A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
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utterly unable to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of<br />
character which the occasion demanded.<br />
Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have<br />
said, with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time<br />
succeeded <strong>in</strong> rega<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g my presence of m<strong>in</strong>d.<br />
Almah was wait<strong>in</strong>g, and she soon jo<strong>in</strong>ed me. We gathered a few articles<br />
for the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which<br />
I had not used here, and then we set forth. Leav<strong>in</strong>g our apartments<br />
we traversed the long passages, and at length came to the cavern of<br />
the athalebs. We met several people on the way, who looked at us<br />
with smiles, but made no other sign. It was evident that they had no<br />
commission to watch us, and that thus far Layelah's <strong>in</strong>formation was<br />
correct.<br />
Upon enter<strong>in</strong>g the cavern of the athalebs my first feel<strong>in</strong>g was one of<br />
helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever <strong>in</strong> my own powers of<br />
manag<strong>in</strong>g these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could<br />
harness them; but the emergency was a press<strong>in</strong>g one, and there was no<br />
help for it. I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my<br />
chief desire was to secure one of the athalebs. The fa<strong>in</strong>t light served<br />
to disclose noth<strong>in</strong>g but gloom; and I waited for a while, hop<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
one of them would come forward as before. But wait<strong>in</strong>g did no good,<br />
for no movement was made, and I had to try what I could do myself to<br />
rouse them. So I walked farther <strong>in</strong> toward the back part of the cavern,<br />
peer<strong>in</strong>g through the gloom, while Almah rema<strong>in</strong>ed near the entrance.<br />
As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone mov<strong>in</strong>g. I thought<br />
it was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peer<strong>in</strong>g through the<br />
gloom, when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work<br />
which I could not make out. For a moment I stood <strong>in</strong> amazement and<br />
despair, for it seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man<br />
would at once div<strong>in</strong>e my <strong>in</strong>tent. While I stood thus he turned and gave<br />
me a very courteous greet<strong>in</strong>g, after which, <strong>in</strong> the usual manner of the<br />
Kosek<strong>in</strong>, he asked me with much amiability what he could do for me. I<br />
muttered someth<strong>in</strong>g about see<strong>in</strong>g the athalebs, upon which he <strong>in</strong>formed<br />
me that he would show them to me with pleasure.<br />
He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low<br />
position of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g