第9章

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。