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turned round and gazed at me inquisitively； I perceived that it was not like
any species of deer now extant above the earth； but it brought instantly to
my recollection a plaster cast I had seen in some museum of a variety of
the elk stag； said to have existed before the Deluge。 The creature seemed
tame enough； and； after inspecting me a moment or two； began to graze on
the singular herbiage around undismayed and careless。
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER IV。
I now came in full sight of the building。 Yes； it had been made by
hands； and hollowed partly out of a great rock。 I should have supposed it
at the first glance to have been of the earliest form of Egyptian
architecture。 It was fronted by huge columns； tapering upward from
massive plinths； and with capitals that； as I came nearer； I perceived to be
more ornamental and more fantastically graceful that Egyptian
architecture allows。 As the Corinthian capital mimics the leaf of the
acanthus； so the capitals of these columns imitated the foliage of the
vegetation neighbouring them； some aloe…like； some fern…like。 And now
there came out of this building a form… human；… was it human？ It stood on
the broad way and looked around； beheld me and approached。 It came
within a few yards of me； and at the sight and presence of it an
indescribable awe and tremor seized me； rooting my feet to the ground。
It reminded me of symbolical images of Genius or Demon that are seen on
Etruscan vases or limned on the walls of Eastern sepulchres… images that
borrow the outlines of man； and are yet of another race。 It was tall； not
gigantic； but tall as the tallest man below the height of giants。
Its chief covering seemed to me to be composed of large wings folded
over its breast and reaching to its knees； the rest of its attire was composed
of an under tunic and leggings of some thin fibrous material。 It wore on
its head a kind of tiara that shone with jewels； and carried in its right hand
a slender staff of bright metal like polished steel。 But the face！ it was
that which inspired my awe and my terror。 It was the face of man； but
yet of a type of man distinct from our known extant races。 The nearest
approach to it in outline and expression is the face of the sculptured
sphinx… so regular in its calm； intellectual； mysterious beauty。 Its colour
was peculiar； more 13like that of the red man than any other variety of our
species； and yet different from it… a richer and a softer hue； with large
black eyes； deep and brilliant； and brows arched as a semicircle。 The
face was beardless； but a nameless something in the aspect； tranquil
though the expression； and beauteous though the features； roused that
instinct of danger which the sight of a tiger or serpent arouses。 I felt that
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The Coming Race
this manlike image was endowed with forces inimical to man。 As it drew
near； a cold shudder came over me。 I fell on my knees and covered my
face with my hands。
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER V。
A voice accosted me… a very quiet and very musical key of voice… in a
language of which I could not understand a word； but it served to dispel
my fear。 I uncovered my face and looked up。 The stranger （I could
scarcely bring myself to call him man） surveyed me with an eye that
seemed to read to the very depths of my heart。 He then placed his left
hand on my forehead； and with the staff in his right； gently touched my
shoulder。 The effect of this double contact was magical。 In place of my
former terror there passed into me a sense of contentment； of joy； of
confidence in myself and in the being before me。 I rose and spoke in my
own language。 He listened to me with apparent attention； but with a
slight surprise in his looks； and shook his head； as if to signify that I was
not understood。 He then took me by the hand and led me in silence to the
building。 The entrance was open… indeed there was no door to it。 We
entered an immense hall； lighted by the same kind of lustre as in the scene
without； but diffusing a fragrant odour。 The floor was in large tesselated
blocks of precious metals； and partly covered with a sort of matlike
14carpeting。 A strain of low music； above and around； undulated as if
from invisible instruments； seeming to belong naturally to the place； just
as the sound of murmuring waters belongs to a rocky landscape； or the
warble of birds to vernal groves。
A figure in a simpler garb than that of my guide； but of similar fashion；
was standing motionless near the threshold。 My guide touched it twice
with his staff； and it put itself into a rapid and gliding movement；
skimming noiselessly over the floor。 Gazing on it； I then saw that it was
no living form； but a mechanical automaton。 It might be two minutes
after it vanished through a doorless opening； half screened by curtains at
the other end of the hall； when through the same opening advanced a boy
of about twelve years old； with features closely resembling those of my
guide； so that they seemed to me evidently son and father。 On seeing me
the child uttered a cry； and lifted a staff like that borne by my guide； as if
in menace。 At a word from the elder he dropped it。 The two then
conversed for some moments； examining me while they spoke。 The
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The Coming Race
child touched my garments； and stroked my face with evident curiosity；
uttering a sound like a laugh； but with an hilarity more subdued that the
mirth of our laughter。 Presently the roof of the hall opened； and a
platform descended； seemingly constructed on the same principle as the
'lifts' used in hotels and warehouses for mounting from one story to
another。
The stranger placed himself and the child on the platform； and
motioned to me to do the same； which I did。 We ascended quickly and
safely； and alighted in the midst of a corridor with doorways on either
side。
Through one of these doorways I was conducted into a chamber fitted
up with an oriental splendour； the walls were tesselated with spars； and
metals； and uncut jewels； cushions and divans abounded； apertures as for
windows but unglazed； were made in the chamber opening to the floor；
and as I passed along I 15observed that these openings led into spacious
balconies； and commanded views of the illu