A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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stream emerges from among the mountains, flowing from an unknown
source. It was over this that I had been borne in my sleep, after
I had emerged from the subterranean darkness, and it was by this
current that I had been carried into the open sea. As we crossed the
estuary of this river I saw that the shores on either side were low,
and covered with the rankest vegetation; giant trees of fern, vast
reeds and grasses, all arose here in a dense growth impassable to
man. Upon the shallow shores the surf was breaking; and here in
the tide I saw objects which I at first supposed to be rocks,
but afterward found out to be living things. They looked like
alligators, but were far larger than the largest alligators known
to us, besides being of far more terrific aspect. Toward these the
galley was directed, and I now saw with surprise that these were
the objects of the sacred hunt.
Suddenly, as the galley was moving along at half-speed, there
arose out of the water a thing that looked like the folds of a giant
hairy serpent, which, however, proved to be the long neck of an
incredible monster, whose immense body soon afterward appeared above
the water. With huge fins he propelled himself toward us; and his
head, twenty feet in the air, was poised as though about to attack.
The head was like that of an alligator, the open jaws showed a
fearful array of sharp teeth, the eyes were fiercely glowing, the
long neck was covered with a coarse, shaggy mane, while the top of
the body, which was out of the water, was incased in an impenetrable
cuirass of bone. Such a monster as this seemed unassailable,
especially by men who had no missile weapons, and whose eyes were so
dim and weak. I therefore expected that the galley would turn and
fly from the attack, for the monster itself seemed as large as our
vessel; but there was not the slightest thought of flight. On the
contrary, every man was on the alert; some sprang to the bow and
stood there, awaiting the first shock; others, amidship, stood
waiting for the orders of the Kohen. Meanwhile the monster
approached, and at length, with a sweep of his long neck, came down
upon the dense crowd at the bows. A dozen frail lances were broken
against his horny head, a half-dozen wretches were seized and
terribly torn by those remorseless jaws. Still none fled. All rushed
forward, and with lances, axes, knives, and ropes they sought to
destroy the enemy. Numbers of them strove to seize his long neck. In
the ardor of the fight the rowers dropped their oars and hurried to
the scene, to take part in the struggle. The slaughter was sickening,