A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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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