In the like condition were also the hinges, which
creaked as the door swung back. On entering, we stood still and gazed
around us, while we were much impressed with the dreary stillness of
the room. But what we saw there surprised and shocked us not a little.
There was no furniture in the apartment save a little wooden stool and
an iron pot, the latter almost eaten through with rust. In the corner
farthest from the door was a low bedstead, on which lay two skeletons,
embedded in a little heap of dry dust. With beating hearts we went
forward to examine them. One was the skeleton of a man, the other that
of a dog, which was extended close beside that of the man, with its
head resting on his bosom.
Now we were very much concerned about this discovery, and could scarce
refrain from tears on beholding these sad remains. After some time we
began to talk about what we had seen, and to examine in and around the
hut, in order to discover some clue to the name or history of this poor
man, who had thus died in solitude, with none to mourn his loss save
his cat and his faithful dog. But we found nothing--neither a book nor
a scrap of paper. We found, however, the decayed remnants of what
appeared to have been clothing, and an old axe. But none of these
things bore marks of any kind; and, indeed, they were so much decayed
as to convince us that they had lain in the condition in which we found
them for many years.
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