dropped off into a soothing, dreamless slumber.

How long this lasted he could not have told. On awakening, the
frightful brain agony had left him. He could now raise his head without
falling back again sick with pain. The first thing he noticed was that
the place was a rock-chamber of irregular shape; the further wall nearly
perpendicular, the ceiling slanting to the side on which he lay. A
strange roseate light filled the place, proceeding from whence he knew
not. But now he became conscious of a second presence. Standing within
this light was a human figure. What--who could it be? It was not that
of a native. So much he could see, although the back was towards him.
Then it turned. Heavens! though _he_ had not seen it before, the
recognition was instantaneous. This was the apparition at their former
camp. The tall figure, the weather-worn clothing, the long white beard,
and--the face! Turned full upon him, in all its horror, John Ames felt
his flesh creep. The blasting, mesmeric power of the eyes, surcharged
with hate, seemed to freeze the very marrow of his bones. This, then,
was petrifying him. This, with its baleful, basilisk stare, was turning
his heart to water. What was it? Man or devil?

There was a spell in the stare. That glance John Ames felt that his own
could not leave. It held him enthralled. At all risks he must break
the spell. "Where am I?" he exclaimed, astonished at the feebleness of
his own voice.

"In luck's way this time. Perhaps not," came the reply, in full, deep
tones. "What do you think of that, John Ames?"

"You appear to know me; but, I am sorry to say, the advantage is all on
your side. Where have we met before?"

The other's set face relaxed. A ghastly, mirthless laugh proceeded from
a scarcely opened mouth. There was that in it which made the listener
start, such an echo was it of the mocking laugh thrown back at him out
of the darkness when challenging that shadowy figure at their former
camp.

"Where have we not met?" came the reply, after a pause. "That would be
an easier question to answer."

"Well, at any rate, it is awfully good of you to have taken care of me
like this," said John Ames, thinking it advisable to waive the question
of identity for the present. "Did I fall far?"

"So far that, but for a timely tree breaking your fall, you would hardly
have an unbroken bone within you now."

"But how did I get here? Did you get me here alone?"