The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

34 The Wreck of the South Pole. man evolved itself from Myth, according to your feeble reading of history. It is but the work of a moment to dis- connect the soul from the body and allow it to wander at will through space. This is why we are able to watch over and save you. “When in one of my astral flights I saw your ship beaten by the storm and drifting this way, I paused to watch your course, as in your small boat you drifted against the icy guardians of our land. “We are a people of mercy, else we could not retain our power. A selfish man gives hostages to the flesh and loses in spiritual power. I saw you land upon the icy coast and at once, by the odylic force which each of us possesses, kindled the fires in the hut for you. Then, still in my astral body and invisible, I drew you toward it, whisper- ing in your ear words of encouragement and advice. Then, when you were safe in the first hut and in condition to make your way unaided to our land, I left you and in an instant was in my home.” “And did you tell them of my coming?” “Tell them of your coming? There was no need, for was I not in constant communication with them ?” “Tn communication with them? How could that be? There was no one to carry a message, and surely you have no telegraph across those icy fields ?” Costa smiled. “Have I talked so vainly? Or is the thought so foreign to you that you cannot grasp it? What can fly swifter than thought? What is more powerful in the universe EORNICLOOOKS (EC)