_A strange manuscript found in a copper cylinder_
          (the fifteenth installment)

   from _Harper's weekly_ (1888-apr-14) 
           (by James De Mille)


CHAPTER XXIII  THE ISLAND OF FIRE

AT last there appeared before us what seemed like a long
line of dull-red fires, and as we looked we could see bursts
of flame at fitful intervals, which shone out for a few
moments and then died away.  Upon this now our whole
attention was fixed; for it seemed as though we were
approaching our destination, and that this place was the
Island of Fire--a name which, from present appearances, was
fully justified.  As we went on and drew steadily nearer,
the mass of glowing fire grew larger and brighter, and what
at first had seemed a line was broken up into different
parts, one of which far surpassed the others.  This was
higher in the air, and its shape was that of a long, thin,
sloping line, with a burning, glowing globule at each end. 
It seemed like lava running down from the crater of a
volcano, and this appearance was made certainty on a nearer
approach; for we saw at the upper point, which seemed the
crater, an outburst of flame, followed by a new flow of the
fiery stream.  In other places there were similar fires, but
they were less bright, either because they were smaller or
more remote.

  At length we heard beneath us the roar of breakers, and
saw long white lines of surf beating upon the shore.  Our
athaleb now descended and alighted; we clambered to the
ground, and I, taking the grapple, fixed it securely between
two sharp rocks.  We were at last on Magones, the Island of
Fire.

  The brightness of the aurora light had left us, but it
needed not this to show us the dismal nature of the land to
which we had come.  It was a land of horror, where there was
nothing but the abomination of desolation--a land overstrewn
with blasted fragments of fractured lava-blocks, intermixed
with sand, from which there arose black precipices and giant
mountains that poured forth rivers of fire and showers of
ashes and sheets of flame.  A tremendous peak arose before
us, with a crest of fire and sides streaked with red
torrents of molten lava; between us and it there spread away
a vast expanse of impassable rocks--a scene of ruin and
savage wildness which cannot be described, and all around
was the same drear and appalling prospect.  Here in the
night-season--the season of darkness and of awful gloom--we
stood in this land of woe; and not one single sign appeared
of life save the life that we had brought with us.  As for
food, it was vain to think of it.  To search after it would
be useless.  It seemed, indeed, impossible to move from the
spot where we were.  Every moment presented some new
discovery which added to the horror of Magones.

  But Almah was weary, for our flight had been long, and she
wished to rest.  So I found a place for her where there was
some sand between two rocks, and here she lay down and went
to sleep.  I sat at a little distance off on a shelf of the
rock, with my back against it, and here, after a little
time, I also went to sleep.

  At length we awoke.  But what a waking!  There was no
morning dawn, no blessed returning light to greet our eyes. 
We opened our eyes to the same scenes upon which we had
closed them, and the darkness was still deep and dense
around us.  Over us both there was a sense of utter
depression, and I was so deeply plunged into it that I found
it impossible to rouse myself, even for the sake of saying
words of cheer to Almah.  I had brought a few fragments of
food, and upon these we made our breakfast; but there was
the athaleb to feed, and for him I found nothing, nor could
I think of anything--unless he could feed upon rocks and
sand.  Yet food for him was a matter of the highest
consequence, for he was all our support and stay and hope;
and if the monster were deprived of food he might turn upon
us and satisfy upon us his ravenous appetite.  These
thoughts were painful indeed, and added to my despondency.

  Suddenly I heard the sound of running water.  I started
away toward the place from which the sound came, and found,
only a little distance off, a small brook trickling along on
its way to the shore.  I called Almah, and we both drank and
were refreshed.

  This showed an easy way to get to the shore, and I
determined to go there to see if there were any fish to be
found.  Shell-fish might be there, or the carcasses of dead
fish thrown up by the sea, upon which the athaleb might
feed.  I left my pistol with Almah, telling her to fire it
if she heard me fire, for I was afraid of losing my way, and
therefore took this precaution.  I left it lying on the rock
full-cocked, and directed her to point it in the air and
pull the trigger.  It was necessary to take these
precautions, as of course she was quite ignorant of its
nature.  After this I left her and tried to follow the
torrent.

