As the morning sun arose over the snowy summits of the Great Divide, the
sleeper on the rocks stirred restlessly; then gradually awoke to
consciousness--a delightful consciousness of renewed life and vigor, a
subtle sense of revivification of body and mind. The racking pain, the
burning fever, the legions of torturing phantoms, all were gone; his
pulse was calm, his blood cool, his brain clear.
With a sigh of deep content he opened his eyes; then suddenly rose to a
sitting posture and gazed about him in utter bewilderment; above him
only the boundless dome of heaven, around him only endless mountain
ranges! Dazed by the strangeness, the isolation of the scene, he began
for an instant to doubt his sanity; was this a reality or a chimera of
his own imagination? But only for an instant, for with his first
movement a large collie had bounded to his side and now began licking
his hands and face with the most joyful demonstrations. There was
something soothing and reassuring in the companionship even of the dumb
brute, and he caressed the noble creature, confident that he would soon
find some sign of human life in that strange region; but the dog,
reading no look of recognition in the face beside him, drew back and
began whining piteously.
Perplexed, but with his faculties thoroughly aroused and active, the
young man sprang to his feet, and, looking eagerly about him,
discovered at a little distance the cabin against the mountain ledge.
Hastening thither he found the door open, and, after vainly waiting for
any response to his knocking, entered.
The furnishings were mostly hand-made, but fashioned with considerable
artistic skill, and contributed to give the interior a most attractive
appearance, while etchings, books and papers, pages of written
manuscript, and a violin indicated its occupants to be a man of refined
tastes and studious habits. The dog had accompanied him, sometimes
following closely, sometimes going on in advance as though to lead the
way. Once within the cabin he led him to the store-room in the rock
where was an abundance of food, which the latter proceeded to divide
between himself and his dumb guide.
Having satisfied his hunger, the young man took a newspaper from the
table, and, going outside the cabin, seated himself to await the return
of his unknown host. Sitting there, he discovered for the first time the
railway winding around the sides of the lofty mountain opposite. The
sight filled him with delight, for those slender rails, gleaming in the
morning sunlight, seemed to connect him with the world which he
remembered, but from which he appeared so strangely isolated.
Unfolding the newspaper his attention was attracted by the date, at
which he gazed in consternation, his eyes riveted to the page. For a
moment his head swam, he was unable to believe his own senses. Dropping
the sheet and bowing his head upon his hands he went carefully over the
past as he now remembered it,--the business on which he had been
commissioned to come west; his journey westward; the tragedy in the
sleeping-car--he shuddered as the memory of the murderer's face flashed
before him with terrible distinctness; his reception at The Pines,--all
was as clear as though it had happened but yesterday; it was in August,
and this was August, but two years later! Great God! had two years
dropped out of his life? Again he recalled his illness, the long agony,
the final sinking into oblivion, the strange awakening in perfect
health; yes, surely there must be a missing link; but how? where?