to make any outcry, but I had not lost consciousness, for,
as I lay with my face resting on the wet stones, I could
feel the rain drops falling on it. I could hear those quick
footsteps coming nearer. Yes, I could hear Rayel's voice
shouting in a loud and angry tone, but, try as I would, I
could not utter a sound. As I listened, the two men clutched
me with strong hands and dragged me through an open door,
which quickly closed behind them. It was no sooner shut than
Rayel threw himself against it with terrific force. I could
hear the door groan and shake under the strain. Once--twice,
I was struck with cruel force upon the head--then a loud
roaring in my ears drowned everything.

I can remember well the first return of consciousness. It
was like the slow breaking of dawn in the sky. I could hear
voices singing:

Hark! hark! my soul! angelic voices swelling O'er earth's
green fields and ocean's wave-beat shore.

I could just distinguish those words. Where was I? Strange
thoughts began trooping through my mind. Then a great wave
of emotion swept over me. I could hear a low moaning sound
that came from my own throat. I could feel the hot tears
rolling down my cheeks. A gentle hand was brushing them away
and some one was speaking to me. I was lying on a soft bed.
A sweet-faced woman was bending over me, whom I had never
seen before.

"Where am I?"