  This, however, I soon found to be impossible, for the
brook on reaching a huge rock plunged underneath it and
became lost to view.  I then went toward the shore as well
as I could--now climbing over sharp rocks, now going round
them, until at length after immense labor I succeeded in
reaching the water.  Here the scene was almost as wild as
the one I had left.  There was no beach whatever--nothing
but a vast extent of wild fragments of fractured
lava-blocks, which were evidently the result of some
comparatively recent convulsion of nature, for their edges
were still sharp, and the water had not worn even those
which were within its grasp to anything like roundness, or
to anything else than the jagged and shattered outlines
which had originally belonged to them.  All the shore thus
consisted of vast rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in
foam.

  Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore
for a long distance, but without seeing any change.  I was
unwilling to go back baffled, yet I was at length compelled
to do so.  But the necessity of feeding the athaleb was
pressing, and I saw that our only course now would be to
mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other.  But
where could we go?  That I could not imagine, and could only
conclude to trust altogether to the instinct of the athaleb,
which might guide him to places where he might obtain food. 
Such a course would involve great risk for we might be
carried into the midst of vast flocks of these monsters; yet
there was nothing else to be done.

  I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the
sea.  At length I found a place where the walking was
somewhat easier, and went in this way up into the island and
away from the sea.  It seemed to lead in the direction where
I wished to go.  At length it seemed as if I had walked far
enough, yet I could see no signs of Almah.  I shouted, but
there was no answer.  I shouted again and again, but with
the like result.  Then I fired my rifle and listened.  In
response there came the report of the pistol far away behind
me.  It was evident that in coming back along the shore I
had passed by the place where Almah was.  There was nothing
now left but to retrace my steps and this I accordingly did. 
I went back to the shore, and returned on my steps, shouting
all the time, until at length I was rejoiced to hear the
answering shout of Almah.  After this it was easy to reach
her.

  We now took up the grapple and once more mounted.  The
athaleb, eager to be off, raised himself quickly in the air,
and soon our late resting-place was far behind.  His flight
was now different from what it was before.  Then he stood
off in one straight line for a certain fixed destination, as
though under some guidance; for though I did not direct him,
still his long training had taught him to fly to Magones. 
But now training and guidance were both wanting, and the
athaleb was left to the impulse of his hunger and the
guidance of his instinct; so he flew no longer in one
undeviating straight line, but rose high, and bent his head
down low, and flew and soared in vast circles, even as I
have seen a vulture or a condor sweep about while searching
for food.  All the while we were drawing farther and farther
away from the spot which we had left.

  We passed the lofty volcano; we saw more plainly the
rivers of molten lava; we passed vast cliffs and bleak
mountains, all of which were more terrific than all that we
had left behind.  Now the darkness lessened, for the aurora
was brightening in the sky, and gathering up swiftly and
gloriously all its innumerable beams, and flashing forth its
lustrous glow upon the world.  To us this was equal to the
return of day; it was like a blessed dawn.  Light had come,
and we rejoiced and were exceeding glad.

  Now we saw before us, far beyond the black precipices, a
broad bay with sloping shores, and a wide beach which seemed
like a beach of sand.  The surf broke here, but beyond the
surf was the gentle sandy declivity, and beyond this there
appeared the shores, still rocky and barren and desolate,
but far preferable to what we had left behind.  Far away in
the interior arose lofty mountains and volcanoes, while
behind us flamed the burning peak which we had passed.

  Here the athaleb wheeled in long, circuitous flights,
which grew lower and lower, until at length he descended
upon the sandy beach, where I saw a vast sea-monster lying
dead.  It had evidently been thrown up here by the sea.  It
was like one of those monsters which I had seen from the
galley of the Kohen at the time of the sacred hunt.  By this
the athaleb descended, and at once began to devour it,
tearing out vast masses of flesh, and exhibiting such
voracity and strength of jaw that I could scarcely bear to
look upon the sight.  I fastened the grapple securely to the
head of the dead monster, and leaving the athaleb to feed
upon it, Almah and I went up the beach.

