“There was a terrific blizzard; we were rescued from an avalanche of packed ice and snow. How is it possible that these Englishmen could find and resuscitate a dead man? If they did, where were they? Why didn’t we meet them? The thing’s absurd!” he climaxed, with an actual thrill of relief as he remembered the situation.
Yes, it was absurd! No living man could have reached Overton after he left him.
The dean nodded his head slowly and thoughtfully.
“Of course, of course! You must be right, Faunce; you were with him when he died. This is a cruel mistake!”
“It’s more than cruel—it’s a mockery of death,” Faunce declared with renewed force.
He was determined not to believe it. He was convincing himself, and he was regaining his control of the others.
Judge Herford folded the paper and put it down.
“We’ll hear more of it to-morrow—or they’ll contradict it. Of course, if you were with him until the last minute, you know, Arthur!”
“Yes, I know!” Faunce returned, a feverish light in his eyes. “I——”
He stopped abruptly, looking toward the door, and they all turned and followed his eyes.