Several times each day Tige would pass suddenly into the poor girl's presence, and no matter how composed Helen might have been a minute before, the sight of her torturer at once threw her into an excited state, at the same time inducing a fear that caused her to retreat into a corner, quivering and gasping for breath, while a cold dew that sprang from every pore would bathe her entire body.
This was what Tige liked to see.
It indicated the state of Helen's mind, and kept her nerves constantly in a state of tension.
Few people have any idea of the frailty of the tenure which the human mind holds on reason, or how easily the mind can be warped or upset.
Helen's appetite was tempted with good food, daintily prepared, and rich wines were kept always at her hand. Of all these she now partook freely, wondering at the kindness manifested for her in this direction, but never once dreaming that it was done to build up her physical strength, so that she might stand a greater amount of torture without fainting, or going into hysterics or convulsions.
So the days passed for a period, the length of which Helen never knew.
She had flung herself on the bed one day, and had fallen asleep.
She was awakened by her wrists and ankles being clutched hold of. Opening her eyes, she saw Tige and two of the attendants there.
The scream that arose to her lips was cut short by the strong grip of the human she-hyena fastening on her throat.
When wrists and ankles had been secured to the four corners of the bed, they proceeded to gag Helen, who was then left alone with Tige.