  On our way we found rocks covered with sea-weed, and here
we sought after shell-fish.  Our search was at length
rewarded, for suddenly I stumbled upon a place where I found
some lobsters.  I grasped two of these, but the others
escaped.  Here at last I had found signs of life, but they
were of the sea rather than of the shore.  Delighted with my
prey, I hastened to Almah to show them to her.  She
recognized them at once, and I saw that they were familiar
to her.  I then spoke of eating them, but at this proposal
she recoiled in horror.  She could not give any reason for
her repugnance, but merely said that among her people they
were regarded as something equivalent to vermin, and I found
that she would no more think of eating one than I would
think of eating a rat.  Upon this I had to throw them away,
and we once more resumed our search.

  At last we came to a place where numbers of dead fish lay
on the sand.  Nearer the water they were more fresh, and not
at all objectionable.  I picked up a few which looked like
our common smelt, and found that Almah had no objection to
these.  But now the question arose how to cook them; neither
of us could eat them raw.  A fire was necessary, yet a fire
was impossible; for on the whole island there was probably
not one single combustible thing.  Our discovery, therefore,
seemed to have done us but little good, and we seemed
destined to starvation, when fortunately a happy thought
suggested itself.  In walking along I saw far away the glow
of some lava which had flowed to the shore at the end of the
sandy beach, and was probably cooling down at the water's
edge.  Here, then, was a natural fire, which might serve us
better than any contrivance of our own, and toward this we
at once proceeded.  It was about two miles away; but the
beach was smooth, and we reached the place without any
difficulty.

  Here we found the edge of that lava flood which seemed
eternally descending from the crater beyond.  The edge which
was nearest the water was black; and the liquid fire, as it
rolled down, curled over this in a fantastic shape, cooling
and hardening into the form which it thus assumed.  Here,
after some search, I found a crevice where I could approach
the fire, and I laid the fish upon a crimson rock, which was
cooling and hardening into the shape of a vast ledge of
lava.  In this way, by the aid of nature, the fish were
broiled, and we made our repast.

  There was nothing here to invite a longer stay, and we
soon returned to the athaleb.  We found the monster, gorged
with food, asleep, resting upon his hind legs, with his
breast supported against the vast carcass.  Almah called it
a _jantannin_.  It was about sixty feet in length and twenty
in thickness, with a vast horny head, ponderous jaws, and
back covered with scales.  Its eyes were of prodigious size,
and it had the appearance of a crocodile, with the vast size
of a whale.  It was unlike a crocodile, however; for it had
fins rather than paws, and must have been as clumsy on the
land as a seal or a walrus.  It lay on its side, and the
athaleb had fed itself from the uncovered flesh of its
belly.

  There was nothing here to induce us to stay, and so we
wandered along the beach in the other direction.  On our
right was the bay; on our left the rocky shore, which,
beginning at the beach, ran back into the country, a waste
of impassable rocks, where not a tree or plant or blade of
grass relieved the appalling desolation.  Once or twice we
made an attempt to penetrate into the country, where
openings appeared.  These openings seemed like the beds of
dried-up torrents.  We were able to walk but a few paces for
invariably we would come to some immense blocks of rock,
which barred all farther progress.  In this way we explored
the beach for miles, until it terminated in a savage
promontory that rose abruptly from the sea against which the
huge billows broke in thunder.

  Then we retraced our steps, and again reached the spot
where the athaleb was asleep by the _jantannin_.  Almah was
now too weary to walk any farther, nor was it desirable to
do so; for, indeed, we had traversed all that could be
visited.  On one side of the beach was the sea, on the other
the impassable rocks; at one end the promontory, at the
other the lava fires.  There was nothing more for us to do
but to wait here until the athaleb should awake, and then
our actions would depend upon what we might now decide.

