable, an +expectation of impending doom, a drear and immitigable despair.</p> + +<p> +In the midst of this I awoke. It was with a sudden start, and I looked +all around in speechless bewilderment. The first thing of which I +was conscious was a great blaze of light--light so lately lost, and +supposed to be lost forever, but now filling all the universe--bright, +brilliant, glowing bringing hope and joy and gladness, with all the +splendor of deep blue skies and the multitudinous laughter of ocean +waves that danced and sparkled in the sun. I flung up my arms and +laughed aloud. Then I burst into tears, and falling on my knees, +I thanked the Almighty Ruler of the skies for this marvellous +deliverance.</p> + +<p> +Rising from my knees I looked around, and once more amazement +overwhelmed me. I saw a long line of mountains towering up to +immeasurable heights, their summits covered with eternal ice and +snow. There the sun blazed low in the sky, elevated but a few degrees +above the mountain crests, which gleamed in gold and purple under its +fiery rays. The sun seemed enlarged to unusual dimensions, and the +mountains ran away on every side like the segment of some infinite +circle. At the base of the mountains lay a land all green with +vegetation, where cultivated fields were visible, and vineyards and +orchards and groves, together with forests of palm and all manner +of trees of every variety of hue, which ran up the sides of the +mountains till they reached the limits of vegetation and the regions +of snow and ice.</p> + +<p> +Here in all directions there were unmistakable signs of human +life--the outlines of populous cities and busy towns and hamlets; +roads winding far away along the plain or up the mountain-sides, and +mighty works of industry in the shape of massive structures, terraced +slopes, long rows of arches, ponderous pyramids, and battlemented +walls.</p> + +<p> +From the land I turned to the sea. I saw before me an expanse of water +intensely blue--an extent so vast that never before in all my ocean +voyages had anything appeared at all comparable with it. Out at sea, +wherever I had been, the water had always limited the view; the +horizon had never seemed far away; ships soon sank below it, and the +visible surface of the earth was thus always contracted; but here, to +my bewilderment, the horizon appeared to be removed to an immeasurable +distance and raised high in the air, while the waters were prolonged +endlessly. Starting from where I was, they went away to inconceivable +distances, and the view before me seemed like a watery declivity +reaching for a thousand miles, till it approached the horizon far up +in the sky. Nor was it any delusion of the senses that caused this +unparalleled spectacle. I was familiar with the phenomena of the +mirage, and knew well that there was nothing of that kind here; for +the mirage always shows great surfaces of stillness, or a regular +vibration--glassy tides and indistinct distances; but here everything +was sharply defined in the clear atmosphere: the sky overhung a deep +blue vault; the waves danced and sparkled in the sun; the waters +rolled and foamed on every side; and the fresh breeze, as it blew over +the ocean, brought with it such exhilarating influences that it acted +upon me like some reviving cordial.</p> + +<p> +From the works of nature I turned to those of man. These were visible +everywhere: on the land, in cities and cultivated fields and mighty +constructions; on the sea, in floating craft, which appeared wherever +I turned my eyes--boats like those of fishermen, ships long and low, +some like galleys, propelled by a hundred oars, others provided with +one huge square-sail, which enabled them to run before the wind. +They were unlike any ships which I had ever seen; for neither in the +Mediterranean nor in Chinese waters were there any craft like these, +and they reminded me rather of those ancient galleys which I had seen +in pictures.</p> + +<p> +I was lost in wonder as to where I was, and what land this could be to +which I had been brought. I had not plunged into the interior of the +earth, but I had been carried under the mountains, and had emerged +again into the glad light of the sun. Could it be possible, I thought, +that Agnew's hope had been realized, and that I had been carried into +the warm regions of the South Pacific Ocean? Yet in the South Pacific +there could be no place like this--no immeasurable expanse of waters, +no horizon raised mountain high. It seemed like a vast basin-shaped +world, for all around me the surface appeared to rise, and I was in +what looked like a depression; yet I knew that the basin and the +depression were an illusion, and that this appearance was due to +the immense extent of level surface with the environment of lofty +mountains. I had crossed the antarctic circle; I had been borne onward +for an immense distance. Over all the known surface of the earth no +one had ever seen anything like this; there were but two places +where such an immeasurable plain was possible, and those were at +the flattened poles. Where I was I now knew well. I had reached the +antarctic pole. Here the earth was flat--an immense level with no +roundness to lessen the reach of the horizon but an almost even +surface that gave an unimpeded view for hundreds of miles.</p> + +<p> +The subterranean channel had rushed through the mountains and had +carried me here. Here came all the waters of the Northern ocean +pouring into this vast polar sea, perhaps to issue forth from it by +some similar passage. Here, then, was the South Pole--a world by +itself: and how different from that terrible, that iron land on the +other side of the mountains!--not a world of ice and frost, but one +of beauty and light, with a climate that was almost tropical in its +warmth, and lands that were covered with the rank luxuriance of a +teeming vegetable life. I had passed from that outer world to this +inner one, and the passage was from death unto life, from agony and +despair to sunlight and splendor and joy. Above all, in all around me +that which most impressed me now was the rich and superabundant life, +and a warmth of air which made me think of India. It was an amazing +and an unaccountable thing, and I could only attribute it to the +flattening of the poles, which brought the surface nearer to the +supposed central fires of the earth, and therefore created a heat +as great as that of the equatorial regions. Here I found a tropical +climate--a land warmed not by the sun, but from the earth itself. Or +another cause might be found in the warm ocean currents. Whatever the +true one might be, I was utterly unable to form a conjecture.</p> + +<p> +But I had no time for such speculations as these. After the first +emotions of wonder and admiration had somewhat subsided, I began to +experience other sensations. I began to remember that I had eaten +nothing for a length of time that I had no means of calculating, and +to look around to see if there was any way of satisfying my hunger. +The question arose now, What was to be done? After my recent terrible +experience I naturally shrank from again committing myself to the +tender mercies of strange tribes; yet further thought and examination +showed me that the people of this strange land must be very different +from those frightful savages on the other side of the mountains. +Everywhere I beheld the manifest signs of cultivation and +civilization. Still, I knew that even civilized people would not +necessarily be any kinder than savages, and that I might be seized +and flung into hopeless imprisonment or slavery.</p> + +<p> +So I hesitated, yet what could I do? My hunger was beginning to be +insupportable. I had reached a place where I had to choose between +starvation on the one hand, or a venture among these people on the +other. To go back was impossible. Who could breast those waters in the +tremendous subterranean channel, or force his way back through such +appalling dangers? Or, if that were possible, who could ever hope to +breast those mighty currents beyond, or work his way amid everlasting +ice and immeasurable seas? No; return was impossible. I had been +flung into this world of wonders, and here would be my home for the +remainder of my days; though I could not now imagine whether those +days would be passed in peace or in bitter slavery and sorrow. Yet the +decision must be made and the risk must be run. It must be so. I must +land here, venture among these people, and trust in that Providence +which had hitherto sustained me.</p> + +<p> +Having thus resolved at all hazards to try my fate, I rowed in toward +the shore. Thus far I had seen galleys passing and small boats, but +they had taken no notice of me, for the reason that they were too far +away to perceive anything about me that differed from any other boat; +but now, as I rowed, I noticed a galley coming down toward me. She +seemed to be going in toward the shore at the very point at which I +was aiming, and her course and mine must soon meet if I continued to +row. After some hesitation I concluded to make signals to her, so as +to attract attention; for, now that I had resolved to venture among +the people here, I was anxious to end my suspense as soon as possible. +So I continued rowing, and gradually drew nearer. The galley was +propelled by oars, of which there were fifty on either side. The stem +was raised, and covered in like a cabin. At length I ceased rowing, +and sat watching her. I soon saw that I was noticed, but this did +not occur till the galley was close by me--so close, indeed, that I +thought they would pass without perceiving me. I raised my hands, +waved them, and gave a cry. The galley at once stopped, a boat was +lowered, and some men descended and rowed toward me.</p> + +<p> +They were men of strange appearance--very small in stature and slender +in frame. Their hair was black and straight, their features were quite +regular, and their general expression was one of great gentleness. I +was surprised to notice that they kept their eyes almost closed, as +though they were weak and troubled by the glare of the sun. With their +half-closed eyes they blinked at me, and then one who appeared to be +their chief spoke to me. I understood not a word; and then I answered +him in English, which, of course, was equally unintelligible to him. +I then made signs, pointing to the mountains and endeavoring to make +known to him that I had come from beyond them--that I had suffered +shipwreck, that I had drifted here, and that I needed assistance. Of +all this it was quite evident that they understood nothing except the +fact that I needed help. The moment that they comprehended this they +took me in tow and rowed back to the galley.</p> + +<p> +I found the galley to be about one hundred and fifty feet in length. +For about two thirds of this length forward it was open and filled +with seats, where there were about a hundred rowers, who all looked +like those that I had first seen, all being of small stature, +slender frames, and, moreover, all being apparently distressed by +the sunlight. There was in all of them the same mild and gentle +expression. In complexion and general outline of features they were +not unlike Arabs, but they were entirely destitute of that hardness +and austerity which the latter have. They all had beards, which were +dressed in a peculiar way in plaits. Their costume varied. The rowers +wore a coarse tunic, with a girdle of rope. The officers wore tunics +of fine cloth and very elegant mantles, richly embroidered, and with +borders of down. They all wore broad-brimmed hats, and the one who +seemed to be chief had on his some golden ornaments.</p> + +<p> +Here once more I tried to explain to them who I was. They looked at +me, examining me all over, inspecting my gun, pistol, coat, trousers, +boots, and hat, and talking all the time among themselves. They did +not touch me, but merely showed the natural curiosity which is felt at +the sight of a foreigner who has appeared unexpectedly. There was a +scrupulous delicacy and a careful and even ceremonious politeness in +their attitude toward me which was at once amazing and delightful. All +fear and anxiety had now left me; in the gentle manners and amiable +faces of these people I saw enough to assure me of kind treatment; +and in my deep joy and gratitude for this even my hunger was for a +time forgotten.</p> + +<p> +At length the chief motioned to me to follow him. He led the way to +the cabin, where, opening the door, he entered, and I followed, after +which the others came in also and then the door was shut. At first I +could see nothing. There were no windows whatever, and only one or two +slight crevices through which the light came. After a time my eyes +grew more accustomed to the darkness, and I could see that the cabin +was a spacious compartment, adorned with rich hangings of some unknown +material. There was a large table and seats. Taking me by the hand, +the chief led me to this, where I seated myself, while the others +remained standing. Then some of them went away, and soon returned with +food and drink. The food was of different kinds--some tasting like +goose, others like turkey, others like partridge. It was all the flesh +of fowls, though, judging from the slices before me, they must have +been of great size. I wondered much at the behavior of the officers +of the ship, who all, and the chief himself more than all, stood and +waited upon me; but it was a new world, and I supposed that this must +be the fashion; so I made no objections, but accepted the situation +and ate with a thankful heart.</p> + +<p> +As the first keenness of my appetite was satisfied I had more leisure +to make observations. I noticed that the eyes of my new friends no +longer blinked; they were wide open; and, so far as I could make +them out, their faces were much improved. Weakness of eyes seemed +common among these people, and therefore the officers had their cabin +darkened, while the unfortunate rowers had to labor in the blazing +sun. Such was my conclusion, and the fact reminded me of the miserable +fellahin of Egypt, who have ophthalmia from the blazing sun and +burning sand.</p> + +<p> +After the repast they brought me water in a basin, and all stood +around me. One held the basin, another a towel, another a flask, +another took a sponge and proceeded to wash my face and hands. +This was all strange to me, yet there was nothing left for me but +submission. Then the chief, who had stood looking on with a smile on +his face took off his rich furred mantle and handed it to me. I was +half inclined to refuse it, but was afraid of giving offence, so I +accepted it, and he himself fastened it around my shoulders. The +others seemed actually to envy the chief, as though he had gained some +uncommon good-fortune. Then they offered me various drinks, of which +I tasted several kinds. Some were sweet waters of different flavors, +others tasted like mild wine, one was a fermented drink, light, sweet, +and very agreeable to the palate. I now wished to show my generous +entertainers that I was grateful; so I raised my cup, bowed to all +of them, particularly the chief, and drank their health. They all +watched this ceremony with very sober faces, and I could not quite +make out whether they took my meaning or not. They certainly did not +look pleased, and it seemed to me as though they felt hurt at any +expression of gratitude, so I concluded for the future to abstain +from all such demonstrations.</p> + +<p> +Yet with every moment the manners of these people grew more +bewildering. It was strange, indeed, for me to find myself so suddenly +the centre of interest and of generous intentions. For a moment the +thought occurred to me that they regarded me as some wonderful being +with superior powers, and were trying to propitiate me by these +services; yet I soon saw that these services were not at all acts +of propitiation; they looked rather like those loving and profuse +attentions which a family showers down upon some dear one long absent +and at last returned, and with this my wonder grew greater than ever.</p> + +<p> +The galley had long since resumed her progress. I heard the steady +beat of the oars as they all moved in time, and at length the motion +ceased. The chief then signed to me and went out. I followed, and the +rest came after. And now as I emerged from the gloom of the cabin, I +found myself once more in the glorious light of day, and saw that we +had reached the land. The galley was hauled up alongside a stone quay, +and on the shore there were buildings and walls and trees and people. +The chief went ashore at once and I accompanied him. We walked for +some distance along a road with stone walls on either side, from +behind which there arose trees that from a distance had looked like +palms. I now found them to be giant ferns, arching overhead with their +broad fanlike leaves and branches in dense masses, making the roadway +quite dark in the shadow. Astonished as I was at the sight of these +trees, I soon forgot them in a still more astonishing sight, for after +going onward about a hundred paces I stopped, and found myself in a +wide space where four cross-roads met. Here there were three birds of +gigantic stature. They had vast bodies, short legs, short necks, and +seemed as large as an ordinary-sized ox. Their wings were short, and +evidently could not be used for flight; their beaks were like that of +a sea-gull; each one had a man on his back, and was harnessed to a +car. The chief motioned to me to enter one of these cars. I did so. He +followed, and thereupon the driver started the bird, which set forth +with long, rapid strides, at a pace fast as that of a trotting horse. +So astonished was I that for some time I did not notice anything else; +but at length, when my first feeling had subsided, I began to regard +other objects. All the way the dense fern foliage arched overhead, +throwing down deep shadows. They grew on either side in dense rows, +but between their stalks I could see the country beyond, which lay +all bright in the sunlight.</p> + +<p> +Here were broad fields, all green with verdure; farther away arose +clumps of tree-ferns; at every step of the way new vistas opened; amid +the verdure and the foliage were the roofs of structures that looked +like pavilions, and more massive edifices with pyramidal roofs. Our +road constantly ascended, and at length we came to a crossing. This +was a wide terrace at the slope of the mountain; on the lower side was +a row of massive stone edifices with pyramidal roofs, while on the +upper there were portals which seemed to open into excavated caverns. +Here, too, on either side arose the giant ferns, overarching and +darkening the terrace with their deep shadow. From this point I looked +back, and through the trunks of the tree-ferns I could see fields +and pavilions and the pyramidal roofs of massive edifices, and +broad, verdant slopes, while in the distance there were peeps of the +boundless sea. We continued on our way without stopping, and passed +several successive terraces like the first, with the same caverns on +the upper side and massive edifices on the lower, until at last the +ascent ended at the fifth terrace, and here we turned to the left. +Now the view became more varied. The tree-ferns arose on either side, +arching overhead; on my right were the portals that opened into +caverns, on my left solid and massive houses, built of great blocks of +stone, with pyramidal roofs. As far as I could judge, I was in a city +built on the slope of a mountain, with its streets formed thus of +successive terraces and their connecting cross-ways, one half its +habitations consisting of caverns, while the other half were pavilions +and massive stone structures. Few people, however, were to be seen. +Occasionally I saw one or two groping along with their eyes half +shut, seeking the darkest shadows; and it seemed to me that this +extraordinary race of men had some natural and universal peculiarity +of eyesight which made them shun the sunlight, and seek the darkness +of caves and of dense, overshadowing foliage.</p> + +<p> +At length we came to a place where the terrace ran back till it formed +a semicircle against the mountain slope, when several vast portals +appeared. Here there was a large space, where the tree-ferns grew in +long lines crossing each other, and making a denser shade than usual. +On the lower side were several stone edifices of immense size; and +in the middle of the place there arose a singular structure, shaped +like a half pyramid, with three sides sloping, and the fourth +perpendicular, flat on the top, which was approached by a flight of +steps. We now went on until we reached the central portal of the range +of caverns, and here we stopped. The chief got out and beckoned to me. +I followed. He then led the way into the cavern, while I, full of +wonder, walked behind him.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER VII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCEPTICISM</h4> + + +<p> +Thus far Melick had been reading the manuscript, but at this point he +was interrupted by the announcement that dinner was ready. Upon this +he stopped abruptly; for on board the <i>Falcon</i> dinner was the great +event of the day, and in its presence even the manuscript had to be +laid aside. Before long they were all seated around the dining-table +in the sumptuous cabin, prepared to discuss the repast which had been +served up by the genius of the French <i>chef</i> whom Lord Featherstone +had brought with him.</p> + +<p> +Let us pause here for a moment to take a minuter survey of these four +friends. In the first place, there was Lord Featherstone himself, +young, handsome, languid, good-natured to a fault, with plenty of +muscle if he chose to exert it, and plenty of brain if he chose to +make use of it--a man who had become weary of the monotony of high +life, and, like many of his order, was fond of seeking relief from the +<i>ennui</i> of prosperity amid the excitements of the sea. Next to him was +Dr. Congreve, a middle-aged man, with iron-gray hair, short beard and +mustache, short nose, gray eyes, with spectacles, and stoutish body. +Next came Noel Oxenden, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, a college +friend of Featherstone's--a tall man, with a refined and intellectual +face and reserved manner. Finally, there was Otto Melick, a +<i>littérateur</i> from London, about thirty years of age, with a wiry and +muscular frame, and the restless manner of one who lives in a +perpetual fidget.</p> + +<p> +For some time nothing was said; they partook of the repast in silence; +but at length it became evident that they were thinking of the +mysterious manuscript. Featherstone was the first to speak.</p> + +<p> +"A deuced queer sort of thing this, too," said he, "this manuscript. +I can't quite make it out. Who ever dreamed of people living at the +South Pole--and in a warm climate, too? Then it seems deuced odd, too, +that we should pick up this copper cylinder with the manuscript. I +hardly know what to think about it."</p> + +<p> +Melick smiled. "Why, it isn't much to see through," said he.</p> + +<p> +"See through what?" said the doctor, hastily, pricking up his ears +at this, and peering keenly at Melick through his spectacles.</p> + +<p> +"Why, the manuscript, of course."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said the doctor, "what is it that you see? What do you make +out of it?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, anyone can see," said Melick, "that it's a transparent hoax, +that's all. You don't mean to say, I hope, that you really regard it +in any other light?"</p> + +<p> +"A transparent hoax!" repeated the doctor. "Will you please state why +you regard it in that light?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly," said Melick. "Some fellow wanted to get up a sensation +novel and introduce it to the world with a great flourish of trumpets, +and so he has taken this way of going about it. You see, he has +counted on its being picked up, and perhaps published. After this he +would come forward and own the authorship."</p> + +<p> +"And what good would that do?" asked the doctor, mildly. "He couldn't +prove the authorship, and he couldn't get the copyright."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, of course not; but he would gain notoriety, and that would give +him a great sale for his next effort."</p> + +<p> +The doctor smiled. "See here, Melick," said he, "you've a very vivid +imagination, my dear fellow; but come, let us discuss this for a +little while in a common-sense way. Now how long should you suppose +that this manuscript has been afloat?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, a few months or so," said Melick.</p> + +<p> +"A few months!" said the doctor. "A few years you mean. Why, man, +there are successive layers of barnacles on that copper cylinder which +show a submersion of at least three years, perhaps more."</p> + +<p> +"By Jove! yes," remarked Featherstone. "Your sensation novelist must +have been a lunatic if he chose that way of publishing a book."</p> + +<p> +"Then, again," continued the doctor, "how did it get here?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, easily enough," answered Melick. "The ocean currents brought it."</p> + +<p> +"The ocean currents!" repeated the doctor. "That's a very vague +expression. What do you mean? Of course it has been brought here by +the ocean currents."</p> + +<p> +"Why, if it were thrown off the coast of England it would be carried +away, in the ordinary course of things, and might make the tour of the +world."</p> + +<p> +"The ocean currents," said the doctor, "have undoubtedly brought this +to us. Of that I shall have more to say presently--but just now, in +reference to your notion of a sensation novelist, and an English +origin, let me ask your opinion of the material on which it is +written. Did you ever see anything like it before? Is it paper?"</p> + +<p> +"No," said Melick; "it is evidently some vegetable substance. No doubt +the writer has had it prepared for this very purpose, so as to make it +look natural."</p> + +<p> +"Do you know what is is?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"No."</p> + +<p> +"Then I'll tell you; it's papyrus."</p> + +<p> +"Papyrus?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, actual papyrus. You can find but little of that in existence at +the present day. It is only to be found here and there in museums. +I know it perfectly well, however, and saw what it was at the first +glance. Now, I hold that a sensation novelist would never have thought +of papyrus. If he didn't wish to use paper, he could have found a +dozen other things. I don't see how he could have found anyone able to +prepare such a substance as this for writing. It must have come from a +country where it is actually in use. Now, mark you, the papyrus-plant +may still be found growing wild on the banks of the upper Nile, and +also in Sicily, and it is made use of for ropes and other things of +that sort. But as to making writing material out of it, that is hardly +possible for the art is lost. The ancient process was very elaborate +and this manuscript is written on leaves which resembled in a +marvellous manner those of the Egyptian papyrus books. There are two +rolls at Marseilles which I have seen and examined, and they are +identical with this. Now these papyrus leaves indicate much mechanical +skill, and have a professional look. They seem like the work of an +experienced manufacturer."</p> + +<p> +"I don't see," said Melick, obstinately, "why one shouldn't get +papyrus now and have it made up into writing material."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's out of the question," said the doctor. "How could it +ever enter into anyone's head? How could your mere sensation-monger +procure the raw material? That of itself would be a work of immense +difficulty. How could he get it made up? That would be impossible. +But, apart from this, just consider the strong internal evidence that +there is as to the authenticity of the manuscript. Now, in the first +place, there is the description of Desolation Island, which is +perfectly accurate. But it is on his narrative beyond this that I lay +chief stress. I can prove that the statements here are corroborated +by those of Captain Ross in his account of that great voyage from +which he returned not very long ago."</p> + +<p> +The doctor, who had been talking with much enthusiasm, paused here to +take breath, and then went on:</p> + +<p> +"I happen to know all about that voyage, for I read a full report of +it just before we started, and you can see for yourselves whether this +manuscript is credible or not.</p> + +<p> +"Captain James Clarke Ross was sent forth on his expedition in 1839. +On January 1, 1841, he passed the antarctic circle in 178° east +longitude. On the 11th he discovered land in 70° 41′ south +latitude, 172° 36′ east longitude. He found that the land was +a continuous coast, trending southward, and rising to peaks of ten +thousand feet in height, all covered with ice and snow. On the 12th +he landed and took possession in the name of the Queen. After this he +continued his course as far as 78° 4′ south latitude, tracing a +coast-line of six hundred miles. Observe, now how all this coincides +with More's narrative. Well, I now come to the crowning statement. In +77° 32′ south latitude, 167° east longitude, he came in +sight of two enormous volcanoes over twelve thousand feet in height. +One of these was in an active state of eruption. To this he gave the +name of Mount Erebus. The other was quiet; it was of somewhat less +height, and he gave it the name of Mount Terror. Mark, now, how +wonderfully this resembles More's account. Well, just here his +progress was arrested by a barrier which presented a perpendicular +wall of over a hundred and fifty feet in height, along which he +coasted for some distance. On the following year he penetrated six +miles farther south, namely, 78° 11′ south latitude, 161° +27′ west longitude. At this point he was again stopped by the +impassable cliffs, which arose here like an eternal barrier, while +beyond them he saw a long line of lofty mountains covered with ice +and snow."</p> + +<p> +"Did you hear the result of the American expedition?" asked Melick.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," replied the doctor. "Wilkes pretends to have found a continent, +but his account of it makes it quite evident to my mind that he saw +nothing but ice. I believe that Wilkes's antarctic continent will some +day be penetrated by ships, which will sail for hundreds of miles +farther south. All that is wanted is a favorable season. But mark the +coincidence between Ross's report and More's manuscript. This must +have been written at least three years ago, and the writer could not +have known anything about Ross's discoveries. Above all, he could not +have thought of those two volcanoes unless he had seen them."</p> + +<p> +"But these volcanoes mentioned by More are not the Erebus and Terror, +are they?" said Lord Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"Of course not; they are on the other side of the world."</p> + +<p> +"The whole story," said Melick, "may have been written by one of +Ross's men and thrown overboard. If I'd been on that expedition I +should probably have written it to beguile the time."</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said the doctor; "and you would also have manufactured the +papyrus and the copper cylinder on board to beguile the time."</p> + +<p> +"I dare say the writer picked up that papyrus and the copper cylinder +in China or Japan, and made use of it in this way."</p> + +<p> +"Where do you make out the position of More's volcanoes?" asked +Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"It is difficult to make it out accurately," said the doctor. "More +gives no data. In fact he had none to give. He couldn't take any +observations."</p> + +<p> +"The fact is," said Melick, "it's not a sailor's yarn at all. No +sailor would ever express himself in that way. That's what struck me +from the first. It has the ring of a confounded sensation-monger all +through."</p> + +<p> +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, but took no notice of this.</p> + +<p> +"You see," he continued, addressing himself to the others, "Desolation +Island is in 50° south latitude and 70° east longitude. +As I make out, More's course led him over about ten degrees of +longitude in a southwest course. That course depended altogether upon +the ocean currents. Now there is a great antarctic drift-current, +which flows round the Cape of Good Hope and divides there, one half +flowing past the east coast of Africa and the other setting across +the Indian Ocean. Then it unites with a current which flows round the +south of Van Dieman's Land, which also divides, and the southernmost +current is supposed to cross the Pacific until it strikes Cape Horn, +around which it flows, dividing as before. Now my theory is, that +south of Desolation Island--I don't know how far--there is a great +current setting toward the South Pole, and running southwest through +degrees of longitude 60°, 50°, 40°, 30°, 20°, 10°, east of Greenwich; and +finally sweeping on, it would reach More's volcanoes at a point which +I should judge to be about 80° south latitude and 10° +west longitude. There it passes between the volcanoes and bursts +through the vast mountain barrier by a subterranean way, which has +been formed for it in past ages by some primeval convulsion of nature. +After this it probably sweeps around the great South Polar ocean, and +emerges at the opposite side, not far from the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror."</p> + +<p> +Here the doctor paused, and looked around with some self-complacency.</p> + +<p> +"Oh," said Melick, "if you take that tone, you have us all at your +mercy. I know no more about the geography of the antarctic circle than +I do of the moon. I simply criticize from a literary point of view, +and I don't like his underground cavern with the stream running +through it. It sounds like one of the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. +Nor do I like his description; he evidently is writing for effect. +Besides, his style is vicious; it is too stilted. Finally, he has +recourse to the stale device of a sea-serpent."</p> + +<p> +"A sea-serpent!" repeated the doctor. "Well, for my part I feel by +no means inclined to sneer at a sea-serpent. Its existence cannot +be proved, yet it cannot be pooh-poohed. Every schoolboy knows that +the waters of the sea were once filled with monsters more tremendous +than the greatest sea-serpent that has ever been imagined. The +plesiosaurus, with its snakelike head, if it existed now, would be +called a sea-serpent. Some of these so-called fossil animals may have +their representatives still living in the remoter parts of the world. +Think of the recently discovered ornithorhynchus of Australia!"</p> + +<p> +"If you please, I'd really much rather not," said Melick with a +gesture of despair. "I haven't the honor of the gentleman's +acquaintance."</p> + +<p> +"Well, what do you think of his notice of the sun, and the long light, +and his low position on the horizon?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's all right," said Melick. "Anyone who chose to get up this +thing would of course read up about the polar day, and all that. +Everyone knows that at the poles there is a six-months' day, followed +by a six-months' night."</p> + +<p> +"You are a determined sceptic," said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"How is it about the polar day?" asked Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"Well," said the doctor, "at the poles themselves there is one day +of six months, during which the sun never sets, and one night of six +months, during which he never rises. In the spaces between the polar +circles the quantities of the continuous day and continuous night vary +in accordance with the distance from the pole. At the north point of +Nova Zembla, 75° north latitude, there is uninterrupted light +from May 1st to August 12th, and uninterrupted darkness from November +8th to February 9th. At the arctic circle at the summer solstice the +day is twenty-four hours long. At the antarctic circle at the same +time the night is twenty-four hours long."</p> + +<p> +Upon this Melick filled the doctor's wine-glass with a great deal of +ceremony.</p> + +<p> +"After all those statistics," he said, "you must feel rather dry. You +should take a drink before venturing any further."</p> + +<p> +The doctor made no reply, but raised the glass to his lips and +swallowed the wine in an abstracted way.</p> + +<p> +"The thing that struck me most," said Oxenden, "in all that has been +read thus far, is the flatness of the South Pole, and the peculiar +effect which this produces on the landscape."</p> + +<p> +"I must say," added Melick, "that the writer has got hold of a very +good idea there, and has taken care to put it forward in a very +prominent fashion."</p> + +<p> +"What is the difference," asked Oxenden, "between the two diameters of +the earth, the polar and the equatorial? Is it known?"</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "that's the very question I was going to +ask. I've always heard that the earth is flattened at the poles, but +never knew how much. Is there any way by which people can find out?"</p> + +<p> +The doctor drew a long breath, and beamed upon the company with a +benevolent smile.</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said he; "I can answer that question, if you care to know +and won't feel bored."</p> + +<p> +"Answer it, then, my dear fellow, by all means," said Featherstone, +in his most languid tone.</p> + +<p> +"There are two ways," said the doctor, "by which the polar compression +of the earth has been found out. One is by the measurement of arcs +on the earth's surface; the other is by experiments with pendulums +or weights with regard to the earth's gravity at different places. +The former of these methods is, perhaps, the more satisfactory. +Measurements of arcs have been made on a very extensive scale in +different parts of the world--in England, France, Lapland, Peru, and +India. Mr. Ivory, who devoted himself for years to an exhaustive +examination of the subject, has deduced that the equatorial radius of +the earth is over 3962 miles, and the polar radius over 3949 miles. +This makes the depression at either pole upward of thirteen miles. A +depression of over thirteen miles, as you must plainly see, should +produce strange results in the scenery at the poles. Of course, if +there are mountains, no difference would be noticed between this and +any other part of the earth's surface; but if there is water, why, +we ought to expect some such state of things as More describes. The +gravitation test has also been tried, with very nearly the same +result. The surface of the earth at the equator, being farthest from +the centre of gravity, indicates the least weight in bodies; but at +the poles, where the surface is nearest the centre of gravity, there +must be the greatest weight. It is found, in fact, that the weight +of bodies increases in passing from the equator to the poles. By +experiments made in this way the polar compression is ascertained to +be the same as I have mentioned."</p> + +<p> +"What effect would this have on the climate at the poles?" asked +Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"That's a complicated question," said the doctor. "In answer to that +we must leave ascertained facts and trust to theories, unless, indeed, +we accept as valid the statements of this remarkable manuscript. +For my own part, I see no reason why it should not be as More says. +Remember, this polar world is thirteen miles nearer to the centre of +the earth. Whether this should affect the climate or not, depends upon +the nature of the earth's interior. That interior, according to the +popular theory of the present day is a mass of fire. This theory +affirms that the earth was once a red-hot mass, which has cooled down; +but the cooling process has only take place on the surface, leaving +the interior still a molten mass of matter in a state of intense heat +and combustion. At the poles the surface is thus thirteen miles nearer +to these tremendous fires. Of course it may be supposed that the +earth's crust is of about equal thickness on all parts; yet still, +even if this be so, thirteen miles ought to make some difference. Now +at the North Pole there seem to be causes at work to counterbalance +the effect of the internal heat, chiefly in the enormous accumulation +of polar ice which probably hems it in on every side; and though many +believe in an open polar sea of warm water at the North Pole, yet +still the effect of vast ice-masses and of cold submarine currents +must be to render the climate severe. But at the South Pole it is +different. The observations of Ross and of More show us that there is +a chain of mountains of immense height, which seem to encircle the +pole. If this be so, and I see no reason to disbelieve it, then the +ice of the outer seas must be kept away altogether from that strange +inner sea of which More speaks. Ross saw the volcanoes Erebus and +Terror; More saw two others. How many more there may be it is +impossible to say; but all this shows that the effect of the earth's +internal fires is very manifest in that region, and More has +penetrated to a secluded world, which lies apart by itself, free from +the influence of ice-masses, left to feel the effect of the internal +fires, and possessing what is virtually a tropical climate."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Melick, "there is no theory however wild and fantastic, +which some man of science will not be ready to support and to fortify +by endless arguments, all of the most plausible kind. For my own part, +I still believe More and his south polar world to be no more authentic +than Sindbad the Sailor."</p> + +<p> +But the others evidently sympathized with the doctor's view, and +regarded Melick as carrying his scepticism to an absurd excess.</p> + +<p> +"How large do you suppose this south polar ocean to be?" asked +Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"It is impossible to answer that question exactly," said the doctor. +"It may be, as More hints, a thousand miles in extent, or only five +hundred, or two hundred. For my own part, however, I feel like +taking More's statements at their utmost value; and the idea that +I have gathered from his narrative is that of a vast sea like the +Mediterranean, surrounded by impassable mountains, by great and +fertile countries, peopled with an immense variety of animals, with +a fauna and flora quite unlike those of the rest of the world; +and, above all, with great nations possessing a rare and unique +civilization, and belonging to a race altogether different from +any of the known races of men."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Melick, "that at least is the idea which the writer of +the manuscript tries to convey."</p> + +<p> +By this time they had finished dinner.</p> + +<p> +"And now," said Featherstone, "let's have some more of the manuscript. +Melick is tired of it, I dare say. I would relieve him, but I'm an +infernally bad reader. Doctor, what do you say? Will you read the next +instalment!"</p> + +<p> +"With all my heart," said the doctor, briskly.</p> + +<p> +"Very well, then," said Featherstone; "we will all be your attentive +hearers."</p> + +<p> +And now the doctor took up the manuscript and began to read.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER VIII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE CAVE-DWELLERS</h4> + + +<p> +The cavern into which the chief led me was very spacious, but had +no light except that which entered through the portal. It was with +difficulty that I could see anything, but I found that there were many +people here moving about, all as intent upon their own pursuits as +those which one encounters in the streets of our cities. As we went +on farther the darkness increased, until at last I lost sight of the +chief altogether, and he had to come back and lead me. After going +a little farther we came to a long, broad passage-way like a +subterranean street, about twenty feet in width, and as many in +height. Here there were discernible a few twinkling lamps, which +served to make the darkness less intense and enabled me to see the +shadowy figures around. These were numerous, and all seemed busy, +though what their occupation might be I could not guess. I was amazed +at the extent of these caverns, and at the multitude of the people. I +saw also that from the nature of their eyes the sunlight distressed +them, and in this cavern gloom they found their most congenial +dwelling-place. From what I had thus far seen, this extraordinary +people shrank from the sunlight; and when they had to move abroad they +passed over roads which were darkened as much as possible by the deep +shadows of mighty ferns, while for the most part they remained in +dark caverns, in which they lived and moved and had their being. It +was a puzzle to me whether the weakness of their eyes had caused +this dislike of light, or the habit of cave-dwelling had caused this +weakness of eyes. Here, in this darkness, where there was but a faint +twinkle from the feeble lamps, their eyes seemed to serve them as well +as mine did in the outer light of day; and the chief, who outside had +moved with an uncertain step, and had blinked painfully at objects +with his eyes almost closed, now appeared to be in his proper element; +and while I hesitated like a blind man and groped along with a +faltering step, he guided me, and seemed to see everything with +perfect vision.</p> + +<p> +At length we stopped, and the chief raised up a thick, heavy mat which +hung like an unwieldly curtain in front of a doorway. This the chief +lifted. At once a blaze of light burst forth, gleaming into the dark, +and appearing to blind him. His eyes closed. He held up the veil for +me to pass through. I did so. He followed, and then groped his way +slowly along, while I accompanied and assisted him.</p> + +<p> +I now found myself in a large grotto with an arched roof, from which +was suspended an enormous lamp, either golden or gilded. All around +were numerous lamps. The walls were adorned with rich hangings; +couches were here, with soft cushions, and divans and ottomans; soft +mats were on the floor, and everything gave indications of luxury and +wealth. Other doors, covered with overhanging mats, seemed to lead out +of this grotto. To one of these the chief walked, and raising the mat +he led the way into another grotto like the last, with the same bright +lights and the same adornments, but of smaller size. Here I saw +someone who at once took up all my attention.</p> + +<p> +It was a young maiden. Her face and form, but especially her eyes, +showed her to be of quite a different race from these others. To me +she was of medium height, yet she was taller than any of the people +here that I had hitherto seen. Her complexion was much lighter; her +hair was dark, luxuriant, and wavy, and arranged in a coiffure secured +with a golden band. Her features were of a different cast from those +of the people here, for they were regular in outline and of exquisite +beauty; her nose was straight; she had a short upper lip, arched +eyebrows finely pencilled, thin lips, and well-rounded chin. But the +chief contrast was in her eyes. These were large, dark, liquid, with +long lashes, and with a splendid glow in their lustrous depths. She +stood looking at me with her face full of amazement; and as I caught +the gaze of her glorious eyes I rejoiced that I had at last found one +who lived in the light and loved it--one who did not blink like a bat, +but looked me full in the face, and allowed me to see all her soul +revealed. The chief, who still was pained by the glare of light, kept +his eyes covered, and said a few hasty words to the maiden. After this +he hurried away, leaving me there.</p> + +<p> +The maiden stood for a moment looking at me. As the chief spoke to +her a change came over her face. She looked at me in silence, with +an expression of sad and mournful interest, which seemed to increase +every moment. At length she approached and said something in the same +strange language which the chief had used. I shook my head and replied +in English, whereupon she shook her head with a look of perplexity. +Then, anxious to conciliate her, I held out my hand. She looked at +it in some surprise. Upon this I took her hand, and pressed it to my +lips, feeling, however, somewhat doubtful as to the way in which she +might receive such an advance. To my great delight she accepted it in +a friendly spirit, and seemed to consider it my foreign fashion of +showing friendship and respect. She smiled and nodded, and pointed to +my gun, which thus far I had carried in my hand. I smiled and laid +it down. Then she pointed to a seat. I sat down, and then she seated +herself close by me, and we looked at each other in mutual wonder and +mutual inquiry.</p> + +<p> +I was full of amazement at thus meeting with so exquisite a being, +and lost myself in conjectures as to her race, her office, and her +position here. Who was she, or what? She was unlike the others, and +reminded me of those Oriental beauties whose portraits I had seen in +annuals and illustrated books. Her costume was in keeping with such +a character. She wore a long tunic that reached from the neck to the +ground, secured at the waist with a golden girdle; the sleeves were +long and loose; over this she had a long mantle; on her feet were +light slippers, white and glistening. All about her, in her room and +in her costume, spoke of light and splendor and luxury. To these +others who shrank so from the light she could not be related in any +way. The respect with which she was treated by the chief, the peculiar +splendor of her apartments, seemed to indicate some high rank. Was +she, then, the queen of the land? Was she a princess? I could not +tell. At any rate, whatever she was, she seemed anxious to show me +the utmost attention. Her manner was full of dignity and sweet +graciousness, and she appeared particularly anxious to make herself +understood. At first she spoke in a language that sounded like that of +the chief, and was full of gutturals and broad vowels; afterward she +spoke in another that was far more euphonious. I, on the other hand +spoke in English and in French; but of course I was as unintelligible +to her as she was to me.</p> + +<p> +Language was, therefore, of no use. It was necessary to go back to +first principles and make use of signs, or try to gain the most +elementary words of her language; so first of all I pointed to her, +and tried to indicate that I wanted to know her name. She caught my +meaning at once, and, pointing to herself, she looked fixedly at me +and said, "Almah, Almah!"