With surprising strength the man on the bed of grass sat up, stretching out his hands, gazing across the sunlit sand-plain beyond the open door of the hut, and went on:
"I see it now—I see it once again! There, there—see it gleaming like a dazzling diamond in the sunshine! See its beautiful towers and turrets! That dome is of pure gold! Within those walls are treasures untold! There are great vaults of gold and silver ornaments, bars and ingots! There are precious stones in profusion! And all this treasure would make a thousand men rich for life! But it's not for me—it's lost to me forever!"
With a stifled moan, he fell back into Frank's arms, and was lowered on the bed of grass.
Professor Scotch hastily felt the man's pulse, listened for the beating of his heart, and then cried:
"Quick, Frank—the brandy! It may be too late, but we'll try to give him a few more minutes of life."
"That's right!" palpitated Frank. "Bring him back to consciousness, for we have not yet learned how to reach the Silver Palace."
"There is no such place as the Silver Palace," sharply declared the professor, as he forced a few drops of brandy between the lips of the unfortunate man. "The fellow has dreamed it."
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps! Why, Frank, I took you for a boy of more sense! Think—think of the absurdity! It is impossible!"
"It may be."