Iwasanxioustogofurtherandseewhatlaybeyondit;indeedwedidwalkafewpaces,twentyperhaps,onwardintotherecessesofthecave。
ThenBickleydiscoveredsomethingthatlookedlikethemouthofawelldownwhichhenearlytumbled,andBastinbegantocomplainthathewashotandverythirsty;alsotopointoutthathewishedfornomorecavesandidolsatpresent。
\"Lookhere,Arbuthnot,\"saidBickley,\"thesecandlesareburninglowandwedon’twanttouseupmoreifwecanpreventit,forwemayneedwhatwehavegotverybadlylateron。Now,accordingtomypocketcompassthemouthofthiscavepointsdueeast;probablyatthebeginningitwasorientatedtotherisingsunforpurposesofastronomicalobservationorofworshipatcertainperiodsoftheyear。FromthepositionofthesunwhenwelandedontherockthismorningIimaginethatjustnowitrisesalmostexactlyoppositetothemouthofthecave。Ifthisisso,to—morrowatdawn,foratimeatleast,thelightshouldpenetrateasfarasthestatue,andperhapsfurther。WhatI
suggestisthatweshouldwalttillthentoexplore。\"
Iagreedwithhim,especiallyasIwasfeelingtired,beingexhaustedbywonder,andwantedtimetothink。Soweturnedback。
AswedidsoImissedTommyandinquiredanxiouslywherehewas,beingafraidlesthemighthavetumbleddownthewell—likehole。
\"He’sallright,\"saidBastin。\"Isawhimsniffingatthebaseofthatstatue。Iexpectthereisaratinthere,orperhapsasnake。\"
SureenoughwhenwereachedittherewasTommywithhisblacknosepressedagainstthelowestofthetiersthatformedthebaseofthestatue,andsniffingloudly。Alsohewasscratchinginthedustasadogdoeswhenhehaswindedarabbitinahole。SoengrossedwasheinthisoccupationthatitwaswithdifficultythatIcoaxedhimtoleavetheplace。
Ididnotthinkmuchoftheincidentatthattime,butafterwardsitcamebacktome,andIdeterminedtoinvestigatethosestonesatthefirstopportunity。
Passingthewrecksofthemachines,weemergedontothecausewaywithoutaccident。Afterwehadrestedandwashedwesettoworktodrawourcanoewithitspreciousburdenoffoodrightintothemouthofthecave,wherewehiditaswellaswecould。
Thisdonewewentforawalkroundthebaseofthepeak。Thisprovedtobeagreatdeallargerthanwehadimagined,overtwomilesincircumferenceindeed。Allaboutitwasabeltoffertileland,asIsupposedepositedtherebythewatersofthegreatlakeandresultingfromthedecayofvegetation。Muchofthisbeltwascoveredwithancientforestendinginmudflatsthatappearedtohavebeenthrownuprecently,perhapsatthetimeofthetidalwavewhichboreustoOrofena。Onthehigherpartofthebeltweremanyoftheextraordinarycrater—likeholesthatI
havementionedasbeingprevalentonthemainisland;indeedtheplacehadalltheappearanceofhavingbeensubjectedtoaterrificandcontinuousbombardment。
WhenwehadcompleteditscircuitwesettoworktoclimbthepeakinordertoexploretheterracesofwhichIhavespokenandtheruinswhichIhadseenthroughmyfield—glasses。Itwasquitetrue;theywereterracescutwithinfinitelabouroutofthesolidrock,andonthemhadoncestoodacity,nowpoundedintodustandfragments。Westruggledoverthebrokenblocksofstonetowhatwehadtakenforatemple,whichstoodnearthelipofthecrater,forwithoutdoubtthismoundwasanextinctvolcano,orratheritscrest。Allwecouldmakeoutwhenwearrivedwasthatherehadoncestoodsomegreatbuilding,foritscourtscouldstillbetraced;alsotherelayaboutfragmentsofstepsandpillars。
Apparentlythelatterhadoncebeencarved,butthepassageofinnumerableageshadobliteratedtheworkandwecouldnotturnthesegreatblocksovertodiscoverifanyremainedbeneath。ItwasasthoughthegodThorhadbrokenuptheedificewithhishammer,orJovehadshattereditwithhisthunderbolts;nothingelsewouldaccountforthatutterwreck,except,asBickleyremarkedsignificantly,thescientificuseofhighexplosives。
