"
"If what thou sayest be true," said the undaunted boy, "my destinies
are higher than thine own. There shall be neither well nor wood which I
dare not visit. No fear of aught, natural or supernatural, shall bar my
path through my native valley."
He had scarce uttered the words, when they both descended through the
earth with a rapidity which took away Halbert's breath and every other
sensation, saving that of being hurried on with the utmost velocity. At
length they stopped with a shock so sudden, that the mortal journeyer
through this unknown space must have been thrown down with violence,
had he not been upheld by his supernatural companion.
It was more than a minute, ere, looking around him, he beheld a
grotto, or natural cavern, composed of the most splendid spars and
crystals, which returned in a thousand prismatic hues the light of a
brilliant flame that glowed on an altar of alabaster. This altar, with
its fire, formed the central point of the grotto, which was of a round
form, and very high in the roof, resembling in some respects the dome
of a cathedral. Corresponding to the four points of the compass, there
went off four long galleries, or arcades, constructed of the same
brilliant materials with the dome itself, and the termination of which
was lost in darkness.
No human imagination can conceive, or words suffice to describe, the
glorious radiance which, shot fiercely forth by the flame, was
returned from so many hundred thousand points of reflection, afforded
by the sparry pillars and their numerous angular crystals.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233