</p> + +<p> +I repeated these words after her, saying, "Almah, Almah!" She smiled +and nodded, and then pointed to me with a look of inquiry that plainly +asked for my name. I said "Adam More." She repeated this, and it +sounded like "A-tam-or." But as she spoke this slowly her smile died +away. She looked anxious and troubled, and once more that expression +of wondering sadness came over her face. She repeated my name over and +over in this way with a mournful intonation that thrilled through me, +and excited forebodings of evil. "Atamor, Atamor!" And always after +that she called me "Atamor."</p> + +<p> +But now she sat for some time, looking at me with a face full of pity +and distress. At this I was greatly astonished; for but a moment +before she had been full of smiles, and it was as though something in +my name had excited sorrowful thoughts. Yet how could that be, since +she could never by any possibility have heard my name before? The +beautiful Almah seemed to be not altogether happy, or why should she +be so quick to sadness? There was a mystery about all this which was +quite unaccountable.</p> + +<p> +It was a singular situation, and one which excited within me feelings +of unutterable delight. This light and splendor, this warmth and +peace--what a contrast it offered to the scenes through which I had +but lately passed! Those scenes of horror, of ice and snow, of storm +and tempest, of cold and hunger, of riven cliff and furious ocean +stream, and, above all, that crowning agony in the bleak iron-land of +the cannibals--from all these I had escaped. I had been drawn down +under the earth to experience the terrors of that unspeakable passage, +and had at last emerged to light and life, to joy and hope. In this +grotto I had found the culmination of all happiness. It was like a +fairy realm; and here was one whose very look was enough to inspire +the most despairing soul with hop and peace and happiness. The, only +thing that was now left to trouble me was this mournful face of Almah. +Why did she look at me with such sad interest and such melancholy +meaning? Did she know of any evil fate in store for me? Yet how could +there be any evil fate to be feared from people who had received me +with such unparalleled generosity? No, it could not be; so I resolved +to try to bring back again the smile that had faded out of her face.</p> + +<p> +I pointed to her, and said, "Almah."</p> + +<p> +She said, "Atam-or."</p> + +<p> +And the smile did not come back, but the sadness remained in her face.</p> + +<p> +My eager desire now was to learn her language, and I resolved at once +to acquire as many words and phrases as possible. I began by asking +the names of things, such as "seat," "table," "mat," "coat," "hat," +"shoe," "lamp," "floor," "wall," and all the common objects around. +She gave all the names, and soon became so deeply interested that her +sadness departed, and the smile came back once more. For my own part, +I was always rather quick at learning languages. I had a correct ear +and a retentive memory; in my wanderings round the world I had picked +up a smattering of many languages, such as French, Italian, Spanish, +Arabic, German, Hindoostanee, and a few others. The words which I +learned from Almah had a remote resemblance to Arabic; and, in fact, +my knowledge of Arabic was actually of some assistance, though how it +was that these people should have a language with that resemblance +was certainly a mystery, and I did not try to solve it. The beautiful +Almah soon grew immensely interested in my efforts to learn, and also +in the English words which I gave when I pointed to any object.</p> + +<p> +Thus I pointed to myself, and said "Man," then pointing to her, I +said, "Woman." She laughed, and pointing to me said "Iz," and pointing +to herself said, "Izza." Then I pointed to the row of lights, and +said "Light;" she did the same, and said, "Or." Then her face grew +mournful, and she pointed to me, saying "Atam-or." It struck me then +that there was some chance resemblance between "or," the word meaning +"light," and one of the syllables of my name as she pronounced it, and +that this might cause her sadness; but as I could make out nothing of +this, I dismissed the thought, and went on with my questions. This +took up the time, until at length someone appeared who looked like a +servant. He said something, whereupon Almah arose and beckoned to me +to follow. I did so, and we went to a neighboring apartment, where +there was spread a bounteous repast. Here we sat and ate, and Almah +told me the names of all the dishes. After dinner we returned to the +room.</p> + +<p> +It was a singular and a delightful position. I was left alone with the +beautiful Almah, who herself showed the utmost graciousness and the +kindest interest in me. I could not understand it, nor did I try to; +it was enough that I had such a happy lot. For hours we thus were +together, and I learned many words. To insure remembrance, I wrote +them down in my memorandum-book with a pencil and both of these were +regarded by Almah with greatest curiosity. She felt the paper, +inspected it, touched it with her tongue, and seemed to admire it +greatly; but the pencil excited still greater admiration. I signed to +her to write in the book. She did so, but the characters were quite +unlike anything that I had ever seen. They were not joined like our +writing and like Arabic letters, but were separate like our printed +type, and were formed in an irregular manner. She then showed me a +book made of a strange substance. It was filled with characters like +those which she had just written. The leaves were not at all like +paper, but seemed like some vegetable product, such as the leaves of +a plant or the bark of a tree. They were very thin, very smooth, all +cut into regular size, and fastened together by means of rings. This +manuscript is written upon the same material. I afterward found that +it was universally used here, and was made of a reed that grows in +marshes.</p> + +<p> +Here in these vast caverns there was no way by which I could tell the +progress of time, but Almah had her own way of finding out when the +hours of wakeful life were over. She arose and said, "Salonla." This I +afterward found out to be common salutation of the country. I said it +after her. She then left me. Shortly afterward a servant appeared, +who took me to a room, which I understood to be mine. Here I found +everything that I could wish, either for comfort or luxury; and as I +felt fatigue, I flung myself upon the soft bed of down, and soon was +sound asleep.</p> + +<p> +I slept for a long time. When I awoke I heard sounds in the distance, +and knew that people were moving. Here in these caverns there was no +difference between day and night, but, by modes of which I was +ignorant, a regular succession was observed of waking times and +sleeping times.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER IX</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE CAVERN OF THE DEAD</h4> + + +<p> +On going forth into the outer grotto I saw the table spread with a +sumptuous repast, and the apartment in a blaze of light. Almah was not +here; and though some servants made signs for me to eat, yet I could +not until I should see whether she was coming or not. I had to wait +for a long time, however; and while I was waiting the chief entered, +shading his eyes with his hand from the painful light. He bowed +low with the most profound courtesy, saying, "Salonla," to which I +responded in the same way. He seemed much pleased at this, and made a +few remarks, which I did not understand; whereupon, anxious to lose no +time in learning the language, I repeated to him all the words I knew, +and asked after others. I pointed to him and asked his name. He said, +"Kohen." This, however, I afterward found was not a name, but a title. +The "Kohen" did not remain long, for the light was painful. After his +departure I was alone for some time, and at length Almah made her +appearance. I sprang to meet her, full of joy, and took her hand in +both of mine and pressed it warmly. She smiled, and appeared quite +free from the melancholy of the previous day.</p> + +<p> +We ate our breakfast together, after which we went out into the world +of light, groping our way along through the dark passages amid the +busy crowd. Almah could see better than I in the darkness; but she was +far from seeing well, and did not move with that easy step and perfect +certainty which all the others showed. Like me, she was a child of +light, and the darkness was distressing to her. As we went on we were +seen by all, but were apparently not considered prisoners. On the +contrary, all looked at us with the deepest respect, and bowed low +or moved aside, and occasionally made little offerings of fruit or +flowers to one or the other of us. It seemed to me that we were +treated with equal distinction; and if Almah was their queen, I, their +guest, was regarded with equal honor. Whatever her rank might be, +however, she was to all appearance the most absolute mistress of +her own actions, and moved about among all these people with the +independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank.</p> + +<p> +At length we emerged into the open air. Here the contrast to the +cavern gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and +splendor, so that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which +had seemed so dark when I was here before, it now appeared light and +cheerful. Almah turned to the right, and we walked along the terrace. +But few people were visible. They shrank from the light, and kept +themselves in the caverns. Then after a few steps we came to the base +of a tall half-pyramid, the summit of which was above the tops of the +trees. I pointed to this, as though I wished to go up. Almah hesitated +for a moment, and seemed to shrink back, but at length, overcoming her +reluctance, began the ascent. A flight of stony steps led up. On +reaching the top, I found it about thirty feet long by fifteen wide, +with a high stone table in the middle. At that moment, however, I +scarce noticed the pyramid summit, and I only describe it now because +I was fated before long to see it with different feelings. What I then +noticed was the vast and wondrous display of all the glories of nature +that burst at once upon my view. There was that same boundless sea, +rising up high toward the horizon, as I had seen it before, and +suggesting infinite extent. There were the blue waters breaking into +foam, the ships traversing the deep, the far-encircling shores green +in vegetation, the high rampart of ice-bound mountains that shut in +the land, making it a world by itself. There was the sun, low on the +horizon, which it traversed on its long orbit, lighting up all these +scenes till the six-months day should end and the six-months night +begin.</p> + +<p> +For a long time I stood feasting my eyes upon all this splendor, and +at length turned to see whether Almah shared my feelings. One look was +enough. She stood absorbed in the scene, as though she were drinking +in deep draughts of all this matchless beauty. I felt amazed at this; +I saw how different she seemed from the others, and could not account +for it. But as yet I knew too little of the language to question her, +and could only hope for a future explanation when I had learned more.</p> + +<p> +We descended at length and walked about the terrace and up and down +the side streets. All were the same as I had noticed before--terraced +streets, with caverns on one side and massive stone structures on the +other. I saw deep channels, which were used as drains to carry down +mountain torrents. I did not see all at this first walk, but I +inspected the whole city in many subsequent walks until its outlines +were all familiar. I found it about a mile long and about half a +mile wide, constructed in a series of terraces, which rose one above +another in a hollow of the mountains round a harbor of the sea. On my +walks I met with but few people on the streets, and they all seemed +troubled with the light. I saw also occasionally some more of those +great birds, the name of which I learned from Almah; it was "opkuk."</p> + +<p> +For some time my life went on most delightfully. I found myself +surrounded with every comfort and luxury. Almah was my constant +associate, and all around regarded us with the profoundest respect. +The people were the mildest, most gentle, and most generous that I had +ever seen. The Kohen seemed to pass most of his time in making new +contrivances for my happiness. This strange people, in their dealings +with me and with one another, seemed animated by a universal desire to +do kindly acts; and the only possible objection against them was their +singular love of darkness.</p> + +<p> +My freedom was absolute. No one watched me. Almah and I could go where +we chose. So far as I could perceive, we were quite at liberty, if we +wished, to take a boat and escape over the sea. It seemed also quite +likely that if we had ordered out a galley and a gang of oarsmen, we +should have been supplied with all that we might want in the most +cheerful manner. Such a thought, however, was absurd. Flight! Why +should I think of flying?</p> + +<p> +I had long ago lost all idea of time; and here, where it was for the +present perpetual day, I was more at a loss than ever. I supposed that +it was somewhere in the month of March, but whether at the beginning +or the end I could not tell. The people had a regular system of +wake-time and sleep-time, by which they ordered their lives; but +whether these respective times were longer or shorter than the days +and nights at home I could not tell at that time, though I afterward +learned all about it. On the whole, I was perfectly content--nay, +more, perfectly happy; more so, indeed, than ever in my life, and +quite willing to forget home and friends and everything in the society +of Almah. While in her company there was always one purpose upon which +I was most intent, and that was to master the language. I made rapid +progress, and while she was absent I sought out others, especially the +Kohen, with whom to practice. The Kohen was always most eager to aid +me in every conceivable way or to any conceivable thing; and he had +such a gentle manner and showed such generous qualities that I soon +learned to regard him with positive affection.</p> + +<p> +Almah was always absent for several hours after I rose in the morning, +and when she made her appearance it was with the face and manner of +one who had returned from some unpleasant task. It always took some +time for her to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed. I +soon felt a deep curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and +office here, and as my knowledge of the language increased I began +to question her. My first attempts were vain. She looked at me with +indescribable mournfulness and shook her head. This, however, only +confirmed me in my suspicions that her duties, whatever they might be, +were of a painful nature; so I urged her to tell me, and asked her as +well as I could if I might not share them or help her in some way. To +all this, however, she only returned sighs and mournful looks for an +answer. It seemed to me, from her manner and from the general behavior +of the people, that there was no express prohibition on my learning +anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after this, I +besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she +refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more +of the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and +effect, until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections.</p> + +<p> +"It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I +do not wish to lessen your happiness. But you must know all soon; and +so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you +may come the next <i>jom</i>."</p> + +<p> +This meant the next day, <i>jom</i> being the division of time corresponding +with our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot +all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next <i>jom</i> I arose +sooner than usual and went forth. I found Almah waiting for me. She +looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile.</p> + +<p> +"You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you +still wish it, why, I will take you with me."</p> + +<p> +At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went +through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep. +Then we went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day +which here knew no night, but prolonged itself into months. For a +while Almah stood looking forth between the trees to where the bright +sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to +the left. I followed. On coming to the next portal she went in. I +followed, and found myself in a rough cavern, dark and forbidding. +Traversing this we came to an inner doorway, closed with a heavy mat. +This she raised, and passed through, while I went in after her.</p> + +<p> +I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which +served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous +extent. Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a +hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone +steps. All around, as far as I could see in the obscure light, there +were niches in the walls, each one containing a figure with a light +burning at its feet. I took them for statues. Almah pointed in silence +to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see +it.</p> + +<p> +The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no +statue that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelled human form--a +hideous sight. It was dark and dried; it was fixed in a sitting +posture, with its hands resting on its knees, and its hollow eyes +looking forward. On its head was the mockery of a wreath of flowers, +while from its heart there projected the handle and half of the blade +of a knife which had been thrust there. What was the meaning of this +knife? It seemed to tell of a violent death. Yet the flowers must +surely be a mark of honor. A violent death with honor, and the +embalmed remains--these things suggested nothing else than the horrid +thought of a human sacrifice. I looked away with eager and terrible +curiosity. I saw all the niches, hundreds upon hundreds, all filled +with these fearful occupants. I turned again with a sinking heart to +Almah. Her face was full of anguish.</p> + +<p> +"This is my duty," said she. "Every <i>jom</i> I must come here and crown +these victims with fresh flowers."</p> + +<p> +A feeling of sickening horror overwhelmed me. Almah had spoken these +words and stood looking at me with a face of woe. This, then, was that +daily task from which she was wont to return in such sadness--an +abhorrent task to her, and one to which familiarity had never +reconciled her. What was she doing here? What dark fate was it that +thus bound this child of light to these children of darkness? or why +was she thus compelled to perform a service from which all her nature +revolted? I read in her face at this moment a horror equal to my own; +and at the sight of her distress my own was lessened, and there arose +within me a profound sympathy and a strong desire to do something to +alleviate her misery.</p> + +<p> +"This is no place for you," continued Almah. "Go, and I will soon join +you."</p> + +<p> +"No," said I, using her language after my own broken fashion--"no, I +will not go--I will stay, I will help, if you will permit."</p> + +<p> +She looked at me earnestly, and seemed to see that my resolution was +firmly fixed, and that I was not to be dissuaded from it.</p> + +<p> +"Very well," said she; "if you do stay and help me, it will be a great +relief."</p> + +<p> +With these simple words she proceeded to carry out her work. At the +foot of the pyramid there was a heap of wreaths made out of fresh +flowers, and these were to be placed by her on the heads of the +embalmed corpses.</p> + +<p> +"This work," said she, "is considered here the highest and most +honorable that can be performed. It is given to me out of kindness, +and they cannot understand that I can have any other feelings in the +performance than those of joy and exultation--here among the dead and +in the dark."</p> + +<p> +I said nothing, but followed and watched her, carrying the wreaths and +supplying her. She went to each niche in succession, and after taking +the wreath off each corpse she placed a fresh one on, saying a brief +formula at each act. By keeping her supplied with wreaths I was able +to lighten her task, so much so that, whereas it usually occupied her +more than two hours, on the present occasion it was finished in less +than half an hour. She informed me that those which she crowned were +the corpses of men who had been sacrificed during the present +season--by season meaning the six months of light; and that though +many more were here, yet they wore crowns of gold. At the end of ten +years they were removed to public sepulchres. The number of those +which had to be crowned by her was about a hundred. Her work was only +to crown them, the labor of collecting the flowers and weaving the +wreaths and attending to the lamps being performed by others.</p> + +<p> +I left this place with Almah, sad and depressed. She had not told me +why these victims had been sacrificed, nor did I feel inclined to +ask. A dark suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath +all their amiable ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of +a frightful kind; and that beyond all my present brightness and +happiness there might be a fate awaiting me too horrible for thought. +Yet I did not wish to borrow trouble. What I had seen and heard was +quite enough for one occasion. I was anxious, rather, to forget it +all. Nor did Almah's words or manner in any way reassure me. She was +silent and sad and preoccupied. It was as though she knew the worst, +and knowing it, dared not speak; as though there was something more +horrible which she dared not reveal. For my part, I feared it so that +I dared not ask. It was enough for me just then to know that my mild +and self-denying and generous entertainers were addicted to the +abhorrent custom of human sacrifices.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER X</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE SACRED HUNT</h4> + + +<p> +On that very <i>jom</i> the Kohen informed me that they were about +to set forth on the "sacred hunt," an event which always occurred +toward the end of the season, and he kindly invited me to go. I, +eager to find any relief from the horrible thoughts that had taken +possession of me, and full of longing for active exertion, at once +accepted the invitation. I was delighted to hear Almah say that she +too was going; and I learned at the same time that in this strange +land the women were as fond of hunting as the men, and that on such +occasions their presence was expected.</p> + +<p> +The sacred hunt was certainly a strange one. I saw that it was to +take place on the water; for a great crowd, numbering over a hundred, +went down to the harbor and embarked on board a galley, on which +there were a hundred others, who served as rowers. The hunters were +all armed with long, light javelins and short swords. Some of these +were offered to me, for as yet no one supposed that my rifle and +pistol were instruments of destruction, or anything else than +ornaments. My refusal to accept their weapons created some surprise, +but with their usual civility they did not press their offers +further. It was evident that this hunting expedition was only made in +obedience to some hallowed custom; for the light of the sun pained +their eyes, and all their movements were made with uncertainty and +hesitation. With these a hunt by sunlight is the same as a hunt by +night would be with us. There was the same confusion and awkwardness.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen was in command. At his word the galley started, and the +rowers pulled out to sea with long, regular strokes. I was anxious to +know what the expedition was aimed at, and what were the animals that +we expected to get; but I could not make out Almah's explanations. +Her words suggested something of vague terror, vast proportions, and +indescribable ferocity; but my ignorance of the language prevented me +from learning anything more.</p> + +<p> +We went along the coast for a few miles, and then came to the mouth +of a great river, which seemed to flow from among the mountains. The +current was exceedingly swift, and as I looked back it seemed to me +that it must be the very stream which had borne me here into this +remote world. I afterward found out that this was so--that this +stream emerges from among the mountains, flowing from an unknown +source. It was over this that I had been borne in my sleep, after +I had emerged from the subterranean darkness, and it was by this +current that I had been carried into the open sea. As we crossed the +estuary of this river I saw that the shores on either side were low, +and covered with the rankest vegetation; giant trees of fern, vast +reeds and grasses, all arose here in a dense growth impassable to +man. Upon the shallow shores the surf was breaking; and here in +the tide I saw objects which I at first supposed to be rocks, +but afterward found out to be living things. They looked like +alligators, but were far larger than the largest alligators known +to us, besides being of far more terrific aspect. Toward these the +galley was directed, and I now saw with surprise that these were +the objects of the sacred hunt.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, as the galley was moving along at half-speed, there +arose out of the water a thing that looked like the folds of a giant +hairy serpent, which, however, proved to be the long neck of an +incredible monster, whose immense body soon afterward appeared above +the water. With huge fins he propelled himself toward us; and his +head, twenty feet in the air, was poised as though about to attack. +The head was like that of an alligator, the open jaws showed a +fearful array of sharp teeth, the eyes were fiercely glowing, the +long neck was covered with a coarse, shaggy mane, while the top of +the body, which was out of the water, was incased in an impenetrable +cuirass of bone. Such a monster as this seemed unassailable, +especially by men who had no missile weapons, and whose eyes were so +dim and weak. I therefore expected that the galley would turn and +fly from the attack, for the monster itself seemed as large as our +vessel; but there was not the slightest thought of flight. On the +contrary, every man was on the alert; some sprang to the bow and +stood there, awaiting the first shock; others, amidship, stood +waiting for the orders of the Kohen. Meanwhile the monster +approached, and at length, with a sweep of his long neck, came down +upon the dense crowd at the bows. A dozen frail lances were broken +against his horny head, a half-dozen wretches were seized and +terribly torn by those remorseless jaws. Still none fled. All rushed +forward, and with lances, axes, knives, and ropes they sought to +destroy the enemy. Numbers of them strove to seize his long neck. In +the ardor of the fight the rowers dropped their oars and hurried to +the scene, to take part in the struggle. The slaughter was sickening, +but not a man quailed. Never had I dreamed of such blind and +desperate courage as was now displayed before my horror-stricken +eyes. Each sought to outdo the other. They had managed to throw ropes +around the monster's neck, by which he was held close to the galley. +His fierce movements seemed likely to drag us all down under the +water; and his long neck, free from restraint, writhed and twisted +among the struggling crowd of fighting men, in the midst of whom was +the Kohen, as desperate and as fearless as any.</p> + +<p> +All this had taken place in a very short space of time, and I had +scarce been able to comprehend the full meaning of it all. As for +Almah, she stood pale and trembling, with a face of horror. At last +it seemed to me that every man of them would be destroyed, and that +they were all throwing their lives away to no purpose whatever. Above +all, my heart was wrung for the Kohen, who was there in the midst of +his people, lifting his frail and puny arm against the monster. I +could endure inaction no longer. I had brought my arms with me, as +usual; and now, as the monster raised his head, I took aim at his +eye and fired. The report rang out in thunder. Almah gave a shriek, +and amid the smoke I saw the long, snake-like neck of the monster +sweeping about madly among the men. In the water his vast tail was +lashing the surface of the sea, and churning it into foam. Here I +once more took aim immediately under the fore-fin, where there was +no scaly covering. Once more I fired. This time it was with fatal +effect; and after one or two convulsive movements the monster, with +a low, deep bellow, let his head fall and gasped out his life.</p> + +<p> +I hurried forward. There lay the frightful head, with its long +neck and shaggy mane, while all around was a hideous spectacle. +The destruction of life had been awful. Nineteen were dead, and +twenty-eight were wounded, writhing in every gradation of agony, some +horribly mangled. The rest stood staring at me in astonishment, not +understanding those peals of thunder that had laid the monster low. +There was no terror or awe, however--nothing more than surprise; +and the Kohen, whose clothes were torn into shreds and covered with +blood, looked at me in bewilderment. I said to him, out of my small +stock of words, that the wounded ought at once to be cared for. At +this he turned away and made some remarks to his men.</p> + +<p> +I now stood ready to lend my own services, if needful. I expected +to take a part in the tender attentions which were the due of these +gallant souls, who had exhibited such matchless valor; these men who +thought nothing of life, but flung it away at the command of their +chief without dreaming of flight or of hesitation. Thus I stood +looking on in an expectant attitude, when there came a moment in +which I was simply petrified with horror; for the Kohen drew his +knife, stooped over the wounded man nearest him, and then stabbed him +to the heart with a mortal wound. The others all proceeded to do the +same, and they did it in the coolest and most business-like manner, +without any passion, without any feeling of any kind, and, indeed, +with a certain air of gratification, as though they were performing +some peculiarly high and sacred duty. The mildness and benevolence of +their faces seemed actually heightened, and the perpetration of this +unutterable atrocity seemed to affect these people in the same way in +which the performance of acts of humanity might affect us.</p> + +<p> +For my own part, I stood for a few moments actually motionless from +perplexity and horror; then, with a shriek, I rushed forward as if +to prevent it; but I was too late. The unutterable deed was done, +and the unfortunate wounded, without an exception, lay dead beside +their slain companions. As for myself, I was only regarded with fresh +wonder, and they all stood blinking at me with their half-closed +eyes. Suddenly the Kohen fell prostrate on his knees before me, and +bowing his head handed me his bloody knife.</p> + +<p> +"Atam-or," said he, "give me also the blessing of darkness and death!"</p> + +<p> +At these strange words, following such actions, I could say nothing. +I was more bewildered than ever, and horror and bewilderment made me +dumb. I turned away and went aft to Almah, who had seen it all. She +looked at me with an anxious gaze, as if to learn what the effect of +all this had been on me. I could not speak a word, but with a vague +sense of the necessity of self-preservation, I loaded my rifle, and +tried in vain to make out what might be the meaning of this union of +gentleness and kindness with atrocious cruelty. Meanwhile, the men +all went to work upon various tasks. Some secured lines about the +monster so as to tow it astern; others busied themselves with the +corpses, collecting them and arranging them in rows. At length we +returned, towing the monster astern.</p> + +<p> +I could not speak until I was back again in the lighted rooms and +alone with Almah; then I told her, as well as I could, the horror +that I felt.</p> + +<p> +"It was honor to those brave men," said she.</p> + +<p> +"Honor!" said I. "What! to kill them?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said she; "it is so with these people; with them death is the +highest blessing. They all love death and seek after it. To die for +another is immortal glory. To kill the wounded was to show that they +had died for others. The wounded wished it themselves. You saw how +they all sought after death. These people were too generous and +kind-hearted to refuse to kill them after they had received wounds."</p> + +<p> +At this my perplexity grew deeper than ever, for such an +explanation as this only served to make the mystery greater.</p> + +<p> +"Here," said she, "no one understands what it is to fear death. +They all love it and long for it; but everyone wishes above all to +die for others. This is their highest blessing. To die a natural +death in bed is avoided if possible."</p> + +<p> +All this was incomprehensible.</p> + +<p> +"Tell me, Almah," I said--"you hate darkness as I do--do you not +fear death?"</p> + +<p> +"I fear it above all things," said Almah. "To me it is the horror +of life; it is the chief of terrors."</p> + +<p> +"So it is with me," said I. "In my country we call death the King +of Terrors."</p> + +<p> +"Here," said Almah, "they call death the Lord of Joy."</p> + +<p> +Not long after, the Kohen came in, looking as quiet, as gentle, +and as amiable as ever. He showed some curiosity about my rifle, +which he called a <i>sepet-ram</i>, or "rod of thunder." Almah also +showed curiosity. I did not care to explain the process of loading +it to the Kohen, though Almah had seen me load it in the galley, +and I left him to suppose that it was used in some mysterious way. +I cautioned him not to handle it carelessly, but found that this +caution only made him the more eager to handle it, since the prospect +of an accident found an irresistible attraction. I would not let it +go out of my own hands, however; and the Kohen, whose self-denial +was always most wonderful to me, at once checked his curiosity.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE SWAMP MONSTER</h4> + + +<p> +A few <i>joms</i> after, I was informed by the Kohen that there was to be +another sacred hunt. At first I felt inclined to refuse, but on +learning that Almah was going, I resolved to go also; for Almah, +though generally mistress of her actions, had nevertheless certain +duties to perform, and among these was the necessity of accompanying +hunting-parties. I did not yet understand her position here, nor had I +heard from her yet how it was that she was so different from the rest +of them. That was all to be learned at a future time. For the present +I had to be satisfied with knowing that she belonged to a different +nation, who spoke a different language, and that all her thoughts and +feelings were totally different from those of the people among whom +she was living. She loved the light, she feared death, and she had +never been able in the slightest degree to reconcile herself to the +habits of these people. This I could readily understand, for to me it +seemed as though they lived in opposition to nature itself.</p> + +<p> +We went out into the daylight, and then I saw a sight which filled me +with amazement. I saw a flock of birds larger than even the opkuks. +They were called "opmahera." They seemed as tall as giraffes, and +their long legs indicated great powers of running. Their wings were +very short, and not adapted for flight. They were very tractable, and +were harnessed for riding in a peculiar way; lines like reins were +fastened to the wings, and the driver, who sat close by the neck, +guided the bird in this way. Each bird carried two men, but for Almah +and me there was a bird apiece. An iron prod was also taken by each +driver as a spur. I did not find out until afterward how to drive. At +that time the prospect of so novel a ride was such an exciting one +that I forgot everything else. The birds seemed quiet and docile. I +took it for granted that mine was well trained, and would go with the +others of his own accord. We all mounted by means of a stone platform +which stood by the pyramid, and soon were on our way.</p> + +<p> +The speed was amazing; the fastest race-horse at home is slow compared +with this. It was as swift as an ordinary railway train, if not more +so. For some minutes the novelty of my situation took away all other +thoughts, and I held the reins in my hands without knowing how to use +them. But this mattered not, for the well-trained bird kept on after +the others, while Almah on her bird was close behind me. The pace, as +I said, was tremendous, yet no easier motion can be imagined. The bird +bounded along with immense leaps, with wings outstretched, but its +feet touched the ground so lightly that the motion seemed almost equal +to flying. We did not confine ourselves to the roads, for the birds +were capable of going over any kind of country in a straight line. On +this occasion we passed over wide fields and rocky mountain ridges +and deep swamps and sand wastes at the same speed, until at length +we reached a vast forest of dense tree-ferns, where the whole band +stopped for a short time, after which we took up a new direction, +moving on more slowly. The forest grew up out of a swamp, which +extended as far as the eye could reach from the sea to the mountains. +Along the edge of this forest we went for some time, until at length +there came a rushing, crackling sound, as of something moving there +among the trees, crushing down everything in its progress. We halted, +and did not have to wait long; for soon, not far away, there emerged +from the thick forest a figure of incredible size and most hideous +aspect.</p> + +<p> +It looked like one of those fabled dragons such as may be seen in +pictures, but without wings. It was nearly a hundred feet in length, +with a stout body and a long tail, covered all over with impenetrable +scales. It hind-legs were rather longer than its fore-legs, and it +moved its huge body with ease and rapidity. Its feet were armed with +formidable claws. But its head was most terrific. It was a vast mass +of bone, with enormous eyes that glared like fire; its jaws opened to +the width of six or eight feet, and were furnished with rows of sharp +teeth, while at the extremity of its nose there was a tusk several +feet long, like the horn of a rhinoceros, curving backward. All this +I took in at the first glance, and the next instant the whole band +of hunters, with their usual recklessness, flung themselves upon the +monster.</p> + +<p> +For a short time all was the wildest confusion--an intermingling of +birds and men, with the writhing and roaring beast. With his huge +claws and his curved horn and his wide jaws he dealt death and +destruction all around; yet still the assailants kept at their work. +Many leaped down to the ground and rushed close up to the monster, +thrusting their lances into the softer and more unprotected parts +of his body; while others, guiding their birds with marvellous +dexterity, assailed him on all sides. The birds, too, were kept well +to their work; nor did they exhibit any fear. It was not until they +were wounded that they sought to fly. Still, the contest seemed too +unequal. The sacrifice of life was horrible. I saw men and birds +literally torn to pieces before my eyes. Nevertheless, the utter +fearlessness of the assailants confounded me. In spite of the +slaughter, fresh crowds rushed on. They clambered over his back, and +strove to drive their lances under his bony cuirass. In the midst of +them I saw the Kohen. By some means he had reached the animal's back, +and was crawling along, holding by the coarse shaggy mane. At length +he stopped, and with a sudden effort thrust his lance into the +monster's eye. The vast beast gave a low and terrible howl; his +immense tail went flying all about; in his pain he rolled over and +over, crushing underneath him in his awful struggles all who were +nearest. I could no longer be inactive. I raised my rifle, and as the +beast in his writhings exposed his belly I took aim at the soft flesh +just inside his left fore-leg, and fired both barrels.</p> + +<p> +At that instant my bird gave a wild, shrill scream and a vast bound +into the air, and then away it went like the wind--away, I know not +where. That first bound had nearly jerked me off; but I managed to +avoid this and now instinctively clung with all my might to the bird's +neck, still holding my rifle. The speed of the bird was twice as great +as it had been before--as the speed of a runaway horse surpasses +that of the same horse when trotting at his ordinary rate and under +control. I could scarcely make out where I was going. Rocks, hills, +swamps, fields, trees, sand, and sea all seemed to flash past in one +confused assemblage, and the only thought in my mind was that I was +being carried to some remote wilderness, to be flung there bruised and +maimed among the rocks, to perish helplessly. Every moment I expected +to be thrown, for the progress of the bird was not only inconceivably +swift, but it also gave immense leaps into the air; and it was only +its easy mode of lighting on the ground after each leap that saved me +from being hurled off. As it was, however, I clung instinctively to +the bird's neck, until at last it came to a stop so suddenly that my +hands slipped, and I fell to the ground.</p> + +<p> +I was senseless for I know not how long. When at last I revived I +found myself propped up against a bank, and Almah bathing my head with +cold water. Fortunately, I had received no hurt. In falling I had +struck on my head, but it was against the soft turf, and though I +was stunned, yet on regaining my senses no further inconvenience was +experienced. The presence of Almah was soon explained. The report of +the rifle had startled her bird also, which had bounded away in terror +like mine; but Almah understood how to guide him, and managed to keep +him after me, so as to be of assistance in case of need. She had been +close behind all the time, and had stopped when I fell, and come to +my assistance.</p> + +<p> +The place was a slope looking out upon an arm of the sea, and +apparently remote from human abode. The scenery was exquisitely +beautiful. A little distance off we saw the edge of the forest; the +open country was dotted with clumps of trees; on the other side of the +arm of the sea was an easy declivity covered with trees of luxuriant +foliage and vast dimensions; farther away on one side rose the icy +summits of impassable mountains; on the other side there extended +the blue expanse of the boundless sea. The spot where I lay was +over-shadowed by the dense foliage of a tree which was unlike anything +that I had ever seen, and seemed like some exaggerated grass; at our +feet a brook ran murmuring to the shore; in the air and all around +were innumerable birds.</p> + +<p> +The situation in which I found myself seemed inexpressibly sweet, and +all the more so from the gentle face of Almah. Would it not be well, +I thought, to remain here? Why should Almah go back to her repulsive +duties? Why should we return to those children of blood, who loved +death and darkness? Here we might pass our days together unmolested. +The genial climate would afford us warmth; we needed no shelter except +the trees, and as for food, there were the birds of the air in +innumerable flocks.</p> + +<p> +I proposed this to her; she smiled sadly. "You forget," said she, +"this season of light will not last much longer. In a few more <i>joms</i> +the dark season will begin, and then we should perish in a place like +this."</p> + +<p> +"Are there no caverns here?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh no. This country has no inhabitants. It is full of fierce wild +beasts. We should be destroyed before one <i>jom</i>."</p> + +<p> +"But must we go back?" said I. "You have a country. Where is it? See, +here are these birds. They are swift. They can carry us anywhere. +Come, let us fly, and you can return to your own country."</p> + +<p> +Almah shook her head. "These birds," said she, "cannot go over the +sea, or through these endless forests. My country can only be reached +by sea."</p> + +<p> +"Can we not hurry back, seize a boat, and go? I know how to sail over +the water without oars."</p> + +<p> +"We certainly might leave the country; but there is another +difficulty. The dark season is coming, and we should never be able +to find our way. Besides, the sea is full of monsters, and you and +I would perish."</p> + +<p> +"At any rate, let us try. I have my <i>sepet-ram</i>."</p> + +<p> +"We could never find our way."</p> + +<p> +"Only tell me," said I, "where it lies, and I will go by the stars."</p> + +<p> +"The trouble is," said she, "that even if we did succeed in reaching +my land, I should be sent back again; for I was sent here as a sacred +hostage, and I have been here four seasons."</p> + +<p> +But in the midst of this conversation a sound arrested our +attention--heavy, puffing, snorting sound, as of some living thing. +Hastily I started up, rifle in hand, and looked; and as I looked I +felt my nerves thrill with horror. There, close by the shore, I saw a +vast form--a living thing--full sixty feet in length. It had a body +like that of an elephant, the head of a crocodile, and enormous +glaring eyes. Its immense body was covered with impenetrable armor, +and was supported on legs long enough to allow it to run with great +speed. It differed in many respects from the monster of the swamp--the +legs being longer, the tail shorter and thinner, and its head and jaws +larger and longer. I shrank back, thinking of seizing Almah and +hiding. But I saw that she had already taken the alarm, and with more +presence of mind than I had she had hurried to the birds, who were +standing near, and had made them lie down. As I turned, she beckoned +to me without a word. I hurried to her. She told me to mount. I did so +at once; she did the same. Scarce had we mounted than the monster +perceived us, and with a terrible bellow came rushing toward us. Almah +drove her goad deep into her bird, which at once rose and went off +like the wind, and mine started to follow. The vast monster came on. +His roar sounded close behind, and I heard the clash of his tremendous +jaws; but the swift bird with a bound snatched me from his grasp, and +bore me far away out of his reach. Away I went like the wind. Almah +was ahead, looking back from time to time, and waving her hand +joyously. So we went on, returning on our course at a speed almost as +great as that with which we had come. By this time the novelty had in +part worn away, and the easy motion gave me confidence. I noticed that +we were travelling a wild, uninhabited, and rocky district by the +sea-side. Before me the country spread far away, interspersed with +groves, terminating in forests, and bounded in the far distance by +mountains. The country here was so rough that it seemed as if nothing +could pass over it except such creatures as these--the opmaheras.</p> + +<p> +At length we arrived at the spot which we had left--the scene of the +hunt. We could see it from afar, for the opmaheras stood quietly +around, and the men were busy elsewhere. As we drew nearer I saw the +vast body of the monster. They had succeeded in killing it, yet--oh +heavens, at what a cost! One half of all the party lay dead. The rest +were unharmed, and among these was the Kohen. He greeted me with a +melancholy smile. That melancholy smile, however, was not caused by +the sad fate of his brave companions, but, as I afterward learned, +simply and solely because he himself had not gained his death. When I +saw that there were no wounded, a dark suspicion came over me that the +wounded had again been put to death. I did not care to ask. The truth +was too terrible to hear, and I felt glad that accident had drawn me +away. It was all a dark and dreadful mystery. These people were the +most gentle, the most self-sacrificing, and the most generous in the +world; yet their strange and unnatural love of death made them capable +of endless atrocities. Life and light seemed to them as actual evils, +and death and darkness the only things worthy of regard.</p> + +<p> +Almah told me that they were going to bring the monster home, and had +sent for opkuks to drag it along. The dead were also to be fetched +back. There was no further necessity for us to remain, and so we +returned at once.</p> + +<p> +On the way, Almah said, "Do not use the <i>sepet-ram</i> again. You can do +no good with it. You must not make it common. Keep it. The time may +come when you will need it: you are not fond of death."</p> + +<p> +I shuddered.</p> + +<p> +"Never forget," she said, "that here death is considered the chief +blessing. It is useless for you to interfere in their ways. You cannot +change them."</p> + +<p> +Some more <i>joms</i> passed. The bodies were embalmed, and Almah had more +victims to crown with garlands in the horrible <i>cheder nebilin</i>.</p> + + + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE BALEFUL SACRIFICE</h4> + + +<p> +I resolved to go on no more sacred hunts. I was sickened at the +horrible cruelty, the needless slaughter, the mad self-sacrifice which +distinguished them. I was overwhelmed with horror at the merciless +destruction of brave comrades, whose wounds, so gallantly received, +should have been enough to inspire pity even in a heart of stone. The +gentleness, the incessant kindness, the matchless generosity of these +people seemed all a mockery. What availed it all when the same hand +that heaped favors upon me, the guest, could deal death without +compunction upon friends and relatives? It seemed quite possible for +the Kohen to kill his own child, or cut the throat of his wife, if the +humor seized him. And how long could I hope to be spared among a +people who had this insane thirst for blood?</p> + +<p> +Some more <i>joms</i> had passed, and the light season had almost ended. +The sun had been sinking lower and lower. The time had at last come +when only a portion of his disk would be visible for a little while +above the hills, and then he would be seen no more for six months of +our time. This was the dark season, and, as I had already learned, its +advent was always hailed with joy and celebrated with solemn services, +for the dark season freed them from their long confinement, permitted +them to go abroad, to travel by sea and land, to carry on their great +works, to indulge in all their most important labors and favorite +amusements. The Kohen asked me to be present at the great festival, +and I gladly consented. There seemed to be nothing in this that +could be repellent. As I was anxious to witness some of their purely +religious ceremonies, I wished to go. When I told Almah, she looked +sad, but said nothing. I wondered at this, and asked her if she was +going. She informed me that she would have to go, whereupon I assured +her that this was an additional reason why I should go.