The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3Poe, Edgar Allan
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The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American
When the visitors had satisfied, as well as they could, their
curiosity in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below,
when their amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now
appeared to be far too deep for words, for they roamed about in
silence, broken only by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them
much food for speculation, and they were suffered to handle and
examine them at leisure. I do not believe that they had the least
suspicion of their actual use, but rather took them for idols,
seeing the care we had of them, and the attention with which we
watched their movements while handling them. At the great guns
their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with every mark
of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine them
minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was
the acme of their amazement. Too-wit was the first to approach
them, and he had got in the middle of the cabin, with his face to
one and his back to the other, before he fairly perceived them.
Upon raising his eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass,
I thought the savage would go mad; but, upon turning short round
to make a retreat, and beholding himself a second time in the
opposite direction, I was afraid he would expire upon the spot.
No persuasion could prevail upon him to take another look;
throwing himself upon the floor, with his face buried in his
hands, he remained thus until we were obliged to drag him upon
deck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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