Followingthelineofwhatseemedtohavebeenaroad,wecametotheedgeofthevolcanoandfound,asweexpected,theusualdepressionoutofwhichfireandlavahadoncebeencast,asfromHeclaorVesuvius。Itwasnowalakemorethanaquarterofamileacross。Indeedithadbeenthusintheancientdayswhenthebuildingsstoodupontheterraces,forwesawtheremainsofstepsleadingdowntothewater。Perhapsithadservedasthesacredlakeofthetemple。
Wegazedwithwondermentandthen,weariedout,scrambledbackthroughtheruins,which,bytheway,wereofadifferentstonefromthelavaofthemountain,tothemouthofthegreatcave。
ChapterX
TheDwellersintheTombBynowitwasdrawingtowardssunset,sowemadesuchpreparationsaswecouldforthenight。Oneofthesewastocollectdrydriftwood,ofwhichanabundancelayupontheshore,toserveusforfiring,thoughunfortunatelywehadnothingthatwecouldcookforourmeal。
Whilewewerethusengagedwesawacanoeapproachingthetable—rockandperceivedthatinitwerethechiefMaramaandapriest。Afterhoveringaboutforawhiletheypaddledthecanoenearenoughtoallowofconversationwhich,takingnonoticeoftheirpresence,weleftittothemtobegin。
\"O,Friend—from—the—Sea,\"calledMarama,addressingmyself,\"wecometoprayyouandtheGreatHealertoreturntoustobeourguestsasbefore。Thepeoplearecoveredwithdarknessbecauseofthelossofyourwisdom,andthesickcryaloudfortheHealer;
indeedtwoofthosewhomhehascutwithknivesaredying。\"
\"AndwhatoftheBellower?\"Iasked,indicatingBastin。
\"Weshouldliketoseehimbackalso,Friend—from—the—Sea,thatwemaysacrificeandeathim,whodestroyedourgodwithfireandcausedtheHealertokillhispriest。\"
\"Thatismostunjust,\"exclaimedBastin。\"Ideeplyregretthebloodthatwasshedontheoccasion,unnecessarilyasIthink。\"
\"Thengoandatoneforitwithyourown,\"saidBickley,\"andeverybodywillbepleased。\"
Wavingtothemtobesilent,Isaid:
\"Areyoumad,Marama,thatyoushouldaskustoreturntosojournamongpeoplewhotriedtokillus,merelybecausetheBellowercausedfiretoburnanimageofwoodanditsheadtoflyfromitsshoulders,justtoshowyouthatithadnopowertoholditselftogether,althoughyoucallitagod?Notso,wewashourhandsofyou;weleaveyoutogoyourownwaywhilewegoours,tillperchanceinadaytocome,aftermanymisfortuneshaveovertakenyou,youcreepaboutourfeetandwithprayersandofferingsbegustoreturn。\"
Ipausedtoobservetheeffectofmywords。Itwasexcellent,forbothMaramaandthepriestwrungtheirhandsandgroaned。
ThenIwenton:
\"Meanwhilewehavesomethingtotellyou。Wehaveenteredthecavewhereyousaidnomanmightsetafoot,andhaveseenhimwhositswithin,thetruegod。\"(HereBastintriedtointerrupt,butwassuppressedbyBickley。)
Theylookedateachotherinafrightenedwayandgroanedmoreloudlythanbefore。
\"Hesendsyouamessage,which,ashetoldusofyourapproach,wecametotheshoretodelivertoyou。\"
\"Howcanyousaythat?\"beganBastin,butwasagainviolentlysuppressedbyBickley。
\"Itisthathe,therealOro,rejoicesthatthefalseOro,whosefaceiscopiedfromhisface,hasbeendestroyed。ItisthathecommandsyoudaybydaytobringfoodinplentyandlayitupontheRockofOfferings,notforgettingasupplyoffreshfishfromthesea,andwithitallthosethingsthatarestoredinthehousewhereinwe,thestrangersfromthesea,deignedtodwellawhileuntilweleftyoubecauseinyourwickednessyouwishedtomurderus。\"
\"Andifwerefuse——whatthen?\"askedthepriest,speakingforthefirsttime。