</p> + +<p> +I went with Almah. The Kohen attended us with his usual kind and +gracious consideration. It seemed almost as though he was our servant. +He took us to a place where we could be seated, although all the +others were standing. Almah wished to refuse, but I prevailed upon her +to sit down, and she did so.</p> + +<p> +The scene was upon the semicircular terrace in front of the cavern, +and we were seated upon a stone platform beside the chief portal. A +vast crowd was gathered in front. Before us arose the half-pyramid of +which I have already spoken. The light was faint. It came from the +disk of the sun, which was partly visible over the icy crest of the +distant mountains. Far away the sea was visible, rising high over the +tops of the trees, while overhead the brighter stars were plainly +discernible.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen ascended the pyramid, and others followed. At the base +there was a crowd of men, with emaciated forms and faces, and coarse, +squalid attire, who looked like the most abject paupers, and seemed +the lowest in the land. As the Kohen reached the summit there arose a +strange sound--a mournful, plaintive chant, which seemed to be sung +chiefly by the paupers at the base of the pyramid. The words of this +chant I could not make out, but the melancholy strain affected me +in spite of myself. There was no particular tune, and nothing like +harmony; but the effect of so many voices uniting in this strain was +very powerful and altogether indescribable. In the midst of this I saw +the crowd parting asunder so as to make way for something; and through +the passage thus formed I saw a number of youths in long robes, who +advanced to the pyramid, singing as they went. Then they ascended the +steps, two by two, still singing, and at length reached the summit, +where they arranged themselves in order. There were thirty of them and +they arranged themselves in three rows of ten each, and as they stood +they never ceased to sing, while the paupers below joined in the +strain.</p> + +<p> +And now the sun was almost hidden, and there was only the faintest +line from the upper edge of his disk perceptible over the icy +mountain-tops. The light was a softened twilight glow. It was to be +the last sight of the sun for six months, and this was the spectacle +upon which he threw his parting beam. So the sun passed away, and then +there came the beginning of the long dark season. At first, however, +there was rather twilight than darkness, and this twilight continued +long. All this only served to heighten the effect of this striking +scene; and as the light faded away, I looked with increasing curiosity +upon the group at the top of the pyramid. Almah was silent. I half +turned, and said something to her about the beauty of the view. She +said nothing, but looked at me with such an expression that I was +filled with amazement. I saw in her face something like a dreadful +anticipation--something that spoke of coming evil. The feeling was +communicated to me, and I turned my eyes back to the group on the +pyramid with vague fears in my soul.</p> + +<p> +Those fears were but too well founded, for now the dread ceremony +began. The Kohen drew his knife, and placed himself at the head of the +stone table. One of the youths came forward, stepped upon it, and lay +down on his back with his head toward the Kohen. The mournful chant +still went on. Then the Kohen raised his knife and plunged it into the +heart of the youth. I sat for a moment rooted to the spot; then a +groan burst from me in spite of myself. Almah caught my hands in hers, +which were as cold as ice.</p> + +<p> +"Be firm," she said, "or we are both lost. Be firm, Atam-or!"</p> + +<p> +"I must go," said I, and I tried to rise.</p> + +<p> +"Don't move," she said, "for your life! We are lost if you move. Keep +still--restrain yourself--shut your eyes."</p> + +<p> +I tried to do so, but could not. There was a horrible fascination +about the scene which forced me to look and see all. The Kohen took +the victim, and drawing it from the altar, threw it over the precipice +to the ground beneath. Then a loud shout burst forth from the great +crowd. "<i>Sibgu Sibgin! Ranenu! Hodu lecosck!</i>" which means, "Sacrifice +the victims! Rejoice! Give thanks to darkness!"</p> + +<p> +Then another of the youths went forward amid the singing, and laid +himself down to meet the same fate; and again the corpse was flung +from the top of the pyramid, and again the shout arose. All the others +came forward in the same manner. Oh, horrible, horrible, thrice +horrible spectacle! I do not remember how I endured it. I sat there +with Almah, trying to restrain myself as she had entreated me, more +for her sake than for my own, a prey to every feeling of horror, +anguish, and despair. How it all ended I do not know, nor do I know +how I got away from the place; for I only remember coming back to my +senses in the lighted grotto, with Almah bending anxiously over me.</p> + +<p> +After this there remained a dark mystery and an ever-present horror. I +found myself among a people who were at once the gentlest of the human +race and the most blood-thirsty--the kindest and the most cruel. This +mild, amiable, and self-sacrificing Kohen, how was it possible that +he should transform himself to a fiend incarnate? And for me and for +Almah, what possible hope could there be? What fate might they have +in reserve for us? Of what avail was all this profound respect, this +incessant desire to please, this attention to our slightest wish, this +comfort and luxury and splendor, this freedom of speech and action? +Was it anything better than a mockery? Might it not be the shallow +kindness of the priest to the victim reserved for the sacrifice? Was +it, after all, in any degree better than the kindness of the cannibal +savages on those drear outer shores who received us with such +hospitality, but only that they might destroy us at last? Might they +not all belong to the same race, dwelling as they did in caverns, +shunning the sunlight, and blending kindness with cruelty? It was an +awful thought!</p> + +<p> +Yet I had one consolation. Almah was with me, and so long as she was +spared to me I could endure this life. I tried for her sake to resist +the feelings that were coming over me. I saw that she too was a prey +to ever-deepening sadness. She felt as I did, and this despair of soul +might wreck her young life if there were no alleviation. And so I +sought to alleviate her distress and to banish her sadness. The songs +of these people had much impressed me; and one day, as I talked about +this with Almah, she brought forth a musical instrument of peculiar +shape, which was not unlike a guitar, though the shape was square and +there were a dozen strings. Upon this she played, singing at the same +time some songs of a plaintive character. An idea now occurred to me +to have an instrument made according to my own plans, which should be +nothing less than a violin. Almah was delighted at the proposal, and +at once found a very clever workman, who under my direction succeeded +in producing one which served my purpose well. I was a good violinist, +and in this I was able to find solace for myself and for Almah for +many a long hour.</p> + +<p> +The first time that I played was memorable. As the tones floated +through the air they caught the ears of those outside, and soon great +numbers came into the apartment, listening in amazement and in rapt +attention. Even the painful light was disregarded in the pleasure of +this most novel sensation, and I perceived that if the sense of sight +was deficient among them, that of hearing was sufficiently acute. +I played many times, and sometimes sang from among the songs of +different nations; but those which these people liked best were the +Irish and Scottish melodies--those matchless strains created by the +genius of the Celtic race, and handed down from immemorial ages +through long generations. In these there was nothing artificial, +nothing transient. They were the utterance of the human heart, and in +them there was that touch of nature which makes all men kin. These +were the immortal passions which shall never cease to affect the soul +of man, and which had power even here; the strains of love, of +sadness, and of pathos were sweet and enticing to this gentle race; +for in their mild manners and their outburst of cruelty they seemed to +be not unlike the very race which had created this music, since the +Celt is at once gentle and blood-thirsty.</p> + +<p> +I played "Tara," "Bonnie Doon," "The Last Rose of Summer," "The Land +of the Leal," "Auld Lang Syne," "Lochaber." They stood entranced, +listening with all their souls. They seemed to hunger and thirst after +this music, and the strains of the inspired Celtic race seemed to come +to them like the revelation of the glory of heaven. Then I played more +lively airs. Some I played a second time, singing the words. They +seemed eager to have the same one played often. At last a grisly +thought came to me: it was that they would learn these sweet strains, +and put their own words to them so as to use them at the awful +sacrifices. After that I would play no more.</p> + +<p> +It is a land of tender love and remorseless cruelty. Music is +all-powerful to awaken the one, but powerless to abate the other; and +the eyes that weep over the pathetic strains of "Lochaber" can gaze +without a tear upon the death-agonies of a slaughtered friend.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XIII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE AWFUL "MISTA KOSEK"</h4> + + +<p> +The terrible sacrifice marked the end of the light season. The dark +season had now begun, which would last for half the coming year. No +more sunlight would now be visible, save at first for a few <i>joms</i>, +when at certain times the glare would be seen shooting up above the +icy crests of the mountains. Now the people all moved out of the +caverns into the stone houses on the opposite side of the terraces, +and the busy throng transferred themselves and their occupations to +the open air. This with them was the season of activity, when all +their most important affairs were undertaken and carried out; the +season, too, of enjoyment, when all the chief sports and festivals +took place. Then the outer world all awoke to life; the streets were +thronged, fleets of galleys came forth from their moorings, and the +sounds of labor and of pleasure, of toil and revelry, arose into the +darkened skies. Then the city was a city of the living, no longer +silent, but full of bustle, and the caverns were frequented but +little. This cavern life was only tolerable during the light season, +when the sun-glare was over the land; but now, when the beneficent and +grateful darkness pervaded all things, the outer world was infinitely +more agreeable.</p> + +<p> +To me, however, the arrival of the dark season brought only additional +gloom. I could not get rid of the thought that I was reserved for some +horrible fate, in which Almah might also be involved. We were both +aliens here, in a nation of kind-hearted and amiable miscreants--of +generous, refined, and most self-denying fiends; of men who were +highly civilized, yet utterly wrong-headed and irreclaimable in their +blood-thirsty cruelty. The stain of blood-guiltiness was over all the +land. What was I, that I could hope to be spared? The hope was +madness, and I did not pretend to indulge it.</p> + +<p> +The only consolation was Almah. The manners of these people were such +that we were still left as unconstrained as ever in our movements, and +always, wherever we went, we encountered nothing but amiable smiles +and courteous offices. Everyone was always eager to do anything for +us--to give, to go, to act, to speak, as though we were the most +honored of guests, the pride of the city. The Kohen was untiring in +his efforts to please. He was in the habit of making presents every +time he came to see me, and on each occasion the present was of a +different kind; at one time it was a new robe of curiously wrought +feathers, at another some beautiful gem, at another some rare fruit. +He also made incessant efforts to render my situation pleasant, and +was delighted at my rapid progress in acquiring the language.</p> + +<p> +On the <i>jom</i> following the sacrifice I accompanied Almah as she went +to her daily task, and after it was over I asked when the new victims +would be placed here. "How long does it take to embalm them?" I added.</p> + +<p> +Almah looked at me earnestly. "They will not bring them here; they +will not embalm them," said she.</p> + +<p> +"Why not?" I asked; "what will they do with them?"</p> + +<p> +"Do not ask," said she. "It will pain you to know."</p> + +<p> +In spite of repeated solicitation she refused to give me any +satisfaction. I felt deeply moved at her words and her looks. What was +it, I wondered, that could give me pain? or what could there still +be that could excite fear in me, who had learned and seen so much? I +could not imagine. It was evidently some disposal of the bodies of +the victims--that was plain. Turning this over in my mind, with vague +conjectures as to Almah's meaning, I left her and walked along the +terrace until I came to the next cavern. This had never been open +before, and I now entered through curiosity to see what it might be. +I saw a vast cavern, quite as large as the <i>cheder nebilin</i>, full of +people, who seemed to be engaged in decorating it. Hundreds were at +work, and they had brought immense tree-ferns, which were placed on +either side in long rows, with their branches meeting and interlacing +at the top. It looked like the interior of some great Gothic cathedral +at night, and the few twinkling lights that were scattered here and +there made the shadowy outline just visible to me.</p> + +<p> +I asked one of the bystanders what this might be, and he told me that +it was the <i>Mista Kosek</i>, which means the "Feast of Darkness," from +which I gathered that they were about to celebrate the advent of the +dark season with a feast. From what I knew of their character this +seemed quite intelligible, and there was much beauty and taste in the +arrangements. All were industrious and orderly, and each one seemed +most eager to assist his neighbor. Indeed, there seemed to be a +friendly rivalry in this which at times amounted to positive violence; +for more than once when a man was seen carrying too large a burden, +someone else would insist on taking it from him. At first these +altercations seemed exactly like the quarrels of workmen at home, but +a closer inspection showed that it was merely the persistent effort +of one to help another.</p> + +<p> +I learned that the feast was to take place as soon as the hall was +decorated, and that it would be attended by a great multitude. I felt +a great interest in it. There seemed something of poetic beauty in +this mode of welcoming the advent of a welcome season, and it served +to mitigate the horrible remembrance of that other celebration, upon +which I could not think without a shudder. I thought that it would be +pleasant to join with them here, and resolved to ask Almah to come +with me, so that she might explain the meaning of the ceremonies. Full +of this thought, I went to her and told her my wish. She looked at me +with a face full of amazement and misery. In great surprise I +questioned her eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"Ask me nothing," said she. "I will answer nothing; but do not think +of it. Do not go near it. Stay in your room till the fearful repast is +over."</p> + +<p> +"Fearful? How is it fearful?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"Everything here is fearful," said Almah, with a sigh. "Every season +it grows worse, and I shall grow at length to hate life and love death +as these people do. They can never understand us, and we can never +understand them. Oh, if I could but once more stand in my own dear +native land but for one moment--to see once more the scenes and the +faces that I love so well! Oh, how different is this land from mine! +Here all is dark, all is terrible. There the people love the light and +rejoice in the glorious sun, and when the dark season comes they wait, +and have no other desire than long day. There we live under the sky, +in the eye of the sun. We build our houses, and when the dark season +comes we fill them with lamps that make a blaze like the sun itself."</p> + +<p> +"We must try to escape," I said, in a low voice.</p> + +<p> +"Escape!" said she. "That is easy enough. We might go now; but where?"</p> + +<p> +"Back," said I, "to your own country. See, the sky is dotted with +stars: I can find my way by them."</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said she, "if I could only tell you where to go; but I cannot. +My country lies somewhere over the sea, but where, I know not. Over +the sea there are many lands, and we might reach one even worse than +this."</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps," said I, "the Kohen might allow us to go away to your +country, and send us there. He is most generous and most amiable. He +seems to spend most of his time in efforts to make us happy. There +must be many seamen in this nation who know the way. It would be worth +trying."</p> + +<p> +Almah shook her head. "You do not understand these people," said she. +"Their ruling passion is the hatred of self, and therefore they are +eager to confer benefits on others. The only hope of life that I have +for you and for myself is in this, that if they kill us they will lose +their most agreeable occupation. They value us most highly, because +we take everything that is given us. You and I now possess as our own +property all this city and all its buildings, and all the people have +made themselves our slaves."</p> + +<p> +At this I was utterly bewildered.</p> + +<p> +"I don't understand," said I.</p> + +<p> +"I suppose not," said Almah; "but you will understand better after you +have been here longer. At any rate, you can see for yourself that the +ruling passion here is self-denial and the good of others. Everyone is +intent upon this, from the Kohen up to the most squalid pauper."</p> + +<p> +"<i>Up</i> to the most squalid pauper?" said I. "I do not understand you. +You mean <i>down</i> to the most squalid pauper."</p> + +<p> +"No," said Almah; "I mean what I say. In this country the paupers form +the most honored and envied class."</p> + +<p> +"This is beyond my comprehension," said I. "But if this is really so, +and if these people pretend to be our slaves, why may we not order out +a galley and go?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well, with you in your land, if a master were to order his slaves +to cut his throat and poison his children and burn his house, would +the slaves obey?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly not."</p> + +<p> +"Well, our slaves here would not--in fact could not--obey a command +that would be shocking to their natures. They think that we are in the +best of all lands, and my request to be sent home would be utterly +monstrous."</p> + +<p> +"I suppose," said I, "they would kill us if we asked them to do so?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Almah; "for they think death the greatest blessing."</p> + +<p> +"And if at the point of death we should beg for life, would they spare +us?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly not," said Almah. "Would you kill a man who asked for +death? No more would these people spare a man who asked for life."</p> + +<p> +All this was so utterly incomprehensible that I could pursue the +subject no further. I saw, however, that Almah was wretched, dejected, +and suffering greatly from home-sickness. Gladly would I have taken +her and started off on a desperate flight by sea or land--gladly would +I have dared every peril, although I well knew what tremendous perils +there were; but she would not consent, and believed the attempt to be +useless. I could only wait, therefore, and indulge the hope that at +last a chance of escape might one day come, of which she would be +willing to avail herself.</p> + +<p> +Almah utterly refused to go to the feast, and entreated me not to go; +but this only served to increase my curiosity, and I determined to see +it for myself, whatever it was. She had seen it, and why should not I? +Whatever it might be, my nerves could surely stand the shock as well +as hers. Besides, I was anxious to know the very worst; and if there +was anything that could surpass in atrocity what I had already +witnessed, it were better that I should not remain in ignorance of it.</p> + +<p> +So at length, leaving Almah, I returned to the hall of the feast. I +found there a vast multitude, which seemed to comprise the whole +city--men, women, children, all were there. Long tables were laid out. +The people were all standing an waiting. A choir was singing plaintive +strains that sounded like the chant of the sacrifice. Those nearest me +regarded me with their usual amiable smiles, and wished to conduct me +to some place of honor; but I did not care about taking part in this +feast. I wished to be a mere spectator, nothing more. I walked past +and came to the next cavern. This seemed to be quite as large as the +other. There was a crowd of people here also, and at one end there +blazed an enormous fire. It was a furnace that seemed to be used for +cooking the food of this banquet, and there was a thick steam rising +from an immense cauldron, while the air was filled with an odor like +that of a kitchen.</p> + +<p> +All this I took in at a glance, and at the same instant I saw +something else. There were several very long tables, which stood at +the sides of the cavern and in the middle, and upon each of these I +saw lying certain things covered over with cloths. The shape of these +was more than suggestive--it told me all. It was a sight of +horror--awful, tremendous, unspeakable! For a moment I stood +motionless staring; then all the cavern seemed to swim around me. I +reeled, I fell, and sank into nothingness.</p> + +<p> +When I revived I was in the lighted grotto, lying on a couch, with +Almah bending over me. Her face was full of tenderest anxiety, yet +there was also apparent a certain solemn gloom that well accorded with +my own feelings. As I looked at her she drew a long breath, and buried +her face in her hands.</p> + +<p> +After a time my recollection returned, and all came back to me. I rose +to a sitting posture.</p> + +<p> +"Do not rise yet," said Almah, anxiously; "you are weak."</p> + +<p> +"No," said I; "I am as strong as ever; but I'm afraid that you are +weaker."</p> + +<p> +Almah shuddered.</p> + +<p> +"If you had told me exactly what it was, I would not have gone."</p> + +<p> +"I could not tell you," said she. "It is too terrible to name. Even +the thought is intolerable. I told you not to go. Why did you go?"</p> + +<p> +She spoke in accents of tender reproach, and there were tears in her +eyes.</p> + +<p> +"I did not think of anything so hideous as that," said I. "I thought +that there might be a sacrifice, but nothing worse."</p> + +<p> +I now learned that when I fainted I had been raised most tenderly, +and the Kohen himself came with me as I was carried back, and he +thought that Almah would be my most agreeable nurse. The Kohen was +most kind and sympathetic, and all the people vied with one another +in their efforts to assist me--so much so that there was the greatest +confusion. It was only by Almah's express entreaty that they retired +and left me with her.</p> + +<p> +Here was a new phase in the character of this mysterious people. +Could I ever hope to understand them? Where other people are cruel to +strangers, or at best indifferent, these are eager in their acts of +kindness; they exhibit the most unbounded hospitality, the most lavish +generosity, the most self-denying care and attention; where others +would be offended at the intrusion of a stranger, and enraged at +his unconquerable disgust, these people had no feeling save pity, +sympathy, and a desire to alleviate his distress. And yet--oh, and +yet!--oh, thought of horror!--what was this that I had seen? The +abhorrent savages in the outer wilderness were surely of the same race +as these. They too received us kindly, they too lavished upon us their +hospitality, and yet there followed the horror of that frightful +repast. Here there had been kindness and generosity and affectionate +attention, to be succeeded by deeds without a name. Ah me! what an +hour that was! And yet it was as nothing compared to what lay before +me in the future.</p> + +<p> +But the subject was one of which I dared not speak--one from which I +had to force my thoughts away. I took the violin and played "Lochaber" +till Almah wept, and I had to put it away. Then I begged her to play +or sing. She brought an instrument like a lute, and upon this she +played some melancholy strains. At length the Kohen came in. His +mild, benevolent face never exhibited more gentle and affectionate +sympathy than now. He seated himself, and with eyes half closed, as +usual, talked much; and yet, with a native delicacy which always +distinguished this extraordinary man, he made no allusion to the +awful <i>Mista Kosek</i>. For my own part, I could not speak. I was +absent-minded, overwhelmed with gloom and despair, and at the same +time full of aversion toward him and all his race. One question, +however, I had to put.</p> + +<p> +"Who were the victims of the <i>Mista Kosek</i>?"</p> + +<p> +"They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims +of the sacrifice."</p> + +<p> +I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's +lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his +usual consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XIV</h3> + +<h4 align="center">I LEARN MY DOOM</h4> + +<p> +Horror is a feeling that cannot last long; human nature is +incapable of supporting it. Sadness, whether from bereavement, or +disappointment, or misfortune of any kind, may linger on through life. +In my case, however, the milder and more enduring feeling of sadness +had no sufficient cause for existence. The sights which I had seen +inspired horror, and horror only. But when the first rush of this +feeling had passed there came a reaction. Calmness followed, and then +all the circumstances of my life here conspired to perpetuate that +calm. For here all on the surface was pleasant and beautiful; all the +people were amiable and courteous and most generous. I had light and +luxury and amusements. Around me there were thousands of faces, all +greeting me with cordial affection, and thousands of hands all ready +to perform my slightest wish. Above all, there was Almah. Everything +combined to make her most dear to me. My life had been such that I +never before had seen anyone whom I loved; and here Almah was the one +congenial associate in a whole world of aliens: she was beautiful +and gentle and sympathetic, and I loved her dearly, even before I +understood what my feelings were. One day I learned all, and found +that she was more precious to me than all the world.</p> + +<p> +It was one <i>jom</i> when she did not make her appearance as usual. On +asking after her I learned that she was ill. At this intelligence +there came over me a feeling of sickening anxiety and fear. Almah ill! +What if it should prove serious? Could I endure life here without her +sweet companionship? Of what value was life without her? And as I +asked myself these questions I learned that Almah had become dearer +to me than life itself, and that in her was all the sunshine of my +existence. While she was absent, life was nothing; all its value, all +its light, its flavor, its beauty, were gone. I felt utterly crushed. +I forgot all else save her illness, and all that I had endured seemed +as nothing when compared with this.</p> + +<p> +In the midst of my own anxiety I was surprised to find that the whole +community was most profoundly agitated. Among all classes there seemed +to be but one thought--her illness. I could overhear them talking I +could see them wait outside to hear about her. It seemed to be the one +subject of interest, beside which all others were forgotten. The Kohen +was absorbed in her case; all the physicians of the city were more or +less engaged in her behalf; and there came forward as volunteers every +woman in the place who had any knowledge of sick-duties. I was +somewhat perplexed, however, at their manner. They were certainly +agitated and intensely interested, yet not exactly sad. Indeed, from +what I heard it seemed as though this strange people regarded sickness +as rather a blessing than otherwise. This, however, did not interfere +in the slightest degree with the most intense interest in her, and the +most assiduous attention. The Kohen in particular was devoted to her. +He was absent-minded, silent, and full of care. On the whole, I felt +more than ever puzzled, and less able than ever to understand these +people. I loved them, yet loathed them; for the Kohen I had at once +affection and horror. He looked like an anxious father, full of +tenderest love for a sick child--full also of delicate sympathy with +me; and yet I knew all the time that he was quite capable of plunging +the sacrificial knife in Almah's heart and of eating her afterward.</p> + +<p> +But my own thoughts were all of Almah. I learned how dear she was. +With her the brightness of life had passed; without her existence +would be intolerable. Her sweet voice, her tender and gracious manner, +her soft touch, her tender, affectionate smile, her mournful yet +trustful look--oh, heavens! would all these be mine no more? I could +not endure the thought. At first I wandered about, seeking rest and +finding none; and at length I sat in my own room, and passed the time +in listening, in questioning the attendants, in wondering what I +should do if she should be taken from me.</p> + +<p> +At length on one blessed <i>jom</i>, the Kohen came to me with a bright +smile.</p> + +<p> +"Our darling Almah is better," said he. "Eat, I beseech you. She is +very dear to all of us, and we have all felt for her and for you. But +now all danger is past. The physicians say that she will soon be +well." There were tears in his eyes as he spoke. It may have been +caused by the bright light, but I attributed this to his loving heart, +and I forgot that he was a cannibal. I took his hands in mine and +pressed them in deep emotion. He looked at me with a sweet and gentle +smile.</p> + +<p> +"I see it all," said he, in a low voice--"you love her, Atam-or."</p> + +<p> +I pressed his hands harder, but said nothing. Indeed, I could not +trust myself to speak.</p> + +<p> +"I knew it," said he; "it is but natural. You are both of a different +race from us; you are both much alike, and in full sympathy with one +another. This draws you together. When I first saw you I thought that +you would be a fit companion for her here--that you would lessen her +gloom, and that she would be pleasant to you. I found out soon that I +was right, and I felt glad, for you at once showed the fullest +sympathy with one another. Never till you came was Almah happy with +us; but since you have come she has been a different being, and there +has been a joyousness in her manner that I never saw before. You have +made her forget how to weep; and as for yourself, I hope she has made +your life in this strange land seem less painful, Atam-or."</p> + +<p> +At all this I was so full of amazement that I could not say one word.</p> + +<p> +"Pardon me," continued he, "if I have said anything that may seem like +an intrusion upon your secret and most sacred feelings. I could not +have said it had it not been for the deep affection I feel for Almah +and for you, and for the reason that I am just now more moved than +usual, and have less control over my feelings."</p> + +<p> +Saying this, he pressed my hand and left me. It was not the custom +here to shake hands, but with his usual amiability he had adopted my +custom, and used it as naturally as though he had been to the manner +born.</p> + +<p> +I was encouraged now. The mild Kohen came often to cheer me. He talked +much about Almah--about her sweet and gracious disposition, the love +that all felt for her, the deep and intense interest which her illness +had aroused. In all this he seemed more like a man of my own race than +before, and in his eager desire for her recovery he failed to exhibit +that love for death which was his nature. So it seemed: yet this +desire for her recovery did not arise out of any lack of love for +death; its true cause I was to learn afterward; and I was to know that +if he desired Almah's recovery now, it was only that she might live +long enough to encounter death in a more terrific form. But just then +all this was unknown, and I judged him by myself.</p> + +<p> +At last I learned that she was much better, and would be out on the +following <i>jom</i>. This intelligence filled me with a fever of eager +anticipation, so great that I could think of nothing else. Sleep was +impossible. I could only wait, and try as best I might to quell my +impatience. At last the time came. I sat waiting. The curtain was +drawn aside. I sprang up, and, hurrying toward her, I caught her in my +arms and wept for joy. Ah me, how pale she looked! She bore still the +marks of her illness. She seemed deeply embarrassed and agitated at +the fervor of my greeting; while I, instead of apologizing or trying +to excuse myself, only grew more agitated still.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Almah," I cried. "I should have died if you had not come back to +me! Oh, Almah, I love you better than life and I never knew how dearly +I loved you till I thought that I had lost you! Oh, forgive me, but I +must tell you--and don't weep, darling."</p> + +<p> +She was weeping as I spoke. She said nothing, but twined her arms +around my neck and wept on my breast. After this we had much to say +that we had never mentioned before. I cannot tell the sweet words that +she said to me; but I now learned that she had loved me from the +first--when I came to her in her loneliness, when she was homesick and +heartsick; and I came, a kindred nature, of a race more like her own; +and she saw in me the only one of all around her whom it was possible +not to detest, and therefore she loved me.</p> + +<p> +We had many things to say to one another, and long exchanges of +confidence to make. She now for the first time told me all the sorrow +that she had endured in her captivity--sorrow which she had kept +silent and shut up deep within her breast. At first her life here had +been so terrible that it had brought her down nearly to death. After +this she had sunk into dull despair; she had grown familiar with +horrors and lived in a state of unnatural calm. From this my arrival +had roused her. The display of feeling on my part had brought back +all her old self, and roused anew all those feelings which in her had +become dormant. The darkness, the bloodshed, the sacrifices, all these +affected me as they had once affected her. I had the same fear of +death which she had. When I had gone with her to the <i>cheder nebilin</i>, +when I had used my <i>sepet-ram</i> to save life, she had perceived in me +feelings and impulses to which all her own nature responded. Finally, +when I asked about the <i>Mista Kosek</i>, she warned me not to go. When I +did go she was with me in thought and suffered all that I felt, until +the moment when I was brought back and laid senseless at her feet.</p> + +<p> +"Then," said Almah, "I felt the full meaning of all that lies before +us."</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean by that?" I asked, anxiously. "You speak as though +there were something yet--worse than what has already been; yet +nothing can possibly be worse. We have seen the worst; let us now try +to shake off these grisly thoughts, and be happy with one another. +Your strength will soon be back, and while we have one another we can +be happy even in this gloom."</p> + +<p> +"Ah me," said Almah, "it would be better now to die. I could die happy +now, since I know that you love me."</p> + +<p> +"Death!" said I; "do not talk of it--do not mention that word. It is +more abhorrent than ever. No, Almah, let us live and love--let us +hope--let us fly."</p> + +<p> +"Impossible!" said she, in a mournful voice. "We cannot fly. There is +no hope. We must face the future, and make up our minds to bear our +fate."</p> + +<p> +"Fate!" I repeated, looking at her in wonder and in deep concern. +"What do you mean by our fate? Is there anything more which you know +and which I have not heard?"</p> + +<p> +"You have heard nothing," said she, slowly; "and all that you have +seen and heard is as nothing compared with what lies before us. For +you and for me there is a fate--inconceivable, abhorrent, +tremendous!--a fate of which I dare not speak or even think, and from +which there is no escape whatever."</p> + +<p> +As Almah said this she looked at me with an expression in which terror +and anguish were striving with love. Her cheeks, which shortly before +had flushed rosy red in sweet confusion, were now pallid, her lips +ashen; her eyes were full of a wild despair. I looked at her in +wonder, and could not say a word.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "I am afraid of death!"</p> + +<p> +"Almah," said I, "why will you speak of death? What is this fate which +you fear so much?"</p> + +<p> +"It is this," said she hurriedly and with a shudder, "you and I are +singled out. I have been reserved for years until one should be found +who might be joined with me. You came. I saw it all at once. I have +known it--dreaded it--tried to fight against it. But it was of no use. +Oh, Atam-or, our love means death; for the very fact that you love me +and I love you seals our doom!"</p> + +<p> +"Our doom? What doom?"</p> + +<p> +"The sacrifice!" exclaimed Almah, with another shudder. In her voice +and look there was a terrible meaning, which I could not fail to take. +I understood it now, and my blood curdled in my veins. Almah clung to +me despairingly.</p> + +<p> +"Do not leave me!" she cried--"do not leave me! I have no one but you. +The sacrifice, the sacrifice! It is our doom the great sacrifice--at +the end of the dark season. It is at the <i>amir</i>. We must go there to +meet our doom."</p> + +<p> +"The <i>amir</i>?" I asked; "what is that?"</p> + +<p> +"It is the metropolis," said she.</p> + +<p> +I was utterly overwhelmed, yet still I tried to console her; but the +attempt was vain.</p> + +<p> +"Oh!" she cried, "you will not understand. The sacrifice is but a +part--it is but the beginning. Death is terrible; yet it may be +endured--if there is only death. But oh!--oh think!--think of that +which comes after--the <i>Mista Kosek!</i>"</p> + +<p> +Now the full meaning flashed upon me, and I saw it all. In an instant +there arose in my mind the awful sacrifice on the pyramid and the +unutterable horror of the <i>Mista Kosek</i>. Oh, horror, horror, +horror! Oh, hideous abomination and deed without a name! I could not +speak. I caught her in my arms, and we both wept passionately.</p> + +<p> +The happiness of our love was now darkened by this tremendous cloud +that lowered before us. The shock of this discovery was overpowering, +and some time elapsed before I could rally from it. Though Almah's +love was sweet beyond expression, and though as the time passed I +saw that every <i>jom</i> she regained more and more of her former +health and strength, still I could not forget what had been revealed. +We were happy with one another, yet our happiness was clouded, and +amid the brightness of our love there was ever present the dread +spectre of our appalling doom.</p> + +<p> +These feelings, however, grew fainter. Hope is ever ready to arise; +and I began to think that these people, though given to evil ways, +were after all kind-hearted, and might listen to entreaty. Above all, +there was the Kohen, so benevolent, so self-denying, so amiable, so +sympathetic. I could not forget all that he had said during Almah's +illness, and it seemed more than probable that an appeal to his better +nature might not be without effect. I said as much to Almah.</p> + +<p> +"The Kohen," said she; "why, he can do nothing."</p> + +<p> +"Why not? He is the chief man here, and ought to have great +influence."</p> + +<p> +"You don't understand," said she, with a sigh. "The Kohen is the +lowest and least influential man in the city."</p> + +<p> +"Why, who are influential if he is not?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"The paupers," said Almah.</p> + +<p> +"The paupers!" I exclaimed, in amazement.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Almah. "Here among these people the paupers form the most +honored, influential, and envied portion of the community."</p> + +<p> +This was incomprehensible. Almah tried to explain, but to no purpose, +and I determined to talk to the Kohen.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XV</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE</h4> + + +<p> +I determined to talk to the Kohen, and try for myself whether he might +not be accessible to pity. This greatest of cannibals might, indeed, +have his little peculiarities, I thought, and who has not?--yet at +bottom he seemed full of tender and benevolent feeling; and as he +evidently spent his whole time in the endeavor to make us happy, it +seemed not unlikely that he might do something for our happiness in a +case where our very existence was at stake.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen listened with deep attention as I stated my case. I did this +fully and frankly. I talked of my love for Almah and of Almah's love +for me; our hope that we might be united so as to live happily in +reciprocal affection; and I was going on to speak of the dread that +was in my heart when he interrupted me:</p> + +<p> +"You speak of being united," said he. "You talk strangely. Of course +you mean that you wish to be separated."</p> + +<p> +"Separated!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean? Of course we wish to be +united."</p> + +<p> +The Kohen stared at me as I said this with the look of one who was +quite puzzled; and I then went on to speak of the fate that was before +us, and to entreat his sympathy and his aid that we might be saved +from so hideous a doom. To all these words the Kohen listened with an +air of amazement, as though I were saying incomprehensible things.</p> + +<p> +"You have a gentle and an affectionate nature," I said--"a nature full +of sympathy with others, and noble self-denial."</p> + +<p> +"Of course," said the Kohen, quickly, as though glad to get hold of +something which he could understand, "of course we are all so, for we +are so made. It is our nature. Who is there who is not self-denying? +No one can help that."</p> + +<p> +This sounded strange indeed; but I did not care to criticize it. I +came to my purpose direct and said,</p> + +<p> +"Save us from our fate."</p> + +<p> +"Your fate?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, from death--that death of horror."</p> + +<p> +"Death?--horror? What do you mean by horror?" said the Kohen, in an +amazement that was sincere and unfeigned. "I cannot comprehend your +meaning. It seems as though you actually dislike death; but that is +not conceivable. It cannot be possible that you fear death."</p> + +<p> +"Fear death!" I exclaimed, "I do--I do. Who is there that does not +fear it?"</p> + +<p> +The Kohen stared.</p> + +<p> +"I do not understand you," he said.</p> + +<p> +"Do you not understand," said I, "that death is abhorrent to +humanity?"</p> + +<p> +"Abhorrent!" said the Kohen; "that is impossible. Is it not the +highest blessing? Who is there that does not long for death? Death is +the greatest blessing, the chief desire of man--the highest aim. And +you--are you not to be envied in having your felicity so near? above +all, in having such a death as that which is appointed for you--so +noble, so sublime? You must be mad; your happiness has turned your +head."</p> + +<p> +All this seemed like hideous mockery, and I stared at the Kohen with a +gaze that probably strengthened his opinion of my madness.</p> + +<p> +"Do you love death?" I asked at length, in amazement.</p> + +<p> +"Love death? What a question! Of course I love death--all men do; who +does not? Is it not human nature? Do we not instinctively fly to meet +it whenever we can? Do we not rush into the jaws of sea-monsters, or +throw ourselves within their grasp? Who does not feel within him this +intense longing after death as the strongest passion of his heart?"</p> + +<p> +"I don't know--I don't know," said I. "You are of a different race; I +do not understand what you say. But I belong to a race that fears +death. I fear death and love life; and I entreat you, I implore you to +help me now in my distress, and assist me so that I may save my life +and that of Almah."</p> + +<p> +"I--I help you!" said the Kohen, in new amazement. "Why do you come to +me--to me, of all men? Why, I am nothing here. And help you to +live--to live! Who ever heard of such a thing?"</p> + +<p> +And the Kohen looked at me with the same astonishment which I should +evince if a man should ask me to help him to die.</p> + +<p> +Still, I persisted in my entreaty for his help.</p> + +<p> +"Such a request," said he, "is revolting; you must be mad. Such a +request outrages all the instincts of humanity. And even if I could do +such violence to my own nature as to help you to such a thing, how do +you think I could face my fellow-men, or how could I endure the +terrible punishment which would fall upon me?"</p> + +<p> +"Punishment!" said I. "What! would you be punished?"</p> + +<p> +"Punished!" said the Kohen. "That, of course, would be inevitable. I +should be esteemed an unnatural monster and the chief of criminals. My +lot in life now is painful enough; but in this case my punishment +would involve me in evils without end. Riches would be poured upon me; +I should be raised to the rank of Kohen Gadol; I should be removed +farther away than ever from the pauper class--so far, indeed, that all +hope in life would be over. I should be made the first and noblest and +richest in all the land."</p> + +<p> +He spoke these words just as if he had said, "the lowest, meanest, +poorest, and most infamous." It sounded like fresh mockery, and I +could not believe but that he was amusing himself at my expense.</p> + +<p> +"This is cruel," said I. "You are mocking me."</p> + +<p> +"Cruel?--cruel?" said he; "what is cruel? You mean that such a fate +would be cruel for me."</p> + +<p> +"No, no," said I; "but alas! I see we cannot understand one another."</p> + +<p> +"No," said the Kohen, musingly, as he looked at me. "No, it seems not; +but tell me, Atam-or, is it possible that you really fear death--that +you really love life?"</p> + +<p> +"Fear death!--love life!" I cried. "Who does not? Who can help it? Why +do you ask me that?"</p> + +<p> +The Kohen clasped his hands in amazement.</p> + +<p> +"If you really fear death," said he, "what possible thing is there +left to love or to hope for? What, then, do you think the highest +blessing of man?"</p> + +<p> +"Long life," said I, "and riches and requited love."</p> + +<p> +At this the Kohen started back, and stared at me as though I were a +raving madman.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, holy shades of night!" he exclaimed. "What is that you say? What +do you mean?"</p> + +<p> +"We can never understand one another, I fear," said I. "The love of +life must necessarily be the strongest passion of man. We are so made. +We give up everything for life. A long life is everywhere considered +as the highest blessing; and there is no one who is willing to die, no +matter what his suffering may be. Riches also are desired by all, for +poverty is the direst curse that can embitter life; and as to requited +love, surely that is the sweetest, purest, and most divine joy that +the human heart may know."</p> + +<p> +At this the Kohen burst forth in a strain of high excitement:</p> + +<p> +"Oh, sacred cavern gloom! Oh, divine darkness! Oh, impenetrable +abysses of night! What, oh, what is this! Oh, Atam-or, are you mad? +Alas! it must be so. Joy has turned your brain; you are quite +demented. You call good evil, and evil good; our light is your +darkness, and our darkness your light. Yet surely you cannot be +altogether insane. Come, come, let us look further. How is it! Try now +to recall your reason. A long life--a life, and a long one! Surely +there can be no human being in a healthy state of nature who wishes to +prolong his life; and as to riches, it is possible that anyone exists +who really and honestly desires riches? Impossible! And requited love! +Oh, Atam-or, you are mad to-day! You are always strange, but now you +have quite taken leave of your senses. I cannot but love you, and yet +I can never understand you. Tell me, and tell me truly, what is it +that you consider evils, if these things that you have mentioned are +not the very worst?"</p> + +<p> +He seemed deeply in earnest and much moved. I could not understand +him, but could only answer his questions with simple conciseness.</p> + +<p> +"Poverty, sickness, and death," said I, "are evils; but the worst of +all evils is unrequited love."</p> + +<p> +At these words the Kohen made a gesture of despair.</p> + +<p> +"It is impossible to understand this," said he. "You talk calmly; you +have not the air of a madman. If your fellow-countrymen are all like +you, then your race is an incomprehensible one. Why, death is the +greatest blessing. We all long for it; it is the end of our being. As +for riches, they are a curse, abhorred by all. Above all, as to love, +we shrink from the thought of requital. Death is our chief blessing, +poverty our greatest happiness, and unrequited love the sweetest lot +of man."</p> + +<p> +All this sounded like the ravings of a lunatic, yet the Kohen was not +mad. It seemed also like the mockery of some teasing demon; but the +gentle and self-denying Kohen was no teasing demon, and mockery with +him was impossible. I was therefore more bewildered than ever at this +reiteration of sentiments that were so utterly incomprehensible. He, +on the other hand, seemed as astonished at my sentiments and as +bewildered, and we could find no common ground on which to meet.