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Title: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

Author: James De Mille

Release date: October 1, 2004 [eBook #6709]
                Most recently updated: December 29, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Etext produced by Andrew Sly
        
        HTML file produced by David Widger


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A STRANGE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN A COPPER CYLINDER ***




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."











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