A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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"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