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。