Their roots were concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay intensely black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath.

And the strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality, and waving to and fro their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair.

The scene changed; and I stood, naked and alone, amidst the burning sand-plains of Sahara.

At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the tropics.

Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me.