  This was the question that was now before us, and this we
began to consider.  We both felt the most unspeakable
aversion for the island, and to remain here any longer was
impossible.  We would once more have to mount the athaleb,
and proceed to some other shore.  But where?  Ah! there was
the question! Not on the island, for it did not seem
possible that in all its extent there could be one single
spot capable of affording a resting-place.  Layelah's
information with regard to Magones had made that much plain. 
I had not taken in her full meaning, but now mine eyes had
seen it.  Yet where else could we go?  Almah could not tell
where under the sky lay that land which she loved; I could
not guess where to go to find the land of the Orin.  Even if
I did know, I did not feel able to guide the course of the
athaleb; and I felt sure that if we were to mount again, the
mighty monster would wing his flight back to the very place
from which we had escaped--the _amir_.  These thoughts
weighed down our spirits.  We felt that we had gained
nothing by our flight, and that our future was dark indeed. 
The only hope left us was that we might be able to guide the
course of the athaleb in some different direction
altogether, so that we should not be carried back to the
Kosekin.

  And now, worn out by the long fatigues of this _jom_, we
thought of sleep.  Almah lay down upon the sand, and I
seated myself, leaning against a rock, a little distance
off, having first reloaded my rifle and pistol.


CHAPTER XXIV  RECAPTURE

How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep
there sounded voices, which at first intermingled themselves
with my dreams, but gradually became separate and sounded
from without, rousing me from my slumbers.  I opened my eyes
drowsily, but the sight that I saw was so amazing that in an
instant all sleep left me.  I started to my feet, and gazed
in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me.

  The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and
disclosed everything--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the
_jantannin_, the promontory, all--more plainly and more
luminously than before; but it was not any of these things
that now excited my attention and rendered me dumb.  I saw
Almah standing there at a little distance, with despairing
face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while
immediately before me, regarding me with a keen glance and
an air of triumph, was Layelah.

  "_Ataesmzori alonla_," said she, with a sweet smile,
giving me the usual salutation of the Kosekin.

  I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as
before, looking first at her and then at Almah.

  The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the
Kosekin, excited me to madness.  I seized my rifle, and
raised it as if to take aim; but Almah, who understood the
movement, cried to me:

  "Put down your _sepet-ram_, Atam-or! you can do nothing
for me.  The Kosekin are too numerous."

  "_Sepet-ram_!" said Layelah; "what do you mean by that? 
If your _sepet-ram_ has any power, do not try to use it,
Atam-or, or else I shall have to order my followers to give
to Almah the blessing of death."

  At this my rifle was lowered: the whole truth flashed upon
me, and I saw, too, the madness of resistance.  I might kill
one or two, but the rest would do as Layelah said, and I
should speedily be disarmed.  Well I knew how powerless were
the thunders of my fire-arms to terrify these Kosekin; for
the prospect of death would only rouse them to a mad
enthusiasm, and they would all rush upon me as they would
rush upon a _jantannin_--to slay and be slain.  The odds
were too great.  A crowd of Europeans could be held in check
far more easily than these death-loving Kosekin.  The whole
truth was thus plain: we were prisoners, and were at their
mercy.

  Layelah showed no excitement or anger whatever.  She
looked and spoke in her usual gracious and amiable fashion,
with a sweet smile on her face.

  "We knew," said she, "that you would be in distress in
this desolate place, and that you would not know where to go
from Magones; and so we have come, full of the most eager
desire to relieve your wants.  We have brought with us food
and drink, and are ready to do everything for you that you
may desire.  We have had great trouble in finding you, and
have coursed over the shores for vast distances, and far
over the interior, but our athalebs found you at last by
their scent.  And we rejoice to have found you in time, and
that you are both so well, for we have been afraid that you
had been suffering.  Nay, Atam-or, do not thank us; thanks
are distasteful to the Kosekin: these brave followers of
mine will all be amply rewarded for this, for they will all
be made paupers; but as for myself, I want no higher reward
than the delightful thought that I have saved you from
suffering."

  The beautiful, smiling Layelah, who addressed me in this
way with her sweet voice, was certainly not to be treated as
an enemy.  Against her a rifle could not be levelled; she
would have looked at me with the same sweet smile, and that
smile would have melted all my resolution.  Nor could I even
persist in my determination to remain. Remain!  For what? 
For utter despair!  And yet where else could we go?