</p> + +<p> +"I remember now," said the Kohen, in a musing tone, "having heard of +some strange folk at the Amir, who profess to feel as you say you +feel, but no one believes that they are in earnest; for although they +may even bring themselves to think that they are in earnest in their +professions, yet after all everyone thinks that they are +self-deceived. For you see, in the first place, these feelings which +you profess are utterly unnatural. We are so made that we cannot help +loving death; it is a sort of instinct. We are also created in such a +way that we cannot help longing after poverty. The pauper must always, +among all men, be the most envied of mortals. Nature, too, has made us +such that the passion of love, when it arises, is so vehement, so +all-consuming that it must always struggle to avoid requital. This is +the reason why, when two people find that they love each other, they +always separate and avoid one another for the rest of their lives. +This is human nature. We cannot help it; and it is this that +distinguishes us from the animals. Why, if men were to feel as you say +you feel, they would be mere animals. Animals fear death; animals love +to accumulate such things as they prize; animals, when they love, go +in pairs, and remain with one another. But man, with his intellect, +would not be man if he loved life and desired riches and sought for +requited love."</p> + +<p> +I sank back in despair. "You cannot mean all this," I said.</p> + +<p> +He threw at me a piteous glance. "What else can you believe or feel?" +said he.</p> + +<p> +"The very opposite. We are so made that we hate and fear death; to us +he is the King of Terrors. Poverty is terrible also, since it is +associated with want and woe; it is, therefore, natural to man to +strive after riches. As to the passion of love, that is so vehement +that the first and only thought is requital. Unrequited love is +anguish beyond expression--anguish so severe that the heart will often +break under it."</p> + +<p> +The Kohen clasped his hands in new bewilderment.</p> + +<p> +"I cannot understand," said he. "A madman might imagine that he loved +life and desired riches; but as to love, why even a madman could not +think of requital, for the very nature of the passion of love is the +most utter self-surrender, and a shrinking from all requital; +wherefore, the feeling that leads one to desire requital cannot be +love. I do not know what it can be--indeed, I never heard of such a +thing before, and the annals of the human race make no mention of such +a feeling. For what is love? It is the ardent outflow of the whole +being--the yearning of one human heart to lavish all its treasures +upon another. Love is more than self-denial; it is self-surrender and +utter self-abnegation. Love gives all away, and cannot possibly +receive anything in return. A requital of love would mean selfishness, +which would be self-contradiction. The more one loves, the more he +must shrink from requital."</p> + +<p> +"What!" cried I, "among you do lovers never marry?"</p> + +<p> +"Lovers marry? Never!"</p> + +<p> +"Do married people never love one another?"</p> + +<p> +The Kohen shook his head.</p> + +<p> +"It unfortunately sometimes happens so," said he, "and then the result +is, of course, distressing. For the children's sake the parents will +often remain with one another, but in many cases they separate. No one +can tell the misery that ensues where a husband and wife love one +another."</p> + +<p> +The conversation grew insupportable. I could not follow the Kohen in +what seemed the wildest and maddest flights of fancy that ever were +known; so I began to talk of other things, and gradually the Kohen was +drawn to speak of his own life. The account which he gave of himself +was not one whit less strange than his previous remarks, and for this +reason I add it here.</p> + +<p> +"I was born," said he, "in the most enviable of positions. My father +and mother were among the poorest in the land. Both died when I was a +child, and I never saw them. I grew up in the open fields and public +caverns, along with the most esteemed paupers. But, unfortunately for +me, there was something wanting in my natural disposition. I loved +death, of course, and poverty, too, very strongly; but I did not have +that eager and energetic passion which is so desirable, nor was I +watchful enough over my blessed estate of poverty. Surrounded as I was +by those who were only too ready to take advantage of my ignorance or +want of vigilance, I soon fell into evil ways, and gradually, in spite +of myself, I found wealth pouring in upon me. Designing men succeeded +in winning my consent to receive their possessions; and so I gradually +fell away from that lofty position in which I was born. I grew richer +and richer. My friends warned me, but in vain. I was too weak to +resist; in fact, I lacked moral fibre, and had never learned how to +say 'No.' So I went on, descending lower and lower in the scale of +being. I became a capitalist, an Athon, a general officer, and finally +Kohen.</p> + +<p> +"At length, on one eventful day, I learned that one of my associates +had by a long course of reckless folly become the richest man in all +the country. He had become Athon, Melek, and at last Kohen Gadol. It +was a terrible shock, but I trust a salutary one. I at once resolved +to reform. That resolution I have steadily kept, and have at least +saved myself from descending any lower. It is true, I can hardly hope +to become what I once was. It is only too easy to grow rich; and, you +know, poverty once forfeited can never return except in rare +instances. I have, however, succeeded in getting rid of most of my +wealth, chiefly through the fortunate advent of Almah and afterward of +yourself. This, I confess, has been my salvation. Neither of you had +any scruples about accepting what was bestowed, and so I did not feel +as though I was doing you any wrong in giving you all I had in the +world. Most of the people of this city have taken advantage of your +extraordinary indifference to wealth, and have made themselves paupers +at your expense. I had already become your slave, and had received the +promise of being elevated to the rank of scullion in the cavern of the +<i>Mista Kosek</i>. But now, since this event of your love for Almah, I +hope to gain far more. I am almost certain of being made a pauper, and +I think I can almost venture to hope some day for the honor of a +public death."</p> + +<p> +To such a story I had nothing to say. It was sheer madness; yet it was +terribly suggestive, and showed how utterly hopeless was my effort to +secure the assistance of such a man toward my escape from death.</p> + +<p> +"A public death!" I said, grimly. "That will be very fortunate! And do +you think that you will gain the dignity of being eaten up afterward?"</p> + +<p> +The Kohen shook his head in all seriousness.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said he; "that would be far beyond my deserts. That is an +honor which is only bestowed upon the most distinguished."</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE KOSEKIN</h4> + + +<p> +These people call themselves the Kosekin. Their chief characteristic, +or, at least, their most prominent one, is their love of darkness, +which perhaps is due to their habit of dwelling in caves. Another +feeling, equally strong and perhaps connected with this, is their love +of death and dislike of life. This is visible in many ways, and +affects all their character. It leads to a passionate self-denial, an +incessant effort to benefit others at their own expense. Each one +hates life and longs for death. He, therefore, hates riches, and all +things that are associated with life.</p> + +<p> +Among the Kosekin everyone makes perpetual efforts to serve others, +which, however, are perpetually baffled by the unselfishness of these +others. People thus spend years in trying to overreach one another, so +as to make others richer than themselves. In a race each one tries to +keep behind; but as this leads to confusion, there is then a universal +effort for each one to be first, so as to put his neighbor in the +honorable position of the rear. It is the same way in a hunt. Each one +presses forward, so as to honor his companion by leaving him behind. +Instead of injuring, everyone tries to benefit his neighbor. When one +has been benefited by another, he is filled with a passion which may +be called Kosekin revenge--namely, a sleepless and vehement desire to +bestow some adequate and corresponding benefit on the other. Feuds +are thus kept up among families and wars among nations. For no one is +willing to accept from another any kindness, any gift, or any honor, +and all are continually on the watch to prevent themselves from being +overreached in this way. Those who are less watchful than others are +overwhelmed with gifts by designing men, who wish to attain to the +pauper class. The position of Almah and myself illustrates this. Our +ignorance of the blessings and honors of poverty led us to receive +whatever was offered us. Taking advantage of our innocence and +ignorance, the whole city thereupon proceeded to bestow their property +upon us, and all became paupers through our fortunate arrival.</p> + +<p> +No one ever injures another unless by accident, and when this occurs +it affords the highest joy to the injured party. He has now a claim on +the injurer; he gets him into his power, is able to confer benefits on +him and force upon him all that he wishes. The unhappy injurer, thus +punished by the reception of wealth, finds himself helpless; and where +the injury is great, the injured man may bestow upon the other all his +wealth and attain to the envied condition of a pauper.</p> + +<p> +Among the Kosekin the sick are objects of the highest regard. All +classes vie with one another in their attentions. The rich send their +luxuries; the paupers, however, not having anything to give, go +themselves and wait on them and nurse them. For this there is no help, +and the rich grumble, but can do nothing. The sick are thus sought out +incessantly, and most carefully tended. When they die there is great +rejoicing, since death is a blessing; but the nurses labor hard to +preserve them in life, so as to prolong the enjoyment of the high +privilege of nursing. Of all sick the incurable are most honored, +since they require nursing always. Children also are highly honored +and esteemed, and the aged too, since both classes require the care of +others and must be the recipients of favors which all are anxious to +bestow. Those who suffer from contagious diseases are more sought +after than any other class, for in waiting on these there is the +chance of gaining the blessing of death; indeed, in these cases much +trouble is usually experienced from the rush of those who insist on +offering their services.</p> + +<p> +For it must never be forgotten that the Kosekin love death as we love +life; and this accounts for all those ceremonies which to me were so +abhorrent, especially the scenes of the <i>Mista Kosek</i>. To them a dead +human body is no more than the dead body of a bird: there is no awe +felt, no sense of sanctity, of superstitious horror; and so I learned, +with a shudder, that the hate of life is a far worse thing than the +fear of death. This desire for death is, then, a master-passion, and +is the key to all their words and acts. They rejoice over the death of +friends, since those friends have gained the greatest of blessings; +they rejoice also at the birth of children, since those who are born +will one day gain the bliss of death.</p> + +<p> +For a couple to fall in love is the signal for mutual self-surrender. +Each insists on giving up the loved one; and the more passionate the +love is, the more eager is the desire to have the loved one married to +someone else. Lovers have died broken-hearted from being compelled to +marry one another. Poets here among the Kosekin celebrate unhappy love +which has met with this end. These poets also celebrate defeats +instead of victories, since it is considered glorious for one nation +to sacrifice itself to another; but to this there are important +limitations, as we shall see. Poets also celebrate street-sweepers, +scavengers, lamp-lighters, laborers, and above all, paupers, and pass +by as unworthy of notice the authors, Meleks, and Kohens of the land.</p> + +<p> +The paupers here form the most honorable class. Next to these are the +laborers. These have strikes as with us; but it is always for harder +work, longer hours, or smaller pay. The contest between capital and +labor rages, but the conditions are reversed; for the grumbling +capitalist complains that the laborer will not take as much pay as he +ought to while the laborer thinks the capitalist too persistent in his +efforts to force money upon him.</p> + +<p> +Here among the Kosekin the wealthy class forms the mass of the people, +while the aristocratic few consist of the paupers. These are greatly +envied by the others, and have many advantages. The cares and burdens +of wealth, as well as wealth itself, are here considered a curse, and +from all these the paupers are exempt. There is a perpetual effort on +the part of the wealthy to induce the paupers to accept gifts, just +as among us the poor try to rob the rich. Among the wealthy there is +a great and incessant murmur at the obstinacy of the paupers. Secret +movements are sometimes set on foot which aim at a redistribution of +property and a levelling of all classes, so as to reduce the haughty +paupers to the same condition as the mass of the nation. More than +once there has been a violent attempt at a revolution, so as to force +wealth on the paupers; but as a general thing these movements have +been put down and their leaders severely punished. The paupers have +shown no mercy in their hour of triumph; they have not conceded one +jot to the public demand, and the unhappy conspirators have been +condemned to increased wealth and luxury, while the leaders have +been made Meleks and Kohens. Thus there are among the Kosekin the +unfortunate many who are cursed with wealth, and the fortunate few who +are blessed with poverty. These walk while the others ride, and from +their squalid huts look proudly and contemptuously upon the palaces of +their unfortunate fellow-countrymen.</p> + +<p> +The love of death leads to perpetual efforts on the part of each to +lay down his life for another. This is a grave difficulty in hunts and +battles. Confined prisoners dare not fly, for in such an event the +guards kill themselves. This leads to fresh rigors in the captivity of +the prisoners in case of their recapture, for they are overwhelmed +with fresh luxuries and increased splendors. Finally, if a prisoner +persist and is recaptured, he is solemnly put to death, not, as with +us, by way of severity, but as the last and greatest honor. Here +extremes meet; and death, whether for honor or dishonor, is all the +same--death--and is reserved for desperate cases. But among the +Kosekin this lofty destiny is somewhat embittered by the agonizing +thought on the part of the prisoner, who thus gains it, that his +wretched family must be doomed, not, as with us, to poverty and want, +but, on the contrary, to boundless wealth and splendor.</p> + +<p> +Among so strange a people it seemed singular to me what offences could +possibly be committed which could be regarded and punished as crimes. +These, however, I soon found out. Instead of robbers, the Kosekin +punished the secret bestowers of their wealth on others. This is +regarded as a very grave offence. Analogous to our crime of piracy +is the forcible arrest of ships at sea and the transfer to them of +valuables. Sometimes the Kosekin pirates give themselves up as slaves. +Kidnapping, assault, highway robbery, and crimes of violence have +their parallel here in cases where a strong man, meeting a weaker, +forces himself upon him as his slave or compels him to take his purse. +If the weaker refuse, the assailant threatens to kill himself, which +act would lay the other under obligations to receive punishment from +the state in the shape of gifts and honors, or at least subject him +to unpleasant inquiries. Murder has its counterpart among the Kosekin +in cases where one man meets another, forces money on him, and kills +himself. Forgery occurs where one uses another's name so as to confer +money on him.</p> + +<p> +There are many other crimes, all of which are severely punished. The +worse the offence is, the better is the offender treated. Among the +Kosekin capital punishment is imprisonment amid the greatest splendor, +where the prisoner is treated like a king, and has many palaces and +great retinues; for that which we consider the highest they regard as +the lowest, and with them the chief post of honor is what we would +call the lowest menial office. Of course, among such a people, any +suffering from want is unknown, except when it is voluntary. The +pauper class, with all their great privileges, have this restriction, +that they are forced to receive enough for food and clothing. Some, +indeed, manage by living in out-of-the-way places to deprive +themselves of these, and have been known to die of starvation; but +this is regarded as dishonorable, as taking an undue advantage of a +great position, and where it can be proved, the children and relatives +of the offender are severely punished according to the Kosekin +fashion.</p> + +<p> +State politics here move, like individual affairs, upon the great +principle of contempt for earthly things. The state is willing to +destroy itself for the good of other states; but as other states are +in the same position, nothing can result. In times of war the object +of each army is to honor the other and benefit it by giving it the +glory of defeat. The contest is thus most fierce. The Kosekin, through +their passionate love of death, are terrible in battle; and when they +are also animated by the desire to confer glory on their enemies by +defeating them, they generally succeed in their aim. This makes them +almost always victorious, and when they are not so not a soul returns +alive. Their state of mind is peculiar. If they are defeated they +rejoice, since defeat is their chief glory; but if they are victorious +they rejoice still more in the benevolent thought that they have +conferred upon the enemy the joy, the glory, and the honor of defeat.</p> + +<p> +Here all shrink from governing others. The highest wish of each is to +serve. The Meleks and Kohens, whom I at first considered the highest, +are really the lowest orders; next to these come the authors, then the +merchants, then farmers, then artisans, then laborers, and, finally, +the highest rank is reached in the paupers. Happy the aristocratic, +the haughty, the envied paupers! The same thing is seen in their +armies. The privates here are highest in rank, and the officers come +next in different graduations. These officers, however, have the +command and the charge of affairs as with us; yet this is consistent +with their position, for here to obey is considered nobler than to +command. In the fleet the rowers are the highest class; next come the +fighting-men; and lowest of all are the officers. War arises from +motives as peculiar as those which give rise to private feuds; as, for +instance, where one nation tries to force a province upon another; +where they try to make each other greater; where they try to benefit +unduly each other's commerce; where one may have a smaller fleet or +army than has been agreed on, or where an ambassador has been +presented with gifts, or received too great honor or attention.</p> + +<p> +In such a country as this, where riches are disliked and despised, I +could not imagine how people could be induced to engage in trade. +This, however, was soon explained. The laborers and artisans have to +perform their daily work, so as to enable the community to live and +move and have its being. Their impelling motive is the high one of +benefiting others most directly. They refuse anything but the very +smallest pay, and insist on giving for this the utmost possible labor. +Tradesmen also have to supply the community with articles of all +sorts; merchants have to sail their ships to the same end--all being +animated by the desire of effecting the good of others. Each one tries +not to make money, but to lose it; but as the competition is sharp and +universal, this is difficult, and the larger portion are unsuccessful. +The purchasers are eager to pay as much as possible, and the merchants +and traders grow rich in spite of their utmost endeavors. The wealthy +classes go into business so as to lose money, but in this they seldom +succeed. It has been calculated that only two per cent in every +community succeed in reaching the pauper class. The tendency is for +all the labors of the working-class to be ultimately turned upon the +unfortunate wealthy class. The workmen being the creators of wealth, +and refusing to take adequate pay, cause a final accumulation of the +wealth of the community in the hands of the mass of the non-producers, +who thus are fixed in their unhappy position, and can hope for no +escape except by death. The farmers till the ground, the fishermen +fish, the laborers toil, and the wealth thus created is pushed from +these incessantly till it all falls upon the lowest class--namely, the +rich, including Athons, Meleks, and Kohens. It is a burden that is +often too heavy to be borne; but there is no help for it, and the +better-minded seek to cultivate resignation.</p> + +<p> +Women and men are in every respect absolutely equal, holding precisely +the same offices and doing the same work. In general, however, it is +observed that women are a little less fond of death than men, and a +little less unwilling to receive gifts. For this reason they are very +numerous among the wealthy class, and abound in the offices of +administration. Women serve in the army and navy as well as men, and +from their lack of ambition or energetic perseverance they are usually +relegated to the lower ranks, such as officers and generals. To my +mind it seemed as though the women were in all the offices of honor +and dignity, but in reality it was the very opposite. The same is true +in the family. The husbands insist on giving everything to the wives +and doing everything for them. The wives are therefore universally the +rulers of the household while the husbands have an apparently +subordinate, but, to the Kosekin, a more honorable position.</p> + +<p> +As to the religion of the Kosekin, I could make nothing of it. They +believe that after death they go to what they call the world of +darkness. The death they long for leads to the darkness that they +love; and the death and the darkness are eternal. Still, they persist +in saying that the death and the darkness together form a state of +bliss. They are eloquent about the happiness that awaits them there in +the sunless land--the world of darkness; but for my own part, it +always seemed to me a state of nothingness.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XVII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">BELIEF AND UNBELIEF</h4> + + +<p> +The doctor was here interrupted by Featherstone, who, with a yawn, +informed him that it was eleven o'clock, and that human endurance had +its limits. Upon this the doctor rolled up the manuscript and put it +aside for the night, after which supper was ordered.</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Featherstone, "what do you think of this last?"</p> + +<p> +"It contains some very remarkable statements," said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"There are certainly monsters enough in it," said Melick--</p> + +<blockquote> + "'Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.'"</blockquote> + +<p> +"Well, why not?" said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"It seems to me," said Melick, "that the writer of this has peopled +his world with creatures that resemble the fossil animals more than +anything else."</p> + +<p> +"The so-called fossil animals," said the doctor, "may not be extinct. +There are fossil specimens of animals that still have living +representatives. There is no reason why many of those supposed to be +extinct may not be alive now. It is well known that many very +remarkable animals have become extinct within a comparatively recent +period. These great birds, of which More speaks, seem to me to belong +to these classes. The dodo was in existence fifty years ago, the moa +about a hundred years ago. These great birds, together with others, +such as the epiornis and palapteryx, have disappeared, not through the +ordinary course of nature, but by the hand of man. Even in our +hemisphere they may yet be found. Who can tell but that the moa or the +dodo may yet be lurking somewhere here in the interior of Madagascar, +of Borneo, or of Papua?"</p> + +<p> +"Can you make out anything about those great birds?" asked +Featherstone. "Do they resemble anything that exists now, or has ever +existed?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, yes, I think so," said the doctor. "Unfortunately, More is not +at all close or accurate in his descriptions; he has a decidedly +unscientific mind, and so one cannot feel sure; yet from his general +statements I think I can decide pretty nearly upon the nature and the +scientific name of each one of his birds and animals. It is quite +evident to me that most of these animals belong to races that no +longer exist among us, and that this world at the South Pole has many +characteristics which are like those of what is known as the Coal +Period. I allude in particular to the vast forests of fern, of +gigantic grasses and reeds. At the same time the general climate and +the atmosphere seem like what we may find in the tropics at present. +It is evident that in More's world various epochs are represented, and +that animals of different ages are living side by side."</p> + +<p> +"What do you think of the opkuk?" asked Featherstone, with a yawn.</p> + +<p> +"Well, I hardly know."</p> + +<p> +"Why, it must be a dodo, of course," said Melick, "only magnified."</p> + +<p> +"That," said the doctor, gravely, "is a thought that naturally +suggests itself; but then the opkuk is certainly far larger than the +dodo."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, More put on his magnifying-glasses just then."</p> + +<p> +"The dodo," continued the doctor, taking no notice of this, "in other +respects corresponds with More's description of the opkuk. Clusius and +Bontius give good descriptions and there is a well-known picture of +one in the British Museum. It is a massive, clumsy bird, ungraceful in +its form with heavy movements, wings too short for flight, little or +no tail, and down rather than feathers. The body, according to +Bontius, is as big as that of the African ostrich, but the legs are +very short. It has a large head, great black eyes, long bluish-white +bill, ending in a beak like that of a vulture, yellow legs, thick and +short, four toes on each foot solid, long, and armed with sharp black +claws. The flesh particularly on the breast, is fat and esculent. Now, +all this corresponds with More's account, except as to the size of the +two, for the opkuks are as large as oxen."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's nothing," said Melick; "I'm determined to stand up for the +dodo." With this he burst forth singing--</p> + +<blockquote> + "Oh, the dodo once lived, but he doesn't live now;<br> + Yet why should a cloud overshadow our brow?<br> + The loss of that bird ne'er should trouble our brains,<br> + For though he is gone, still our claret remains.<br> +     Sing do-do--jolly do-do!<br> + Hurrah! in his name let our cups overflow." +</blockquote> + +<p> +"As for your definition, doctor," continued Melick, "I'll give you one +worth a dozen of yours:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'Twas a mighty bird; those strong, short legs were never known to fail,<br> + And he felt a glory of pride while thinking of that little tail,<br> + And his beak was marked with vigor, curving like a wondrous hook;<br> + Thick and ugly was his body--such a form as made one look!" +</blockquote> + +<p> +"Melick," said Featherstone, "you're a volatile youth. You mustn't +mind him, doctor. He's a professional cynic, sceptic, and scoffer. +Oxenden and I, however, are open to conviction, and want to know more +about those birds and beasts. Can you make anything out of the +opmahera?"</p> + +<p> +The doctor swallowed a glass of wine, and replied:</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes; there are many birds, each of which may be the opmahera. +There's the fossil bird of Massachusetts, of which nothing is left but +the footprints; but some of these are eighteen inches in length, and +show a stride of two yards. The bird belonged to the order of the +<i>Grallæ</i>, and may have been ten or twelve feet in height. Then there +is the <i>Gastornis parisiensis</i>, which was as tall as an ostrich, as +big as an ox, and belongs to the same order as the other. Then there +is the <i>Palapteryx</i>, of which remains have been found in New Zealand, +which was seven or eight feet in height. But the one which to my mind +is the real counterpart of the opmahera is the <i>Dinornis gigantea</i>, +whose remains are also found in New Zealand. It is the largest bird +known, with long legs, a long neck, and short wings, useless for +flight. One specimen that has been found is upward of thirteen feet in +height. There is no reason why some should not have been much taller. +More compares its height to that of a giraffe. The Maoris call this +bird the <i>Moa</i>, and their legends and traditions are full of mention +of it. When they first came to the island, six or seven hundred years +ago, they found these vast birds everywhere, and hunted them for food. +To my mind the dinornis is the opmahera of More. As to riding on them, +that is likely enough; for ostriches are used for this purpose, and +the dinornis must have been far stronger and fleeter than the ostrich. +It is possible that some of these birds may still be living in the +remoter parts of our hemisphere."</p> + +<p> +"What about those monsters," asked Featherstone, "that More speaks of +in the sacred hunt?"</p> + +<p> +"I think," said the doctor, "that I understand pretty well what they +were, and can identify them all. As the galley passed the estuary +of that great river, you remember that he mentions seeing them on +the shore. One may have been the <i>Ichthyosaurus</i>. This, as the name +implies, is a fish-lizard. It has the head of a lizard, the snout of +a dolphin, the teeth of an alligator, enormous eyes, whose membrane +is strengthened by a bony frame, the vertebræ of fishes, sternum and +shoulder-bones like those of the lizard, and the fins of a whale. +Bayle calls it the whale of the saurians. Another may have been the +<i>Cheirotherium</i>. On account of the hand-shaped marks made by its paws, +Owen thinks that it was akin to the frogs; but it was a formidable +monster, with head and jaws of a crocodile. Another may have been the +<i>Teleosaurus</i>, which resembled our alligators. It was thirty-five feet +in length. Then there was the <i>Hylæosaurus</i>, a monster twenty-five +feet in length, with a cuirass of bony plates."</p> + +<p> +"But none of these correspond with More's description of the monster +that fought with the galley."</p> + +<p> +"No," said the doctor, "I am coming to that now. That monster could +have been no other than the <i>Plesiosaurus</i>, one of the most wonderful +animals that has ever existed. Imagine a thing with the head of a +lizard, the teeth of a crocodile, the neck of a swan, the trunk and +tail of a quadruped, and the fins of a whale. Imagine a whale with its +head and neck consisting of a serpent, with the strength of the former +and the malignant fury of the latter, and then you will have the +plesiosaurus. It was an aquatic animal, yet it had to remain near or +on the surface of the water, while its long, serpent-like neck enabled +it to reach its prey above or below with swift, far-reaching darts. +Yet it had no armor, and could not have been at all a match for the +ichthyosaurus. More's account shows, however, that it was a fearful +enemy for man to encounter."</p> + +<p> +"He seems to have been less formidable than that beast which they +encountered in the swamp. Have you any idea what that was?"</p> + +<p> +"I think it can have been no other than the <i>Iguanodon</i>," said the +doctor. "The remains of this animal show that it must have been the +most gigantic of all primeval saurians. Judging from existing remains +its length was not less than sixty feet, and larger ones may have +existed. It stood high on its legs; the hind ones were larger than the +fore. The feet were massive and armed with tremendous claws. It lived +on the land and fed on herbage. It had a horny, spiky ridge all along +its back. Its tail was nearly as long as its body. Its head was short, +its jaws enormous, furnished with teeth of a very elaborate structure, +and on its muzzle it carried a curved horn. Such a beast as this might +well have caused all that destruction of life on the part of his +desperate assailants of which More speaks.</p> + +<p> +"Then there was another animal," continued the doctor, who was +evidently discoursing upon a favorite topic. "It was the one that came +suddenly upon More while he was resting with Almah after his flight +with the run-away bird. That I take to be the <i>Megalosaurus</i>. This +animal was a monster of tremendous size and strength. Cuvier thought +that it might have been seventy feet in length. It was carnivorous, +and therefore more ferocious than the iguanodon, and more ready to +attack. Its head was like that of a crocodile, its body massive like +that of an elephant, yet larger; its tail was small, and it stood high +on its legs, so that it could run with great speed. It was not covered +with bony armor, but had probably a hide thick enough to serve the +purpose of shell or bone. Its teeth were constructed so as to cut with +their edges, and the movement of the jaws produced the combined effect +of knife and saw, while their inward curve rendered impossible the +escape of prey that had once been caught. It probably frequented +the river banks, where it fed upon reptiles of smaller size which +inhabited the same places.</p> + +<p> +"More," continued the doctor, "is too general in his descriptions. He +has not a scientific mind, and he gives but few data; yet I can bring +before myself very easily all the scenes which he describes, +particularly that one in which the megalosaurus approaches, and he +rushes to mount the dinoris so as to escape. I see that river, with +its trees and shrubs, all unknown now except in museums--the +vegetation of the Coal Period--the lepidodendron, the lepidostrobus, +the pecopteris, the neuropteris, the lonchopteris, the odontopteris, +the sphenopteris, the cyclopteris, the sigellaria veniformis, the +sphenophyllium, the calamites--"</p> + +<p> +Melick started to his feet.</p> + +<p> +"There, there!" he cried, "hold hard, doctor. Talking of calamities, +what greater calamity can there be than such a torrent of unknown +words? Talk English, doctor, and we shall be able to appreciate you; +but to make your jokes, your conundrums, and your brilliant witticisms +in a foreign language isn't fair to us, and does no credit either to +your head or your heart."</p> + +<p> +The doctor elevated his eyebrows, and took no notice of Melick's +ill-timed levity.</p> + +<p> +"All these stories of strange animals," said Oxenden, "may be very +interesting, doctor, but I must say that I am far more struck by +the account of the people themselves. I wonder whether they are an +aboriginal race, or descendants of the same stock from which we came?"</p> + +<p> +"I should say," remarked the doctor, confidently, "that they are, +beyond a doubt, an aboriginal and autochthonous race."</p> + +<p> +"I differ from you altogether," said Oxenden, calmly.</p> + +<p> +"Oh," said the doctor, "there can be no doubt about it. Their +complexion, small stature, and peculiar eyes--their love of darkness, +their singular characteristics, both physical and moral, all go to +show that they can have no connection with the races in our part of +the earth."</p> + +<p> +"Their peculiar eyes," said Oxenden, "are no doubt produced by +dwelling in caves for many generations."</p> + +<p> +"On the contrary," said the doctor, "it is their peculiarity of eye +that makes them dwell in caves."</p> + +<p> +"You are mistaking the cause for the effect, doctor."</p> + +<p> +"Not at all; it is you who are making that mistake."</p> + +<p> +"It's the old debate," said Melick. "As the poet has it:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'Which was first, the egg or the hen?<br> + Tell me, I pray, ye learned men!'" +</blockquote> + +<p> +"There are the eyeless fishes of the great cave of Kentucky," said +Oxenden, "whose eyes have become extinct from living in the dark."</p> + +<p> +"No," cried the doctor; "the fish that have arisen in that lake have +never needed eyes, and have never had them."</p> + +<p> +Oxenden laughed.</p> + +<p> +"Well," said he, "I'll discuss the question with you on different +grounds altogether, and I will show clearly that these men, these +bearded men, must belong to a stock that is nearly related to our own, +or, at least, that they belong to a race of men with whom we are all +very familiar."</p> + +<p> +"I should like very much to have you try it," said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"Very well," said Oxenden. "In the first place, I take their +language."</p> + +<p> +"Their language!"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. More has given us very many words in their language. Now he +himself says that these words had an Arabic sound. He was slightly +acquainted with that language. What will you say if I tell you that +these words are still more like Hebrew?"</p> + +<p> +"Hebrew!" exclaimed the doctor, in amazement.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Hebrew," said Oxenden. "They are all very much like Hebrew +words, and the difference is not greater than that which exists +between the words of any two languages of the Aryan family."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, if you come to philology I'll throw up the sponge," said the +doctor. "Yet I should like to hear what you have to say on that +point."</p> + +<p> +"The languages of the Aryan family," said Oxenden, "have the same +general characteristics, and in all of them the differences that exist +in their most common words are subject to the action of a regular law. +The action of the law is best seen in the changes which take place in +the mutes. These changes are indicated in a summary and comprehensive +way by means of what is called 'Grimm's Law.' Take Latin and English, +for instance. 'Grimm's Law' tells us, among other things, that in +Latin and in that part of English which is of Teutonic origin, a +large number of words are essentially the same, and differ merely in +certain phonetic changes. Take the word 'father.' In Latin, as also +in Greek, it is 'pater.' Now the Latin 'p' in English becomes 'f;' +that is, the thin mute becomes the aspirated mute. The same change +may be seen in the Latin 'piscis,' which in English is 'fish,' and +the Greek 'πυρ' which in English is 'fire.' Again, if the +Latin or Greek word begins with an aspirate, the English word begins +with a medial; thus the Latin 'f' is found responsive to the English +'b,' as in Latin 'fagus,' English 'beech,' Latin 'fero,' English +'bear.' Again, if the Latin or Greek has the medial, the English has +the thin, as in Latin 'duo,' English 'two,' Latin 'genu,' English +'knee.' Now, I find that in many of the words which More mentions this +same 'Grimm's Law' will apply; and I am inclined to think that if they +were spelled with perfect accuracy they would show the same relation +between the Kosekin language and the Hebrew that there is between the +Saxon English and the Latin."</p> + +<p> +The doctor gave a heavy sigh.</p> + +<p> +"You're out of my depth, Oxenden," said he. "I'm nothing of a +philologist."</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" said Featherstone, "I like this. This is equal to your list +of the plants of the Coal Period, doctor. But I say, Oxenden, while +you are about it, why don't you give us a little dose of Anglo-Saxon +and Sanscrit? By Jove! the fellow has Bopp by heart, and yet he +expects us to argue with him."</p> + +<p> +"I have it!" cried Melick. "The Kosekin are the lost Ten Tribes. +Oxenden is feeling his way to that. He is going to make them out to be +all Hebrew; and then, of course, the only conclusion will be that they +are the Ten Tribes, who after a life of strange vicissitudes have +pulled up at the South Pole. It's a wonder More didn't think of +that--or the writer of this yarn, whoever he may be. Well, for my +part, I always took a deep interest in the lost Ten Tribes, and +thought them a fine body of men."</p> + +<p> +"Don't think they've got much of the Jew about them," said +Featherstone, languidly. "They hate riches and all that, you know. +Break a Jew's heart to hear of all that property wasted, and money +going a-begging. Not a bad idea, though, that of theirs about money. +Too much money's a howwid baw, by Jove!"</p> + +<p> +"Well," continued Oxenden, calmly resuming, and taking no notice of +these interruptions, "I can give you word after word that More has +mentioned which corresponds to a kindred Hebrew word in accordance +with 'Grimm's Law.' For instance, Kosekin 'Op,' Hebrew 'Oph;' Kosekin +'Athon,' Hebrew 'Adon;' Kosekin 'Salon,' Hebrew 'Shalom.' They are +more like Hebrew than Arabic, just as Anglo-Saxon words are more like +Latin or Greek than Sanscrit."</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" cried Melick, "we've got him to Sanscrit at last! Now, +Oxenden, my boy, trot out the 'Hitopadesa,' the 'Megha Dhuta,' the +'Rig Veda.' Quote 'Beowulf' and Caedmon. Gives us a little Zeno, and +wind up with 'Lalla Rookh' in modern Persian."</p> + +<p> +"So I conclude," said Oxenden, calmly, ignoring Melick, "that the +Kosekin are a Semitic people. Their complexion and their beards show +them to be akin to the Caucasian race, and their language proves +beyond the shadow of a doubt that they belong to the Semitic branch of +that race. It is impossible for an autochthonous people to have such a +language."</p> + +<p> +"But how," cried the doctor--"how in the name of wonder did they get +to the South Pole?"</p> + +<p> +"Easily enough," interrupted Melick--"Shem landed there from Noah's +ark, and left some of his children to colonize the country. That's as +plain as a pikestaff. I think, on the whole, that this idea is better +than the other one about the Ten Tribes. At any rate they are both +mine, and I warn all present to keep their hands off them, for on my +return I intend to take out a copyright."</p> + +<p> +"There's another thing," continued Oxenden, "which is of immense +importance, and that is their habit of cave-dwelling. I am inclined to +think that they resorted to cave-dwelling at first from some +hereditary instinct or other, and that their eyes and their whole +morals have become affected by this mode of life. Now, as to +ornamented caverns, we have many examples--caverns adorned with a +splendor fully equal to anything among the Kosekin. There are in India +the great Behar caves, the splendid Karli temple with its magnificent +sculptures and imposing architecture, and the cavern-temples of +Elephanta; there are the subterranean works in Egypt, the temple of +Dendera in particular; in Petra we have the case of an entire city +excavated from the rocky mountains; yet, after all, these do not bear +upon the point in question, for they are isolated cases; and even +Petra, though it contained a city, did not contain a nation. But there +is a case, and one which is well known, that bears directly upon this +question, and gives us the connecting link between the Kosekin and +their Semitic brethren in the northern hemisphere."</p> + +<p> +"What is that?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"The Troglodytes," said Oxenden, with impressive solemnity.</p> + +<p> +"Well, and what do you make out of the Troglodytes?"</p> + +<p> +"I will explain," said Oxenden. "The name Trolodytes is given to +various tribes of men, but those best known and celebrated under this +name once inhabited the shores of the Red Sea, both on the Arabian and +the Egyptian side. They belonged to the Arabian race, and were +consequently a Semitic people. Mark that, for it is a point of the +utmost importance. Now, these Troglodytes all lived in caverns, which +were formed partly by art and partly by nature, although art must have +had most to do with the construction of such vast subterranean works. +They lived in great communities in caverns, and they had long tunnels +passing from one community to another. Here also they kept their +cattle. Some of these people have survived even to our own age; for +Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, saw them in Nubia.</p> + +<p> +"The earliest writer who mentions the Troglodytes was Agatharcides, of +Cnidos. According to him they were chiefly herdsmen. Their food was +the flesh of cattle, and their drink a mixture of milk and blood. They +dressed in the skins of cattle; they tattooed their bodies. They were +very swift of foot, and were able to run down wild beasts in the hunt. +They were also greatly given to robbery, and caravans passing to and +fro had to guard against them.</p> + +<p> +"One feature in their character has to my mind a strange significance, +and that is their feelings with regard to death. It was not the +Kosekin love of death, yet it was something which must certainly be +considered as approximating to it. For Agatharcides says that in their +burials they were accustomed to fasten the corpse to a stake, and then +gathering round, to pelt it with stones amid shouts of laughter and +wild merriment. They also used to strangle the old and infirm, so as +to deliver them from the evils of life. These Troglodytes, then, were +a nation of cave-dwellers, loving the dark--not exactly loving death, +yet at any rate regarding it with merriment and pleasure; and so I +cannot help seeing a connection between them and the Kosekin."</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said the doctor, "but how did they get to the South Pole?"</p> + +<p> +"That," said Oxenden, "is a question which I do not feel bound to +answer."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, it is easy enough to answer that," said Melick. "They, of course, +dug through the earth."</p> + +<p> +Oxenden gave a groan.</p> + +<p> +"I think I'll turn in for the night," said he, rising. Upon this the +others rose also and followed his example.</p> + +<p> +On the following morning the calm still continued. None of the party +rose until very late, and then over the breakfast-table they discussed +the manuscript once more, each from his own point of view, Melick +still asserting a contemptuous scepticism--Oxenden and the doctor +giving reasons for their faith, and Featherstone listening without +saying much on either side.</p> + +<p> +At length it was proposed to resume the reading of the manuscript, +which task would now devolve upon Oxenden. They adjourned to the deck, +where all disposed themselves in easy attitudes to listen to the +continuation of More's narrative.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XVIII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">A VOYAGE OVER THE POLE</h4> + + +<p> +The discovery of our love had brought a crisis in our fate for me and +Almah. The Kohen hailed it with joy, for now was the time when he +would be able to present us to the Kohen Gadol. Our doom was certain +and inevitable. We were to be taken to the <i>amir</i>; we were to be kept +until the end of the dark season, and then we were both to be publicly +sacrificed. After this our bodies were to be set apart for the hideous +rites of the <i>Mista Kosek</i>. Such was the fate that lay before us.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen was now anxious to take us to the <i>amir</i>. I might possibly +have persuaded him to postpone our departure, but I saw no use in +that. It seemed better to go, for it was possible that amid new scenes +and among new people there might be hope. This, too, seemed probable +to Almah, who was quite anxious to go. The Kohen pressed forward the +preparations, and at length a galley was ready for us.</p> + +<p> +This galley was about three hundred feet in length and fifty in width, +but not more than six feet in depth. It was like a long raft. The +rowers, two hundred in number, sat on a level with the water, one +hundred on each side. The oars were small, being not more than twelve +feet in length, but made of very light, tough material, with very +broad blades. The galley was steered with broad-bladed paddles at both +ends. There was no mast or sail. Astern was a light poop, surrounded +by a pavilion, and forward there was another. At the bow there was +a projecting platform, used chiefly in fighting the <i>thannin</i>, or +sea-monsters, and also in war. There were no masts or flags or gay +streamers; no brilliant colors; all was intensely black, and the +ornaments were of the same hue.</p> + +<p> +We were now treated with greater reverence than ever, for we were +looked upon as the recipients of the highest honor that could fall to +any of the Kosekin--namely, the envied dignity of a public death. As +we embarked the whole city lined the public ways, and watched us from +the quays, from boats, and from other galleys. Songs were sung by a +chosen choir of paupers, and to the sound of this plaintive strain we +moved out to sea.</p> + +<p> +"This will be a great journey for me," said the Kohen, as we left the +port. "I hope to be made a pauper at least, and perhaps gain the honor +of a public death. I have known people who have gained death for less. +There was an Athon last year who attacked a pehmet with forty men +and one hundred and twenty rowers. All were killed or drowned except +himself. In reward for this he gained the <i>mudecheb</i>, or death +recompense. In addition to this he was set apart for the <i>Mista Kosek</i>."</p> + +<p> +"Then, with you, when a man procures the death of others he is +honored?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, yes; how could it be otherwise?" said the Kohen. "Is it not the +same with you? Have you not told me incredible things about your +people, among which there were a few that seemed natural and +intelligible? Among these was your system of honoring above all men +those who procure the death of the largest number. You, with your +pretended fear of death, wish to meet it in battle as eagerly as we +do, and your most renowned men are those who have sent most to death."</p> + +<p> +To this strange remark I had no answer to make.</p> + +<p> +The air out at sea now grew chillier. The Kohen noticed it also, and +offered me his cloak, which I refused. He seemed surprised, and +smiled.</p> + +<p> +"You are growing like one of us," said he. "You will soon learn that +the greatest happiness in life is to do good to others and sacrifice +yourself. You already show this in part. When you are with Almah you +act like one of the Kosekin. You watch her to see and anticipate her +slightest wish; you are eager to give her everything. She, on the +other hand, is equally eager to give up all to you. Each one of you is +willing to lay down life for the other. You would gladly rush upon +death to save her from harm, much as you pretend to fear death; and so +I see that with Almah you will soon learn how sweet a thing death may +be."