A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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"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