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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170<br />
to mount the athaleb, and proceed to some other shore. But where?<br />
Ah! there was the question! Not on the island, for it did not seem<br />
possible that <strong>in</strong> all its extent there could be one s<strong>in</strong>gle spot capable<br />
of afford<strong>in</strong>g a rest<strong>in</strong>g-place. Layelah's <strong>in</strong>formation with regard to<br />
Magones had made that much pla<strong>in</strong>. I had not taken <strong>in</strong> her full mean<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
but now m<strong>in</strong>e eyes had seen it. Yet where else could we go? Almah could<br />
not tell where under the sky lay that land which she loved; I could<br />
not guess where to go to f<strong>in</strong>d the land of the Or<strong>in</strong>. Even if I did<br />
know, I did not feel able to guide the course of the athaleb; and I<br />
felt sure that if we were to mount aga<strong>in</strong>, the mighty monster would<br />
w<strong>in</strong>g his flight back to the very place from which we had escaped--the<br />
amir. These thoughts weighed down our spirits. We felt that we had<br />
ga<strong>in</strong>ed noth<strong>in</strong>g by our flight, and that our future was dark <strong>in</strong>deed. The<br />
only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the course of the<br />
athaleb <strong>in</strong> some different direction altogether, so that we should not<br />
be carried back to the Kosek<strong>in</strong>.<br />
And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this jom, we thought of<br />
sleep. Almah lay down upon the sand, and I seated myself, lean<strong>in</strong>g<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st a rock, a little distance off, hav<strong>in</strong>g first reloaded my rifle<br />
and pistol.<br />
CHAPTER XXIV<br />
RECAPTURE<br />
How long I slept I do not know; but <strong>in</strong> the midst of my sleep there<br />
sounded voices, which at first <strong>in</strong>term<strong>in</strong>gled themselves with my dreams,<br />
but gradually became separate and sounded from without, rous<strong>in</strong>g me<br />
from my slumbers. I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw<br />
was so amaz<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>stant all sleep left me. I started to my<br />
feet, and gazed <strong>in</strong> utter bewilderment upon the scene before me.<br />
The aurora light was sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed<br />
everyth<strong>in</strong>g--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantann<strong>in</strong>, the<br />
promontory, all--more pla<strong>in</strong>ly and more lum<strong>in</strong>ously than before; but<br />
it was not any of these th<strong>in</strong>gs that now excited my attention and<br />
rendered me dumb. I saw Almah stand<strong>in</strong>g there at a little distance,<br />
with despair<strong>in</strong>g face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosek<strong>in</strong>; while<br />
immediately before me, regard<strong>in</strong>g me with a keen glance and an air of