</p> + +<p> +"To live without her," said I, "would be so bitter that death with her +would indeed be sweet. If I could save her life by laying down my own, +death would be sweeter still; and not one of you Kosekin would meet it +so gladly."</p> + +<p> +The Kosekin smiled joyously.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou +hast transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of +us altogether. For see, how is it now? You pretend to love riches and +life, and yet you are ready to give up everything for Almah."</p> + +<p> +"Gladly, gladly!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," he said, "all that you have--you would gladly lavish on her, +and would rejoice to make yourself a pauper for her sweet sake. You +also would rejoice equally to give up life for her. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p> +"It is," said I.</p> + +<p> +"Then I see by this that Almah has awakened within you your true human +nature. Thus far it has lain dormant; it has been concealed under a +thousand false and unnatural habits, arising from your strange native +customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where +nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and +with Almah you are like the Kosekin. Soon you will learn new lessons, +and will find out that there is a new and a final self-abnegation in +perfect love; and your love will never rest till you have separated +yourself from Almah, so that love can have its perfect work."</p> + +<p> +The sea now opened wide before us, rising up high as if half-way to +the zenith, giving the impression of a vast ascent to endless +distances. Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy +outlines of the mountains; above was the sky, all clear, with faint +aurora-flashes and gleaming stars. Hand-in-hand with Almah I stood and +pointed out the constellations as we marked them while she told me of +the different divisions known among the Kosekin as well as her own +people. There, high in the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not +exactly at the pole, nor yet of very great brightness, but still +sufficiently noticeable.</p> + +<p> +Looking back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phœnix and the Crane; +higher up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was +the beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were +the Sword-fish and the Flying-fish. Turning to look forward, we beheld +a more splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between +the Centaur, which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there +blazed the bright stars of the Southern Cross--a constellation, if not +the brightest, at least the most conspicuous and attractive in all the +heavens. All around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then, +over the stern, gleamed the splendid lustre of Achernar, on the left +the brilliant glow of α Robur and Canopus, and low down before +us the bright light of Argo. It was a scene full of splendor +and fascination. After a time a change came over the sky: the +aurora-flashes, at first faint, gradually increased in brilliancy till +the stars grew dim, and all the sky, wherever the eye might turn from +the horizon to the zenith, seemed filled with lustrous flames of every +conceivable hue. Colossal beams radiated from the pole toward the +horizon till the central light was dissipated, and there remained +encircling us an infinite colonnade of flaming pillars that towered +to the stars. These were all in motion, running upon one another, +incessantly shifting and changing; new scenes forever succeeded to +old; pillars were transformed to pyramids, pyramids to fiery bars; +these in their turn were transformed to other shapes, and all the +while one tint of innumerable hues overspread the entire circle of +the sky.</p> + +<p> +Our voyage occupied several <i>joms</i>; but our progress was continuous, +for different sets of rowers relieved one another at regular +intervals. On the second <i>jom</i> a storm broke out. The sky had been +gathering clouds during sleeping-time, and when we awoke we found the +sea all lashed to fury, while all around the darkness was intense. The +storm grew steadily worse; the lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, +and at length the sea was so heavy that rowing was impossible. Upon +this the oars were all taken in, and the galley lay tossing upon the +furious sea, amid waves that continually beat upon her.</p> + +<p> +And now a scene ensued that filled me with amazement, and took +away all my thoughts from the storm. It seemed impossible that so +frail a bark could stand the fury of the waves. Destruction was +inevitable, and I was expecting to see the usual signs of grief +and despair--wondering, too, how these rowers would preserve their +subordination. But I had forgotten in my excitement the strange +nature of the Kosekin. Instead of terror there was joy, instead of +wild despair there was peace and serene delight.</p> + +<p> +The lightning-flashes revealed a wonderful scene. There were all the +rowers, each one upon his seat, and from them all there came forth +a chant which was full of triumph, like a song of public welcome to +some great national hero, or a song of joy over victory. The officers +embraced one another and exchanged words of delight. The Kohen, after +embracing all the others, turned to me, and, forgetting my foreign +ways, exclaimed, in a tone of enthusiastic delight,</p> + +<p> +"We are destroyed! Death is near! Rejoice!"</p> + +<p> +Accustomed as I was to the perils of the sea, I had learned to face +death without flinching. Almah, too, was calm, for to her this death +seemed preferable to that darker fate which awaited us; but the words +of the Kohen jarred upon my feelings.</p> + +<p> +"Do you not intend to do anything to save the ship?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +He laughed joyously.</p> + +<p> +"There's no occasion," said he. "When the oars are taken in we always +begin to rejoice. And why not? Death is near--it is almost certain. +Why should we do anything to distract our minds and mar our joy? For +oh, dear friend, the glorious time has come when we can give up +life--life, with all its toils, its burdens, its endless bitternesses, +its perpetual evils. Now we shall have no more suffering from +vexatious and oppressive riches, from troublesome honors, from a +surplus of food, from luxuries and delicacies, and all the ills of +life."</p> + +<p> +"But what is the use of being born at all?" I asked, in a wonder that +never ceased to rise at every fresh display of Kosekin feeling.</p> + +<p> +"The use?" said the Kohen. "Why, if we were not born, how could we +know the bliss of dying, or enjoy the sweetness of death? Death is the +end of being--the one sweet hope and crown and glory of life, the one +desire and hope of every living man. The blessing is denied to none. +Rejoice with me, oh Atam-or! you will soon know its blessedness as +well as I."</p> + +<p> +He turned away. I held Almah in my arms, and we watched the storm by +the lightning-flashes and waited for the end. But the end came not. +The galley was light, broad, and buoyant as a life-boat; at the same +time it was so strongly constructed that there was scarcely any twist +or contortion in the sinewy fabric. So we floated buoyantly and safely +upon the summit of vast waves, and a storm that would have destroyed +a ship of the European fashion scarcely injured this in the slightest +degree. It was an indestructible as a raft and as buoyant as a bubble; +so we rode out the gale, and the death which the Kosekin invoked did +not come at all.</p> + +<p> +The storm was but short-lived; the clouds dispersed, and soon went +scudding over the sky; the sea went down. The rowers had to take their +oars once more, and the reaction that followed upon their recent +rejoicing was visible in universal gloom and dejection. As the clouds +dispersed the aurora lights came out more splendid than ever, and +showed nothing but melancholy faces. The rowers pulled with no life or +animation; the officers stood about sighing and lamenting; Almah and I +were the only ones that rejoiced over this escape from death.</p> + +<p> +<i>Joms</i> passed. We saw other sights; we met with galleys and saw many +ships about the sea. Some were moved by sails only; these were +merchant ships, but they had only square sails, and could not sail in +any other way than before the wind. Once or twice I caught glimpses +of vast shadowy objects in the air. I was startled and terrified; +for, great as were the wonders of this strange region, I had not yet +suspected that the air itself might have denizens as tremendous as the +land or the sea. Yet so it was, and afterward during the voyage I saw +them often. One in particular was so near that I observed it with +ease. It came flying along in the same course with us, at a height of +about fifty feet from the water. It was a frightful monster, with a +long body and vast wings like those a bat. Its progress was swift, and +it soon passed out of sight. To Almah the monster created no surprise; +she was familiar with them, and told me that they were very abundant +here, but that they never were known to attack ships. She informed me +that they were capable of being tamed if caught when young, though in +her country they were never made use of. The name given by the Kosekin +to these monsters is <i>athaleb</i>.</p> + +<p> +At length we drew near to our destination. We reached a large harbor +at the end of a vast bay: here the mountains extended around, and +before us there arose terrace after terrace of twinkling lights +running away to immense distances. It looked like a city of a million +inhabitants, though it may have contained far less than that. By the +brilliant aurora light I could see that it was in general shape and +form precisely like the city that we had left, though far larger and +more populous. The harbor was full of ships and boats of all sorts, +some lying at the stone quays, others leaving port, others entering. +Galleys passed and repassed, and merchant ships with their clumsy +sails, and small fishing-boats. From afar arose the deep hum of a vast +multitude and the low roar that always ascends from a popular city.</p> + +<p> +The galley hauled alongside her wharf, and we found ourselves at +length in the mighty <i>amir</i> of the Kosekin. The Kohen alone landed; +the rest remained on board, and Almah and I with them.</p> + +<p> +Other galleys were here. On the wharf workmen were moving about. Just +beyond were caverns that looked like warehouses. Above these was a +terraced street, where a vast multitude moved to and fro--a living +tide as crowded and as busy as that in Cheapside.</p> + +<p> +After what seemed a long time the Kohen returned. This time he came +with a number of people, all of whom were in cars drawn by opkuks. +Half were men and half women. These came aboard, and it seemed as +though we were to be separated; for the women took Almah, while the +men took me. Upon this I entreated the Kohen not to separate us. I +informed him that we were both of a different race from his, that we +did not understand their ways; we should be miserable if separated.</p> + +<p> +I spoke long and with all the entreaty possible to one with my limited +acquaintance with the language. My words evidently impressed them: +some of them even wept.</p> + +<p> +"You make us sad," said the Kohen. "Willingly would we do everything +that you bid, for we are your slaves; but the state law prevents. +Still, in your case, the law will be modified; for you are in such +honor here that you may be considered as beyond the laws. For the +present, at least, we cannot separate you."</p> + +<p> +These words brought much consolation. After this we landed, and Almah +and I were still together.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XIX</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE WONDERS OF THE "AMIR"</h4> + + +<p> +We were drawn on cars up to the first terraced street, and here we +found the vast multitude which we had seen from a distance. Crossing +this street, we ascended and came to another precisely like it; then, +still going on, we came to a third. Here there was an immense space, +not overgrown with trees like the streets, but perfectly open. In the +midst arose a lofty pyramid, and as I looked at it I could not refrain +from shuddering; for it looked like the public altar, upon which in +due time I should be compelled to make my appearance, and be offered +up as a victim to the terrific superstitions of the Kosekin.</p> + +<p> +Crossing this great square, we came to a vast portal, which opened +into a cavern with twinkling lights. The city itself extended above +this, for we could see the terraced streets rising above our heads; +but here our progress ended at the great cavern in the chief square, +opposite the pyramid.</p> + +<p> +On entering the cavern we traversed an antechamber, and then passing +on we reached a vast dome, of dimensions so great that I could +perceive no end in that gloom. The twinkling lights served only to +disclose the darkness and to indicate the immensity of the cavern. In +the midst there arose two enormous columns, which were lost in the +gloom above.</p> + +<p> +It was only by passing through this that we learned its great extent. +We at length came to the other end, and here we saw numerous passages +leading away. The Kohen led us through one of these, and after passing +through several other domes of smaller dimensions we at length reached +an apartment where we stopped. This place was furnished with couches +and hangings, and lighted with flaming lamps. The light was +distressing to those who had accompanied us, and many of them left, +while the few who remained had to cover their eyes. Here we found that +all preparations had been made. The apartments were all illuminated, +though our love of light never ceased to be a matter of amazement to +the Kosekin, and a bounteous repast was spread for us. But the Kohen +and the others found the light intolerable, and soon left us to +ourselves.</p> + +<p> +After the repast some women appeared to take Almah to her chamber, +and, with the usual kindness of the Kosekin, they assured her that she +would not be expected to obey the law of separation, but that she was +to remain here, where she would be always within reach of me.</p> + +<p> +After her departure there came to visit me the lowest man in all the +land of the Kosekin, though, according to our view, he would be +esteemed the highest. This was the <i>Kohen Gadol</i>. His history +had already been told me. I had learned that through lack of Kosekin +virtue he had gradually sunk to this position, and now was compelled +to hold in his hands more wealth, power, and display than any other +man in the nation.</p> + +<p> +He was a man of singular appearance. The light was not so troublesome +to him as to the others--he merely kept his eyes shaded; but he +regarded me with a keen look of inquiry that was suggestive of +shrewdness and cunning. I confess it was with a feeling of relief +that I made this discovery; for I longed to find someone among this +singular people who was selfish, who feared death, who loved life, who +loved riches, and had something in common with me. This I thought I +perceived in the shrewd, cunning face of the Kohen Gadol, and I was +glad; for I saw that while he could not possibly be more dangerous to +me than those self-sacrificing, self-denying cannibals whom I had thus +far known, he might prove of some assistance, and might help me to +devise means of escape. If I could only find someone who was a coward, +and selfish and avaricious--if this Kohen Gadol could but be he--how +much brighter my life would be! And so there happened to me an +incredible thing, that my highest wish was now to find in the Kohen +Gadol cowardice, avarice, and selfishness.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen was accompanied by a young female, richly attired, who, I +afterward learned, was his daughter. Her name was Layelah, and she +filled the office of <i>Malca</i>, which signifies queen; and though +honorable with us above all, is among the Kosekin the lowest in the +land. Layelah was so beautiful that I looked at her in amazement. She +was very tall for one of the Kosekin, which made her stature equal +to that of an ordinary girl with us; her hair was rich, dark and +luxuriant, gathered about her head in great masses and bound by a +golden band. Her features were delicate and perfect in their outline; +her expression was noble and commanding. Her eyes were utterly unlike +those of the other Kosekin; the upper lids had a slight droop, but +that was all, and that was the nearest approach to the national blink. +Her first entrance into the room seemed to dazzle her, and she shaded +her eyes for a few moments, but after that she looked at me fixedly, +and seemed to suffer no more inconvenience than I did. The perfect +liberty of women among the Kosekin made this visit from her quite as +natural as that of her father; and though she said but little on this +occasion, she was an attentive listener and close observer.</p> + +<p> +Their visit was long, for they were evidently full of curiosity. They +had heard much about me and wished to see more. It was the first time +that I had found among the Kosekin the slightest desire to know where +I had come from. Hitherto all had been content with the knowledge +that I was a foreigner. Now, however, I found in the Kohen Gadol and +Layelah a curiosity that was most eager and intense. They questioned +me about my country, about the great world beyond the mountains, about +the way in which I had come here, about the manners and customs of my +countrymen. They were eager to know about those great nations of which +I spoke, who loved light and life; about men who loved themselves +better than others; of that world where men feared death and loved +life, and sought after riches and lived in the light.</p> + +<p> +The sleeping-time came and passed, and my visitors were still full of +eager questionings. It was Layelah who at last thought of the lateness +of the hour. At a word from her the Kohen Gadol rose, with many +apologies, and prepared to go. But before he left he said:</p> + +<p> +"When I was a child I was shipwrecked, and was taken up a ship which +conveyed me to a nation beyond the sea. There I grew up to manhood. I +learned their language and manners and customs, and when I returned +home I found myself an alien here: I do not love darkness or death, I +do not hate riches, and the result is that I am what I am. If I were +like the rest of my countrymen, my lot would make me miserable; but as +it is I prefer it to any other, and consider myself not the lowest but +the greatest in the land. My daughter is like me, and instead of being +ashamed of her station she is proud of it, and would not give it up +even to become a pauper. I will see you again. I have much to say."</p> + +<p> +With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving +me more hopeful than I had been for a long time.</p> + +<p> +For many <i>joms</i> following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and +from Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these +other visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other +Kosekin, that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she +might wish to be with me. Their visits were always long, and we +had much to say; but what I lost of sleep I always made up on the +following <i>jom</i>. The Kohen Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face, +interested me greatly; but Layelah, with her proud face and air of +command, was a positive wonder.</p> + +<p> +I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of +advanced views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical," +it matters not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings +differed from those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal +to a revolution in politics and morals.</p> + +<p> +The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without +which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but +they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had +to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with +vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to +have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and +in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of +the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly, +notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar +doctrines. These were formulated as follows:</p> + +<pre> + 1. A man should not love others better than himself. + 2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of. + 3. Other things are to be preferred to death. + 4. Poverty is not the best state for man. + 5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness. + 6. Lovers may sometimes marry. + 7. To serve is not more honorable than to command. + 8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory. + 9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence. + 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of + wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich. +</pre> + +<p> +These articles were considered both by the Kohen Gadol and by Layelah +to be remarkable for their audacity, and were altogether too advanced +for mention by any except the chosen few. With the multitude he had to +deal differently, and had to work his way by concealing his opinions. +He had made a great conspiracy, in which he was still engaged, and had +gained immense numbers of adherents by allowing them to give him their +whole wealth. Through his assistance many Athons and Kohens and Meleks +had become artisans laborers, and even paupers; but all were bound by +him to the strictest secrecy. If anyone should divulge the secret, it +would be ruin to him and to many others; for they would at once be +punished by the bestowal of the extremest wealth, by degradation to +the rank of rulers and commanders, and by the severest rigors of +luxury, power, splendor, and magnificence known among the Kosekin. +Overwhelmed thus with the cares of government, crushed under the +weight of authority and autocratic rule, surrounded by countless +slaves all ready to die for them, their lives would be embittered +and their punishment would be more than they could bear. But the +philosophic Kohen Gadol dared all these punishments, and pursued his +way calmly and pertinaciously.</p> + +<p> +Nothing surprised the Kohen Gadol so much as the manner in which I +received his confidences. He half expected to startle me by his +boldness, but was himself confounded by my words. I told him that in +my country self was the chief consideration, self-preservation the law +of nature; death the King of Terrors; wealth the object of universal +search, poverty the worst of evils; unrequited love nothing less than +anguish and despair; to command others the highest glory; victory, +honor; defeat, intolerable shame; and other things of the same sort, +all of which sounded in his ears, as he said, with such tremendous +force that they were like peals of thunder. He shook his head +despondently; he could not believe that such views as mine could ever +be attained to among the Kosekin. But Layelah was bolder, and with all +a woman's impetuosity grasped at my fullest meaning and held it firm.</p> + +<p> +"He is right," said Layelah--"the heaven-born Atam-or. He shall be our +teacher. The rich shall be esteemed, the poor shall be down-trodden; +to rule over others shall be glorious, to serve shall be base; victory +shall be an honor, defeat a shame; selfishness, self-seeking, luxury, +and indulgence shall be virtues; poverty, want, and squalor shall be +things of abhorrence and contempt."</p> + +<p> +The face of Layelah glowed with enthusiasm as she said these words, +and I saw in her a daring, intrepid, and high-hearted woman, full of a +woman's headlong impetuosity and disregard of consequences. In me she +saw one who seemed to her like a prophet and teacher of a new order +of things, and her whole soul responded to the principles which I +announced. It required immense strength of mind and firmness of soul +to separate herself from the prevalent sentiment of her nation; and +though nature had done much for her in giving her a larger portion of +original selfishness than was common to her people, still she was a +child of the Kosekin, and her daring was all the more remarkable. And +so she went further than her father, and adopted my extreme views when +he shrank back, and dared more unflinchingly the extremest rigors of +the national law, and all that the Kosekin could inflict in the way of +wealth, luxury, supreme command, palatial abodes, vast retinues of +slaves, and the immense degradation of the queenly office.</p> + +<p> +I spoke to her in a warning voice about her rashness.</p> + +<p> +"Oh," said she, "I have counted the cost, and am ready to accept all +that they can inflict. I embrace the good cause, and will not give it +up--no, not even if they could increase my wealth a thousand-fold, +and sentence me to live a hundred seasons. I can bear their utmost +inflictions of wealth, power, magnificence; I could even bear being +condemned to live forever in the light. Oh, my friend, it is the +conviction of right and the support of conscience that strengthens one +to bear the greatest evils that man can inflict."</p> + +<p> +From these words it was evident to me that Layelah was a true child of +the Kosekin; for though she was of advanced sentiments she still used +the language of her people, and spoke of the punishments of the law as +though they were punishments in reality. Now, to me and to Almah these +so-called punishments seemed rewards.</p> + +<p> +It was impossible for me to avoid feeling a very strong regard for +this enthusiastic and beautiful girl; all the more, indeed, because +she evinced such an undisguised admiration for me. She evidently +considered me some superior being, from some superior race; and +although my broken and faulty way of speaking the language was +something of a trial, still she seemed to consider every word I +uttered as a maxim of the highest wisdom. The tritest of truths, the +commonest of platitudes, the most familiar of proverbs or old saws +current among us were eagerly seized by Layelah, and accepted as +truths almost divine--as new doctrines for the guidance of the human +race. These she would discuss with me; she would put them into better +and more striking language, and ask for my opinion. Then she would +write them down.</p> + +<p> +For the Kosekin knew the art of writing. They had an alphabet of their +own, which was at once simple and very scientific. There were no +vowels, but only consonant sounds, the vowels being supplied in +reading, just as if one should write the words <i>fthr</i> or <i>dghtr</i>, and +read them father and daughter. Their letters were as follows: P, K, T, +B, G, D, F, Ch, Th, M, L, N, S, H, R. There were also three others, +which have no equivalents in English.</p> + +<p> +It soon became evident to me that Layelah had a complete ascendancy +over her father; that she was not only the Malca of the <i>amir</i>, but +the presiding spirit and the chief administrative genius of the whole +nation of the Kosekin. She seemed to be a new Semiramis--one who might +revolutionize an empire and introduce a new order of things. Such, +indeed, was her high ambition, and she plainly avowed it to me; but +what was more, she frankly informed me that she regarded me as a +Heaven-sent teacher--as one who in this darkness could tell her of the +nations of light--who could instruct her in the wisdom of other and +greater races, and help her to accomplish her grand designs.</p> + +<p> +As for Almah, she seemed quite beneath the notice of the aspiring +Layelah. She never noticed her, she never spoke of her, and she always +made her visits to me after Almah had gone.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XX</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE DARK MAIDEN LAYELAH</h4> + + +<p> +Layelah at length began to make pointed remarks about Almah.</p> + +<p> +"She loves you," said she, "and you love her. How is it that you do +not give each other up?"</p> + +<p> +"I would die rather than give up Almah," said I.</p> + +<p> +Layelah smiled. "That sounds strange to the Kosekin," said she, "for +here to give up your love and to die are both esteemed the greatest +possible blessings. But Almah should give you up. It is the women with +us who make the beginning. Women generally fall in love first, and it +is expected that they will tell their love first. The delicacy of a +woman's feelings makes this natural, for if a man tells his love to a +woman who does not love him, it shocks her modesty; while if a woman +tells a man, he has no modesty to shock."</p> + +<p> +"That is strange," said I; "but suppose the man does not love the +woman?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, no woman wants to be loved; she only wants to love."</p> + +<p> +At this I felt somewhat bewildered.</p> + +<p> +"That," said Layelah, "is unrequited love, which is the chief blessing +here, though for my part I am a philosopher, and would wish when I +love to be loved in return."</p> + +<p> +"And then," said I, "if so, would you give up your lover, in +accordance with the custom of your country?"</p> + +<p> +Layelah's dark eyes rested on me for a moment with a glance of intense +earnestness and profound meaning. She drew a long breath, and then +said, in a low, tremulous voice,</p> + +<p> +"Never!"</p> + +<p> +Layelah was constantly with me, and at length used to come at an +earlier time, when Almah was present. Her manner toward Almah was full +of the usual Kosekin courtesy and gracious cordiality. She was still +intent upon learning from me the manners, customs, and principles of +action of the race to which I belonged. She had an insatiable thirst +for knowledge, and her curiosity extended to all of those great +inventions which are the wonder of Christendom. Locomotives and +steamboats were described to her under the names of "horses of fire" +and "ships of fire"; printing was "letters of power"; the electric +telegraph, "messages of lightning"; the organ, "lute of giants," +and so on. Yet, in spite of the eagerness with which she made her +inquiries, and the diligence with which she noted all down, I could +see that there was in her mind something lying beneath it all--a far +more earnest purpose, and a far more personal one, than the pursuit of +useful knowledge.</p> + +<p> +Layelah was watchful of Almah; she seemed studying her to see how far +this woman of another race differed from the Kosekin. She would often +turn from me and talk with Almah for a long time, questioning her +about her people and their ways. Almah's manner was somewhat reserved, +and it was rendered somewhat more so from the fact that her mind was +always full of the prospect of our impending doom. Each <i>jom</i> as it +came and went brought us nearer to that awful time, and the hour was +surely coming when we should be taken to the outer square and to the +top of the pyramid of sacrifice.</p> + +<p> +Once Layelah sat for some time silent and involved in thought. At +length she began to speak to me.</p> + +<p> +"Almah," said she, "is very different from us. She loves you and you +love her. She ought to give you up. Almah, you ought to give up +Atam-or, since you love him."</p> + +<p> +Almah looked confused, and made some reply to the effect that she +belonged to a different race with different customs.</p> + +<p> +"But you should follow our customs. You are one of us now. You can +easily find another who will take him."</p> + +<p> +Almah threw a piteous glance at me and said nothing.</p> + +<p> +"I," said Layelah, "will take him."</p> + +<p> +She spoke these words with an air of magnanimity, as though putting it +in the light of a favor to Almah; but Almah did not make any reply, +and after some silence Layelah spoke of something else.</p> + +<p> +Not long after we were alone together, and Layelah returned to the +subject. She referred to Almah's want of sympathy with the manners of +the Kosekin, and asserted that she ought to aim after a separation.</p> + +<p> +"I love her," said I, with great warmth, "and will never give her up."</p> + +<p> +"But she must give you up; it is the woman's place to take the first +step. I should be willing to take you."</p> + +<p> +As Layelah said this she looked at me very earnestly, as if anxious to +see how I accepted this offer. It was for me a most embarrassing +moment. I loved Almah, but Layelah also was most agreeable, and I +liked her very much; indeed, so much so that I could not bear to say +anything that might hurt her feelings. Among all the Kosekin there was +not one who was not infinitely inferior to her in my eyes. Still, I +loved Almah, and I told her so again, thinking that in this way I +might repel her without giving offence.</p> + +<p> +But Layelah was quite ready with her reply.</p> + +<p> +"If you love Almah," said she, "that is the very reason why you should +marry me."</p> + +<p> +This made me feel more embarrassed than ever.</p> + +<p> +I stammered something about my own feelings--the manners and customs +of my race--and the fear that I had of acting against my own +principles. "Besides," I added, "I'm afraid it would make you +unhappy."</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said Layelah, briskly; "on the contrary, it would make me +very happy indeed."</p> + +<p> +I began to be more and more aghast at this tremendous frankness, and +was utterly at a loss what to say.</p> + +<p> +"My father," continued Layelah, "is different from the other Kosekin, +and so am I. I seek requital for love, and do not think it an evil."</p> + +<p> +A sudden thought now suggested itself, and I caught at it as a last +resort.</p> + +<p> +"You have," said I, "some lover among the Kosekin. Why do you not +marry him?"</p> + +<p> +Layelah smiled.</p> + +<p> +"I have no lover that I love," said she, "among the Kosekin."</p> + +<p> +My feeble effort was thus a miserable failure. I was about saying +something concerning the Kosekin alphabet or something else of an +equally appropriate nature, when she prevented me.</p> + +<p> +"Atam-or," said she, in a low voice.</p> + +<p> +"Layelah," said I, with my mind full of confusion.</p> + +<p> +"I love you!"</p> + +<p> +She sat looking at me with her beautiful face all aglow her dark eyes +fixed on mine with an intense and eager gaze. I looked at her and said +not one single word. Layelah was the first to break the awkward +silence.</p> + +<p> +"You love Almah, Atam-or; but say, do you not love me? You smile at +me, you meet me always when I come with warm greetings, and you seem +to enjoy yourself in my society. Say, Atam-or, do you not love me?"</p> + +<p> +This was a perilous and a tremendous moment. The fact is, I did like +Layelah very much indeed, and I wanted to tell her so; but my +ignorance of the language did not allow me to observe those nice +distinctions of meaning which exist between the words "like" and +"love." I knew no other word than the one Kosekin word meaning "love," +and could not think of any meaning "like." It was, therefore, a very +trying position for me.</p> + +<p> +"Dear Layelah," said I, floundering and stammering in my confusion, "I +love you; I--"</p> + +<p> +But here I was interrupted without waiting for any further words; the +beautiful creature flung her arms around me and clung to me with a +fond embrace. As for me, I was utterly confounded, bewildered, and +desperate. I thought of my darling Almah, whom alone I loved. It +seemed at that moment as though I was not only false to her, but as if +I was even endangering her life. My only thought now was to clear up +my meaning.</p> + +<p> +"Dear Layelah," said I, as I sat with her arms around me, and with my +own around her slender waist, "I do not want to hurt your feelings."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or! oh, my love! never, never did I know such bliss as +this."</p> + +<p> +Here again I was overwhelmed, but I still persisted in my effort.</p> + +<p> +"Dear Layelah," said I, "I love Almah most dearly and most tenderly."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or, why speak of that? I know it well. And so by our Kosekin +law you give her up; among us, lovers never marry. So you take me, +your own Layelah, and you will have me for your bride; and my love for +you is ten thousand times stronger than that of the cold and +melancholy Almah. She may marry my papa."</p> + +<p> +This suggestion filled me with dismay.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said I. "Never, never will I give up Almah!"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly not," said Layelah; "you do not give her up--she gives you +up."</p> + +<p> +"She never will," said I.</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "I will tell her that you wish it."</p> + +<p> +"I do not wish it," said I. "I love her, and will never give her up."</p> + +<p> +"It's all the same," said Layelah. "You cannot marry her at all. No +one will marry you. You and Almah are victims and the State has given +you the matchless honor of death. Common people who love one another +may marry if they choose, and take the punishment which the law +assigns but illustrious victims who love cannot marry, and so, my +Atam-or, you have only me."</p> + +<p> +I need not say that all this was excessively embarrassing I was +certainly fond of Layelah, and liked her too much to hurt her +feelings. Had I been one of the Kosekin I might perhaps have managed +better; but being a European, a man of the Aryan race--being such, and +sitting there with the beautiful Layelah lavishing all her affections +upon me--why, it stands to reason that I could not have the heart to +wound her feelings in any way. I was taken at an utter disadvantage. +Never in my life had I heard of women taking the initiative. Layelah +had proposed to me, she would not listen to refusal, and I had not the +heart to wound her. I had made all the fight I could by persisting in +asserting my love for Almah, but all my assertions were brushed +lightly aside as trivial things.</p> + +<p> +Let any gentleman put himself in my situation, and ask himself what he +would do. What would he do if such a thing could happen to him at +home? But there such a thing could not happen, and so there is no use +in supposing an impossible case. At any rate I think I deserve +sympathy. Who could keep his presence of mind under such +circumstances? With us a young lady who loves one man can easily repel +another suitor; but here it was very different, for how could I repel +Layelah? Could I turn upon her and say "Unhand me"? Could I say "Away! +I am another's"? Of course I couldn't; and what's worse, if I had said +such things Layelah would have smiled me down into silence. The fact +is, it doesn't do for women to take the initiative--it's not fair. I +had stood a good deal among the Kosekin. Their love of darkness, their +passion for death, their contempt of riches, their yearning after +unrequited love, their human sacrifices, their cannibalism, all had +more or less become familiar to me, and I had learned to acquiesce in +silence; but now when it came to this--that a woman should propose to +a man--it really was more than a fellow could stand. I felt this at +that moment very forcibly; but then the worst of it was that Layelah +was so confoundedly pretty, and had such a nice way with her, that +hang me if I knew what to say.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Layelah was not silent; she had all her wits about her.</p> + +<p> +"Dear papa," said she, "would make such a nice husband for Almah. He +is a widower, you know. I could easily persuade him to marry her. He +always does whatever I ask him to do."</p> + +<p> +"But victims cannot marry, you said."</p> + +<p> +"No," said Layelah, sweetly, "they cannot marry one another, but Almah +may marry dear papa, and then you and I can be married, and it will be +all very nice indeed."</p> + +<p> +At this I started away.</p> + +<p> +"No," said I, indignantly, "it won't be nice. I'm engaged to be +married to Almah, and I'm not going to give her up."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, but she gives you up, you know," said Layelah, quietly.</p> + +<p> +"Well, but I'm not going to be given up."</p> + +<p> +"Why, how unreasonable you are, you foolish boy!" said Layelah, in her +most caressing manner. "You have nothing at all to do with it."</p> + +<p> +At this I was in fresh despair, and then a new thought came, which I +seized upon.</p> + +<p> +"See here," said I, "why can't I marry both of you? I'm engaged to +Almah, and I love her better than all the world. Let me marry her and +you too."</p> + +<p> +At this Layelah laughed long and merrily. Peal after peal of laughter, +musical and most merry, burst from her. It was contagious; I could not +help joining in, and so we both sat laughing. It was a long time +before we regained our self-control.</p> + +<p> +"Why, that's downright bigamy!" exclaimed Layelah with fresh laughter. +"Why, Atam-or, you're mad!" and so she went off again in fresh peals +of laughter. It was evident that my proposal was not at all shocking, +but simply comical, ridiculous, and inconceivable in its absurdity. It +was to her what the remark of some despairing beauty would be among us +who, when pressed by two lovers should express a confused willingness +to marry both. It was evident that Layelah accepted it as a ludicrous +jest.</p> + +<p> +Laughter was all very well, of course; but I was serious and felt that +I ought not to part with Layelah without some better understanding, +and so I once more made an effort.</p> + +<p> +"All this," said I, in a mournful tone, "is a mere mockery. What have +I to say about love and marriage? If you loved me as you say, you +would not laugh, but weep. You forget what I am. What am I? A victim, +and doomed--doomed to a hideous fate--a fate of horror unutterable. +You cannot even begin to imagine the anguish with which I look forward +to that fate which impends over me and Almah. Marriage--idle word! +What have I to do with marriage? What has Almah? There is only one +marriage before us--the dread marriage with death! Why talk of love to +the dying? The tremendous ordeal, the sacrifice, is before us and +after that there remains the hideous <i>Mista Kosek!</i>"</p> + +<p> +At this Layelah sprang up, with her whole face and attitude full of +life and energy.</p> + +<p> +"I know, I know," said she, quickly; "I have arranged for all. Your +life shall be saved. Do you think that I have consented to your death? +Never! You are mine. I will save you. I will show you what we can do. +You shall escape."</p> + +<p> +"Can you really save me?" I cried.</p> + +<p> +"I can."</p> + +<p> +"What! in spite of the whole nation?"</p> + +<p> +Layelah laughed scornfully.</p> + +<p> +"I can save you," said she. "We can fly. There are other nations +beside ours. We can find some land among the Gojin where we can live +in peace. The Gojin are not like us."</p> + +<p> +"But Almah?" said I.</p> + +<p> +The face of Layelah clouded.</p> + +<p> +"I can only save you," said she.</p> + +<p> +"Then I will stay and die with Almah," said I, obstinately.</p> + +<p> +"What!" said Layelah, "do you not fear death?"</p> + +<p> +"Of course I do," said I; "but I'd rather die than lose Almah."</p> + +<p> +"But it's impossible to save both of you."</p> + +<p> +"Then leave me and save Almah," said I.</p> + +<p> +"What! would you give up your life for Almah?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and a thousand lives," said I.</p> + +<p> +"Why," said Layelah, "now you talk just like the Kosekin. You might as +well be one of us. You love death for the sake of Almah. Why not be +more like the Kosekin, and seek after a separation from Almah?"</p> + +<p> +Layelah was not at all offended at my declaration of love for Almah. +She uttered these words in a lively tone, and then said that it was +time for her to go.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE FLYING MONSTER</h4> + + +<p> +I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled me +with excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awake +I thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might be +Layelah's plan of escape, for I might then make use of it to save +Almah. I determined to find out all about it on the following +<i>jom</i>--to question her as to the lands of the Gojin, to learn all her +purpose. It might be that I could make use of that very plan to save +Almah; but if not, why then I was resolved to remain and meet my fate +with her. If Layelah could be induced to take both of us, I was of +course resolved to go, trusting to chance as to the claims of Layelah +upon me, and determined at all hazards to be faithful to Almah; but if +she should positively refuse to save Almah, then I thought it possible +that I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of escape something of +which I might avail myself. I could not imagine what it was, but it +seemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, especially for +a desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by means of some +boat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could make use of +a sail so as to elude pursuit, and could guide myself by the stars. +The only thing that I wanted to know was the situation of the lands of +the Gojin.</p> + +<p> +On the following <i>jom</i> the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite early +and spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devoting +himself in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me that +Layelah had obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and that +the old villain actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah. +To Almah herself I had said nothing whatever about the proposal of +Layelah, so that she was quite ignorant of the intentions of her +companion; but it was excessively annoying to me to see such +proceedings going on under my own eyes. At the same time I felt that +it would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; and I was also quite +sure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted from me by +anyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. It was +very trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, my +jealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party of +philosophical Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibals +whom I first met. As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of any +disturbance in my mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, as +inquisitive, and as affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, and +devoted herself to me with an abandon that was quite irresistible.</p> + +<p> +After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she was +alone.</p> + +<p> +"I have come," said she, "to show you the way in which we can escape, +whenever you decide to do so."</p> + +<p> +It was the thing above all others which I wished to know, and +therefore I questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of my +questions she only replied that she would show me, and I might judge +for myself.</p> + +<p> +Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleries +and vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was the +sleeping-time, and only those were visible who had some duties which +kept them up later than usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feebly +illuminated the general gloom. At length we came to an immense cavern, +which was darker than ever, and without any lamps at all. Through a +vast portal, which was closed with a barred gateway, the beams of the +brilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed something of the interior.</p> + +<p> +Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stood +waiting by her side, wondering what means of escape could be found in +this cavern. As I stood I heard through the still air the sound as of +living things. For a time I saw nothing, but at length I descried a +vast, shadowy form moving forward toward the portal, where the +darkness was less. It was a form of portentous size and fearful shape, +and I could not make out at first the nature of it. It surpassed all +that I had ever seen. Its head was large and its jaws long, armed with +rows of terrible teeth like those of a crocodile. Its body was of +great size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as to maintain itself in an +upright attitude, and in that position its height was over twelve +feet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has yet to be +told. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I saw +descending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings, +which shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about as +fast as that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemed +like some enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yet +again like one of those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but in +whose actual existence I had never believed. Yet here I saw one living +and moving before me--an actual dragon, with the exception of a tail; +for that appendage, which plays so great a part in all the pictures of +dragons, had no place here. This beast had but a short caudal +appendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings.</p> + +<p> +For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I +shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm.</p> + +<p> +"Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb."</p> + +<p> +"But won't it--won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole."</p> + +<p> +At this I shrank away still farther.</p> + +<p> +"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, +besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at +feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four +others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up +nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed."</p> + +<p> +"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an +incredulous tone.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are +taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service +here for a hundred seasons and more."</p> + +<p> +At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer +to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no +means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than +ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On +its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of +its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood +near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up, +as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous +back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased.</p> + +<p> +"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping."