For my own part, I stood for a few moments actually motionless from perplexity and horror; then, with a shriek, I rushed forward as if to prevent it; but I was too late. The unutterable deed was done, and the unfortunate wounded, without an exception, lay dead beside their slain companions. As for myself, I was only regarded with fresh wonder, and they all stood blinking at me with their half-closed eyes. Suddenly the Kohen fell prostrate on his knees before me, and bowing his head handed me his bloody knife. "Atam-or," said he, "give me also the blessing of darkness and death!" At these strange words, following such actions, I could say nothing. I was more bewildered than ever, and horror and bewilderment made me dumb. I turned away and went aft to Almah, who had seen it all. She looked at me with an anxious gaze, as if to learn what the effect of all this had been on me. I could not speak a word, but with a vague sense of the necessity of self-preservation, I loaded my rifle, and tried in vain to make out what might be the meaning of this union of gentleness and kindness with atrocious cruelty. Meanwhile, the men all went to work upon various tasks. Some secured lines about the monster so as to tow it astern; others busied themselves with the corpses, collecting them and arranging them in rows. At length we returned, towing the monster astern. I could not speak until I was back again in the lighted rooms and alone with Almah; then I told her, as well as I could, the horror that I felt. "It was honor to those brave men," said she. "Honor!" said I. "What! to kill them?" "Yes," said she; "it is so with these people; with them death is the highest blessing. They all love death and seek after it. To die for another is immortal glory. To kill the wounded was to show that they had died for others. The wounded wished it themselves. You saw how they all sought after death. These people were too generous and kind-hearted to refuse to kill them after they had received wounds." At this my perplexity grew deeper than ever, for such an explanation as this only served to make the mystery greater. "Here," said she, "no one understands what it is to fear death. They all love it and long for it; but everyone wishes above all to die for others. This is their highest blessing. To die a natural death in bed is avoided if possible." All this was incomprehensible. "Tell me, Almah," I said--"you hate darkness as I do--do you not fear death?" "I fear it above all things," said Almah. "To me it is the horror of life; it is the chief of terrors." "So it is with me," said I. "In my country we call death the King of Terrors." "Here," said Almah, "they call death the Lord of Joy."