and looking at life through my eyes。 Indeed there are several subjects with which I always find it not difficult to deal — for instance； Old Egypt； Norsemen； and African savages。 Of these last； however； I prefer to write in the pany of the late Allan Quatermain。
At the time of which I am now speaking； the early niies； it was； however； otherwise； for then； being much younger； I wearied of fiction and longed for the life of action to which I had been bred and that； indeed； is native to my character。 In truth； the dislike and revolt of my heart in those days still haunts me as a kind of nightmare which is perhaps sufficiently amusing to relate。
Many people have their favourite dreams； and within the last year or so I have developed a very fair specimen of this class of illusion which es to me in an oft…repeated vision of the mind。 Who does not know that order of dream wherein we seem to move among the dead and in their pany； with eager yet trembling feet； to try the cold waters of the stream of Death？
Well； through the ivory gates of such a dream as this at times I seem to see my spiritual heritage spread large before me in a world of pictured silence。 There； at the back of the picture； rises the mighty cliff whereon； at intervals； the great golden figures； which I take it are images and not alive； seem to keep watch and ward over the illimitable lands beneath； while between them； also at intervals of scores or hundreds of leagues； pour the cataracts gathered I know not whence。 In a fold of that cliff lie the blue waters of the Holy Lake； surrounded by wide cedars and huge； immemorial pines that spring two hundred feet without a bough and； at their crown； end always in a single bent plume of green； as though up on high some strong wind shaped them wit