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I soon gained his side。 We had provided ourselves with a strong coil of
rope。
The light struck on my sight as it had done the day before on my
friend's。 The hollow through which it came sloped diagonally： it seemed
to me a diffused atmospheric light； not like that from fire； but soft and
silvery； as from a northern star。 Quitting the cage； we descended； one
after the other； easily enough； owing to the juts in the side； till we reached
the place at which my friend had previously halted； and which was a
projection just spacious enough to allow us to stand abreast。 From this
spot the chasm widened rapidly like the lower end of a vast funnel； and I
saw distinctly the valley； the road； the lamps which my companion had
described。 He had exaggerated nothing。 I heard the sounds he had
heard… a mingled indescribable hum as of voices and a dull tramp as of
9feet。 Straining my eye farther down； I clearly beheld at a distance the
outline of some large building。 It could not be mere natural rock； it was
too symmetrical； with huge heavy Egyptian…like columns； and the whole
lighted as from within。 I had about me a small pocket…telescope； and by
the aid of this； I could distinguish； near the building I mention； two forms
which seemed human； though I could not be sure。 At least they were
living； for they moved； and both vanished within the building。 We now
proceeded to attach the end of the rope we had brought with us to the
ledge on which we stood； by the aid of clamps and grappling hooks； with
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which； as well as with necessary tools； we were provided。
We were almost silent in our work。 We toiled like men afraid to
speak to each other。 One end of the rope being thus apparently made
firm to the ledge； the other； to which we fastened a fragment of the rock；
rested on the ground below； a distance of some fifty feet。 I was a
younger man and a more active man than my companion； and having
served on board ship in my boyhood； this mode of transit was more
familiar to me than to him。 In a whisper I claimed the precedence； so
that when I gained the ground I might serve to hold the rope more steady
for his descent。 I got safely to the ground beneath； and the engineer now
began to lower himself。 But he had scarcely accomplished ten feet of the
descent； when the fastenings； which we had fancied so secure； gave way；
or rather the rock itself proved treacherous and crumbled beneath the
strain； and the unhappy man was precipitated to the bottom； falling just at
my feet； and bringing down with his fall splinters of the rock； one of
which； fortunately but a small one； struck and for the time stunned me。
When I recovered my senses I saw my companion an inanimate mass
beside me； life utterly extinct。 While I was bending over his corpse in
grief and horror； I heard close at hand a strange sound between a snort and
a hiss； and turning instinctively to the quarter from 10which it came； I saw
emerging from a dark fissure in the rock a vast and terrible head； with
open jaws and dull； ghastly； hungry eyes… the head of a monstrous reptile
resembling that of the crocodile or alligator； but infinitely larger than the
largest creature of that kind I had ever beheld in my travels。 I started to my
feet and fled down the valley at my utmost speed。 I stopped at last；
ashamed of my panic and my flight； and returned to the spot on which I
had left the body of my friend。 It was gone； doubtless the monster had
already drawn it into its den and devoured it。 the rope and the grappling…
hooks still lay where they had fallen； but they afforded me no chance of
return； it was impossible to re…attach them to the rock above； and the sides
of the rock were too sheer and smooth for human steps to clamber。 I was
alone in this strange world； amidst the bowels of the earth。
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER III。
Slowly and cautiously I went my solitary way down the lamplit road
and towards the large building I have described。 The road itself seemed
like a great Alpine pass； skirting rocky mountains of which the one
through whose chasm I had descended formed a link。 Deep below to the
left lay a vast valley； which presented to my astonished eye the
unmistakeable evidences of art and culture。 There were fields covered
with a strange vegetation； similar to none I have seen above the earth； the
colour of it not green； but rather of a dull and leaden hue or of a golden
red。
There were lakes and rivulets which seemed to have been curved into
artificial banks； some of pure water； others that shone like pools of
naphtha。 At my right hand； ravines and defiles opened amidst the rocks；
with passes between； evidently constructed by art； and bordered by trees
resembling； for the 11most part； gigantic ferns； with exquisite varieties of
feathery foliage； and stems like those of the palm…tree。 Others were more
like the cane…plant； but taller； bearing large clusters of flowers。 Others；
again； had the form of enormous fungi； with short thick stems supporting a
wide dome…like roof； from which either rose or drooped long slender
branches。 The whole scene behind； before； and beside me far as the eye
could reach； was brilliant with innumerable lamps。 The world without a
sun was bright and warm as an Italian landscape at noon； but the air less
oppressive； the heat softer。 Nor was the scene before me void of signs of
habitation。 I could distinguish at a distance； whether on the banks of the
lake or rivulet； or half…way upon eminences； embedded amidst the
vegetation； buildings that must surely be the homes of men。 I could even
discover； though far off； forms that appeared to me human moving amidst
the landscape。 As I paused to gaze； I saw to the right； gliding quickly
through the air； what appeared a small boat； impelled by sails shaped like
wings。 It soon passed out of sight； descending amidst the shades of a
forest。 Right above me there was no sky； but only a cavernous roof。
This roof grew higher and higher at the distance of the landscapes beyond；
till it became imperceptible； as an atmosphere of haze formed itself
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The Coming Race
beneath。
Continuing my walk； I started；… from a bush that resembled a great
tangle of sea…weeds； interspersed with fern…like shrubs and plants of large
leafage shaped like that of the aloe or prickly…pear；… a curious animal about
the size and shape of a deer。 But as； after bounding away a few paces； it
turned round and gazed at me inquisitively； I perceived that it