</p> + +<p> +"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his +back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him."</p> + +<p> +"What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back--"fly! Do you mean to say that +you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is +harness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see +him harnessed?"</p> + +<p> +"Very much indeed," said I.</p> + +<p> +Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The +huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two +long straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting +tip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which +there was attached a grappling-iron.</p> + +<p> +"We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with these +reins. When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looks +dull now, but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle he +would be off like the wind."</p> + +<p> +"But can he carry both of us?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"Easily," said Layelah. "He can carry three persons without fatigue."</p> + +<p> +"Could you mount on his back now, and show me how you sit?"</p> + +<p> +Layelah readily assented, and mounted with the greatest ease, seating +herself on the broadest part of the back between the wings.</p> + +<p> +"Here," said she, "is room for you. Will you not come?"</p> + +<p> +For an instant I hesitated; but then the sight of her, seated there as +coolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed up +also, though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monster +was abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself close +behind Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with the +grapple just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she went +on to explain the whole process by which the mighty monster was guided +through the air.</p> + +<p> +No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb than +all fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, and +how docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with the +greatest ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat. +"Familiarity breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror had +passed away, I felt perfect confidence, and under the encouragement of +Layelah I had become like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first is +terrified by the sight of the elephant, but soon gains courage enough +to mount upon his back. With my new-found courage and presence of mind +I listened most attentively to all of Layelah's explanations, and +watched most closely the construction and fastening of the harness; +for the thought had occurred to me that this athaleb might be of avail +in another way--that if I did not fly with Layelah, I might fly with +Almah. This thought was only of a vague and shadowy character--a dim +suggestion, the carrying out of which I scarce dared to think +possible; still, it was in my mind, and had sufficient power over me +to make me very curious as to the plans of Layelah. I determined to +find out where she proposed to go, and how far; to ask her about the +dangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It seemed, I confess, +rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them for +another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me at +that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and +honorable.</p> + +<p> +"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. The +athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear +that they will put you to death--a land where the people love light +and life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to +go now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be +far away."</p> + +<p> +She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to +be beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her +proposal away with a question:</p> + +<p> +"How far is it," I asked, "to that land?"</p> + +<p> +"It is too far for one flight," said Layelah. "We go first over the +sea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where +there are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb +on fish, which are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his way +there well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacred +ceremony. He has done this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows his +way there and back perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when we +leave Magones, in reaching the land of the Orin."</p> + +<p> +"The Orin?" I repeated. "Who are they?"</p> + +<p> +"They are a people among the Gojin who love life and light. It is +their land that I wish to reach, if possible."</p> + +<p> +"Where is it?" I asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"I cannot explain," said Layelah. "I can only trust to my own skill, +and hope to find the place. We may have to pass over different lands +of the Gojin, and if so we may be in danger."</p> + +<p> +"What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?" +I asked.</p> + +<p> +"To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize +of death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the +Kosekin."</p> + +<p> +"Is Magones barren?"</p> + +<p> +"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains +and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the +middle of the sea."</p> + +<p> +"How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence.</p> + +<p> +"From here?--why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that +is all."</p> + +<p> +"But shall we not be prevented?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone +is eager to help his neighbor."</p> + +<p> +"But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing +for flight, would they not stop me?"</p> + +<p> +"No."</p> + +<p> +I was amazed at this.</p> + +<p> +"But," said I, "am I not a victim--preserved for the great sacrifice?"</p> + +<p> +"You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like. +Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the +highest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high +dignity, and no one dreams that you are anxious to escape."</p> + +<p> +"But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly not."</p> + +<p> +"What would they do for a victim?"</p> + +<p> +"They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some +distinguished pauper."</p> + +<p> +"But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at +my entreaty?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty. +That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of +such a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to +help each other to such a fate."</p> + +<p> +"But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not +pursue me?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh no."</p> + +<p> +"Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens--these are not worthy of the +honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to +this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who +are chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich +and powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed."</p> + +<p> +"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in +that way?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible. +On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the +very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and +blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible +for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am +Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated +by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of +one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and +new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally +known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth +and new offices and powers, which I do not want."</p> + +<p> +"But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?"</p> + +<p> +"No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now."</p> + +<p> +"Why, what do you want?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"You!" said she, with a sweet smile.</p> + +<p> +I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might +divert the conversation.</p> + +<p> +Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing +tone:</p> + +<p> +"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you +love her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that +I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to +say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing +of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the +Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?"</p> + +<p> +I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent +effort.</p> + +<p> +"Are there any other athalebs here?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes."</p> + +<p> +"How many?"</p> + +<p> +"Four."</p> + +<p> +"Are they all as tame as this?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes, all quite as tame; there is no difference whatever."</p> + +<p> +Upon this I left the back of the athaleb, and Layelah also descended, +after which she proceeded to show me the other monsters. At length she +unharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">ESCAPE</h4> + + +<p> +On the following <i>jom</i> I told everything to Almah. I told her that +Layelah was urging me to fly with her, and that I had found out all +about her plans. I described the athalebs, informed her about the +direction which we were to take, the island of fire, and the country +of the Orin. At this intelligence Almah was filled with delight, and +for the first time since we had come to the <i>amir</i> there were smiles +of joy upon her face. She needed no persuasion. She was ready to set +forth whenever it was fitting, and to risk everything upon this +enterprise. She felt as I did, and thought that the wildest attempt +was better than this dull inaction.</p> + +<p> +Death was before us here, and every <i>jom</i> as it passed only brought it +nearer. True, we were treated with the utmost kindness, we lived in +royal splendor, we had enormous retinues; but all this was a miserable +mockery, since it all served as the prelude to our inevitable doom. +For that doom it was hard indeed to wait. Anything was better. Far +better would it be to risk all the dangers of this unusual and amazing +flight, to brave the terrors of that drear isle of fire, Magones; +better to perish there of starvation, or to be killed by the hands +of hostile Gojin, than to wait here and be destroyed at last by +the sacrificial knife of these smiling, generous, kind-hearted, +self-sacrificing fiends; to be killed--ay, and afterward borne to the +tremendous <i>Mista Kosek</i>.</p> + +<p> +There was a difficulty with Layelah that had to be guarded against: in +the first place that she might not suspect, and again that we might +choose our time of escape when she would not be at all likely to find +us out. We resolved to make our attempt without any further delay. +Layelah was with us for the greater part of that <i>jom</i>, and the Kohen +Gadol also gave us much of his company. Layelah did not seem to have +any suspicions whatever of my secret purpose; for she was as bright, +as amiable, and as devoted to me as ever, while the Kohen Gadol sought +as before to make himself agreeable to Almah. I did not think fit +to tell her about Layelah's proposal, and therefore she was quite +ignorant of the secret plans of the Kohen Gadol, evidently attributing +his attention to the unfailing amiability of the Kosekin.</p> + +<p> +Layelah came again after Almah had retired, and spent the time in +trying to persuade me to fly with her. The beautiful girl was +certainly never more engaging, nor was she ever more tender. Had it +not been for Almah it would have been impossible to resist such sweet +persuasions; but as it was I did resist. Layelah, however, was not at +all discouraged, nor did she lose any of her amiability; but when she +took leave it was with a smile and sweet words of forgiveness on her +lips for what she called my cruelty. After she left I remained for a +time with a painful sense of helplessness. The fact is my European +training did not fit me for encountering such a state of things as +existed among the Kosekin. It's very easy to be faithful to one's own +true-love in England, when other fair ladies hold aloof and wait to +be sought; but here among the Kosekin, women have as much liberty in +making love as men, and there is no law or custom about it. If a woman +chooses she can pay the most desperate attentions, and play the part +of a distracted lover to her heart's content. In most cases the +women actually take the initiative, as they are more impressible and +impulsive than men; and so it was that Layelah made me the object of +her persistent assault--acting all the time, too, in accordance with +the custom of the country, and thus having no thought whatever of +indelicacy, since, according to the Kosekin, she was acting simply in +accordance with the rights of every woman. Now, where a woman is urged +by one ardent lover to dismiss her other lover, she may sometimes find +it difficult to play her part satisfactorily; but in my case I did not +play my part satisfactorily at all; the ordeal was too hard, and I was +utterly unable to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of +character which the occasion demanded.</p> + +<p> +Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have +said, with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time +succeeded in regaining my presence of mind.</p> + +<p> +Almah was waiting, and she soon joined me. We gathered a few articles +for the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which +I had not used here, and then we set forth. Leaving our apartments +we traversed the long passages, and at length came to the cavern of +the athalebs. We met several people on the way, who looked at us +with smiles, but made no other sign. It was evident that they had no +commission to watch us, and that thus far Layelah's information was +correct.</p> + +<p> +Upon entering the cavern of the athalebs my first feeling was one of +helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever in my own powers of +managing these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could +harness them; but the emergency was a pressing one, and there was no +help for it. I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my +chief desire was to secure one of the athalebs. The faint light served +to disclose nothing but gloom; and I waited for a while, hoping that +one of them would come forward as before. But waiting did no good, +for no movement was made, and I had to try what I could do myself to +rouse them. So I walked farther in toward the back part of the cavern, +peering through the gloom, while Almah remained near the entrance.</p> + +<p> +As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone moving. I thought +it was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peering through the +gloom, when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work +which I could not make out. For a moment I stood in amazement and +despair, for it seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man +would at once divine my intent. While I stood thus he turned and gave +me a very courteous greeting, after which, in the usual manner of the +Kosekin, he asked me with much amiability what he could do for me. I +muttered something about seeing the athalebs, upon which he informed +me that he would show them to me with pleasure.</p> + +<p> +He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low +position of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post involving +duties like those of ostlers or grooms among us, but which here +indicated high rank and honor. He was proud of his title of "Epet," +which means servant, and more than usually obliging. I at once took +advantage of his complaisance, and requested him to show me the +athalebs. Upon this he led the way farther on, where I could see +through the gloom the shadowy outlines of four monsters, all of which +were resting in an upright posture against the wall, with their claws +fixed on a shelf of rock. They looked more than ever like dragons, or +rather like enormous bats, for their wings were disclosed hanging in +loose leathern folds.</p> + +<p> +"Can they be roused," I asked, "and made to move?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said the Epet, and without waiting for any further request +he proceeded to pull at the loose fan-like wing of the nearest one. +The monster drew himself together, gave a flutter with his wings, and +then moved back from the wall.</p> + +<p> +"Make him walk," said I, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +The Epet at this pulled upon his wing once more, and the athaleb moved +forward.</p> + +<p> +"Bring him to the portal, so that I may see him," said I.</p> + +<p> +The Epet, still holding the athaleb's wing, pulled at him, and thus +guided him toward the portal. I was amazed at the docility of this +terrific monster; yet, after all, I thought that it was no more +astonishing than the docility of the elephant, which in like manner +allows itself to be guided by the slightest pressure. A child may lead +a vast elephant with ease, and here with equal ease the Epet led the +athaleb. He led him up near to the portal, where the aurora light +beamed through far brighter than the brightest moon, and disclosed all +the vast proportions of the monster. I stood and looked on for some +time in silence, quite at a loss what to do next.</p> + +<p> +And now Layelah's words occurred to me as to the perfect willingness +of the Kosekin to do anything which one might wish. She had insisted +on it that they would not prevent our flight, and had given me to +understand that they would even assist me if I should ask them. This +is what now occurred to me, and I determined to make a trial. So I +said:</p> + +<p> +"I should like to fly in the air on the athaleb. Will you harness +him?"</p> + +<p> +I confess it was with some trepidation that I said this, but the +feeling was soon dissipated. The Epet heard my words with perfect +coolness, as though they conveyed the most natural request in the +world, and then proceeded to obey me, just as at home a servant might +hear and obey his master, who might say, "I should like to take a +ride; will you harness the bay mare?"</p> + +<p> +So the Epet proceeded to harness the athaleb, and I watched him in +silence; but it was the silence of deep suspense, and my heart +throbbed painfully. There was yet much to be risked. The gates had +to be opened. Others might interfere. Layelah might come. All these +thoughts occurred to me as I watched the Epet; and though the labor of +harnessing the athaleb was simple and soon performed, still the time +seemed long. So the collar was secured around the neck of the athaleb, +with the grapple attached, and the lines were fastened to the wings, +and then Almah and I mounted.</p> + +<p> +The Epet now stood waiting for further orders.</p> + +<p> +"Open the gates," said I.</p> + +<p> +The Epet did so.</p> + +<p> +Almah was seated on the back of the athaleb before me, holding on to +the coarse mane; I, just behind, held the reins in my hand. The gates +were opened wide. A few people outside, roused by the noise of the +opening gates, stood and looked on. They had evidently no other +feeling but curiosity.</p> + +<p> +All was now ready and the way was open, but there was an unexpected +difficulty--the athaleb would not start, and I did not know how to +make him. I had once more to apply for help to the Epet.</p> + +<p> +"How am I to make him start?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"Pull at the collar to make him start, and pull at both reins to make +him stop," said the Epet.</p> + +<p> +Upon this I pulled at the collar.</p> + +<p> +The athaleb obeyed at once. He rose almost erect, and moved out +through the gate. It was difficult to hold on, but we did so. On +reaching the terrace outside, the athaleb expanded his vast wings, +which spread out over a space of full fifty feet, and then with +vigorous motions raised himself in the air.</p> + +<p> +It was a moment full of terror to both of us; the strange sensation of +rising in the air, the quivering muscles of the athaleb at the working +of the enormous pinions, the tremendous display of strength, all +combined to overwhelm me with a sense of utter helplessness. With one +hand I clung to the stiff mane of the monster; with the other I held +Almah, who was also grasping the athaleb's hair; and thus for some +time all thought was taken up in the one purpose of holding on. But at +length the athaleb lay in the air in a perfectly horizontal position; +the beat of the wings grew more slow and even, the muscular exertion +more steady and sustained. We both began to regain some degree of +confidence, and at length I raised myself up and looked around.</p> + +<p> +It did not seem long since we had left; but already the city was far +behind, rising with its long, crescent terraces, sparkling and +twinkling with innumerable lights. We had passed beyond the bay; the +harbor was behind us, the open sea before us, the deep water beneath. +The athaleb flew low, not more than a hundred feet above the water, +and maintained that distance all the time. It seemed, indeed, as if he +might drop into the water at any time; but this was only fancy, for he +was perfect master of all his movement and his flight was swift and +well sustained.</p> + +<p> +Overhead the sky was filled with the glory of the aurora beams, which +spread everywhere, flashing out from the zenith and illuminating the +earth with a glow brighter than that of the brightest moon; beneath, +the dark waters of the sea extended, with the waves breaking into +foam, and traversed by galleys, by merchant-ships, and by the navies +of the Kosekin. Far away the surface of the sea spread, with that +marvellous appearance of an endless ascent, as though for a thousand +miles, rising thus until it terminated half-way up the sky; and so +it rose up on every side, so that I seemed to be at the bottom of +a basin-shaped world--an immense and immeasurable hollow--a world +unparalleled and unintelligible. Far away, at almost infinite +distances, arose the long lines of mountains, which, crowned with ice, +gleamed in the aurora light, and seemed like a barrier that made +forever impossible all ingress and egress.</p> + +<p> +On and on we sped. At length we grew perfectly accustomed to the +situation, the motion was so easy and our seats were so secure. There +were no obstacles in our way, no roughness along our path; for that +pathway was the smooth air, and in such a path there could be no +interruption, no jerk or jar. After the first terror had passed there +remained no longer any necessity for holding on--we could sit and look +around with perfect freedom; and at length I rose to my feet, and +Almah stood beside me, and thus we stood for a long time, with all +our souls kindled into glowing enthusiasm by the excitement of that +adventurous flight, and the splendors of that unequalled scene.</p> + +<p> +At length the aurora light grew dim. Then came forth the stars, +glowing and burning in the black sky. Beneath there was nothing +visible but the darkness of the water, spotted with phosphorescent +points, while all around a wall of gloom arose which shut out from +view the distant shores.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly I was aware of a noise like the beat of vast wings, and these +wings were not those of our athaleb. At first I thought it was the +fluttering of a sail, but it was too regular and too long continued +for that. At length I saw through the gloom a vast shadowy form in the +air behind us, and at once the knowledge of the truth flashed upon me. +It was another monster flying in pursuit!</p> + +<p> +Were we pursued? Were there men on his back? Should I resist? I held +my rifle poised, and was resolved to resist at all hazards. Almah saw +it all, and said nothing. She perceived the danger, and in her eyes I +saw that she, like me, would prefer death to surrender. The monster +came nearer and nearer, until at last I could see that he was alone, +and that none were on his back. But now another fear arose. He might +attack our athaleb, and in that way endanger us. He must be prevented +from coming nearer; yet to fire the rifle was a serious matter. I had +once before I earned the danger of firing under such circumstances, +when my opmahera had fled in terror at the report, and did not wish to +experience the danger which might arise from a panic-stricken athaleb; +and so as I stood there I waved my arms and gesticulated violently. +The pursuing athaleb seemed frightened at such an unusual occurrence, +for he veered off, and soon was lost in the darkness.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXIII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE ISLAND OF FIRE</h4> + + +<p> +At last there appeared before us what seemed like a long line of +dull-red fires, and as we looked we could see bursts of flame at +fitful intervals, which shone out for a few moments and then died +away. Upon this now our whole attention was fixed; for it seemed as +though we were approaching our destination, and that this place was +the Island of Fire--a name which, from present appearances, was fully +justified. As we went on and drew steadily nearer, the mass of glowing +fire grew larger and brighter, and what at first had seemed a line was +broken up into different parts, one of which far surpassed the others. +This was higher in the air, and its shape was that of a long, thin, +sloping line, with a burning, glowing globule at each end. It seemed +like lava running down from the crater of a volcano, and this +appearance was made certainty on a nearer approach; for we saw at the +upper point, which seemed the crater, an outburst of flame, followed +by a new flow of the fiery stream. In other places there were similar +fires, but they were less bright, either because they were smaller or +more remote.</p> + +<p> +At length we heard beneath us the roar of breakers, and saw long white +lines of surf beating upon the shore. Our athaleb now descended and +alighted; we clambered to the ground, and I, taking the grapple, fixed +it securely between two sharp rocks. We were at last on Magones, the +Island of Fire.</p> + +<p> +The brightness of the aurora light had left us, but it needed not +this to show us the dismal nature of the land to which we had come. +It was a land of horror, where there was nothing but the abomination +of desolation--a land overstrewn with blasted fragments of fractured +lava-blocks, intermixed with sand, from which there arose black +precipices and giant mountains that poured forth rivers of fire and +showers of ashes and sheets of flame. A tremendous peak arose before +us, with a crest of fire and sides streaked with red torrents of +molten lava; between us and it there spread away a vast expanse of +impassable rocks--a scene of ruin and savage wildness which cannot be +described, and all around was the same drear and appalling prospect. +Here in the night-season--the season of darkness and of awful +gloom--we stood in this land of woe; and not one single sign appeared +of life save the life that we had brought with us. As for food, it was +vain to think of it. To search after it would be useless. It seemed, +indeed, impossible to move from the spot where we were. Every moment +presented some new discovery which added to the horror of Magones.</p> + +<p> +But Almah was weary, for our flight had been long, and she wished to +rest. So I found a place for her where there was some sand between +two rocks, and here she lay down and went to sleep. I sat at a little +distance off on a shelf of the rock, with my back against it, and +here, after a little time, I also went to sleep.</p> + +<p> +At length we awoke. But what a waking! There was no morning dawn, no +blessed returning light to greet our eyes. We opened our eyes to the +same scenes upon which we had closed them, and the darkness was still +deep and dense around us. Over us both there was a sense of utter +depression, and I was so deeply plunged into it that I found it +impossible to rouse myself, even for the sake of saying words of cheer +to Almah. I had brought a few fragments of food, and upon these we +made our breakfast; but there was the athaleb to feed, and for him I +found nothing, nor could I think of anything--unless he could feed +upon rocks and sand. Yet food for him was a matter of the highest +consequence, for he was all our support and stay and hope; and if the +monster were deprived of food he might turn upon us and satisfy upon +us his ravenous appetite. These thoughts were painful indeed, and +added to my despondency.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly I heard the sound of running water. I started away toward the +place from which the sound came, and found, only a little distance +off, a small brook trickling along on its way to the shore. I called +Almah, and we both drank and were refreshed.</p> + +<p> +This showed an easy way to get to the shore, and I determined to go +there to see if there were any fish to be found. Shell-fish might be +there, or the carcasses of dead fish thrown up by the sea, upon which +the athaleb might feed. I left my pistol with Almah, telling her to +fire it if she heard me fire, for I was afraid of losing my way, +and therefore took this precaution. I left it lying on the rock +full-cocked, and directed her to point it in the air and pull the +trigger. It was necessary to take these precautions, as of course she +was quite ignorant of its nature. After this I left her and tried to +follow the torrent.</p> + +<p> +This, however, I soon found to be impossible, for the brook on +reaching a huge rock plunged underneath it and became lost to view. I +then went toward the shore as well as I could--now climbing over sharp +rocks, now going round them, until at length after immense labor I +succeeded in reaching the water. Here the scene was almost as wild +as the one I had left. There was no beach whatever--nothing but a +vast extent of wild fragments of fractured lava-blocks, which were +evidently the result of some comparatively recent convulsion of +nature, for their edges were still sharp, and the water had not worn +even those which were within its grasp to anything like roundness, +or to anything else than the jagged and shattered outlines which had +originally belonged to them. All the shore thus consisted of vast +rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in foam.</p> + +<p> +Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore for a long +distance, but without seeing any change. I was unwilling to go back +baffled, yet I was at length compelled to do so. But the necessity of +feeding the athaleb was pressing, and I saw that our only course now +would be to mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other. +But where could we go? That I could not imagine, and could only +conclude to trust altogether to the instinct of the athaleb, which +might guide him to places where he might obtain food. Such a course +would involve great risk for we might be carried into the midst of +vast flocks of these monsters; yet there was nothing else to be done.</p> + +<p> +I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the sea. At +length I found a place where the walking was somewhat easier, and went +in this way up into the island and away from the sea. It seemed to +lead in the direction where I wished to go. At length it seemed as if +I had walked far enough, yet I could see no signs of Almah. I shouted, +but there was no answer. I shouted again and again, but with the like +result. Then I fired my rifle and listened. In response there came the +report of the pistol far away behind me. It was evident that in coming +back along the shore I had passed by the place where Almah was. There +was nothing now left but to retrace my steps and this I accordingly +did. I went back to the shore, and returned on my steps, shouting all +the time, until at length I was rejoiced to hear the answering shout +of Almah. After this it was easy to reach her.</p> + +<p> +We now took up the grapple and once more mounted. The athaleb, eager +to be off, raised himself quickly in the air, and soon our late +resting-place was far behind. His flight was now different from what +it was before. Then he stood off in one straight line for a certain +fixed destination, as though under some guidance; for though I did not +direct him, still his long training had taught him to fly to Magones. +But now training and guidance were both wanting, and the athaleb was +left to the impulse of his hunger and the guidance of his instinct; so +he flew no longer in one undeviating straight line, but rose high, and +bent his head down low, and flew and soared in vast circles, even as I +have seen a vulture or a condor sweep about while searching for food. +All the while we were drawing farther and farther away from the spot +which we had left.</p> + +<p> +We passed the lofty volcano; we saw more plainly the rivers of molten +lava; we passed vast cliffs and bleak mountains, all of which were +more terrific than all that we had left behind. Now the darkness +lessened, for the aurora was brightening in the sky, and gathering up +swiftly and gloriously all its innumerable beams, and flashing forth +its lustrous glow upon the world. To us this was equal to the return +of day; it was like a blessed dawn. Light had come, and we rejoiced +and were exceeding glad.</p> + +<p> +Now we saw before us, far beyond the black precipices, a broad bay +with sloping shores, and a wide beach which seemed like a beach of +sand. The surf broke here, but beyond the surf was the gentle sandy +declivity, and beyond this there appeared the shores, still rocky and +barren and desolate, but far preferable to what we had left behind. +Far away in the interior arose lofty mountains and volcanoes, while +behind us flamed the burning peak which we had passed.</p> + +<p> +Here the athaleb wheeled in long, circuitous flights, which grew lower +and lower, until at length he descended upon the sandy beach, where +I saw a vast sea-monster lying dead. It had evidently been thrown up +here by the sea. It was like one of those monsters which I had seen +from the galley of the Kohen at the time of the sacred hunt. By this +the athaleb descended, and at once began to devour it, tearing out +vast masses of flesh, and exhibiting such voracity and strength of +jaw that I could scarcely bear to look upon the sight. I fastened +the grapple securely to the head of the dead monster, and leaving +the athaleb to feed upon it, Almah and I went up the beach.</p> + +<p> +On our way we found rocks covered with sea-weed, and here we sought +after shell-fish. Our search was at length rewarded, for suddenly I +stumbled upon a place where I found some lobsters. I grasped two of +these, but the others escaped. Here at last I had found signs of life, +but they were of the sea rather than of the shore. Delighted with my +prey, I hastened to Almah to show them to her. She recognized them at +once, and I saw that they were familiar to her. I then spoke of eating +them, but at this proposal she recoiled in horror. She could not give +any reason for her repugnance, but merely said that among her people +they were regarded as something equivalent to vermin, and I found that +she would no more think of eating one than I would think of eating a +rat. Upon this I had to throw them away, and we once more resumed our +search.</p> + +<p> +At last we came to a place where numbers of dead fish lay on the sand. +Nearer the water they were more fresh, and not at all objectionable. +I picked up a few which looked like our common smelt, and found that +Almah had no objection to these. But now the question arose how to +cook them; neither of us could eat them raw. A fire was necessary, yet +a fire was impossible; for on the whole island there was probably not +one single combustible thing. Our discovery, therefore, seemed to have +done us but little good, and we seemed destined to starvation, when +fortunately a happy thought suggested itself. In walking along I saw +far away the glow of some lava which had flowed to the shore at the +end of the sandy beach, and was probably cooling down at the water's +edge. Here, then, was a natural fire, which might serve us better than +any contrivance of our own, and toward this we at once proceeded. It +was about two miles away; but the beach was smooth, and we reached +the place without any difficulty.</p> + +<p> +Here we found the edge of that lava flood which seemed eternally +descending from the crater beyond. The edge which was nearest the +water was black; and the liquid fire, as it rolled down, curled over +this in a fantastic shape, cooling and hardening into the form which +it thus assumed. Here, after some search, I found a crevice where I +could approach the fire, and I laid the fish upon a crimson rock, +which was cooling and hardening into the shape of a vast ledge of +lava. In this way, by the aid of nature, the fish were broiled, and +we made our repast.</p> + +<p> +There was nothing here to invite a longer stay, and we soon returned +to the athaleb. We found the monster, gorged with food, asleep, +resting upon his hind legs, with his breast supported against the vast +carcass. Almah called it a <i>jantannin</i>. It was about sixty feet in +length and twenty in thickness, with a vast horny head, ponderous +jaws, and back covered with scales. Its eyes were of prodigious size, +and it had the appearance of a crocodile, with the vast size of a +whale. It was unlike a crocodile, however; for it had fins rather than +paws, and must have been as clumsy on the land as a seal or a walrus. +It lay on its side, and the athaleb had fed itself from the uncovered +flesh of its belly.</p> + +<p> +There was nothing here to induce us to stay, and so we wandered along +the beach in the other direction. On our right was the bay; on our +left the rocky shore, which, beginning at the beach, ran back into +the country, a waste of impassable rocks, where not a tree or plant +or blade of grass relieved the appalling desolation. Once or twice +we made an attempt to penetrate into the country, where openings +appeared. These openings seemed like the beds of dried-up torrents. We +were able to walk but a few paces for invariably we would come to some +immense blocks of rock, which barred all farther progress. In this +way we explored the beach for miles, until it terminated in a savage +promontory that rose abruptly from the sea against which the huge +billows broke in thunder.</p> + +<p> +Then we retraced our steps, and again reached the spot where the +athaleb was asleep by the <i>jantannin</i>. Almah was now too weary to walk +any farther, nor was it desirable to do so; for, indeed, we had +traversed all that could be visited. On one side of the beach was the +sea, on the other the impassable rocks; at one end the promontory, at +the other the lava fires. There was nothing more for us to do but to +wait here until the athaleb should awake, and then our actions would +depend upon what we might now decide.</p> + +<p> +This was the question that was now before us, and this we began to +consider. We both felt the most unspeakable aversion for the island, +and to remain here any longer was impossible. We would once more have +to mount the athaleb, and proceed to some other shore. But where? +Ah! there was the question! Not on the island, for it did not seem +possible that in all its extent there could be one single spot capable +of affording a resting-place. Layelah's information with regard to +Magones had made that much plain. I had not taken in her full meaning, +but now mine eyes had seen it. Yet where else could we go? Almah could +not tell where under the sky lay that land which she loved; I could +not guess where to go to find the land of the Orin. Even if I did +know, I did not feel able to guide the course of the athaleb; and I +felt sure that if we were to mount again, the mighty monster would +wing his flight back to the very place from which we had escaped--the +<i>amir</i>. These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We felt that we had +gained nothing by our flight, and that our future was dark indeed. The +only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the course of the +athaleb in some different direction altogether, so that we should not +be carried back to the Kosekin.</p> + +<p> +And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this <i>jom</i>, we thought of +sleep. Almah lay down upon the sand, and I seated myself, leaning +against a rock, a little distance off, having first reloaded my rifle +and pistol.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXIV</h3> + +<h4 align="center">RECAPTURE</h4> + + +<p> +How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep there +sounded voices, which at first intermingled themselves with my dreams, +but gradually became separate and sounded from without, rousing me +from my slumbers. I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw +was so amazing that in an instant all sleep left me. I started to my +feet, and gazed in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me.</p> + +<p> +The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed +everything--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the <i>jantannin</i>, the +promontory, all--more plainly and more luminously than before; but +it was not any of these things that now excited my attention and +rendered me dumb. I saw Almah standing there at a little distance, +with despairing face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while +immediately before me, regarding me with a keen glance and an air of +triumph, was Layelah.</p> + +<p> +"<i>Atæsmzori alonla</i>," said she, with a sweet smile, giving me the +usual salutation of the Kosekin.</p> + +<p> +I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as before, looking +first at her and then at Almah.</p> + +<p> +The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the Kosekin, +excited me to madness. I seized my rifle, and raised it as if to take +aim; but Almah, who understood the movement, cried to me:</p> + +<p> +"Put down your <i>sepet-ram</i>, Atam-or! you can do nothing for me. The +Kosekin are too numerous."</p> + +<p> +"<i>Sepet-ram!</i>" said Layelah; "what do you mean by that? If your +<i>sepet-ram</i> has any power, do not try to use it, Atam-or, or else +I shall have to order my followers to give to Almah the blessing of +death."</p> + +<p> +At this my rifle was lowered: the whole truth flashed upon me, and I +saw, too, the madness of resistance. I might kill one or two, but the +rest would do as Layelah said, and I should speedily be disarmed. Well +I knew how powerless were the thunders of my fire-arms to terrify +these Kosekin; for the prospect of death would only rouse them to a +mad enthusiasm, and they would all rush upon me as they would rush +upon a <i>jantannin</i>--to slay and be slain. The odds were too great. A +crowd of Europeans could be held in check far more easily than these +death-loving Kosekin. The whole truth was thus plain: we were +prisoners, and were at their mercy.</p> + +<p> +Layelah showed no excitement or anger whatever. She looked and spoke +in her usual gracious and amiable fashion, with a sweet smile on her +face.</p> + +<p> +"We knew," said she, "that you would be in distress in this desolate +place, and that you would not know where to go from Magones; and so we +have come, full of the most eager desire to relieve your wants. We +have brought with us food and drink, and are ready to do everything +for you that you may desire. We have had great trouble in finding you, +and have coursed over the shores for vast distances, and far over the +interior, but our athalebs found you at last by their scent. And we +rejoice to have found you in time, and that you are both so well, for +we have been afraid that you had been suffering. Nay, Atam-or, do not +thank us; thanks are distasteful to the Kosekin: these brave followers +of mine will all be amply rewarded for this, for they will all be made +paupers; but as for myself, I want no higher reward than the +delightful thought that I have saved you from suffering."</p> + +<p> +The beautiful, smiling Layelah, who addressed me in this way with her +sweet voice, was certainly not to be treated as an enemy. Against her +a rifle could not be levelled; she would have looked at me with the +same sweet smile, and that smile would have melted all my resolution. +Nor could I even persist in my determination to remain. Remain! For +what? For utter despair! And yet where else could we go?</p> + +<p> +"You do not know where lie the lands of the Orin," said Layelah. "The +athaleb does not know. You could not guide him if you did know. You +are helpless on his back. The art of driving an athaleb is difficult, +and cannot be learned without long and severe practice. My fear was +that the athaleb might break away from you and return, leaving you to +perish here. Had you tried to leave this place he would have brought +you back to the <i>amir</i>."</p> + +<p> +To this I said nothing--partly because it was so true that I had no +answer to make, and partly also out of deep mortification and +dejection. My pride was wounded at being thus so easily baffled by a +girl like Layelah, and all my grief was stirred by the sadness of +Almah. In her eyes there seemed even now the look of one who sees +death inevitable, and the glance she gave to me was like an eternal +farewell.</p> + +<p> +Almah now spoke, addressing herself to Layelah.</p> + +<p> +"Death," said she, in a voice of indescribable mournfulness, "is +better here than with you. We would rather die here than go back. Let +us, I pray you, receive the blessing of death here. Let us be paupers +and exiles, and die on Magones."</p> + +<p> +Layelah heard this, and stood for a moment in deep thought.</p> + +<p> +"No one but a stranger," said she at length, "would ask such a favor +as that. Do you not know that what you ask is among the very highest +honors of the Kosekin? Who am I that I can venture to grant such a +request as that? Ask for anything in my power, and I will be glad to +grant it. I have already arranged that you shall be separated from +Atam-or; and that, surely, is a high privilege. I might consent to +bind you hand and foot, after the manner of the more distinguished +<i>Asirin</i>; you may also be blindfolded if you wish it. I might even +promise, after we return to the <i>amir</i>, to keep you confined in utter +darkness, with barely sufficient food to keep you alive until the +time of the sacrifice; in short, there is no blessing known among +the Kosekin that I will not give so long as it is in my power. And +so, beloved Almah," continued Layelah, "you have every reason for +happiness; you have all the highest blessings known among the Kosekin: +separation from your lover, poverty, want, darkness; and, finally, the +prospect of inevitable death ever before you as the crowning glory of +your lot."</p> + +<p> +These words seemed to the Kosekin the very excess of magnanimity, and +involuntary murmurs of admiration escaped them; although it is just +possible that they murmured at the greatness of the favor that was +offered. But to me it sounded like fiendish mockery, and to Almah it +sounded the same; for a groan escaped her, her fortitude gave way, she +sank on her knees, buried her head in her hands, and wept.</p> + +<p> +"Almah," cried I, in a fury, "we will not go back--we will not be +separated! I will destroy all the athalebs, and we shall all perish +here together. At least, you and I will not be separated."</p> + +<p> +At this Almah started up.</p> + +<p> +"No, no," said she--"no; let us go back. Here we have nothing but +death."</p> + +<p> +"But we have death also at the <i>amir</i>, and a more terrible one," said I.</p> + +<p> +"If you kill the athalebs," said Layelah, "I will give Almah the +blessing of death."</p> + +<p> +At this I recoiled in horror, and my resolution again gave way.</p> + +<p> +"You have some mysterious power of conferring death," continued +Layelah, "with what Almah calls your <i>sepet-ram</i>; but do not kill the +athalebs, for it will do you no good. Almah would then receive the +blessing of death. My followers, these noble Kosekin, would rejoice in +thus gaining exile and death on Magones. As for myself, it would be my +highest happiness to be here alone with you. With you I should live +for a few sweet <i>joms</i>, and with you I should die; so go on--kill the +athalebs if you wish."</p> + +<p> +"Do not!" cried Almah--"do not! There is no hope. We are their +prisoners, and our only hope is in submission."</p> + +<p> +Upon this all further thought of resistance left me, and I stood in +silence, stolidly waiting for their action. As I looked around I +noticed a movement near the <i>jantannin</i>, and saw several athalebs +there, which were devouring its flesh. I now went over to Almah and +spoke with her. We were both full of despair. It seemed as though we +might never meet again. We were to be separated now; but who could say +whether we should be permitted to see each other after leaving this +place? We had but little to say. I held her in my arms, regardless of +the presence of others; and these, seeing our emotion, at once moved +away, with the usual delicacy of the Kosekin, and followed Layelah to +the <i>jantannin</i> to see about the athalebs.</p> + +<p> +At last our interview was terminated. Layelah came and informed us +that all was ready for our departure. We walked sadly to the place, +and found the athalebs crouched to receive their riders. There were +four beside ours. Layelah informed me that I was to go with her, and +Almah was to go on another athaleb. I entreated her to let Almah go +with me; but she declined, saying that our athaleb could only carry +two, as he seemed fatigued, and it would not be safe to overload him +for so long a flight. I told her that Almah and I could go together on +the same athaleb; but she objected on the ground of my ignorance of +driving. And so, remonstrances and objections being alike useless, I +was compelled to yield to the arrangements that had been made. Almah +mounted on another athaleb. I mounted with Layelah, and then the great +monsters expanded their mighty wings, rose into the air, and soon were +speeding over the waters.