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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48<br />
shut, seek<strong>in</strong>g the darkest shadows; and it seemed to me that this<br />
extraord<strong>in</strong>ary race of men had some natural and universal peculiarity<br />
of eyesight which made them shun the sunlight, and seek the darkness<br />
of caves and of dense, overshadow<strong>in</strong>g foliage.<br />
At length we came to a place where the terrace ran back till it formed<br />
a semicircle aga<strong>in</strong>st the mounta<strong>in</strong> slope, when several vast portals<br />
appeared. Here there was a large space, where the tree-ferns grew <strong>in</strong><br />
long l<strong>in</strong>es cross<strong>in</strong>g each other, and mak<strong>in</strong>g a denser shade than usual.<br />
On the lower side were several stone edifices of immense size; and<br />
<strong>in</strong> the middle of the place there arose a s<strong>in</strong>gular structure, shaped<br />
like a half pyramid, with three sides slop<strong>in</strong>g, and the fourth<br />
perpendicular, flat on the top, which was approached by a flight of<br />
steps. We now went on until we reached the central portal of the range<br />
of caverns, and here we stopped. The chief got out and beckoned to me.<br />
I followed. He then led the way <strong>in</strong>to the cavern, while I, full of<br />
wonder, walked beh<strong>in</strong>d him.<br />
CHAPTER VII<br />
SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCEPTICISM<br />
Thus far Melick had been read<strong>in</strong>g the manuscript, but at this po<strong>in</strong>t he<br />
was <strong>in</strong>terrupted by the announcement that d<strong>in</strong>ner was ready. Upon this<br />
he stopped abruptly; for on board the Falcon d<strong>in</strong>ner was the great<br />
event of the day, and <strong>in</strong> its presence even the manuscript had to be<br />
laid aside. Before long they were all seated around the d<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g-table<br />
<strong>in</strong> the sumptuous cab<strong>in</strong>, prepared to discuss the repast which had been<br />
served up by the genius of the French chef whom Lord Featherstone<br />
had brought with him.<br />
Let us pause here for a moment to take a m<strong>in</strong>uter survey of these four<br />
friends. In the first place, there was Lord Featherstone himself,<br />
young, handsome, languid, good-natured to a fault, with plenty of<br />
muscle if he chose to exert it, and plenty of bra<strong>in</strong> if he chose to<br />
make use of it--a man who had become weary of the monotony of high<br />
life, and, like many of his order, was fond of seek<strong>in</strong>g relief from the<br />
ennui of prosperity amid the excitements of the sea. Next to him was<br />
Dr. Congreve, a middle-aged man, with iron-gray hair, short beard and<br />
mustache, short nose, gray eyes, with spectacles, and stoutish body.