"If I had only a gun, and could venture to use it, it would be a great
relief, and we should be very well supplied," smiled Lyon.
"Yes! if you had a gun, and should venture to use it, you would soon
bring a posse comitatus down upon you; We will have no reverberations
of that sort, if you please, Lyon," recommended the Captain.
And then they all sat down around the table-cloth, and Sybil poured out
and served the coffee.
Now, whether they were very thirsty, or whether the coffee was unusually
good, or whether both these causes combined to tempt them to excess, is
not known; but it is certain that the two gentlemen were intemperate in
their abuse of this fragrant beverage; which proves that people can be
intemperate in other drinks, as well as in alcoholic liquors. This
coffee also got into their heads. Their spirits rose; they grew gay,
talkative, inspired, brilliant. Even Sybil, who took but one cup of
coffee, caught the infection, and laughed and talked and enjoyed herself
as if she were at a picnic, instead of being in hiding for her life or
liberty.
In a word, some strange exhilaration, some wonderful intoxication
pervaded the little party; but the most marvellous symptom of their case
was, that they talked no nonsense--that while, under their adverse and
perilous circumstances, such gayety was unnatural and irrational, yet
their minds were clear and their utterances brilliant. And this abnormal
exaltation of intellect and elevation of spirit continued for several
hours, long into the night.
Then the great reaction came. First Sybil grew very quiet, though not in
the least degree sad; then Lyon Berners evinced a disposition rather to
listen than to talk; and finally Captain Pendleton arose, and saying
that this had been one of the strangest and pleasantest evenings he had
ever passed in his, life, took leave of his friends and departed.
Sybil was very sleepy, and as soon as their guest was gone she asked
Lyon to help her with the mattress: that she was so drowsy she could
scarcely move. He begged her to sit still, for that he himself would do
all that was necessary. And with much good-will, but also much
awkwardness, he spread the couch, and then went to tell Sybil it was
ready. But he found her with her head upon her knees, apparently fast
asleep. He lifted her gently in his arms, and carried her and laid her
on the mattress. And then, feeling overcome with drowsiness, he threw
himself down beside her, and fell into a profound sleep.
But Sybil, as she afterwards told, did not sleep so deeply. It seemed,
indeed, less sleep than stupor that overcame her. She was conscious when
her husband raised her up in his arms and laid her on the bed; but she
was too utterly oppressed with stupor and weariness to lift her eyes to
look, or open her lips to speak, or, even after he had laid her down, to
move a limb from the position into which it fell.