</p> + +<p> +We went on in silence for some time. I was too despondent to say a +word, and all my thoughts turned toward Almah, who was now separated +from me--perhaps forever. The other athalebs went ahead, at long +intervals apart, flying in a straight line, while ours was last. +Layelah said nothing. She sat in front of me; her back was turned +toward me; she held in her hands the reins, which hung quite loose at +first, but after a while she drew them up, and seemed to be directing +our course. For some time I did not notice anything in particular, for +my eyes were fixed upon the athaleb immediately before us, upon which +was seated the loved form of Almah, which I could easily recognize. +But our athaleb flew slowly, and I noticed that we were falling +behind. I said this to Layelah, but she only remarked that it was +fatigued with its long journey. To this I objected that the others had +made as long a journey, and insisted that she should draw nearer. This +she at first refused to do; but at length, as I grew persistent, she +complied, or pretended to do so. In spite of this, however, we again +fell behind, and I noticed that this always happened when the reins +were drawn tight. On making this discovery I suddenly seized both +reins and let them trail loose, whereupon the athaleb at once showed a +perceptible increase of speed, which proved that there was no fatigue +in him whatever. This I said to Layelah.</p> + +<p> +She acquiesced with a sweet smile, and taking the reins again, she sat +around so as to face me, and said:</p> + +<p> +"You are very quick. It is no use to try to deceive you, Atam-or: I +wish to fall behind."</p> + +<p> +"Why?"</p> + +<p> +"To save you."</p> + +<p> +"To save me?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. I can take you to the land of the Orin. Now is the time to +escape from death. If you go back you must surely die; but now, if you +will be guided by me, I can take you to the land of the Orin. There +they all hate death, they love life, they live in the light. There you +will find those who are like yourself; there you can love and be +happy."</p> + +<p> +"But what of Almah?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +Layelah made a pretty gesture of despair.</p> + +<p> +"You are always talking of Almah," said she. "What is Almah to you? +She is cold, dull, sad! She never will speak. Let her go."</p> + +<p> +"Never!" said I. "Almah is worth more than all the world to me."</p> + +<p> +Layelah sighed.</p> + +<p> +"I can never, never, never," said she, "get from you the least little +bit of a kind word--even after all that I have done for you, and when +you know that I would lie down and let you trample me under your feet +if it gave you any pleasure."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that is not the question at all," said I. "You are asking me to +leave Almah--to be false to her--and I cannot."</p> + +<p> +"Among the Kosekin," said Layelah, "it is the highest happiness for +lovers to give one another up."</p> + +<p> +"I am not one of the Kosekin," said I. "I cannot let her go away--I +cannot let her go back to the <i>amir</i>--to meet death alone. If she dies +she shall see me by her side, ready to die with her."</p> + +<p> +At this Layelah laughed merrily.</p> + +<p> +"Is it possible," said she, "that you believe that? Do you not know +that if Almah goes back alone she will not die?"</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, she can only die when you are in her company. She has lived for +years among us, and we have waited for someone to appear whom she +might love, so that we might give them both the blessing of death. If +that one should leave her, Almah could not receive the blessing. She +would be compelled to live longer, until some other lover should +appear. Now, by going with me to the land of the Orin, you will save +Almah's life--and as for Almah, why, she will be happy--and dear papa +is quite willing to marry her. You must see, therefore, dear Atam-or, +that my plan is the very best that can be thought of for all of us, +and above all for Almah."</p> + +<p> +This, however, was intolerable; and I could not consent to desert +Almah, even if by doing so I should save her life. My own nature +revolted from it. Still it was not a thing which I could dismiss on +the instant. The safety of Almah's life, indeed, required +consideration; but then the thought came of her wonder at my +desertion. Would she not think me false? Would not the thought of my +falsity be worse than death?</p> + +<p> +"No," said I, "I will not leave her--not even to save her life. Even +among us there are things worse than death. Almah would rather die by +the sacrificial knife than linger on with a broken heart."</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said Layelah, sweetly; "she will rejoice that you are safe. +Do you not see that while you are together death is inevitable, but if +you separate you may both live and be happy?"</p> + +<p> +"But she will think me dead," said I, as a new idea occurred. "She +will think that some accident has befallen me."</p> + +<p> +"Oh no, she won't," said Layelah; "she will think that you have gone +off with me."</p> + +<p> +"Then that will be worse, and I would rather die, and have her die +with me, than live and have her think me false."</p> + +<p> +"You are very, very obstinate," said Layelah, sweetly.</p> + +<p> +I made no reply. During this conversation I had been too intent upon +Layelah's words to notice the athalebs before me; but now as I looked +up I saw that we had fallen far behind, and that Layelah had headed +our athaleb in a new direction. Upon this I once more snatched the +reins from her, and tried to return to our former course. This, +however, I was utterly unable to do.</p> + +<p> +Layelah laughed.</p> + +<p> +"You will have to let me guide our course," said she. "You can do +nothing. The athaleb will now go in a straight line to the land of the +Orin."</p> + +<p> +Upon this I started up in wild excitement.</p> + +<p> +"Never, never, never!" I cried, in a fury. "I will not; I will destroy +this athaleb and perish in the water!"</p> + +<p> +As I said this I raised my rifle.</p> + +<p> +"What are you going to do?" cried Layelah, in accents of fear.</p> + +<p> +"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!"</p> + +<p> +Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a +smile.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, +when we have started for the land of the Orin?"</p> + +<p> +"We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish +in the sea!"</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb. You are no more +than an insect; your rod is a weak thing, and will break on his iron +frame."</p> + +<p> +It was evident that Layelah had not the slightest idea of the powers +of my rifle. There was no hesitation on my part. I took aim with the +rifle. At that moment I was desperate. I thought of nothing but the +swift flight of the athaleb, which was bearing me away forever from +Almah. I could not endure that thought, and still less could I endure +the thought that she should believe me false. It was therefore in a +wild passion of rage and despair that I levelled my rifle, taking aim +as well as I could at what seemed a vital part under the wing. The +motion of the wing rendered this difficult, however, and I hesitated +a moment, so as to make sure. All this time Layelah stood looking +at me with a smile on her rosy lips and a merry twinkle in her +eyes--evidently regarding my words as empty threats and my act as +a vain pretence, and utterly unprepared for what was to follow.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly I fired both barrels in quick succession. The reports rang +out in thunder over the sea. The athaleb gave a wild, appalling +shriek, and fell straight down into the water, fluttering vainly with +one wing, while the other hung down useless. A shriek of horror burst +from Layelah. She started back, and fell from her standing-place into +the waves beneath. The next instant we were all in the water +together--the athaleb writhing and lashing the water into foam, while +I involuntarily clung to his coarse mane, and expected death every +moment.</p> + +<p> +But death did not come; for the athaleb did not sink, but floated with +his back out of the water, the right pinion being sunk underneath and +useless, and the left struggling vainly with the sea. But after a time +he folded up the left wing and drew it close in to his side, and +propelled himself with his long hind-legs. His right wing was broken, +but he did not seem to have suffered any other injury.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly I heard a cry behind me:</p> + +<p> +"Atam-or! oh, Atam-or!"</p> + +<p> +I looked around and saw Layelah. She was swimming in the water, and +seemed exhausted. In the agitation of the past few moments I had lost +sight of her, and had thought that she was drowned; but now the sight +of her roused me from my stupor and brought me back to myself. She was +swimming, yet her strokes were weak and her face was full of despair. +In an instant I had flung off my coat, rolled up the rifle and pistol +in its folds, and sprung into the water. A few strokes brought me to +Layelah. A moment more and I should have been too late. I held her +head out of water, told her not to struggle, and then struck out to go +back. It would have been impossible for me to do this, encumbered with +such a load, had I not fortunately perceived the floating wing of the +athaleb close beside me. This I seized, and by means of it drew myself +with Layelah alongside; after which I succeeded in putting her on the +back of the animal, and soon followed myself.</p> + +<p> +The terror of the rifle had overwhelmed her, and the suddenness of the +catastrophe had almost killed her. She had struggled in the water for +a long time, and had called to me in vain. Now she was quite +exhausted, and lay in my arms trembling and sobbing. I spoke to her +encouragingly, and wrapped her in my coat, and rubbed her hands and +feet, until at last she began to recover. Then she wept quietly for a +long time; then the weeping fit passed away. She looked up with a +smile, and in her face there was unutterable gratitude.</p> + +<p> +"Atam-or," said she, "I never loved death like the rest of the +Kosekin; but now--but now--I feel that death with you would be sweet."</p> + +<p> +Then tears came to her eyes, and I found tears coming to my own, so +that I had to stoop down and kiss away the tears of Layelah. As I did +so she twined both her arms around my neck, held me close to her, and +sighed.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or, death with you is sweet! And now you cannot reproach +me-- You have done this yourself, with your terrible power; and you +have saved my life to let me die with you. You do not hate me, then, +Atam-or, do you? Just speak once to a poor little girl, and say that +you do not hate her!"</p> + +<p> +All this was very pitiable. What man that had a heart in his breast +could listen unmoved to words like these, or look without emotion upon +one so beautiful, so gentle, and so tender? It was no longer Layelah +in triumph with whom I had to do, but Layelah in distress: the light +banter, the teasing, mocking smile, the kindling eye, the ready +laugh--all were gone. There was nothing now but mournful +tenderness--the timid appeal of one who dreaded a repulse, the glance +of deep affection, the abandonment of love.</p> + +<p> +I held Layelah in my arms, and I thought of nothing now but words of +consolation for her. Life seemed over; death seemed inevitable; and +there, on the back of the athaleb, we floated on the waters and waited +for our doom.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXV</h3> + +<h4 align="center">FALLING, LIKE ICARUS, INTO THE SEA</h4> + + +<p> +The aurora light, which had flamed brightly, was now extinct, and +darkness was upon the face of the deep, where we floated on the back +of the monster. He swam, forcing himself onward with his hind-legs, +with one broad wing folded up close. Had both been folded up the +athaleb could have swum rapidly; but the broken wing lay expanded +over the water, tossing with the waves, so that our progress was but +slight. Had it not been for this, the athaleb's own instinct might +have served to guide him toward some shore which we might have hoped +to reach before life was extinct; but as it was, all thought of +reaching any shore was out of the question, and there arose before us +only the prospect of death--a death, too, which must be lingering and +painful and cruel. Thus amid the darkness we floated, and the waves +dashed around us, and the athaleb never ceased to struggle in the +water, trying to force his way onward. It seemed sweet at that moment +to have Layelah with me, for what could have been more horrible than +loneliness amid those black waters? and Layelah's mind was made up +to meet death with joy, so that her mood conveyed itself to me. And +I thought that since death was inevitable it were better to meet +it thus, and in this way end my life--not amid the horrors of the +sacrifice and the <i>Mista Kosek</i>, but in a way which seemed natural to +a seafaring man like myself, and with which I had long familiarized my +thoughts. For I had fallen upon a world and among people which were +all alien and unintelligible to me; and to live on would only open the +way to new and worse calamities. There was peace also in the thought +that my death would snatch the prospect of death from Almah. She would +now be safe. It was only when we were together as lovers that death +threatened her; but now since I was removed she could resume her +former life, and she might remember me only as an episode in that +life. That she would remember me I felt sure, and that she would weep +for me and mourn after me was undeniable; but time as it passed would +surely alleviate that grief, and Almah would live and be happy. +Perhaps she might yet regain her native land and rejoin her loved +kindred, whom she would tell of the stranger from an unknown shore who +had loved her, and through whose death she had gained her life. Such +were the thoughts that filled my mind as I floated over the black +water with darkness all around, as I held Layelah in my arms, with my +coat wrapped around her, and murmured in her ear tender words of +consolation and sympathy.</p> + +<p> +A long, long time had passed--but how long I know not--when suddenly +Layelah gave a cry, and started up on her knees, with her head bent +forward listening intently. I too listened, and I could distinctly +hear the sound of breakers.</p> + +<p> +It was evident that we were approaching some shore; and, from what I +remembered of the shore of Magones, such a shore meant death, and +death alone. We stood up and tried to peer through the gloom. At +length we saw a whole line of breakers, and beyond all was black. We +waited anxiously in that position, and drew steadily nearer. It was +evident that the athaleb was desirous of reaching that shore, and we +could do nothing but await the result.</p> + +<p> +But the athaleb had his wits about him, and swam along on a line with +the breakers for some distance, until at length an opening appeared, +into which he directed his course. Passing through this we reached +still water, which seemed like a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef. +The athaleb swam on farther, and at length we saw before us an island +with a broad, sandy beach, beyond which was the shadowy outline of a +forest. Here the monster landed, and dragged himself wearily upon the +sand, where he spread his vast bulk out, and lay panting heavily. We +dismounted--I first, so as to assist Layelah; and then it seemed as if +death were postponed for a time, since we had reached this place where +the rich and rank vegetation spoke of nothing but vigorous life.</p> + +<p> +Fortune had indeed dealt strangely with me. I had fled with Almah, and +with her had reached one desolate shore, and now I found myself with +Layelah upon another shore, desolate also, but not a savage +wilderness. This lonely island, ringed with the black ocean waters, +was the abode of a life of its own, and there was nothing here to +crush the soul into a horror of despair like that which was caused by +the tremendous scenes on Magones.</p> + +<p> +In an instant Layelah revived from her gloom. She looked around, +clapped her little hands, laughed aloud, and danced for joy.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Atam-or," she cried, "see--see the trees, see the grass, the +bushes! This is a land of wonder. As for food, you can call it down +from the sky with your <i>sepet-ram</i>, or we can find it on the rocks. +Oh, Atam-or! life is better than death, and we can live here, and we +can be happy. This shall be better to us than the lands of the Orin, +for we shall be alone, and we shall be all in all to one another."</p> + +<p> +I could not help laughing, and I said:</p> + +<p> +"Layelah, this is not the language of the Kosekin. You should at once +go to the other side of this island, and sit down and wait for death."</p> + +<p> +"Never," said Layelah; "you are mine, Atam-or, and I never will leave +you. If you wish me to die for you, I will gladly lay down my life; +but I will not leave you. I love you, Atam-or; and now, whether it be +life or death, it is all the same so long as I have you."</p> + +<p> +Our submersion in the sea and our long exposure afterward had chilled +both of us, but Layelah felt it most. She was shivering in her wet +clothes in spite of my coat which I insisted on her wearing, and I +determined, if possible, to kindle a fire. Fortunately my powder was +dry, for I had thrown off my flask with my coat before jumping into +the sea, and thus I had the means of creating fire. I rubbed wet +powder over my handkerchief, and then gathered some dried sticks and +moss. After this I found some dead trees, the boughs of which were +dry and brittle, and in the exercise I soon grew warm, and had the +satisfaction of seeing a great heap of fagots accumulating. I fired +my pistol into the handkerchief, which, being saturated with powder, +caught the fire, and this I blew into a flame among the dried moss. +A bright fire now sprang up and blazed high in the air; while I, in +order to have an ample supply of fuel, continued to gather it for a +long time. At length, as I came back, I saw Layelah lying on the sand +in front of the fire, sound asleep. I was glad of this, for she was +weary, and had seemed so weak and tremulous that I had felt anxious; +so now I arranged my coat over her carefully, and then sat down for a +time to think over this new turn which my fortune had taken.</p> + +<p> +This island was certainly very unlike Magones, yet I had no surety but +that it might be equally destitute of food. This was the first +question, and I could not think of sleep until I had found out more +about the place. The aurora light, which constantly brightens and +lessens in this strange world, was now shining gloriously, and I set +forth to explore the island. The beach was of fine sand all the way. +The water was smooth, and shut in on every side by an outer reef +against which the sea-waves broke incessantly. As I walked I soon +perceived what the island was; for I had often seen such places before +in the South Pacific. It was, in fact, a coral islet, with a reef of +rocks encircling it on every side. The vegetation, however, was unlike +anything in the world beyond; for it consisted of many varieties of +tree-ferns, that looked like palms, and giant grasses, and bamboo. The +island was but small, and the entire circuit was not over a mile. I +saw nothing that looked like food, nor did it seem likely that in so +small a place there could be enough sustenance for us. Our only hope +would be from the sea, yet even here I could see no signs of any sort +of shell-fish. On the whole the prospect was discouraging, and I +returned to the starting-point with a feeling of dejection; but this +feeling did not trouble me much at that time: my chief thought was of +rest, and I flung myself down on the sand and fell asleep.</p> + +<p> +I was awakened by a cry from Layelah. Starting up, I saw her standing +and looking into the sky. She was intensely excited. As soon as she +saw me she rushed toward me and burst into tears, while I, full of +wonder, could only stare upward.</p> + +<p> +"Oh!" cried Layelah, "they've turned back--they've found us! We shall +have to leave our dear, lovely island. Oh, Atam-or, I shall lose you +now; for never, never, never again will you have one thought of love +for your poor Layelah!"</p> + +<p> +With these words she clung sobbing to me. For my part I do not +remember what I said to soothe her, for the sight above was so amazing +that it took up all my attention. The aurora shone bright, and in the +sky I saw two vast objects wheeling and circling, as if about to +descend. I recognized them at once as athalebs; but as their backs +were hid from view by their immense wings, I could not make out +whether they were wanderers about to alight of their own accord, or +guided here by riders--perhaps by the Kosekin from whom we had been +parted.</p> + +<p> +This much at least I remember. I said to Layelah that these athalebs +were wild ones, which had come here because they saw or scented our +wounded one; but Layelah shook her head with mournful meaning.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said she; "Almah has come back for you. This fire-light has +guided them. If you had not made the fire they never, never, never +could have found us; but now all is lost."</p> + +<p> +There was no time for conversation or discussion. The athalebs drew +swiftly nearer and nearer, descending in long circuits, until at +length they touched the ground not far away on the wide sandy beach. +Then we saw people on their backs, and among them was Almah. We +hurried toward them, and Almah rushed into my arms, to the great +disgust of Layelah, for she was close beside me and saw it all. She +gave an exclamation of grief and despair, and hurried away.</p> + +<p> +From Almah I learned that our disappearance had caused alarm; that two +of the athalebs had come back in search of us; that they had been to +Magones, and had searched over the seas, and were just about giving us +up as lost, when the fire-light had attracted their attention and +drawn them here.</p> + +<p> +I said nothing at that time about the cause of our disappearance, but +merely remarked that the athaleb had fallen into the sea and swam +here. This was sufficient. They had to remain here for some time +longer to rest their athalebs. At length we prepared to depart. Our +wounded athaleb was left behind to take care of himself. I was taken +with Almah, and Layelah went on the other. We were thus separated; and +so we set forth upon our return, and at length arrived at the <i>amir</i>.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXVI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">GRIMM'S LAW AGAIN</h4> + + +<p> +Dinner was now announced, and Oxenden laid the manuscript aside; +whereupon they adjourned to the cabin, where they proceeded to discuss +both the repast and the manuscript.</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Featherstone, "More's story seems to be approaching a +crisis. What do you think of it now, Melick? Do you still think it a +sensational novel?"</p> + +<p> +"Partly so," said Melick; "but it would be nearer the mark to call it +a satirical romance."</p> + +<p> +"Why not a scientific romance?"</p> + +<p> +"Because there's precious little science in it, but a good deal of +quiet satire."</p> + +<p> +"Satire on what?" asked Featherstone. "I'll be hanged if I can see +it."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well," said Melick, "on things in general. The satire is directed +against the restlessness of humanity; its impulses, feelings, hopes, +and fears--all that men do and feel and suffer. It mocks us by +exhibiting a new race of men, animated by passions and impulses which +are directly the opposite of ours, and yet no nearer happiness than we +are. It shows us a world where our evil is made a good, and our good +an evil; there all that we consider a blessing is had in +abundance--prolonged and perpetual sunlight, riches, power, fame--and +yet these things are despised, and the people, turning away from them, +imagine that they can find happiness in poverty, darkness, death, and +unrequited love. The writer thus mocks at all our dearest passions and +strongest desires; and his general aim is to show that the mere search +for happiness <i>per se</i> is a vulgar thing, and must always result in +utter nothingness. The writer also teaches the great lesson that the +happiness of man consists not in external surroundings, but in the +internal feelings, and that heaven itself is not a place, but a state. +It is the old lesson which Milton extorted from Satan:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'What matter where, if I be still the same--' +</blockquote> + +<p> +"Or again:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'The mind is its own place, and of itself<br> + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven--'" +</blockquote> + +<p> +"That's good too," cried Oxenden. "That reminds me of the German +commentators who find in the <i>Agamemnon</i> of Æschylus or the <i>Œdipus</i> +of Sophocles or the <i>Hamlet</i> of Shakespeare motives and purposes +of which the authors could never have dreamed, and give us a +metaphysical, beer-and-tobacco, High-Dutch Clytemnestra or Antigone or +Lady Macbeth. No, my boy, More was a simple sailor, and had no idea of +satirizing anything."</p> + +<p> +"How, then, do you account for the perpetual undercurrent of meaning +and innuendo that may be found in every line?"</p> + +<p> +"I deny that there is anything of the sort," said Oxenden. "It is a +plain narrative of facts; but the facts are themselves such that they +give a new coloring to the facts of our own life. They are in such +profound antithesis to European ways that we consider them as being +written merely to indicate that difference. It is like the <i>Germania</i> +of Tacitus, which many critics still hold to be a satire on Roman +ways, while as a matter of fact it is simply a narrative of German +manners and customs."</p> + +<p> +"I hope," cried Melick, "that you do not mean to compare this awful +rot and rubbish to the <i>Germania</i> of Tacitus?"</p> + +<p> +"By no means," said Oxenden; "I merely asserted that in one respect +they were analogous. You forced on the allusion to the <i>Germania</i> by +calling this 'rot and rubbish' a satirical romance."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well," said Melick, "I only referred to the intention of the +writer. His plan is one thing and his execution quite another. His +plan is not bad, but he fails utterly in his execution. The style is +detestable. If he had written in the style of a plain seaman, and +told a simple unvarnished tale, it would have been all right. In order +to carry out properly such a plan as this the writer should take Defoe +as his model, or, still better, Dean Swift. <i>Gulliver's Travels</i> and +<i>Robinson Crusoe</i> show what can be done in this way, and form a +standard by which all other attempts must be judged. But this writer +is tawdry; he has the worst vices of the sensational school--he shows +everywhere marks of haste, gross carelessness, and universal +feebleness. When he gets hold of a good fancy, he lacks the patience +that is necessary in order to work it up in an effective way. He is a +gross plagiarist, and over and over again violates in the most glaring +manner all the ordinary proprieties of style. What can be more absurd, +for instance, than the language which he puts into the mouth of +Layelah? Not content with making her talk like a sentimental +boarding-school, bread-and-butter English miss, he actually forgets +himself so far as to put in her mouth a threadbare joke, which +everyone has heard since childhood."</p> + +<p> +"What is that?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that silly speech about the athaleb swallowing its victuals +whole."</p> + +<p> +"What's the matter with that?" asked Oxenden. "It's merely a chance +resemblance. In translating her words into English they fell by +accident into that shape. No one but you would find fault with them. +Would it have been better if he had translated her words into the +scientific phraseology which the doctor made use of with regard to the +ichthyosaurus? He might have made it this way: 'Does it bite?' 'No; it +swallows its food without mastication.' Would that have been better? +Besides, it's all very well to talk of imitating Defoe and Swift; but +suppose he couldn't do it?"</p> + +<p> +"Then he shouldn't have written the book."</p> + +<p> +"In that case how could his father have heard about his adventures?"</p> + +<p> +"His father!" exclaimed Melick. "Do you mean to say that you still +accept all this as <i>bona fide</i>?"</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean to say," retorted Oxenden, "that you still have any doubt +about the authenticity of this remarkable manuscript?"</p> + +<p> +At this each looked at the other; Melick elevated his eyebrows, and +Oxenden shrugged his shoulders, but each seemed unable to find words +to express his amazement at the other's stupidity, and so they took +refuge in silence.</p> + +<p> +"What do you understand by this athaleb, doctor?" asked Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"The athaleb?" said the doctor. "Why, it is clearly the pterodactyl."</p> + +<p> +"By-the-bye," interrupted Oxenden, "do please take notice of that +name. It affords another exemplification of 'Grimm's Law.' The Hebrew +word is 'ataleph,' and means bat. The Kosekin word is 'athaleb.' Here +you see the thin letter of Hebrew represented by the aspirated letter +of the Kosekin language, while the aspirated Hebrew is represented by +the Kosekin medial."</p> + +<p> +"Too true," exclaimed Melick, in a tone of deep conviction; "and now, +Oxenden, won't you sing us a song?"</p> + +<p> +"Nonsense," said Featherstone; "let the doctor tell us about the +athaleb."</p> + +<p> +"Well," resumed the doctor, "as I was saying, it must be undoubtedly +the pterodactyl. It is a most extraordinary animal, and is a species +of flying lizard, although differing from the lizard in many respects. +It has the head and neck of a bird, the trunk and tail of an ordinary +mammal, the jaws and teeth of a reptile, and the wings of a bat. Owen +describes one whose sweep of wings exceeded twenty feet, and many have +been found of every gradation of size down to that of a bat. There is +no reason why they should not be as large as More says; and I for my +part do not suspect him of exaggeration. Some have supposed that a +late, lingering individual may have suggested the idea of the fabulous +dragon--an idea which seems to be in the minds of nearly all the human +race, for in the early records of many nations we find the destruction +of dragons assigned to their gods and heroes. The figure of the +pterodactyl represents pretty closely that which is given to the +dragons. It is not impossible that they may have existed into the +period which we call prehistoric, and that monsters far larger than +any which we have yet discovered may have lingered until the time when +man began to increase upon the earth, to spread over its surface, and +to carve upon wood and stone representations of the most striking +objects around him. When the living pterodactyls had disappeared the +memory of them was preserved; some new features were added, and the +imagination went so far as to endow them with the power of belching +forth smoke and flames. Thus the dragon idea pervaded the minds of +men, and instead of a natural animal it became a fabulous one.</p> + +<p> +"The fingers of the forelegs were of the ordinary dimensions, and +terminated with crooked nails, and these were probably used to suspend +themselves from trees. When in repose it rested on its hind legs like +a bird, and held its neck curving behind, so that its enormous head +should not disturb its equilibrium. The size and form of the feet, of +the leg, and of the thigh prove that they could hold themselves erect +with firmness, their wings folded, and move about in this way like +birds, just as More describes them as doing. Like birds they could +also perch on trees, and could crawl like bats and lizards along the +rocks and cliffs.</p> + +<p> +"Some think that they were covered with scales, but I am of the +opinion that they had a horny hide, with a ridge of hair running down +their backs--in which opinion I am sustained by More's account. The +smaller kinds were undoubtedly insectivorous, but the larger ones must +have been carnivorous, and probably fed largely on fish."</p> + +<p> +"Well, at any rate," said Melick, gravely, "this athaleb solves the +difficult question as to how the Troglodytes emigrated to the South +Pole."</p> + +<p> +"How?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"Why, they must have gone there on athalebs! Your friends the +pterodactyls probably lingered longest among the Troglodytes, who, +seeing that they were rapidly dying out, concluded to depart to +another and a better world. One beauty of this theory is that it +cannot possibly be disproved; another is that it satisfies all the +requirements of the case; a third is that it accounts for the +disappearance of the pterodactyls in our world, and their appearance +at the South Pole; and there are forty or fifty other facts, all +included in this theory, which I have not time just now to enumerate, +but will try to do so after we have finished reading the manuscript. I +will only add that the athaleb must be regarded as another link which +binds the Kosekin to the Semitic race."</p> + +<p> +"Another link?" said Oxenden. "That I already have; and it is one that +carries conviction with it."</p> + +<p> +"All your arguments invariably do, my dear fellow."</p> + +<p> +"What is it?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"The Kosekin alphabet," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"I can't see how you can make anything out of that," said the doctor.</p> + +<p> +"Very well, I can easily explain," replied Oxenden. "In the first +place we must take the old Hebrew alphabet. I will write down the +letters in their order first."</p> + +<p> +Saying this he hastily jotted down some letters on a piece of paper, +and showed to the doctor the following:</p> + +<pre> + Labials. Palatals. Linguals. + A B C (or G) D + E F Ch (or H) Dh (or Th) + I Liquids, L M N + O P K T + +</pre> + +<p> +"That," said he, "is substantially the order of the old Hebrew +alphabet."</p> + +<p> +"But," said the doctor, "the Kosekin alphabet differs in its order +altogether from that."</p> + +<p> +"That very difference can be shown to be all the stronger proof of a +connection between them," said Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"I should like to know how."</p> + +<p> +"The fact is," said Oxenden, "these letters are represented +differently in the two languages in exact accordance with Grimm's +Law."</p> + +<p> +"By Jove!" cried Featherstone, "Grimm's Law again!"</p> + +<p> +"According to that law," continued Oxenden, "the letters of the +alphabet ought to change their order. Now let us leave out the vowels +and linguals, and deal only with the mutes. First, we have in the +Hebrew alphabet the medials B, G, and D. Very well; in the Kosekin we +have standing first the thin letters, or tenues, according to Grimm's +Law, namely, P, K, T. Next we have in the Hebrew the aspirates F, Ch, +Dh. In the Kosekin alphabet we have corresponding to them the medials +B, G, D. Next we have in the Hebrew the tenues, or thin letters P, K, +T. In the Kosekin we have the corresponding aspirates F, Ch, Th. The +vowels, liquids, and sibilants need not be regarded just here, for the +proof from the mutes is sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Melick, "I for one am thoroughly satisfied, and don't +need another single word. The fact is, I never knew before the +all-sufficient nature of Grimm's Law. Why, it can unlock any mystery! +When I get home I must buy one--a tame one, if possible--and keep him +with me always. It is more useful to a literary man than to any other. +It is said that with a knowledge of Grimm's Law a man may wander +through the world from Iceland to Ceylon, and converse pleasantly in +all the Indo-European languages. More must have had Grimm's Law stowed +away somewhere about him; and that's the reason why he escaped the +icebergs, the volcanoes, the cannibals, the subterranean channel +monster, and arrived at last safe and sound in the land of the +Kosekin. What I want is Grimm's Law--a nice tidy one, well trained, in +good working order, and kind in harness; and the moment I get one I +intend to go to the land of the Kosekin myself."</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXVII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">OXENDEN PREACHES A SERMON</h4> + + +<p> +"Magones," said the doctor, "is clearly a volcanic island, and, taken +in connection with the other volcanoes around, shows how active must +be the subterranean fires at the South Pole. It seems probable to me +that the numerous caves of the Kosekin were originally fissures in the +mountains, formed by convulsions of nature; and also that the places +excavated by man must consist of soft volcanic rock, such as +pumice-stone, or rather tufa, easily worked, and remaining permanently +in any shape into which it may be fashioned. As to Magones, it seems +another Iceland; for there are the same wild and hideous desolation, +the same impassable wildernesses, and the same universal scenes of +ruin, lighted up by the baleful and tremendous volcanic fires."</p> + +<p> +"But what of that little island on which they landed?" asked +Featherstone. "That, surely, was not volcanic."</p> + +<p> +"No," said the doctor; "that must have been a coral island."</p> + +<p> +"By-the-bye, is it really true," asked Featherstone, "that these coral +islands are the work of little insects?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, they may be called insects," replied the doctor; "they are +living zoophytes of most minute dimensions, which, however, compensate +for their smallness of size by their inconceivable numbers. Small as +these are they have accomplished infinitely more than all that ever +was done by the ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, the pterodactyl, and +the whole tribe of monsters that once filled the earth. Immense +districts and whole mountains have been built up by these minute +creatures. They have been at work for ages, and are still at work. It +is principally in the South Seas that their labors are carried on. +Near the Maldive Islands they have formed a mass whose volume is equal +to the Alps. Around New Caledonia they have built a barrier of reefs +four hundred miles in length, and another along the northeast coast of +Australia a thousand miles in length. In the Pacific Ocean, islands, +reefs, and islets innumerable have been constructed by them, which +extend for an immense distance.</p> + +<p> +"The coral islands are called 'atolls.' They are nearly always +circular, with a depression in the centre. They are originally made +ring-shaped, but the action of the ocean serves to throw fragments of +rock into the inner depression, which thus fills up; firm land +appears; the rock crumbles into soil; the winds and birds and currents +bring seeds here, and soon the new island is covered with verdure. +These little creatures have played a part in the past quite as +important as in the present. All Germany rests upon a bank of coral; +and they seem to have been most active during the Oolitic Period."</p> + +<p> +"How do the creatures act?" asked Featherstone.</p> + +<p> +"Nobody knows," replied the doctor.</p> + +<p> +A silence now followed, which was at last broken by Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"After all," said he, "these monsters and marvels of nature form the +least interesting feature in the land of the Kosekin. To me the people +themselves are the chief subject of interest. Where did they get that +strange, all-pervading love of death, which is as strong in them as +love of life is in us?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, they got it from the imagination of the writer of the +manuscript," interrupted Melick.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, it's easy to answer it from your point of view; yet from my +point of view it is more difficult. I sometimes think that it may be +the strong spirituality of the Semitic race, carried out under +exceptionally favorable circumstances to the ultimate results; for the +Semitic race more than all others thought little of this life, and +turned their affections to the life that lives beyond this. The +Kosekin may thus have had a spiritual development of their own, which +ended in this.</p> + +<p> +"Yet there may be another reason for it, and I sometimes think that +the Kosekin may be nearer to the truth than we are. We have by nature +a strong love of life--it is our dominant feeling--but yet there is in +the minds of all men a deep underlying conviction of the vanity of +life, and the worthlessness. In all ages and among all races the best, +the purest, and the wisest have taught this truth--that human life is +not a blessing; that the evil predominates over the good; and that our +best hope is to gain a spirit of acquiescence with its inevitable +ills. All philosophy and all religions teach us this one solemn truth, +that in this life the evil surpasses the good. It has always been so. +Suffering has been the lot of all living things, from the giant of the +primeval swamps down to the smallest zoophyte. It is far more so with +man. Some favored classes in every age may furnish forth a few +individuals who may perhaps lead lives of self-indulgence and luxury; +but to the mass of mankind life has ever been, and must ever be, a +prolonged scene of labor intermingled with suffering. The great Indian +religions, whether Brahmanic or Buddhistic, teach as their cardinal +doctrine that life is an evil. Buddhism is more pronounced in this, +for it teaches more emphatically than even the Kosekin that the chief +end of man is to get rid of the curse of life and gain the bliss of +Nirvana, or annihilation. True, it does not take so practical a form +as among the Kosekin, yet it is believed by one-third of the human +race as the foundation of the religion in which they live and die. We +need not go to the Kosekin, however, for such maxims as these. The +intelligent Hindoos, the Chinese, the Japanese, with many other +nations, all cling firmly to this belief. Sakyamoum Gautama Buddha, +the son and heir of a mighty monarch, penetrated with the conviction +of the misery of life, left his throne, embraced a life of voluntary +poverty, want, and misery, so that he might find his way to a better +state--the end before him being this, that he might ultimately escape +from the curse of existence. He lived till old age, gained innumerable +followers, and left to them as a solemn legacy the maxim that not to +exist is better than to exist; that death is better than life. Since +his day millions of his followers have upheld his principles and lived +his life. Even among the joyous Greeks we find this feeling at times +bursting forth it comes when we least expect it, and not even a +Kosekin poet could express this view more forcibly than Sophocles in +the <i>Œdipus at Colonus</i>:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'Not to be born surpasses every lot;<br> + And the next best lot by far, when one is born<br> + Is to go back whence he came as soon as possible;<br> + For while youth is present bringing vain follies,<br> + What woes does it not have, what ills does it not bear--<br> + Murders, factions, strife, war, envy,<br> + But the extreme of misery is attained by loathsome old age--<br> + Old age, strengthless, unsociable, friendless,<br> + Where all evils upon evils dwell together.'" +</blockquote> + +<p> +"I'll give you the words of a later poet," said Melick, "who takes +a different view of the case. I think I'll sing them, with your +permission."</p> + +<p> +Melick swallowed a glass of wine and then sang the following:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'They may rail at this life: from the hour I began it<br> +   I found it a life full of kindness and bliss,<br> + And until they can show me some happier planet,<br> +   More social and bright, I'll content me with this.<br> + As long as the world has such lips and such eyes<br> +   As before me this moment enraptured I see,<br> + They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies,<br> +   But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me.' +</blockquote> + +<p> +"What a pity it is," continued Melick, "that the writer of this +manuscript had not the philological, theological, sociological, +geological, palæological, ontological, ornithological, and all the +other logical attainments of yourself and the doctor! He could then +have given us a complete view of the nature of the Kosekin, morally +and physically; he could have treated of the geology of the soil, the +ethnology of the people, and could have unfolded before us a full and +comprehensive view of their philosophy and religion, and could have +crammed his manuscript with statistics. I wonder why he didn't do it +even as it was. It must have been a strong temptation."</p> + +<p> +"More," said Oxenden, with deep impressiveness, "was a simple-minded +though somewhat emotional sailor, and merely wrote in the hope that +his story might one day meet the eyes of his father. I certainly +should like to find some more accurate statements about the science, +philosophy, and religion of the Kosekin; yet, after all, such things +could not be expected."</p> + +<p> +"Why not?" said Melick; "it was easy enough for him."</p> + +<p> +"How?" asked Oxenden.</p> + +<p> +"Why, he had only to step into the British Museum, and in a couple of +hours he could have crammed up on all those points in science, +philosophy, ethnology, and theology, about which you are so anxious to +know."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Featherstone, "suppose we continue our reading? I believe +it is my turn now. I sha'n't be able to hold out so long as you did, +Oxenden, but I'll do what I can."</p> + +<p> +Saying this, Featherstone took the manuscript and went on to read.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXVIII</h3> + +<h4 align="center">IN PRISON</h4> + + +<p> +It was with hearts full of the gloomiest forebodings that we returned +to the <i>amir</i>, and these we soon found to be fully justified. The +athalebs descended at that point from which they had risen--namely, on +the terrace immediately in front of the cavern where they had been +confined. We then dismounted, and Layelah with the Kosekin guards +accompanied us to our former chambers. There she left us, saying that +a communication would be sent to us.</p> + +<p> +We were now left to our own conjectures.</p> + +<p> +"I wonder what they will do to us?" said I.</p> + +<p> +"It is impossible to tell," said Almah.</p> + +<p> +"I suppose," said I, "they will punish us in some way; but then +punishment among the Kosekin is what seems honor and reward to me. +Perhaps they will spare our lives, for that in their eyes ought to be +the severest punishment and the deepest disgrace imaginable."</p> + +<p> +Almah sighed.</p> + +<p> +"The Kosekin do not always act in this matter as one would suppose," +said she. "It is quite likely that they may dread our escaping, and +may conclude to sacrifice us at once."</p> + +<p> +On the next <i>jom</i> I had a visit from the Kohen Gadol. He informed me +that the paupers had held a Council of State, in which they had made a +special examination of our late flight. He and Layelah had both been +examined, as well as the Kosekin who had gone after us; but Layelah's +testimony was by far the most important.</p> + +<p> +The Council of State gathered from Layelah's report that we had fled +to Magones for the especial purpose of gaining the most blessed of +deaths; that she pursued us in the interest of the state; and that we +on her arrival had generously surrendered our own selfish desires, and +had at once returned.</p> + +<p> +We learned that much gratification was felt by the council, and also +expressed, at Layelah's account and at our action.</p> + +<p> +First, at our eager love of death, which was so natural in their +eyes; secondly, at the skill which we had shown in selecting Magones; +and finally, at our generosity in giving up so readily the blessed +prospect of exile and want and death, so as to come back to the +<i>amir</i>. Had we been Kosekin our acts would have been natural enough; +but, being foreigners, it was considered more admirable in us, and it +seemed to show that we were equal to the Kosekin themselves. It was +felt, however, that in our eager rush after death we had been somewhat +selfish; but as this probably arose from our ignorance of the law, it +might be overlooked. On the whole it was decided that we ought to be +rewarded, and that, too, with the greatest benefits that the Kosekin +could bestow. What these benefits were the Kohen Gadol could not say; +and thus we were left, as before, in the greatest possible anxiety. We +still dreaded the worst. The highest honors of these men might well +awaken apprehension; for they thought that the chief blessings were +poverty and darkness and death.</p> + +<p> +Layelah next came to see me. She was as amiable as ever, and showed no +resentment at all. She gave me an account of what had happened at the +Council of State, which was the same as what I had heard from the +Kohen Gadol.</p> + +<p> +I asked her why she had made such a report of us.</p> + +<p> +"To conciliate their good-will," said Layelah. "For if they thought +that you had really fled from death from a love of life, they would +have felt such contempt for you that serious harm might have +happened."</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said I; "but among the Kosekin what you call harm would +probably have been just what I want. I should like to be viewed with +contempt, and considered unworthy of death and the <i>Mista Kosek</i>, and +other such honors."</p> + +<p> +"Oh yes," said Layelah; "but that doesn't follow; for you see the +paupers love death so intensely that they long to bestow it on all; +and if they knew that you were afraid of it, they would be tempted to +bestow it upon you immediately, just to show you how delightful a +thing it is. And that was the very thing that I was trying to guard +against."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said I, "and what is the result? Do you know what their +decision is?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Layelah.</p> + +<p> +"What is it?" I asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +Layelah hesitated.</p> + +<p> +"What is it?" I cried again, full of impatience.</p> + +<p> +"I'm afraid it will not sound very pleasant to you," said Layelah, +"but at any rate your life is spared for the present. They have +decided to give you what they call the greatest possible honors and +distinctions."</p> + +<p> +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly. For my part these words +sounded ominous, and were full of the darkest meaning.</p> + +<p> +"Tell me all," I said; "don't keep me in suspense."