第9章

类别:其他 作者:H.Rider Haggard字数:10241更新时间:19/01/07 15:17:55
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。