A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

d the stream ran on in a strong current, deep, black as ink, and resistless as fate; the sky behind was lighted up by the volcanic glare which still shone from afar; and in fron

land?" s

mes kinder than men, and I feel safer here, even in this

nearer view did not improve them. They were human beings, certainly, but of such an appalling aspect that they could only be likened to animated mummies. They were small, thin,

ght made them seem less formidable, since they would thus be instruments of food rather than weapons of war. Meanwhile we drifted on as before, and the natives watched us, running along the shore abreast of us, so as to keep up with the boat. There seemed over a hundred of them. We could see no signs of any habitations-no huts, however humble; but we concluded that their abodes w

oposed to land

we choose, but if we land here we shall lose even that. Can we hope for anything from such things as these? Ev

rose before us like an inaccessible and impassable barrier, apparently closing up all farther progress; nor was there any indication of any pass or any opening, however narrow, through which the great stream might run. Nothing was there but one unbroken wall of iron cliffs and icy summit

death. We must stop here, if only to deliberate. Say, shall we risk it among these natives? After all, there is not, perhaps, any danger among them. They are little creatur

can do nothing

ive; and as we were armed we should not be altogether at the mercy of these creatures. Having made this decision we acted u

toes and fingers were like birds' claws; their eyes were small and dull and weak, and sunken in cavernous hollows, from which they looked at us like

f them," said I. "I think

r Heaven's sake, man, d

y mean to inspire a lit

manifestation of fear or even surprise. I had expected to see them run, but there was nothing of the kind. This puzzled us. Still, there was no time now for any further hesitation. The current was sweeping us toward the chasm between the cliffs, and we had to land

s as superior beings of some sort. It was evident that there was nothing like hostility in their minds. At the same time, the closer survey which I now made of them filled me with renewed horror; their meagre frames, small, watery, lack-lustre

tions. After this they all offered us their lances. This certainly seemed like an act of peace and good-will. I shook my head and declined to touch them; but Agnew accepted one of them, and offered his rifle in return. The one to whom he offered it refused to take it. He seemed immensely gratif

o us to follow, and we

n well. They can't help their looks. You're too suspicious and reserve

ike the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, earwigs, or serpents.

hollow, at the other side of which we found a cave with a smouldering fire in front. The fire was ma

volcanoes, which grew brighter as the day declined: above, the skies twinkled

s though she wished us to kill her at once. The rough cave, the red light of the fire, all made the scene more awful; and a wild thought came to me that we had actually reached, while yet living, the infernal world, and that this was the abode of devils. Yet their actions, it must be confessed, were far from devilish. Everyone seemed eager to serve us. Some spread out couches formed of the skins of birds for us to sit on; others attended to the fire; others offered us gifts of large and beautiful feathers, together with numerous trinkets of rare and curious workmanship. This kind attention on

ike that of a wild-goose, but rather fishy. Still to us it seemed delicious, for our prolonged diet of raw seal had made us ready to welcome any other food whatever; and this fowl, whatever it was, would not have been unwe

thened and refreshed. Agnew continued to cultivate his

nderstand that there is another place better than

great fear

close by the boat here, and if anyth

ughed in

and after that dinner? Why, man, if they wanted to harm us, would they fe

y head ob

suspicions I would stay by you; but I'm confident they mea

back agai

of course I'll come

over bird-skins; the women were occupied with some other work over feathers. No one took any notice of me. There did not seem to be any restraint upon me, nor was I watched in any w

four men who had just come to the cave: they were carrying something which I at first supposed to be a sick or wounded companion. On reaching the fire they put it down, and I saw, with a thrill of dismay, that their burden was neither sick nor wounded, but dead, for the corpse lay rigid as they had placed it. Then I saw the nightmar

pproach me. In this way I reached the open air, and passed by the hag and the four men as they were busy at their awful work. But at this point I was observed and followed. A number of men and women came after me, jabbering their unc

n if it should be to my death. Nature was here less terrible than man; and it seemed better to drown in the waters, to perish amid rocks and whirlpools, than to linger here amid such horrors as these. These people were not like human beings. The vilest and lowest savages that I had ever seen were not so odious as these. A herd

ainly all that was in store for us. They received us kindly and fed us well only to devote us to the most abhorrent of deaths. Agnew, in his mad confidence, was only insuring his own doom. He was putting himself completely in the power of devils, who were incapable of pity and strangers to humanity. To make friends with such fiends was impossible, and I felt sure that our

ing overhead, the sky was gleaming with stars; and all over the heavens there shone the lustre of the aurora australis, brighter than any I had ever seen-surpassing the moon and illuminating all. It ligh

At once I understood it. My fears had proved true. These savages had enticed Agnew away to destroy him. In an instant I burst

renzy. The strange courage of these savages had already impressed me deeply. They did n

it was his pistol. I still ra

perhaps heard me, and was answering

ly, fly, fly to the

" I cried, as I

self! You can't save me. I

ollowed me. None were armed; but it seemed to me that they were preparing to fling themselves upon me and overpower me

still shouting to Agnew. But there was no response. I ran backward and forward, crossing and recrossing, doubling and turning, pursued all the time by the savages. At last, in

that it was better far for me to go to death through the raging torrent than to meet the fate which had fallen upon himself. For him there was now no more hope. That he was lost was plain. If he were still alive he would call to me; but hi

him, but felt as though I ought to share his fate. The savages came nearer. A

thought that she might have been sent adrift; but, on approaching the place, I found her there just as I had left her. The savages, with their usual fearlessness, still pursued. For a moment I stood on the shore, with the grapple in