\"ThenOrowillsenddeathanddestructionuponyou。Thenyourfoodshallfailandyoushallperishofsicknessandwant,andtheOromatuas,thespiritsofthegreatdead,shallhauntyouinyoursleep,andOroshalleatupyoursouls。\"
Atthesehorriblethreatsbothofthemutteredakindofwail,afterwhich,Maramaasked:
\"Andifweconsent,whatthen,Friend—from—the—Sea?\"
\"Then,perchance,\"Ianswered,\"insomedaytocomewemayreturntoyou,thatImaygiveyouofmywisdomandtheGreatHealermaycureyoursickandtheBellowermayleadyouthroughhisgate,andinhiskindnessmakeyoutoseewithhiseyes。\"
Thislastclauseofmyultimatumdidnotseemtoappealtothepriest,whoarguedawhilewithMarama,thoughwhathesaidwecouldnothear。Intheendheappearedtogiveway。AtanyrateMaramacalledoutthatallshouldbedoneaswewished,andthatmeanwhiletheyprayedustointercedewithOrointhecave,andtokeepbacktheghostsfromhauntingthem,andtoprotectthemfrommisfortune。Irepliedthatwewoulddoourbest,butcouldguaranteenothingsincetheiroffencewasverygreat。
Then,toshowthattheconversationwasatanend,wewalkedawaywithdignity,pushingBastininfrontofus,lestheshouldspoiltheeffectbysomeofhisill—timedandoftenover—trueremarks。
\"That’scapital,\"saidBickley,whenwewereoutofhearing。
\"Theenemyhascapitulated。Wecanstophereaslongaswelike,provisionedfromthemainland,andifforanyreasonwewishtoleave,besureofourlineofretreat。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoucallcapital,\"exclaimedBastin。\"ItseemstomethatallthelieswhichArbuthnothasjusttoldaresufficienttobringajudgmentuponus。Indeed,IthinkthatI
willgobackwithMaramaandexplainthetruth。\"
\"Ineverbeforeknewanybodywhowassoanxioustobecookedandeaten,\"remarkedBickley。\"Moreover,youaretoolate,forthecanoeisahundredyardsawaybynow,andyoushan’thaveours。RememberthePaulinemaxims,oldfellow,whichyouaresofondofquoting,andbeallthingstoallmen,andanotherthatismoremodern,thatwhenyouareatRome,youmustdoastheRomansdo;alsoathird,thatnecessityhasnolaw,andforthematterofthat,afourth,thatallisfairinloveandwar。\"
\"Iamsure,Bickley,thatPaulnevermeanthiswordstobearthedebasedsensewhichyouattributetothem——\"beganBastin,butatthispointIhustledhimofftolightafire——aprocessatwhichIpointedouthehadshownhimselfanexpert。
Wesleptthatnightundertheoverhangingrockjusttoonesideofthecave,notinthemouth,becauseofthedraughtwhichdrewinandoutofthegreatplace。Inthatsoftandbalmyclimethiswasnohardship,althoughwelackedblankets。Andyet,tiredthoughIwas,IcouldnotrestasIshouldhavedone。Bastinsnoredawaycontentedly,quiteunaffectedbyhisescapewhichtohimwasmerelyanincidentintheday’swork;andso,too,slumberedBickley,exceptthathedidnotsnore。Buttheamazementandthemysteryofallthatwehaddiscoveredandofallthatmightbeleftforustodiscover,heldmebackfromsleep。
Whatdiditmean?Whatcoulditmean?Mynervesweretautasharpstringsandseemedtovibratetothetouchofinvisiblefingers,althoughIcouldnotinterpretthemusicthattheymade。
OnceortwicealsoIthoughtIheardactualmusicwithmyphysicalears,andthatofastrangequality。Softandlowanddreamful,itappearedtowellfromtherecessesofthevastcave,awailingsonginanunknowntonguefromthelipsofwomen,orofawoman,multipliedmysteriouslybyechoes。This,however,musthavebeenpurefancy,sincetherewasnosingerthere。
PresentlyIdozedoff,tobeawakenedbythesuddensoundofagreatfishleapinginthelake。Isatupandstared,fearinglestitmightbethesplashofapaddle,forIcouldnotputfrommymindthepossibilityofattack。AllIsaw,however,wasthelowlineofthedistantshore,andaboveitthebrightandsettingstarsthatheraldedthecomingofthesun。ThenIwoketheothers,andwewashedandate,sinceoncethesunrosetimewouldbeprecious。
