“Rouse her!” he cried. “Rouse her, or I’ll throttle you!”
The man made his feet and staggered to the girl’s side.
“Awake!” he commanded intensely.
The eyes instantly responded. It was as though a mist slowly faded from before them, layer after layer, as fog rises from a lake in the morning. Her mouth relaxed and expression returned to each feature. When at length she became aware of her surroundings, she looked like an awakened child. Pressing her fingers to her heavy eyes, she glanced wonderingly about her. She could not understand the tragical attitude of the two men who studied her so fixedly. She struggled to her feet and regarded both men with fear. With her fingers on her chin, she cowered back from them gazing to right and left as though looking for someone she had expected.
“Father!” she exclaimed timidly. “Are you here, father?”
Wilson took her arm gently but firmly.
“Your father is not here, comrade. He has not been here. You––you drowsed a bit, I guess.”
She caught sight of the image on the floor and instantly understood. She passed her hands over her eyes in an effort to recall what she had seen.
“I remember––I remember,” she faltered. “I was in some foreign land––some strange place––and I saw––I saw my father.”