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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chief attention, and while all looked admir<strong>in</strong>gly upon him, I was left<br />
to languish <strong>in</strong> comparative neglect.<br />
At length a savory odor came through the cave, and a repast was spread<br />
before us. It consisted of some large fowl that looked like a goose,<br />
but was twice as large as the largest turkey that I had ever seen. The<br />
taste was like that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it<br />
seemed delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready<br />
to welcome any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was,<br />
would not have been unwelcome to any hungry man. It was evident that<br />
these people lived on the flesh of birds of various sorts. All around<br />
us we saw the sk<strong>in</strong>s of birds dried with the feathers on, and used for<br />
cloth<strong>in</strong>g, for mats, and for ornaments.<br />
The repast be<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ished, we both felt greatly strengthened and<br />
refreshed. Agnew cont<strong>in</strong>ued to cultivate his new acqua<strong>in</strong>tances, and<br />
see<strong>in</strong>g me hold<strong>in</strong>g back, he said,<br />
"More, old fellow, these good people give me to understand that there<br />
is another place better than this, and want me to go with them. Will<br />
you go?"<br />
At this a great fear seized me.<br />
"Don't go!" I cried--"don't go! We are close by the boat here, and if<br />
anyth<strong>in</strong>g happens we can easily get to it."<br />
Agnew laughed <strong>in</strong> my face.<br />
"Why, you don't mean to tell me," said he, "that you are still<br />
suspicious, and after that d<strong>in</strong>ner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm<br />
us, would they feast us <strong>in</strong> this style? Nonsense, man! Drop your<br />
suspicions and come along."<br />
I shook my head obst<strong>in</strong>ately.<br />
"Well," said he, "if I thought there was anyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> your suspicions I<br />
would stay by you; but I'm confident they mean noth<strong>in</strong>g but k<strong>in</strong>dness,<br />
so I'm go<strong>in</strong>g off to see the place."<br />
"You'll be back aga<strong>in</strong>?" said I.