Atlengthitappeared,splendidinacloudlesssky,and,asI
hadhoped,directlyoppositetothemouthofthecave。Takingourcandlesandsomestoutpiecesofdriftwoodwhich,withourknives,wehadshapedonthepreviouseveningtoserveusasleversandroughshovels,weenteredthecave。BickleyandIwerefilledwithexcitementandhopeofwhatweknewnot,butBastinshowedlittleenthusiasmforourquest。Hisheartwaswithhishalf—convertedsavagesbeyondthelake,andofthem,quiterightlyIhavenodoubt,hethoughtmorethanhedidofallthearchaeologicaltreasuresinthewholeearth。Still,hecame,bearingtheblackenedheadofOrowithhimwhich,withunconscioushumour,hehadusedasapillowthroughthenightbecause,ashesaid,\"itwasafterallsofterthanstone。\"Also,IbelievethatinhishearthehopedthathemightfindanopportunityofdestroyingthebiggerandearliereditionofOrointhecave,beforeitwasdiscoveredbythenativeswhomightwishtomakeitanobjectofworship。Tommycamealso,withgreateralacritythanIexpected,sincedogsdonotasarulelikedarkplaces。WhenwereachedthestatueIlearnedthereason;herememberedthesmellhehaddetectedatitsbaseonthepreviousday,whichBastinsupposedtoproceedfromarat,andwasanxioustocontinuehisinvestigations。
Wewentstraighttothestatue,althoughBickleypassedthehalf—buriedmachineswithevidentregret。Aswehadhoped,thestronglightoftherisingsunfelluponitinavividray,revealingallitswondrousworkmanshipandthemajesty——fornootherworddescribesit——ofthesomewhatterrifyingcountenancethatappearedabovethewrappingsoftheshroud。Indeed,Iwasconvincedthatoriginallythismonumenthadbeenplacedhereinorderthatoncertaindaysoftheyearthesunmightfalluponitthus,whenprobablyworshippersassembledtoadoretheirhallowedsymbol。Afterall,thiswascommoninancientdays:witnesstheinstanceoftheawfulThreewhositinthedeepestrecessesofthetempleofAbuSimbel,ontheNile。
Wegazedandgazedourfill,atleastBickleyandIdid,forBastinwasoccupiedinmakingacarefulcomparisonbetweentheheadofhiswoodenOroandthatofthestatue。
\"Thereisnodoubtthattheyareverymuchalike,\"hesaid。
\"Why,whateveristhatdogdoing?Ithinkitisgoingmad,\"andhepointedtoTommywhowasdiggingfuriouslyatthebaseoftheloweststep,asathomeIhaveseenhimdoatrootsthatshelteredarabbit。
Tommy’senergywassoremarkablethatatlengthitseriouslyattractedourattention。Evidentlyhemeantthatitshoulddoso,foroccasionallyhesprangbacktomebarking,thenreturnedandsniffedandscratched。Bickleykneltdownandsmeltatthestone。
\"Itisanoddthing,Humphrey,\"hesaid,\"butthereisastrangeodourhere,averypleasantodourlikethatofsandal—woodorattarofroses。\"
\"Ineverheardofaratthatsmeltlikesandal—woodorattarofroses,\"saidBastin。\"Lookoutthatitisn’tasnake。\"
IkneltdownbesideBickley,andinclearingawaythedeepdustfromwhatseemedtobethebottomofthestep,whichwasperhapsfourfeetinheight,byaccidentthrustmyamateurspadesomewhatstronglyagainstitsbasewhereitrestedupontherockyfloor。
Nextmomentawondercametopass。Thewholemassiverockbegantoturnoutwardsasthoughuponapivot!IsawitcomingandgrabbedBickleybythecollar,dragginghimbacksothatwejustrolledclearbeforethegreatblock,whichmusthaveweighedseveraltons,felldownandcrushedus。Tommysawittoo,andfled,thoughalittlelate,fortheedgeoftheblockcaughtthetipofhistailandcausedhimtoemitamostpiercinghowl。ButwedidnotthinkofTommyandhiswoes;wedidnotthinkofourownescapeorofanythingelsebecauseofthemarvelthatappearedtous。Seatedthereupontheground,afterourbackwardtumble,wecouldseeintothespacewhichlaybehindthefallenstep,fortherethelightofthesunpenetrated。
