But even this precaution could not counteract the horrible effluvia arising from it.

It was more than half filled with dead bodies; and through the putrid and heaving mass many disjointed limbs and ghastly faces could be discerned, the long hair of women and the tiny arms of children appearing on the surface.

It was a horrible sight--so horrible, that it possessed a fascination peculiar to itself, and, in spite of his loathing, Leonard lingered to gaze at it.

Strange and fantastic thoughts possessed him.

He fancied that the legs and arms moved--that the eyes of some of the corpses opened and glared at him--and that the whole rotting mass was endowed with animation.