He called, "William!" A negro man came. The negro took my head in his hands. The man with the spectacles opened my mouth, and put water into it. I swallowed. Then he put the bowl to my lips and I drank. Both went away.
The man with the spectacles came again. I could see scissors in his hand. He turned me so that I lay on my side. He began to hurt me; I groaned.
"I won't be long about it," he said; "I am only cutting your hair a little, so that I can get at you."
Then I felt my head getting cold--wet, I thought; then I felt my head get warm; soon I was turned again, and lay on my back.
"Now," said the man, "I'll give you some more water if you'll promise to go to sleep."
I could not promise, though I wanted the water, and wanted to go to sleep so that this strange dream might be ended. Then I laughed inwardly at the thought of banishing dreams by sleeping.
The man brought a glass, and held it to my lips, and I drank. The water did not taste so good as the first draught did.
I closed my eyes; again the thought came that the dream would soon be over.
When I opened my eyes, I knew it was night. A lighted candle was near me. I was lying on my side. I had turned, or had been turned, while asleep. Near me was a man on a bed; beyond him was another man on another bed ... a great fear seized me; drops of cold sweat rolled down my face.... Where was I? What was I?
My head began to throb. I heard heavy breathing. I tried to remember how I had been brought to this place. It seemed like the place of ... had I dreamed? Yes, I had dreamed that I had drunk much water; my throat was parched.