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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effect, until at length I succeeded <strong>in</strong> overcom<strong>in</strong>g her objections.<br />
"It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I<br />
do not wish to lessen your happ<strong>in</strong>ess. But you must know all soon; and<br />
so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you<br />
may come the next jom."<br />
This meant the next day, jom be<strong>in</strong>g the division of time correspond<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot<br />
all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next jom I arose<br />
sooner than usual and went forth. I found Almah wait<strong>in</strong>g for me. She<br />
looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile.<br />
"You will f<strong>in</strong>d pa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you<br />
still wish it, why, I will take you with me."<br />
At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went<br />
through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep.<br />
Then we went out-of-doors and came <strong>in</strong>to the full blaze of that day<br />
which here knew no night, but prolonged itself <strong>in</strong>to months. For a<br />
while Almah stood look<strong>in</strong>g forth between the trees to where the bright<br />
sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to<br />
the left. I followed. On com<strong>in</strong>g to the next portal she went <strong>in</strong>. I<br />
followed, and found myself <strong>in</strong> a rough cavern, dark and forbidd<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Travers<strong>in</strong>g this we came to an <strong>in</strong>ner doorway, closed with a heavy mat.<br />
This she raised, and passed through, while I went <strong>in</strong> after her.<br />
I found myself <strong>in</strong> a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkl<strong>in</strong>g lights, which<br />
served not to illum<strong>in</strong>ate it, but merely to <strong>in</strong>dicate its enormous<br />
extent. Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a<br />
hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone<br />
steps. All around, as far as I could see <strong>in</strong> the obscure light, there<br />
were niches <strong>in</strong> the walls, each one conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a figure with a light<br />
burn<strong>in</strong>g at its feet. I took them for statues. Almah po<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> silence<br />
to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see<br />
it.<br />
The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no<br />
statue that I saw <strong>in</strong> that niche, but a shrivelled human form--a<br />
hideous sight. It was dark and dried; it was fixed <strong>in</strong> a sitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
posture, with its hands rest<strong>in</strong>g on its knees, and its hollow eyes