Cruel As The Grave

"How the deuce came I here?" demanded Pendleton, glaring around with his

mouth and eyes wide open. "Is this enchantment?"

"Something very like it, Pendleton. But come, man, this is no laughing

matter. It is very serious. Therefore rouse yourself and collect your

faculties. You will need them all, I assure you," gravely replied Lyon

Berners.

"But--how in thunder, came I here?" again demanded the Captain,

shivering and staring around him.

"We can not tell. My wife found you here about half an hour ago. You are

supposed to have been overcome by drowsiness, while on your way to your

horse, and to have sunk down here and slept from that time to this--some

sixteen hours."

"Good--! I remember taking leave of you both, after our lively supper of

last evening, and starting for the thicket, and giving way just here to

an irresistible feeling of drowsiness, and sinking down with the dreamy

idea that I would not go to sleep, but would soon arise and pursue my

journey. And I have lain here all night!" he exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes, and all day!" added Lyon, solemnly.

"How is it that I was not awakened before?" demanded the Captain, with

an injured look.

"Because we ourselves were in the same condition. It is not more than

fifteen minutes since my wife awakened me."

"In the name of heaven, then, what has befallen us all?" demanded the

Captain in amazement.

"That is what we must try to find out. You must help us. I have been

thinking rapidly while standing here, and the result is, that I judge we

have all been drugged with opium; but whether by accident or with

design, or if with design, by whom, or with what purpose, I cannot even

imagine; though I do vaguely connect the fact with the mysterious

visitant of the chapel," replied Mr. Berners.

While he spoke they all turned their steps towards the chapel. And with

his concluding words, they entered it in company.

The "housekeeping corner" of the chapel was in a state of confusion very

much at variance with the young housekeeper's fastidiously tidy habits.

The supper dishes lay upon the table-cloth on the floor, where they had

been uncared for by the drugged and drowsy pair. And the little bed

remained unmade, as it had been left by them when they ran out to look

after Captain Pendleton.

Sybil saw all this at a glance, and with a flush; and forgetting for a

moment everything else, she bade her husband and his guest stop where

they were until she had put her "house" in order.

In this limited manner of domestic economy, it took Sybil but ten

minutes to make the bed and wash the dishes. And, meanwhile, Lyon

Berners made up the fire, and Clement Pendleton brought a pail of fresh

water from the fountain.