Thefirstideaitgavemewasthatofthejewelledshrineofsomemediaevalsaintwhich,bygoodfortune,hadescapedtheplunderers;therearestillsuchexistingintheworld。Itshoneandglittered,apparentlywithgoldanddiamonds,although,asamatteroffact,therewerenodiamonds,norwasitgoldwhichgleamed,butsomeancientmetal,orratheramalgam,whichisnowlosttotheworld,thesamethatwasusedinthetubesoftheair—machines。Ithinkthatitcontainedgold,butIdonotknow。
Atanyrate,itwasequallylastingandevenmorebeautiful,thoughlighterincolour。
Fortherestthisadornedrecesswhichresembledthatofalargefuneralvault,occupyingthewholespacebeneaththebaseofthestatuethatwassupportedonitsarch,wasemptysavefortwoflashingobjectsthatlaysidebysidebutwithnearlythewholewidthofthevaultbetweenthem。
IpointedatthemtoBickleywithmyfinger,forreallyIcouldnotspeak。
\"Coffins,byJove!\"hewhispered。\"Glassorcrystalcoffinsandpeopleinthem。Comeon!\"
AfewsecondslaterwewerecrawlingintothatvaultwhileBastin,stillnursingtheheadofOroasthoughitwereababy,stoodconfusedoutsidemutteringsomethingaboutdesecratinghallowedgraves。
Justaswereachedtheinterior,owingtotheheighteningofthesun,thelightpassedaway,leavingusinakindoftwilight。
Bickleyproducedcarriagecandlesfromhispocketandfumbledformatches。WhilehewasdoingsoInoticedtwothings——firstly,thattheplacereallydidsmelllikeascent—shop,and,secondly,thatthecoffinsseemedtoglowwithakindofphosphorescentlightoftheirown,notverystrong,butsufficienttorevealtheiroutlinesinthegloom。Thenthecandlesburntupandwesaw。
Withinthecoffinthatstoodonourlefthandasweentered,forthiscrystalwasastransparentasplateglass,layamostwonderfuloldman,cladinagleaming,embroideredrobe。Hislonghair,whichwaspartedinthemiddle,aswecouldseebeneaththeedgeofthepearl—sewnandbroideredcaphewore,alsohisbeardweresnowywhite。Themanwastall,atleastsixfeetfourinchesinheight,andratherspare。Hishandswerelongandthin,verydelicatelymade,aswerehissandalledfeet。
Butitwashisfacethatfixedourgaze,foritwasmarvelous,likethefaceofagod,and,aswenoticedatonce,withsomeresemblancetothatofthestatueabove。Thusthebrowwasbroadandmassive,thenosestraightandlong,themouthsternandclear—cut,whilethecheekboneswereratherhigh,andtheeyebrowsarched。Sucharethecharacteristicsofmanyhandsomeoldmenofgoodblood,andasthemummiesofSetiandothersshowus,suchtheyhavebeenforthousandsofyears。Onlythismandifferedfromallothersbecauseofthefearfuldignitystampeduponhisfeatures。LookingathimIbegantothinkatonceoftheprophetElijahashemusthaveappearedrisingtoheaven,enhancedbythemoreearthlygloryofSolomon,foralthoughtheappearanceofthesepatriarchsisunknown,ofthemoneconceivesideas。OnlyitseemedprobablethatElijahmayhavelookedmorebenign。Heretherewasnobenignity,onlyterribleforceandinfinitewisdom。
ContemplatinghimIshiveredalittleandfeltthankfulthathewasdead。FortotellthetruthIwasafraidofthatawesomecountenancewhich,Ishouldadd,wasofthewhitenessofpaper,althoughthecheeksstillshowedtingesofcolour,soperfectwasthepreservationofthecorpse。
IwasstillgazingatitwhenBickleysaidinavoiceofamazement:
\"Isay,lookhere,intheothercoffin。\"
Iturned,looked,andnearlycollapsedonthefloorofthevault,sincebeautycansometimesstrikeuslikeablow。Oh!
