A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

45
scrupulous delicacy and a careful and even ceremonious politeness in
their attitude toward me which was at once amazing and delightful. All
fear and anxiety had now left me; in the gentle manners and amiable
faces of these people I saw enough to assure me of kind treatment;
and in my deep joy and gratitude for this even my hunger was for a
time forgotten.
At length the chief motioned to me to follow him. He led the way to
the cabin, where, opening the door, he entered, and I followed, after
which the others came in also and then the door was shut. At first I
could see nothing. There were no windows whatever, and only one or two
slight crevices through which the light came. After a time my eyes
grew more accustomed to the darkness, and I could see that the cabin
was a spacious compartment, adorned with rich hangings of some unknown
material. There was a large table and seats. Taking me by the hand,
the chief led me to this, where I seated myself, while the others
remained standing. Then some of them went away, and soon returned with
food and drink. The food was of different kinds--some tasting like
goose, others like turkey, others like partridge. It was all the flesh
of fowls, though, judging from the slices before me, they must have
been of great size. I wondered much at the behavior of the officers
of the ship, who all, and the chief himself more than all, stood and
waited upon me; but it was a new world, and I supposed that this must
be the fashion; so I made no objections, but accepted the situation
and ate with a thankful heart.
As the first keenness of my appetite was satisfied I had more leisure
to make observations. I noticed that the eyes of my new friends no
longer blinked; they were wide open; and, so far as I could make
them out, their faces were much improved. Weakness of eyes seemed
common among these people, and therefore the officers had their cabin
darkened, while the unfortunate rowers had to labor in the blazing
sun. Such was my conclusion, and the fact reminded me of the miserable
fellahin of Egypt, who have ophthalmia from the blazing sun and
burning sand.
After the repast they brought me water in a basin, and all stood
around me. One held the basin, another a towel, another a flask,
another took a sponge and proceeded to wash my face and hands.
This was all strange to me, yet there was nothing left for me but
submission. Then the chief, who had stood looking on with a smile on