A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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"This is beyond my comprehension," said I. "But if this is really so,
and if these people pretend to be our slaves, why may we not order out
a galley and go?"
"Oh, well, with you in your land, if a master were to order his slaves
to cut his throat and poison his children and burn his house, would
the slaves obey?"
"Certainly not."
"Well, our slaves here would not--in fact could not--obey a command
that would be shocking to their natures. They think that we are in the
best of all lands, and my request to be sent home would be utterly
monstrous."
"I suppose," said I, "they would kill us if we asked them to do so?"
"Yes," said Almah; "for they think death the greatest blessing."
"And if at the point of death we should beg for life, would they spare
us?"
"Certainly not," said Almah. "Would you kill a man who asked for
death? No more would these people spare a man who asked for life."
All this was so utterly incomprehensible that I could pursue the
subject no further. I saw, however, that Almah was wretched, dejected,
and suffering greatly from home-sickness. Gladly would I have taken
her and started off on a desperate flight by sea or land--gladly would
I have dared every peril, although I well knew what tremendous perils
there were; but she would not consent, and believed the attempt to be
useless. I could only wait, therefore, and indulge the hope that at
last a chance of escape might one day come, of which she would be
willing to avail herself.
Almah utterly refused to go to the feast, and entreated me not to go;
but this only served to increase my curiosity, and I determined to see
it for myself, whatever it was. She had seen it, and why should not I?
Whatever it might be, my nerves could surely stand the shock as well
as hers. Besides, I was anxious to know the very worst; and if there