The Narrator

III: A World of Fire and Desolation

Describes the volcanic landscape, discovers the dead sailor's letter, and participates in the burial.

IV: The Sight of Human Beings

Describes the horrifying appearance of the natives, resists landing, and ultimately flees after Agnew is killed.

V: The Torrent Sweeping Under the Mountains

Drifts alone in a boat through a narrowing channel into a subterranean cavern, facing despair and a monstrous creature.

VI: The New World

Awakens from a nightmare, decides to trust the strange people, and is rescued and transported through the new land.

VIII: The Cave-Dwellers

Explores the caverns, meets Almah, begins learning the Kosekin language, and records words in his memorandum-book.

IX: The Cavern of the Dead

Explores the city, learns the language, and accompanies Almah to the Cavern of the Dead, where he helps with her grim task.

X: The Sacred Hunt

Participates in the sacred hunt, kills the monster with his rifle, and is horrified by the Kosekin's mercy killings.

XI: The Swamp Monster

Participates in the sacred hunt, rides an opmahera, and later attempts to escape with Almah.

XII: The Baleful Sacrifice

Horrified by the sacrifice, he struggles to endure and seeks comfort in music.

XIII: The Awful Mista Kosek

Witnesses the Mista Kosek preparations and faints from horror; struggles to understand the Kosekin's dual nature.

XIV: I Learn My Doom

Learns of his and Almah's doom; realizes his love for her during her illness; struggles with horror and hope.

The Kohen Is Inexorable

Desperately pleads with the Kohen for help to die, expressing horror at the Kosekin's inverted values and struggling to comprehend their worldview.

XVI: The Kosekin

The narrator observes and explains the Kosekin customs, noting his own ignorance of their values.

XVIII: A Voyage Over the Pole

Reflects on his love for Almah and his willingness to die for her; observes Kosekin customs with wonder and horror.

XIX: The Wonders of the Amir

Describes his arrival at the Amir, his meetings with the Kohen Gadol and Layelah, and his hope in finding selfishness among the Kosekin.

XX: The Dark Maiden Layelah

Struggles with Layelah's advances and Kosekin customs, reaffirms his love for Almah, and refuses to save himself without her.

XXI: The Flying Monster

Plans escape using the athaleb, torn between love for Almah and Layelah's offer.

Escape

Plans the escape with Almah, resists Layelah's advances, and pilots the athaleb.

XXIII: The Island of Fire

Leads the exploration of Magones, finds food and water, and grapples with hopelessness about their future.

XXIV: Recapture

Refuses to abandon Almah despite Layelah's persuasion; threatens to destroy the athaleb; comforts Layelah in her distress.

Falling, Like Icarus, Into the Sea

Floats on the athaleb with Layelah, contemplates death and Almah's safety, builds a fire on the island, and is rescued by Almah.

XXVIII: In Prison

Imprisoned and separated from Almah, he endures the squalor and horror of the paupers' company, grappling with despair.

XXIX: The Ceremony of Separation

Imprisoned and despairing, he endures the ceremony of separation from Almah, hoping it might save their lives, but learns they are still to be sacrificed.

XXX: The Day of Sacrifice

The narrator is the sacrificial victim who shoots the hag and is then revered as a divine figure.

XXXI: Conclusion

Rejoices in the sunlight and learns he was unknowingly married to Almah.