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he 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 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。
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 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 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。
12 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 leggi