Дагон

           Asthedayprogressed, thegroundlostsomeofitsstickiness, andseemedlikelytodrysufficientlyfortravellingpurposesinashorttime. ThatnightIsleptbutlittle, andthenextdayImadeformyselfapackcontainingfoodandwater, preparatorytoanoverlandjourneyinsearchofthevanishedsea andpossiblerescue. 

           Onthethirdmorning Ifoundthesoildryenoughtowalkuponwithease. Theodourofthefishwasmaddening; butIwastoomuchconcernedwithgraverthings tomindsoslightanevil, andsetoutboldlyforanunknowngoal. AlldayIforgedsteadilywestward, guidedbyafar-awayhummockwhichrosehigher thananyotherelevationontherollingdesert. ThatnightIencamped, andonthefollowingdaystilltravelledtowardthehummock, thoughthatobjectseemedscarcelynearer thanwhenIhadfirstespiedit. BythefourtheveningIattainedthebaseofthemound, whichturnedouttobemuchhigher thanithadappearedfromadistance, aninterveningvalleysettingitoutinsharperrelieffromthegeneralsurface. Toowearytoascend, Isleptintheshadowofthehill. 

           Iknownotwhymydreamsweresowildthatnight; buterethewaningandfantasticallygibbousmoonhadrisenfarabovetheeasternplain, Iwasawakeinacoldperspiration, determinedtosleepnomore. SuchvisionsasIhadexperienced weretoomuchforme toendureagain. Andintheglowofthemoon IsawhowunwiseIhadbeentotravelbyday. Withouttheglareoftheparchingsun, myjourneywouldhavecostmelessenergy; indeed,Inowfeltquiteabletoperformtheascent whichhaddeterredmeatsunset. Pickingupmypack, Istartedforthecrestoftheeminence. 

           Ihavesaid thattheunbrokenmonotonyoftherollingplain wasasourceofvaguehorrortome;