</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Layelah, "I'm afraid you will think it hard; but I must +tell you. I will tell it, therefore, as briefly and formally as +possible.</p> + +<p> +"First, then, they have decreed the blessing of separation. You and +Almah must now be parted, since this is regarded as the highest bliss +of lovers.</p> + +<p> +"Secondly, they have decreed the blessing of poverty. All these +luxuries will be taken away, and you will be raised to an equality in +this respect with the great paupers.</p> + +<p> +"Thirdly, you are to have the blessing of darkness. You are to be +removed from this troublesome and vexatious light, which here is +regarded as a curse, and henceforth live without it.</p> + +<p> +"Fourthly, the next decree is the high reward of imprisonment. You are +to be delivered from the evils of liberty, and shut up in a dark +cavern, from which it will be impossible to escape or to communicate +with anyone outside.</p> + +<p> +"Fifthly, you are to associate with the greatest of the paupers, the +class that is the most honored and influential. You will be present at +all their highest councils, and will have the privilege of perpetual +intercourse with those reverend men. They will tell you of the joys of +poverty, the happiness of darkness, and the bliss of death."</p> + +<p> +Layelah paused, and looked at me earnestly.</p> + +<p> +"Is there anything more?" I gasped.</p> + +<p> +"No," said she. "Is not that enough? Some were in favor of bestowing +immediate death, but they were outvoted by the others. You surely +cannot regret that."</p> + +<p> +Layelah's words sounded like the words of a mocking demon. Yet she did +not wish to distress me; she had merely stated my sentence in formal +language, without any attempt to soften its tremendous import. As for +me, I was overwhelmed with despair. There was but one thought in my +mind--it was not of myself, but of Almah.</p> + +<p> +"And Almah?" I cried.</p> + +<p> +"Almah," said Layelah--"she will have the same; you are both included +in the same sentence."</p> + +<p> +At this a groan burst from me. Horror overwhelmed me. I threw myself +down upon the floor and covered my face with my hands. All was lost! +Our fate--Almah's fate--was darkness, imprisonment, and death. Could +anything be imagined that might mitigate such woes as these? Could +anything be conceived of as more horrible? Yes; there remained +something more, and this was announced by Layelah.</p> + +<p> +"Finally," said she, "it has been decreed that you shall not only have +the blessing of death, but that you shall have the rare honor of +belonging to the chosen few who are reserved for the <i>Mista Kosek</i>. +Thus far this had not been granted. It was esteemed too high an honor +for strangers; but now, by an exercise of unparalleled liberality, the +Grand Council of Paupers have added this, as the last and best, to the +high honors and rewards which they have decreed for you and Almah."</p> + +<p> +To this I had nothing to say; I was stupefied with horror. To such +words what answer could be made? At that moment I could think of +nothing but this tremendous sentence--this infliction of appalling +woes under the miserable name of blessings! I could not think of +Layelah; nor did I try to conjecture what her motives might be in thus +coming to me as the messenger of evil. I could not find space amid +my despair for speculations as to her own part in this, or stop to +consider whether she was acting the part of a mere messenger, or was +influenced by resentment or revenge. All this was far away from my +thoughts; for all my mind was filled with the dread sentence of the +Council of Paupers and the baleful prospect of the woes that awaited +us.</p> + +<p> +On the next <i>jom</i> I saw Almah. She had already learned the awful +tidings. She met me with a face of despair; for there was no longer +any hope, and all that remained for us was a last farewell. After this +we parted, and each of us was taken to our respective prison.</p> + +<p> +I was taken along dark passages until I came to a cavern with a low, +dark portal. Upon entering I found the darkness deeper than usual, +and there was only one solitary lamp, which diffused but a feeble ray +through the gloom. The size of the place could not be made out. I +saw here a group of human beings, and by the feeble ray of the lamp +I perceived that they were wan and thin and emaciated, with scant +clothing, all in rags, squalor, misery, and dirt; with coarse hair +matted together, and long nails and shaggy beards. They reminded me in +their personal appearance of the cannibals of the outer shore. These +hideous beings all gathered around me, blinking at me with their +bleary eyes and grinning with their abominable faces, and then each +one embraced me. The filth, squalor, and unutterable foulness of +these wretches all combined to fill my soul with loathing, and the +inconceivable horror of that embrace wellnigh overwhelmed me. Yet, +after all, it was surpassed by the horror of the thought that Almah +might be at that very moment undergoing the same experience; and for +her such a thing must be worse than for me.</p> + +<p> +I retreated as far as possible from them, deep into the thick +darkness, and sat down. No convicted felon at the last hour of life, +no prisoner in the dungeons of the Inquisition, ever could have +suffered more mental agony than I did at that moment. The blessings, +the awful blessings of the Kosekin were descending upon my miserable +head--separation from Almah, squalor and dirt, imprisonment, the +society of these filthy creatures, darkness, the shadow of death, and +beyond all the tremendous horrors of the <i>Mista Kosek!</i></p> + +<p> +I do not know how the time passed, for at first I was almost stupefied +with despair; nor could I ever grow reconciled to the society of +these wretches, scarce human, who were with me. Some food was +offered me--filthy stuff, which I refused. My refusal excited warm +commendation; but I was warned against starving myself, as that was +against the law. In my despair I thought of my pistol and rifle, +which I still kept with me--of using these against my jailors, and +bursting forth; but this wild impulse soon passed away, for its utter +hopelessness was manifest. My only hope, if hope it was, lay in +waiting, and it was not impossible that I might see Almah again, +if only once.</p> + +<p> +<i>Joms</i> passed away, I know not how. The Chief Pauper, who is the +greatest man in the land of the Kosekin, made several attempts to +converse with me, and was evidently very condescending and magnanimous +in his own eyes; but I did not meet his advances graciously--he was +too abhorrent. He was a hideous wretch, with eyes nearly closed and +bleary, thick, matted hair, and fiendish expression--in short, a devil +incarnate in rags and squalor.</p> + +<p> +But as the <i>joms</i> passed I found it difficult to repel my associates. +They were always inflicting their society upon me, and thrusting on me +nasty little acts of kindness. The Chief Pauper was more persistent +than all, with his chatter and his disgusting civilities. He was +evidently glad to get hold of a fresh subject for his talkative +genius; he was a very garrulous cannibal, and perhaps my being a +foreigner made me more interesting in his eyes.</p> + +<p> +The chief topic of his discourse was death. He hated life, loved +death, longed for it in all its forms, whether arising from disease +or from violence. He was an amateur in corpses, and had a larger +experience in dead bodies than any other man in the nation.</p> + +<p> +I could not help asking him once why he did not kill himself, and be +done with it.</p> + +<p> +"That," said he, "is not allowed. The temptation to kill one's self is +one of the strongest that human nature can experience, but it is one +that we must struggle against, of course, for it is against all law. +The greatest blessing must not be seized. It must be given by nature +or man. Those who violate the blessed mystery of death are infamous."</p> + +<p> +He assured me that he had all his life cultivated the loftiest +feelings of love to others. His greatest happiness consisted in doing +good to others, especially in killing them. The blessing of death, +being the greatest of all blessings, was the one which he loved best +to bestow upon others; and the more he loved his fellow-creatures +the more he wished to give them this blessing. "You," said he, "are +particularly dear to me, and I should rather give to you the blessing +of death than to any other human being. I love you, Atam-or, and I +long to kill you at this moment."</p> + +<p> +"You had better not try it," said I, grimly.</p> + +<p> +He shook his head despondingly.</p> + +<p> +"Oh no," said he; "it is against the law. I must not do it till the +time comes."</p> + +<p> +"Do you kill many?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"It is my pleasing and glorious office," he replied, "to kill more +than any other; for, you must know, I am the <i>Sar Tabakin</i>" (chief of +the executioners).</p> + +<p> +The Chief Pauper's love of death had grown to be an all-absorbing +passion. He longed to give death to all. As with us there are certain +philanthropists who have a mania for doing good, so here the pauper +class had a mania for doing what they considered good in this way. The +Chief Pauper was a sort of Kosekin Howard or Peabody, and was regarded +by all with boundless reverence. To me, however, he was an object +of never-ending hate, abhorrence, and loathing; and, added to this, +was the thought that there might be here some equally hideous +female--someone like the nightmare hag of the outer sea--a torment +and a horror to Almah.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXIX</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE CEREMONY OF SEPARATION</h4> + + +<p> +Separated from Almah, surrounded by foul fiends, in darkness and the +shadow of death, with the baleful prospect of the <i>Mista Kosek</i>, it +was mine to endure the bitterest anguish and despair; and in me these +feelings were all the worse from the thought that Almah was in a +similar state, and was enduring equal woes. All that I suffered in my +present condition she too was suffering--and from this there was no +possibility of escape. Perhaps her surroundings were even worse, and +her sufferings keener; for who could tell what these people might +inflict in their strange and perverted impulses?</p> + +<p> +Many <i>joms</i> passed, and there was only one thing that sustained +me--the hope of seeing Almah yet again, though it were but for a +moment. That hope, however, was but faint. There was no escape. The +gate was barred without and within. I was surrounded by miscreants, +who formed the chief class in the state and the ruling order. The +Chief Pauper was the highest magistrate in the land, from whose +opinion there was no appeal, and the other paupers here formed the +Kosekin senate. Here, in imprisonment and darkness, they formed a +secret tribunal and controlled everything. They were objects of envy +to all. All looked forward to this position as the highest object of +human ambition, and the friends and relatives of those here rejoiced +in their honor. Their powers were not executive, but deliberative. To +the Meleks and Athons was left the exercise of authority, but their +acts were always in subordination to the will of the paupers.</p> + +<p> +"I have everything that heart can wish," said the Chief Pauper to +me once. "Look at me, Atam-or, and see me as I stand here: I have +poverty, squalor, cold, perpetual darkness, the privilege of killing +others, the near prospect of death, and the certainty of the <i>Mista +Kosek</i>--all these I have, and yet, Atam-or, after all, I am not happy."</p> + +<p> +To this strange speech I had nothing to say.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," continued the Chief Pauper, in a pensive tone, "for twenty +seasons I have reigned as chief of the Kosekin in this place. My +cavern is the coldest, squalidest, and darkest in the land. My raiment +is the coarsest rags. I have separated from all my friends. I have had +much sickness. I have the closest captivity. Death, darkness, poverty, +want, all that men most live and long for, are mine to satiety; and +yet, as I look back and count the <i>joms</i> of my life to see in how many +I have known happiness, I find that in all they amount to just seven! +Oh, Atam-or, what a comment is this on the vanity of human life!"</p> + +<p> +To this I had no answer ready; but by way of saying something, I +offered to kill him on the spot.</p> + +<p> +"Nay, nay, Atam-or," said he, with a melancholy smile, "do not tempt +me. Leave me to struggle with temptations by myself, and do not +seek to make me falter in my duty. Yes, Atam-or, you behold in me a +melancholy example of the folly of ambition; for I often think, as +I look down from my lofty eminence, that after all it is as well to +remain content in the humble sphere in which we are placed at birth; +for perhaps, if the truth were known, there is quite as much real +happiness among the rich and splendid--among the Athons and Meleks."</p> + +<p> +On this occasion I took advantage of the Chief Pauper's softer mood +to pour forth an earnest entreaty for him to save Almah's life, or at +least to mitigate her miseries. Alas! he was inexorable. It was like +an appeal of some mad prisoner to some gentle-hearted governor in +Christendom, entreating him to put some fellow-prisoner to death, or +at least to make his confinement more severe.</p> + +<p> +The Chief Pauper stared at me in horror.</p> + +<p> +"You are a strange being, Atam-or," said he, gently. "Sometimes I +think you mad. I can only say that such a request is horrible to me +beyond all words. Such degradation and cruelty to the gentle and +virtuous Almah is outrageous and forever impossible; no, we will not +deprive her of a single one of those blessings which she now enjoys."</p> + +<p> +I turned away in despair.</p> + +<p> +At length one <i>jom</i> the Chief Pauper came to me with a smile and said,</p> + +<p> +"Atam-or, let me congratulate you on this joyous occasion."</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"You are to have your ceremony of separation."</p> + +<p> +"Separation!" I repeated.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said he. "Almah has given notice to us. She has announced her +intention of giving you up, and separating from you. With us the +woman always gives the announcement in such cases. We have fixed the +ceremony for the third <i>jom</i> from this, and I hope you will not think +it too soon."</p> + +<p> +This strange intelligence moved me greatly. I did not like the idea of +a ceremony of separation; but behind this there rose the prospect of +seeing Almah, and I felt convinced that she had devised this as a mode +of holding communication with me, or at least of seeing me again. +The thought of Layelah was the only thing that interfered with this +belief, for it might be her doings after all; yet the fact remained +that I was to see Almah, and in this I rejoiced with exceeding great +joy.</p> + +<p> +The appointed <i>jom</i> came. A procession was formed of the paupers. The +chief did not go, as he never left the cavern except on the great +sacrifices and <i>Mista Koseks</i>. The door was opened, and I accompanied +the procession. On our way all was dark, and after traversing many +passages we came at length to the door of a cavern as gloomy as the +one I had left. On entering this I found all dark and drear; and a +little distance before me there was a light burning, around which was +gathered a group of hags hideous beyond all expression. But these I +scarcely noticed; for there amid them, all pale and wan, with her face +now lighted up with joyous and eager expectation, I saw my darling--my +Almah! I caught her in my arms, and for a few moments neither of us +spoke a word. She sobbed upon my breast, but I knew that the tears +which she shed were tears of joy. Nor was our joy checked by the +thought that it was to be so short-lived. It was enough at that moment +that we saw one another--enough that we were in one another's arms; +and so we mingled our tears, and shared one common rapture. And sweet +it was--sweet beyond all expression--the sweetest moment in all my +life; for it had come in the midst of the drear desolation of my heart +and the black despair. It was like a flash of lightning in the intense +darkness, short and sudden indeed, yet still intense while it lasted, +and in an instant filling all with its glow.</p> + +<p> +"I did this," murmured Almah, "to see you and to save you."</p> + +<p> +"Save me!" I repeated.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said she. "I have seen Layelah. She told me that there is this +chance and this one only to save you. I determined to try it. I cannot +bear to think of you at the sacrifice--and for love of me meeting your +death--for I would die to save you, Atam-or."</p> + +<p> +I pressed her closer in my arms.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Almah," said I, "I would die to save you! and if this ceremony +will save you I will go through with it, and accept my fate whatever +it may be."</p> + +<p> +We were now interrupted.</p> + +<p> +The women--the hags of horror--the shriek-like ones, as I may call +them, or the fiend-like, the female fiends, the foul ones--they were +all around us; and one there was who looked so exactly like the +nightmare hag of the outer sea that I felt sure she must be the same, +who by some strange chance had come here. Such, indeed, is quite +likely, for there may have been a pass over the mountains to the land +of the Kosekin; and those savage cannibals may all have been honored +Kosekin exiles, dwelling in poverty, want, woe, and darkness, all of +which may have been allotted to them as a reward for eminent virtues. +And so here she was, the nightmare hag, and I saw that she recognized +me.</p> + +<p> +A circle was now formed around us, and the light stood in the middle. +The nightmare hag also stood within the circle on the other side of +the light opposite us. The beams of the lamp flickered through the +darkness, faintly illuminating the faces of the horrible creatures +around, who, foul and repulsive as harpies, seemed like unclean +beasts, ready to make us their prey. Their glances seemed to menace +death; their blear eyes rested upon us with a horrid eager hunger. My +worst fears at that moment seemed realized; for I saw that Almah's +associates were worse than mine, and her fate had been more bitter. +And I wondered how it had been possible for her to live among such +associates; or, even though she had lived thus far, whether it would +be possible for her to endure it longer.</p> + +<p> +And now there arose a melancholy chant from the old hags around--a +dreadful strain, that sounded like a funeral dirge, sung in shrill, +discordant voices, led by the nightmare hag, who as she sang waved +in her hand a kind of club. All the time I held Almah in my arms, +regardless of those around us, thinking only of her from whom I must +soon again be separated, and whom I must leave in this drear abode to +meet her fearful fate alone. The chant continued for some time, and as +long as it continued it was sweet to me; for it prolonged the meeting +with Almah, and postponed by so much our separation.</p> + +<p> +At length the chant ceased. The nightmare hag looked fixedly at us, +and spoke these words:</p> + +<p> +"You have embraced for the last time. Henceforth there is no more +sorrow in your love. You may be happy now in being forever disunited, +and in knowing the bliss of eternal separation. As darkness is better +than light, as death is better than life, so may you find separation +better than union."</p> + +<p> +She now gave a blow with her club at the lamp, which broke it to atoms +and extinguished the flame. She continued:</p> + +<p> +"As the baleful light is succeeded by the blessed darkness, so may +you find the light of union followed by the blessed darkness of +separation."</p> + +<p> +And now in the deep darkness we stood clasped in one another's arms; +while around us, from the horrible circle of hags, there arose +another chant as harsh and discordant as the previous one, but which, +nevertheless, like that, served at least to keep us together a little +longer. For this reason it sounded sweeter than the sweetest music; +and therefore, when at last the hideous noise ended, I felt a pang of +grief, for I knew that I must now give up Almah forever.</p> + +<p> +I was right. The ceremony was over. We had to part, and we parted with +tears of despair. I was led away, and as I went I heard Almah's sobs. +I broke away, and tried to return for one more embrace; but in the +darkness I could not find her, and could only hear her sobs at a +greater distance, which showed that she too was being led away. I +called after her,</p> + +<p> +"Farewell, Almah!"</p> + +<p> +Her reply came back broken with sobs.</p> + +<p> +"Farewell forever, Atam-or!"</p> + +<p> +I was once more led away, and again traversed the dark passages, and +again came back to my den, which now seemed dark with the blackness +of despair.</p> + +<p> +On my return I was formally and solemnly congratulated by all the +paupers. I should not have received their congratulations had I not +expected that there would be something more. I expected that something +would be said about the result of this act of separation; for Almah +had believed that it would be the means of saving my life, and I +believed that it would be the means of saving her life, and for this +reason each of us had performed our part; although, of course, the joy +of meeting with one another would of itself have been sufficient, and +more than sufficient, to make that ceremony an object of desire. I +thought, therefore, that some statement might now be made to the +effect that by means of this ceremony my status among the Kosekin +would be changed, and that both I and Almah, being no longer +lovers, would be no longer fit for the sacrifice. To my intense +disappointment, however, nothing whatever was said that had the +remotest reference to this.</p> + +<p> +On the following <i>jom</i> I determined to ask the Chief Pauper himself +directly; and accordingly, after a brief preamble, I put the question +point-blank:</p> + +<p> +"Will our ceremony of separation make any difference as to our +sacrifice?"</p> + +<p> +"What?" he asked, with a puzzled expression.</p> + +<p> +I repeated the question.</p> + +<p> +"I don't understand," said he, still looking puzzled.</p> + +<p> +Upon this I once more repeated it.</p> + +<p> +"How can that be?" said he at length; "how can the ceremony of +separation have any effect upon your sacrifice? The ceremony of +separation stands by itself as the sign and symbol of an additional +blessing. This new happiness of separation is a great favor, and will +make you the object of new envy and admiration; for few have been so +fortunate as you in all the history of the Kosekin. But you are the +favorite of the Kosekin now, and there is nothing that they will not +do for you."</p> + +<p> +"But we were separate before," said I, indignantly.</p> + +<p> +"That is true," said he, "in point of fact; but this ceremony makes +your separation a legal thing, and gives it the solemn sanction of +law and of religion. Among the Kosekin one cannot be considered as +a separate man until the ceremony of separation has been publicly +performed."</p> + +<p> +"I understood," said I, "that we were chosen to suffer the sacrifice +together because we were lovers, and now since you do not any longer +regard us as lovers, why do you sacrifice us?"</p> + +<p> +At this question the Chief Pauper looked at me with one of those +hungry glances of his, which showed how he thirsted for my blood, and +he smiled the smile of an evil fiend.</p> + +<p> +"Why do we sacrifice you, Atam-or?" he replied. "Why, because we honor +you both, and love you both so dearly that we are eager to give you +the greatest of all blessings, and to deny you nothing that is in our +power to bestow."</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean to sacrifice both of us?" I gasped.</p> + +<p> +"Of course."</p> + +<p> +"What! Almah too?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly. Why should we be so cruel to the dear child as to deprive +her of so great a boon?"</p> + +<p> +At this I groaned aloud and turned away in despair.</p> + +<p> +Many <i>joms</i> now passed away. I grew more and more melancholy and +desperate. I thought sometimes of fighting my way out. My fire-arms +were now my chief consolation; for I had fully made up my mind not to +die quietly like a slaughtered calf, but to strike a blow for life, +and meet my death amid slain enemies. In this prospect I found some +satisfaction, and death was robbed of some of its terrors.</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXX</h3> + +<h4 align="center">THE DAY OF SACRIFICE</h4> + + +<p> +At last the time came.</p> + +<p> +It was the end of the dark season. Then, as the sun rises for its +permanent course around the heavens, when the long day of six months +begins, all in the land of the Kosekin is sorrow, and the last of the +loved darkness is mourned over amid the most solemn ceremonies, and +celebrated with the most imposing sacrifices. Then the most honored +in all the land are publicly presented with the blessing of death, +and allowed to depart this hated life, and go to the realms of that +eternal darkness which they love so well. It is the greatest of +sacrifices, and is followed by the greatest of feasts. Thus the busy +season--the loved season of darkness--ends, and the long, hateful +season of light begins, when the Kosekin lurk in caverns, and live in +this way in the presence of what may be called artificial darkness.</p> + +<p> +It was for us--for me and for Almah--the day of doom. Since the +ceremony of separation I had not seen her; but my heart had been +always with her. I did not even know whether she was alive or not, but +believed that she must be; for I thought that if she had died I should +have heard of it, as the Kosekin would have rejoiced greatly over such +an event. For every death is to them an occasion of joy, and the death +of one so distinguished and so beloved as Almah would have given rise +to nothing less than a national festival.</p> + +<p> +Of time I had but a poor reckoning; but, from the way in which the +paupers kept account of their <i>joms</i>, I judged that about three months +had elapsed since the ceremony of separation.</p> + +<p> +The paupers were now all joyous with a hideous joy. The Chief Pauper +was more abhorrent than ever. He had the blood-thirst strong upon +him. He was on that <i>jom</i> to perform his horrible office of <i>Sar +Tabakin</i>, and as he accosted me he smiled the smile of a demon, and +congratulated me on my coming escape from life. To this I had no word +of answer to make; but my hands held my rifle and pistol, and these I +clutched with a firmer grasp as my last hour approached.</p> + +<p> +The time of departure at length arrived. Soldiers of the Kosekin came, +following the paupers, who went first, while the guards came after me. +Thus we all emerged into the open air. There the broad terrace already +mentioned spread out before my eyes, filled with thousands upon +thousands of human beings. It seemed as though the entire population +of the city was there, and so densely packed was this great crowd that +it was only with great difficulty that a way was laid open for our +passage.</p> + +<p> +Above was the sky, where the stars were twinkling faintly. There was +no longer the light of the aurora australis; the constellations +glimmered but dimly, the moon was shining with but a feeble ray; for +there far away over the icy crests of the lofty mountains I saw a long +line of splendid effulgence, all golden and red--the light of the new +dawn--the dawn of that long day which was now approaching. The sight +of that dawning light gave me new life. It was like a sight of +home--the blessed dawn, the sunlight of a bright day, the glorious +daybreak lost for so long a time, but now at last returning. I feasted +my eyes on the spectacle, I burst into tears of joy, and I felt as +though I could gaze at it forever. But the sun as it travelled was +rapidly coming into view; soon the dazzling glory of its rim would +appear above the mountain crest, and the season of darkness would end. +There was no time to wait, and the guards hurried me on.</p> + +<p> +There in the midst of the square rose the pyramid. It was fully a +hundred feet in height, with a broad flat top. At the base I saw a +great crowd of paupers. Through these we passed, and as we did so +a horrible death-chant arose. We now went up the steps and reached +the top. It was about sixty feet square, and upon it there was a +quadrangle of stones set about three feet apart, about sixty in +number, while in the midst was a larger stone. All of these were +evidently intended for sacrificial purposes.</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had I reached the top when I saw a procession ascend from +the other side. First came some paupers, then some hags, and then, +followed by other hags, I saw Almah. I was transfixed at the sight. A +thrill passed through every nerve, and a wild impulse came to me to +burst through the crowd, join her, and battle with them all for her +life. But the crowd was too dense. I could only stand and look at her, +and mark the paleness of her face and her mute despair. She saw me, +waved her hand sadly, and gave a mournful smile. There we stood +separated by the crowd, with our eyes fastened on each other, and +all our hearts filled with one deep, intense yearning to fly to one +another's side.</p> + +<p> +And now there came up from below, louder and deeper, the awful +death-chant. Time was pressing. The preparations were made. The Chief +Pauper took his station by the central stone, and in his right hand he +held a long, keen knife. Toward this stone I was led. The Chief Pauper +then looked with his blear and blinking eyes to where the dawn was +glowing over the mountain crest, and every moment increasing in +brightness; and then, after a brief survey, he turned and whetted his +knife on the sacrificial stone. After this he turned to me with his +evil face, with the glare of a horrid death-hunger in his ravenous +eyes, and pointed to the stone.</p> + +<p> +I stood without motion.</p> + +<p> +He repeated the gesture and said, "Lie down here."</p> + +<p> +"I will not," said I.</p> + +<p> +"But it is on this stone," said he, "that you are to get the blessing +of death."</p> + +<p> +"I'll die first!" said I, fiercely, and I raised my rifle.</p> + +<p> +The Chief Pauper was puzzled at this. The others looked on quietly, +thinking it probably a debate about some punctilio. Suddenly he seemed +struck with an idea.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, yes," said he. "The woman first. It is better so."</p> + +<p> +Saying this he walked toward Almah, and said something to the hags.</p> + +<p> +At this the chief of them--namely, the nightmare hag--led Almah to the +nearest stone, and motioned to her to lie down. Almah prepared to +obey, but paused a moment to throw at me one last glance and wave her +hand as a last farewell. Then without a word she laid herself down +upon the stone. At this a thrill of fury rushed through all my being, +rousing me from my stupor, impelling me to action, filling my brain +with madness. The nightmare hag had already raised her long keen knife +in the air. Another moment and the blow would have fallen. But my +rifle was at my shoulder; my aim was deadly. The report rang out like +thunder. A wild, piercing yell followed, and when the smoke cleared +away the nightmare hag lay dead at the foot of the altar. I was +already there, having burst through the astonished crowd, and Almah +was in my arms; and holding her thus for a moment, I put myself in +front of her and stood at bay, with my only thought that of defending +her to the last and selling my life as dearly as possible.</p> + +<p> +The result was amazing.</p> + +<p> +After the report there was for some moments a deep silence, which was +followed by a wild, abrupt outcry from half a million people--the roar +of indistinguishable words bursting forth from the lips of all that +throng, whose accumulated volume arose in one vast thunder-clap of +sound, pealing forth, echoing along the terraced streets, and rolling +on far away in endless reverberations. It was like the roar of mighty +cataracts, like the sound of many waters; and at the voice of that +vast multitude I shrank back for a moment. As I did so I looked down, +and beheld a scene as appalling as the sound that had overawed me. In +all that countless throng of human beings there was not one who was +not in motion; and all were pressing forward toward the pyramid as +to a common centre. On every side there was a multitudinous sea of +upturned faces, extending as far as the eye could reach. All were in +violent agitation, as though all were possessed by one common impulse +which forced them toward me. At such a sight I thought of nothing else +than that I was the object of their wrath, and that they were all with +one common fury rushing toward me to wreak vengeance upon me and upon +Almah for the slaughter of the nightmare hag.</p> + +<p> +All this was the work of but a few moments. And now as I stood there +holding Almah--appalled, despairing, yet resolute and calm--I became +aware of a more imminent danger. On the top of the pyramid, at the +report of the rifle, all had fallen down flat on their faces, and +it was over them that I had rushed to Almah's side. But these now +began to rise, and the hags took up the corpse of the dead, and the +paupers swarmed around with cries of "<i>Mut! mut!</i>" (dead! dead!) and +exclamations of wonder. Then they all turned their foul and bleary +eyes toward me, and stood as if transfixed with astonishment. At +length there burst forth from the crowd one who sought to get at me. +It was the Chief Pauper. He still held in his hand the long knife of +sacrifice. He said not a word, but rushed straight at me, and as he +came I saw murder in his look. I did not wait for him, but raising my +rifle, discharged the second barrel full in his face. He fell down a +shattered, blackened heap, dead.</p> + +<p> +As the second report thundered out it drowned all other sounds, and +was again followed by an awful silence. I looked around. Those on the +pyramid--paupers and hags--had again flung themselves on their faces. +On the square below the whole multitude were on their knees, with +their heads bowed down low. The silence was more oppressive than +before; it was appalling--it was tremendous! It seemed like the dread +silence that precedes the more awful outburst of the hurricane when +the storm is gathering up all its strength to burst with accumulated +fury upon its doomed victim.</p> + +<p> +But there was no time to be lost in staring, and that interval was +occupied by me in hastily reloading my rifle. It was my last resource +now; and if it availed not for defence it might at least serve to be +used against ourselves. With this thought I handed the pistol to +Almah, and hurriedly whispered to her that if I were killed, she could +use it against herself. She took it in silence, but I read in her face +her invincible resolve.</p> + +<p> +The storm at last burst. The immense multitude rose to their feet, and +with one common impulse came pressing on from every side toward the +pyramid, apparently filled with the one universal desire of reaching +me--a desire which was now all the more intense and vehement from +these interruptions which had taken place. Why they had fallen on +their knees, why the paupers on the pyramid were still prostrate, I +could not tell; but I saw now the swarming multitude, and I felt that +they were rolling in on every side--merciless, blood-thirsty, +implacable--to tear me to pieces. Yet time passed and they did not +reach me, for an obstacle was interposed. The pyramid had smooth +sides. The stairways that led up to the summit were narrow, and did +not admit of more than two at a time; yet, had the Kosekin been like +other people, the summit of the pyramid would soon have been swarming +with them; but as they were Kosekin, none came up to the top; for at +the base of the pyramid, at the bottom of the steps, I saw a strange +and incredible struggle. It was not, as with us, who should go up +first, but who should go up last; each tried to make his neighbor go +before him. All were eager to go, but the Kosekin self-denial, +self-sacrifice, and love for the good of others made each one +intensely desirous to make others go up. This resulted in a furious +struggle, in which, as fast as anyone would be pushed up the steps a +little way, he would jump down again and turn his efforts toward +putting up others; and thus all the energies of the people were worn +out in useless and unavailing efforts--in a struggle to which, from +the very nature of the case, there could be no end.</p> + +<p> +Now those on the pyramid began to rise, and soon all were on their +feet. Cries burst forth from them. All were looking at us, but with +nothing like hostility; it was rather like reverence and adoration, +and these feelings were expressed unmistakably in their cries, among +which I could plainly distinguish such words as these: "<i>Ap Ram!</i>" +"<i>Mosel anan wacosek!</i>" "<i>Sopet Mut!</i>" (The Father of Thunder! Ruler of +Cloud and Darkness! Judge of Death!) These cries passed to those +below. The struggle ceased. All stood and joined in the cry, which was +taken up by those nearest, and soon passed among all those myriads, to +be repeated with thunder echoes far and wide.</p> + +<p> +At this it suddenly became plain to me that the danger of death had +passed away; that these people no longer regarded me as a victim, but +rather as some mighty being--some superior, perhaps supernatural +power, who was to be almost worshipped. Hence these prostrations, +these words, these cries, these looks. All these told me that the +bitterness of death had passed away. At this discovery there was, for +a moment, a feeling of aversion and horror within me at filling such a +position; that I, a weak mortal, should dare to receive adoration like +this; and I recoiled at the thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for +life was at stake--not my own merely, but that of Almah; and I was +ready now to go through anything if only I might save her: so, instead +of shrinking from this new part, I eagerly seized upon it, and at once +determined to take advantage of the popular superstition to the +utmost.</p> + +<p> +Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the +sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, +throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land. +I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all +who were nearest, in a loud voice:</p> + +<p> +"I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am +the Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!"</p> + +<p> +At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give +them the blessing of death.</p> + +<p> +I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told +her to fire the pistol. A million eyes were fixed on us. She held up +the pistol and fired. Immediately after, I fired both barrels of the +rifle; and as the reports rang out and the smoke cleared away, I heard +a mighty murmur, and once more beheld all prostrate. Upon this I +hurriedly loaded again, and waited for further revelations. All the +time I could not help wondering at the effect produced by the rifle +now, in comparison with the indifference with which it had been +regarded at my first arrival in the country. I could not account for +it, but supposed that the excitement of a great religious festival and +the sudden death of the Chief Pauper and the Chief Hag had probably +deeply impressed them. In the midst of these thoughts the whole +multitude arose; and once more there came to my ears the universal +uproar of innumerable cries, in the midst of which I could hear the +words, "<i>Ap Ram!</i>" "<i>Mosel anan wacosek!</i>" "<i>Sopet Mut!</i>"</p> + + + +<h3 align="center">CHAPTER XXXI</h3> + +<h4 align="center">CONCLUSION</h4> + + +<p> +In the midst of this the paupers and the hags talked earnestly +together. Some of those who had been nearest in rank to the late Chief +Pauper and Chief Hag were conspicuous in the debate. All looked at me +and at Almah, and pointed toward the sun, which was wheeling along +behind the distant mountain crest, showing a golden disc. Then they +pointed to the dead bodies; and the hags took the Chief Hag, and the +paupers the Chief Pauper, and laid them side by side on the central +altar. After this a hag and a pauper advanced toward us, each carrying +the sacrificial knife which had belonged to the deceased.</p> + +<p> +The hag spoke first, addressing Almah, in accordance with the Kosekin +custom, which requires women to take the precedence in many things.</p> + +<p> +"Take this," she said, "O Almah, consort of Atam-or, and Co-ruler of +Clouds and Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the +women of the Kosekin."</p> + +<p> +She then handed Almah the sacrificial knife of the Chief Hag, which +Almah took in silence.</p> + +<p> +Then the pauper presented me with the sacrificial knife of the Chief +Pauper, with the following words:</p> + +<p> +"Take this, O Atam-or, Father of Thunder and Ruler of Clouds and +Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the men of the +Kosekin, and <i>Sar Tabakin</i> over the whole nation."</p> + +<p> +I received the knife in silence, for I had nothing to say; but now +Almah spoke, as was fitting for her to do, since with the Kosekin the +women must take the precedence; and here it was expected that she +should reply in behalf of both of us.</p> + +<p> +So Almah, holding the sacrificial knife, stood looking at them, full +of dignity, and spoke as follows:</p> + +<p> +"We will take this, O Kosekin, and we will reward you all. We will +begin our reign over the Kosekin with memorable acts of mercy. These +two great victims shall be enough for the <i>Mista Kosek</i> of this +season. The victims designed for this sacrifice shall have to deny +themselves the blessing of death, yet they shall be rewarded in other +ways; and all the land from the highest to the lowest shall have +reason to rejoice in our rule.</p> + +<p> +"To all you hags and paupers we grant the splendid and unparalleled +boon of exile to Magones. There you can have all the suffering which +heart can wish, and inevitable death. To all classes and ranks in +the whole nation we promise to grant a diminution in their wealth by +one-quarter. In the abundance of our mercy we are willing ourselves to +bear the burden of all the offerings that may be necessary in order to +accomplish this. All in the land may at once give up one-quarter of +their whole wealth to us."</p> + +<p> +At this the hags and paupers gave a horrible yell of applause.</p> + +<p> +"As rulers of Light and Darkness, we will henceforth govern the nation +in the light as well as in the dark. We will sacrifice ourselves so +far to the public good as to live in the light, and in open palaces. +We will consent to undergo the pains of light and splendor, to endure +all the evils of luxury, magnificence, and boundless wealth, for the +good of the Kosekin nation. We will consent to forego the right of +separation, and agree to live together, even though we love one +another. Above all, we will refuse death and consent to live. Can any +rulers do more than this for the good of their people?"</p> + +<p> +Another outburst of applause followed.</p> + +<p> +"In three <i>joms</i>," continued Almah, "all you hags and paupers shall be +sent to exile and death on Magones. As for the rest of the Kosekin, +hear our words. Tell them from us that the laborers shall all be +elevated to the rank of paupers, the artisans shall be made laborers, +the tradesmen artisans, the soldiers tradesmen, the Athons soldiers, +the Kohens Athons, and the Meleks Kohens. There shall be no Meleks in +all the land. We, in our love for the Kosekin, will henceforth be the +only Meleks. Then all the misery of that low station will rest on us; +and in our low estate as Meleks we shall govern this nation in love +and self-denial. Tell them that we will forego the sacrifice and +consent to live; that we will give up darkness and cavern gloom and +live in light. Tell them to prepare for us the splendid palaces of the +Meleks, for we will take the most sumptuous and magnificent of them +all. Tell all the people to present their offerings. Tell them that we +consent to have endless retinues of servants, soldiers, followers, and +attendants. Tell them that with the advent of Almah and Atam-or a new +era begins for the Kosekin, in which every man may be as poor as he +likes, and riches shall be unknown in the land."</p> + +<p> +These extraordinary words seemed to fill the paupers with rapture. +Exclamations of joy burst from them; they prostrated themselves in an +irrepressible impulse of grateful admiration, as though such promises +could only come from superior beings. Then most of them hurried down +to communicate to the people below the glorious intelligence. Soon it +spread from mouth to mouth, and all the people were filled with the +wildest excitement.</p> + +<p> +For never before had such a thing been known, and never had such +self-sacrifice been imagined or thought possible, as that the rulers +of the Kosekin could consent to be rich when they might be paupers; to +live together when they might be separate; to dwell in the light when +they might lurk in the deepest cavern gloom; to remain in life when +they might have the blessing of death. Selfishness, fear of death, +love of riches, and love of luxury, these were all unintelligible to +the Kosekin, as much as to us would be self-abnegation, contempt of +death, voluntary poverty, and asceticism. But as with us self-denying +rulers may make others rich and be popular for this, so here among the +Kosekin a selfish ruler might be popular by making others poor. Hence +the words of Almah, as they were made known, gave rise to the wildest +excitement and enthusiasm, and the vast multitude poured forth their +feelings in long shouts of rapturous applause.</p> + +<p> +Amid this the bodies of the dead were carried down from the pyramid, +and were taken to the <i>Mista Kosek</i> in a long and solemn procession, +accompanied by the singing of wild and dismal chants.</p> + +<p> +And now the sun, rolling along behind the icy mountain crest, rose +higher and higher every moment, and the bright light of a long day +began to illumine the world. There sparkled the sea, rising far away +like a watery wall, with the horizon high up in the sky; there rose +the circle of giant mountains, sweeping away till they were blended +with the horizon; there rose the terraces of the <i>amir</i>, all glowing +in the sunlight, with all its countless houses and cavern-openings and +arching trees and pointing pyramids. Above was the canopy of heaven, +no longer black, no longer studded with stars or glistening with +the fitful shimmer of the aurora, but all radiant with the glorious +sunlight, and disclosing all the splendors of the infinite blue. At +that sight a thrill of joy passed through me. The long, long night +at last was over; the darkness had passed away like some hideous +dream; the day was here--the long day that was to know no shadow +and no decline--when all this world should be illuminated by the +ever-circling sun--a sun that would never set until his long course +of many months should be fully run. My heart swelled with rapture, +my eyes filled with tears. "O Light!" I cried; "O gleaming, golden +Sunlight! O Light of Heaven!--light that brings life and hope to man!" +And I could have fallen on my knees and worshipped that rising sun.</p> + +<p> +But the light which was so glorious to us was painful and distressing +to the Kosekin. On the top of the pyramid the paupers crouched, +shading their eyes. The crowd below began to disperse in all +directions, so as to betake themselves to their coverts and to the +caverns, where they might live in the dark. Soon nearly all were gone +except the paupers at the foot of the pyramid, who were awaiting our +commands, and a crowd of Meleks and Athons at a distance. At a gesture +from me the few paupers near us descended and joined those below.</p> + +<p> +Almah and I were alone on the top of the pyramid.</p> + +<p> +I caught her in my arms in a rapture of joy. This revulsion from the +lowest despair--from darkness and from death back to hope and light +and life--was almost too much to endure. We both wept, but our tears +were those of happiness.</p> + +<p> +"You will be all my own now," said I, "and we can fly from this +hateful land. We can be united--we can be married--here before we +start--and you will not be cruel enough to refuse. You will consent, +will you not, to be my wife before we fly from the Kosekin?"</p> + +<p> +At this Almah's face became suffused with smiles and blushes. Her +arms were about me, and she did not draw away, but looked up in sweet +confusion and said,</p> + +<p> +"Why, as to that--I--I cannot be more your--your wife than I am."</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean?" I exclaimed, in wonder. "My wife!"</p> + +<p> +Her eyes dropped again, and she whispered:</p> + +<p> +"The ceremony of separation is with the Kosekin the most sacred form +of marriage. It is the religious form; the other is merely the civil +form."</p> + +<p> +This was unintelligible, nor did I try to understand it. It was enough +to hear this from her own sweet lips; but it was a strange feeling, +and I think I am the only man since Adam that ever was married without +knowing it.</p> + +<p> +"As to flight," continued Almah, who had quite adopted the Kosekin +fashion, which makes women take the lead--"as to flight, we need not +hurry. We are all-powerful now, and there is no more danger. We must +wait until we send embassies to my people, and when they are ready to +receive us, we will go. But now let us leave this, for our servants +are waiting for us, and the light is distressing to them. Let us go to +the nearest of our palaces and obtain rest and food."</p> + +<br> + +<p> +Here Featherstone stopped, yawned, and laid down the manuscript.</p> + +<p> +"That's enough for to-day," said he; "I'm tired, and can't read any +more. It's time for supper."</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper +Cylinder, by James De Mille + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND *** + +This file should be named msscc10h.htm or msscc10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, msscc11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, msscc10ah.htm + +Produced by Andrew Sly. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart hart@pobox.com + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + + + +</pre> +</body> + +</html> + diff --git a/old/msscc10h.zip b/old/msscc10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e852ebc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/msscc10h.zip |