"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.