THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 217 



tense heat, yielded to smooth and rounded structures, like 

 the worn rocks of the river-side, giving the impression that 

 the walls had served as a sluice to fiery torrents pouring 

 from the volcano. A few steps farther showed us the sin- 

 gular curtain-like foldings -of a substance resembling lamp- 

 black. Absolutely without lustre, and absorbent of every 

 ray of light, it was present, as it were, only to the touch. 

 With certain misgivings under this curtain of gloom, we 

 entered a cavern, the form or extent of which could be 

 known only by touch of hand, for no possible brilliancy of 

 light would command an answering reflection from the ab- 

 sorbent surface. Broken as was the surface to the touch, 

 to the eye it was without form. The floor was invisible, 

 and we were only guided in our steps by our staves. It was 

 like stepping into primal chaos, before light and form had 

 birth. A profound chasm seemed to yawn at our feet, yet 

 the rocky floor rang to the blow of the staff ; and with cau- 

 tious tread we proceeded. The flame of the lamp met no re- 

 sponsive glow, save from the two intruders, who stood awe- 

 stricken in this strange emptiness : it stood, in the still black- 

 ness unflickering, like a solid. Feeling the broken walls, the 

 hand was met by an oily softness ;. the eye was useless, and 

 even the touch now failed to guide us. Solid walls were 

 not to the eye; rocky barriers seemed simply impenetrable 

 darkness to the hand. 



" From repeated contact with the sooty walls, we became 

 covered also with this strange light-absorbing powder, until 

 we were enveloped in an invisible mantle, and also passed 

 from each other's sight. Eye alone answered to eye in their 

 reflections of the light. Too deeply impressed for conversa- 

 tion, we stood still with outstretched hands. Brown asked 

 at length, f May it not be even so in the Valley of the Shadow 

 of Death ?' And we looked for strength in each other's eyes, 

 and linked our arms that we might have the companionship 



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