  "You do not know where lie the lands of the Orin," said
Layelah.  "The athaleb does not know.  You could not guide
him if you did know.  You are helpless on his back.  The art
of driving an athaleb is difficult, and cannot be learned
without long and severe practice.  My fear was that the
athaleb might break away from you and return, leaving you to
perish here.  Had you tried to leave this place he would
have brought you back to the _amir_."

  To this I said nothing--partly because it was so true that
I had no answer to make, and partly also out of deep
mortification and dejection.  My pride was wounded at being
thus so easily baffled by a girl like Layelah, and all my
grief was stirred by the sadness of Almah.  In her eyes
there seemed even now the look of one who sees death
inevitable, and the glance she gave to me was like an
eternal farewell.

  Almah now spoke, addressing herself to Layelah.

  "Death," said she, in a voice of indescribable
mournfulness, "is better here than with you.  We would
rather die here than go back.  Let us, I pray you, receive
the blessing of death here.  Let us be paupers and exiles,
and die on Magones."

  Layelah heard this, and stood for a moment in deep
thought.

  "No one but a stranger," said she at length, "would ask
such a favor as that.  Do you not know that what you ask is
among the very highest honors of the Kosekin?  Who am I that
I can venture to grant such a request as that?  Ask for
anything in my power, and I will be glad to grant it.  I
have already arranged that you shall be separated from
Atam-or; and that, surely, is a high privilege.  I might
consent to bind you hand and foot, after the manner of the
more distinguished _Asirin_; you may also be blindfolded if
you wish it.  I might even promise, after we return to the
amir, to keep you confined in utter darkness, with barely
sufficient food to keep you alive until the time of the
sacrifice; in short, there is no blessing known among the
Kosekin that I will not give so long as it is in my power. 
And so, beloved Almah," continued Layelah, "you have every
reason for happiness; you have all the highest blessings
known among the Kosekin: separation from your lover,
poverty, want, darkness; and, finally, the prospect of
inevitable death ever before you as the crowning glory of
your lot."

  These words seemed to the Kosekin the very excess of
magnanimity, and involuntary murmurs of admiration escaped
them; although it is just possible that they murmured at the
greatness of the favor that was offered.  But to me it
sounded like fiendish mockery, and to Almah it sounded the
same; for a groan escaped her, her fortitude gave way, she
sank on her knees, buried her head in her hands, and wept.

  "Almah," cried I, in a fury, "we will not go back--we will
not be separated!  I will destroy all the athalebs, and we
shall all perish here together.  At least, you and I will
not be separated."

  At this Almah started up.

  "No, no," said she--"no; let us go back.  Here we have
nothing but death."

  "But we have death also at the _amir_, and a more terrible
one," said I.

  "If you kill the athalebs," said Layelah, "I will give
Almah the blessing of death."

  At this I recoiled in horror, and my resolution again gave
way.

  "You have some mysterious power of conferring death,"
continued Layelah, "with what Almah calls your _sepet-ram_;
but do not kill the athalebs, for it will do you no good. 
Almah would then receive the blessing of death.  My
followers, these noble Kosekin, would rejoice in thus
gaining exile and death on Magones.  As for myself, it would
be my highest happiness to be here alone with you.  With you
I should live for a few sweet _joms_, and with you I should
die; so go on--kill the athalebs if you wish."

  "Do not!" cried Almah--"do not! There is no hope.  We are
their prisoners, and our only hope is in submission."

  Upon this all further thought of resistance left me, and I
stood in silence, stolidly waiting for their action.  As I
looked around I noticed a movement near the _jantannin_, and
saw several athalebs there, which were devouring its flesh. 
I now went over to Almah and spoke with her.  We were both
full of despair.  It seemed as though we might never meet
again.  We were to be separated now; but who could say
whether we should be permitted to see each other after
leaving this place?  We had but little to say.  I held her
in my arms, regardless of the presence of others; and these,
seeing our emotion, at once moved away, with the usual
delicacy of the Kosekin, and followed Layelah to the
_jantannin_ to see about the athalebs.

(End of the fifteenth installment.)