therebeforemelayallloveliness,suchlovelinessthatthereburstfrommylipsaninvoluntarycry:
\"Alas!thatsheshouldbedead!\"
Ayoungwoman,Isupposed,atleastshelookedyoung,perhapsfiveorsixandtwentyyearsofage,orsoIjudged。Thereshelay,hertallanddelicateshapehalfhiddeninmassesofrich—huedhairincolourofaruddyblackness。Iknownothowelsetodescribeit,sinceneverhaveIseenanyofthesametint。Moreover,itshonewithalifeofitsownasthoughithadbeendustedwithgold。FrombetweenthemassesofthishairappearedafacewhichIcanonlycalldivine。Therewaseverybeautythatwomancanboast,fromthecurvingeyelashesofextraordinarylengthtothesweetandhumanmouth。Tothesecharmsalsowereaddedawondroussmileandanairofkinddignity,verydifferentfromthefiercepridestampeduponthecountenanceoftheoldmanwhowashercompanionindeath。
Shewasclothedinsomeclose—fittingrobeofwhitebroideredwithgold;pearlswereaboutherneck,lyingfardownupontheperfectbosom,agirdleofgoldandshininggemsencircledherslenderwaist,andonherlittlefeetweresandalsfastenedwithredstoneslikerubies。Intruth,shewasasplendidcreature,andyet,Iknownothow,herbeautysuggestedmoreofthespiritthanoftheflesh。Indeed,inaway,itwasunearthly。Mysensesweresmitten,itpulledatmyheart—strings,andyetitsunutterablestrangenessseemedtoawakememorieswithinme,thoughofwhatIcouldnottell。AwildfancycametomethatI
musthaveknownthisheavenlycreatureinsomepastlife。
BynowBastinhadjoinedus,and,attractedbymyexclamationandbytheattitudeofBickley,whowasstaringdownatthecoffinwithafixedlookuponhisface,notunlikethatofapointerwhenhescentsgame,hebegantocontemplatethewonderwithinitinhisslowway。
\"Well,Inever!\"hesaid。\"DoyouthinktheGlitteringLadyinthereishuman?\"
\"TheGlitteringLadyisdead,butIsupposethatshewashumaninherlife,\"Iansweredinanawedwhisper。
\"Ofcoursesheisdead,otherwiseshewouldnotbeinthatglasscoffin。IthinkIshouldliketoreadtheBurialServiceoverher,whichIdaresaywasneverdonewhenshewasputinthere。\"
\"Howdoyouknowsheisdead?\"askedBickleyinasharpvoiceandspeakingforthefirsttime。\"Ihaveseenhundredsofcorpses,andmummiestoo,butneveranythatlookedlikethese。\"
Istaredathim。ItwasstrangetohearBickley,thescofferatmiracles,suggestingthatthisgreatestofallmiraclesmightbepossible。
\"Theymusthavebeenherealongtime,\"Isaid,\"foralthoughhuman,theyarenot,Ithink,ofanypeopleknowntotheworldto—day;theirdress,everything,showsit,thoughperhapsthousandsofyearsago——\"andIstopped。
\"Quiteso,\"answeredBickley;\"Iagree。ThatiswhyIsuggestthattheymayhavebelongedtoaracewhoknewwhatwedonot,namely,howtosuspendanimationforgreatperiodsoftime。\"
Isaidnomore,nordidBastin,whowasnowengagedinstudyingtheoldman,andforonce,wonderstruckandovercome。Bickley,however,tookoneofthecandlesandbegantomakeacloseexaminationofthecoffins。SodidTommy,whosniffedalongthejoinofthatoftheGlitteringLadyuntilhisnosereachedacertainspot,whereitremained,whilehisblacktailbegantowaginadelightedfashion。Bickleypushedhimawayandinvestigated。
\"AsIthought,\"hesaid——\"air—holes。See!\"
Ilooked,andthere,boredthroughthecrystalofthecoffininalinewiththefaceofitsoccupant,wereanumberoflittleholesthateitherbyaccidentordesignoutlinedtheshapeofahumanmouth。
\"Theyarenotairtight,\"murmuredBickley;\"andifaircanenter,howcandeadfleshremainlikethatforages?\"
Thenhecontinuedhissearchupontheotherside。
\"Thelidofthiscoffinworksonhinges,\"hesaid。\"Heretheyare,fashionedofthecrystalitself。Alivingpersonwithincouldhavepulleditdownbeforethesensesdeparted。\"
\"No,\"Ianswered;\"forlook,hereisacrystalboltattheendanditisshotfromwithout。\"
Thispuzzledhim;thenasthoughstruckbyanidea,hebegantoexaminetheothercoffin。
\"I’vegotit!\"heexclaimedpresently。\"Theoldgodinhere\"
(somehowweallthoughtofthisoldmanasnotquitenormal)
\"shutdowntheGlitteringLady’scoffinandboltedit。Hisownisnotbolted,althoughtheboltexistsinthesameplace。Hejustgotinandpulleddownthelid。Oh!whatnonsenseIamtalking——
forhowcansuchthingsbe?Letusgetoutandthink。\"
Sowecreptfromthesepulchreinwhichtheperfumedairhadbeguntooppressusandsatourselves。downuponthefloorofthecave,whereforawhileweremainedsilent。