The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3Poe, Edgar Allan
General
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American
This figure [No figures in text] gives the general outlines of
the chasm, without the minor cavities in the sides, of which
there were several, each cavity having a corresponding
protuberance opposite. The bottom of the gulf was covered to the
depth of three or four inches with a powder almost impalpable,
beneath which we found a continuation of the black granite. To
the right, at the lower extremity, will be noticed the appearance
of a small opening; this is the fissure alluded to above, and to
examine which more minutely than before was the object of our
second visit. We now pushed into it with vigor, cutting away a
quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap
of sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were
encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light
proceeding from the farther end. We at length squeezed our way
for about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was a low and
regularly formed arch, having a bottom of the same impalpable
powder as that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon
us, and, turning a short bend, we found ourselves in another
lofty chamber, similar to the one we had left in every respect
but longitudinal form. Its general figure is here given.
The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening _a_ and
proceeding round the curve _b_ to the extremity _d_, is five
hundred and fifty yards. At _c_ we discovered a small aperture
similar to the one through which we had issued from the other
chasm, and this was choked up in the same manner with brambles
and a quantity of the white arrowhead flints. We forced our way
through it, finding it about forty feet long, and emerged into a
third chasm. This, too, was precisely like the first, except in
its longitudinal shape, which was thus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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