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The Coming Race
The Coming Race
by Edward Bulwer； Lord Lytton
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER I。
I am a native of _____； in the United States of America。 My
ancestors migrated from England in the reign of Charles II。； and my
grandfather was not undistinguished in the War of Independence。 My
family； therefore； enjoyed a somewhat high social position in right of birth；
and being also opulent； they were considered disqualified for the public
service。 My father once ran for Congress； but was signally defeated by
his tailor。 After that event he interfered little in politics； and lived much in
his library。 I was the eldest of three sons； and sent at the age of sixteen to
the old country； partly to complete my literary education； partly to
commence my commercial training in a mercantile firm at Liverpool。
My father died shortly after I was twenty…one； and being left well off； and
having a taste for travel and adventure； I resigned； for a time； all pursuit of
the almighty dollar； and became a desultory wanderer over the face of the
earth。
In the year 18__； happening to be in _____； I was invited by a
professional engineer； with whom I had made acquaintance； to visit the
recesses of the ________ mine； upon which he was employed。
The reader will understand； ere he close this narrative； my reason for
concealing all clue to the district of which I write； and will perhaps thank
me for refraining from any description that may tend to its discovery。
6Let me say； then； as briefly as possible； that I accompanied the
engineer into the interior of the mine； and became so strangely fascinated
by its gloomy wonders； and so interested in my friend's explorations； that I
prolonged my stay in the neighbourhood； and descended daily； for some
weeks； into the vaults and galleries hollowed by nature and art beneath the
surface of the earth。 The engineer was persuaded that far richer deposits
of mineral wealth than had yet been detected； would be found in a new
shaft that had been commenced under his operations。 In piercing this
shaft we came one day upon a chasm jagged and seemingly charred at the
sides； as if burst asunder at some distant period by volcanic fires。 Down
this chasm my friend caused himself to be lowered in a 'cage；' having first
tested the atmosphere by the safety…lamp。 He remained nearly an hour in
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The Coming Race
the abyss。 When he returned he was very pale； and with an anxious；
thoughtful expression of face； very different from its ordinary character；
which was open； cheerful； and fearless。
He said briefly that the descent appeared to him unsafe； and leading to
no result； and； suspending further operations in the shaft； we returned to
the more familiar parts of the mine。 All the rest of that day the engineer
seemed preoccupied by some absorbing thought。 He was unusually
taciturn； and there was a scared； bewildered look in his eyes； as that of a
man who has seen a ghost。 At night； as we two were sitting alone in the
lodging we shared together near the mouth of the mine； I said to my
friend；…
〃Tell me frankly what you saw in that chasm： I am sure it was
something strange and terrible。 Whatever it be； it has left your mind in a
state of doubt。 In such a case two heads are better than one。 Confide in
me。〃
The engineer long endeavoured to evade my inquiries； but as； while
he spoke； he helped himself unconsciously out of the brandy…flask to a
degree to which he was wholly unaccustomed； 7for he was a very
temperate man； his reserve gradually melted away。 He who would keep
himself to himself should imitate the dumb animals； and drink water。 At
last he said； 〃I will tell you all。 When the cage stopped； I found myself
on a ridge of rock； and below me； the chasm； taking a slanting direction；
shot down to a considerable depth； the darkness of which my lamp could
not have penetrated。 But through it； to my infinite surprise； streamed
upward a steady brilliant light。 Could it be any volcanic fire？ In that case；
surely I should have felt the heat。 Still； if on this there was doubt； it was
of the utmost importance to our common safety to clear it up。 I
examined the sides of the descent； and found that I could venture to trust
myself to the irregular projection of ledges； at least for some way。 I left
the cage and clambered down。 As I drew nearer and nearer to the light；
the chasm became wider； and at last I saw； to my unspeakable amaze； a
broad level road at the bottom of the abyss； illumined as far as the eye
could reach by what seemed artificial gas…lamps placed at regular intervals；
as in the thoroughfare of a great city； and I heard confusedly at a distance
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The Coming Race
a hum as of human voices。 I know； of course； that no rival miners are at
work in this district。 Whose could be those voices？ What human hands
could have levelled that road and marshalled those lamps？
〃The superstitious belief； common to miners； that gnomes or fiends
dwell within the bowels of the earth； began to seize me。 I shuddered at
the thought of descending further and braving the inhabitants of this nether
valley。 Nor indeed could I have done so without ropes； as from the spot I
had reached to the bottom of the chasm the sides of the rock sank down
abrupt； smooth； and sheer。 I retraced my steps with some difficulty。
Now I have told you all。〃
〃You will descend again？〃
〃I ought； yet I feel as if I durst not。〃
〃A trusty companion halves the journey and doubles the courage。 8I
will go with you。 We will provide ourselves with ropes of suitable length
and strength… and… pardon me… you must not drink more to…night。 our
hands and feet must be steady and firm tomorrow。〃
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