l was too hard, and I was
utterly unable to show to Layelah that firmness and decision of
character which the occasion demanded.

Yet, after all, the ordeal at last ended. Layelah left, as I have
said, with sweet words of forgiveness on her lips, and I after a time
succeeded in regaining my presence of mind.

Almah was waiting, and she soon joined me. We gathered a few articles
for the journey, the chief of which were my rifle and pistol, which
I had not used here, and then we set forth. Leaving our apartments
we traversed the long passages, and at length came to the cavern of
the athalebs. We met several people on the way, who looked at us
with smiles, but made no other sign. It was evident that they had no
commission to watch us, and that thus far Layelah's information was
correct.

Upon entering the cavern of the athalebs my first feeling was one of
helplessness; for I had no confidence whatever in my own powers of
managing these awful monsters, nor did I feel sure that I could
harness them; but the emergency was a pressing one, and there was no
help for it. I had seen where Layelah had left the harness, and now my
chief desire was to secure one of the athalebs. The faint light served
to disclose nothing but gloom; and I waited for a while, hoping that
one of them would come forward as before. But waiting did no good,
for no movement was made, and I had to try what I could do myself to
rouse them. So I walked farther in toward the back part of the cavern,
peering through the gloom, while Almah remained near the entrance.

As I advanced I heard a slight noise, as of someone moving. I thought
it was one of the athalebs, and walked on farther, peering through the
gloom, when suddenly I came full upon a man who was busy at some work
which I could not make out. For a moment I stood in amazement and
despair, for it seemed as though all was lost, and as if this man
would at once divine my intent. While I stood thus he turned and gave
me a very courteous greeting, after which, in the usual manner of the
Kosekin, he asked me with much amiability what he could do for me. I
muttered something about seeing the athalebs, upon which he informed
me that he would show them to me with pleasure.

He went on to say that he had recently been raised from the low
position of Athon to that of Feeder of the Athalebs, a post involving
duties like those of ostlers or grooms among us, but which here
indicated high rank and honor. He was