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crumble into dust。 But if by chance he doesn't I'll jam a little
strychnine； mixed with some other drugs； of which you don't know
the names； into one of his veins and see if anything happens。 If
it doesn't； it won't hurt him； and if it doeswell； who knows？
Now give me a hand。〃
We went to the left…hand coffin and by inserting the hook on
the back of my knife； of which the real use is to pick stones out
of horses' hoofs； into one of the little air…holes I have
described； managed to raise the heavy crystal lid sufficiently to
enable us to force a piece of wood between it and the top。 The
rest was easy； for the hinges being of crystal had not corroded。
In two minutes it was open。
From the chest came an overpowering spicy odour； and with it a
veritable breath of warm air before which we recoiled a little。
Bickley took a pocket thermometer which he had at hand and
glanced at it。 It marked a temperature of 82 degrees in the
sepulchre。 Having noted this； he thrust it into the coffin
between the crystal wall and its occupant。 Then we went out and
waited a little while to give the odours time to dissipate； for
they made the head reel。
After five minutes or so we returned and examined the
thermometer。 It had risen to 98 degrees； the natural temperature
of the human body。
〃What do you make of that if the man is dead？〃 he whispered。
I shook my head； and as we had agreed； set to helping him to
lift the body from the coffin。 It was a good weight； quite eleven
stone I should say； moreover； it was not still； for the hip
joints bent。 We got it out and laid it on a blanket we had spread
on the floor of the sepulchre。 Whilst I was thus engaged I saw
something that nearly caused me to loose my hold from
astonishment。 Beneath the head； the centre of the back and the
feet were crystal boxes about eight inches square； or rather
crystal blocks； for in them I could see no opening； and these
boxes emitted a faint phosphorescent light。 I touched one of them
and found that it was quite warm。
〃Great heavens！〃 I exclaimed； 〃here's magic。〃
〃There's no such thing；〃 answered Bickley in his usual formula。
Then an explanation seemed to strike him and he added； 〃Not magic
but radium or something of the sort。 That's how the temperature
was kept up。 In sufficient quantity it is practically
indestructible； you see。 My word！ this old gentleman knew a thing
or two。〃
Again we waited a little while to see if the body begun to
crumble on exposure to the air； I taking the opportunity to make
a rough sketch of it in my pocket…book in anticipation of that
event。 But it did not； it remained quite sound。
〃Here goes；〃 said Bickley。 〃If he should be alive； he will
catch cold in his lungs after lying for ages in that baby
incubator； as I suppose he has done。 So it is now or never。〃
Then bidding me hold the man's right arm； he took the
sterilized syringe which he had prepared； and thrusting the
needle into a vein he selected just above the wrist； injected the
contents。
〃It would have been better over the heart；〃 he whispered； 〃but
I thought I would try the arm first。 I don't like risking chills
by uncovering him。〃
I made no answer and again we waited and watched。
〃Great heavens； he's stirring！〃 I gasped presently。
Stirring he was； for his fingers began to move。
Bickley bent down and placed his ear to the heartI forgot to
say that he had tested this before with a stethoscope； but had
been unable to detect any movement。
〃I believe it is beginning to beat；〃 he said in an awed voice。
Then he applied the stethoscope； and added； 〃It is； it is！〃
Next he took a filament of cotton wool and laid it on the man's
lips。 Presently it moved； he was breathing； though very faintly。
Bickley took more cotton wool and having poured something from
his medicine…chest on to it； placed it over the mouth beneath the
man's nostrilsI believe it was sal volatile。
Nothing further happened for a little while； and to relieve the
strain on my mind I stared absently into the empty coffin。 Here I
saw what had escaped our notice； two small plates of white metal
and cut upon them what I took to be star maps。 Beyond these and
the glowing boxes which I have mentioned； there was nothing else
in the coffin。 I had no time to examine them； for at that moment
the old man opened his mouth and began to breathe； evidently with
some discomfort and effort； as his empty lungs filled themselves
with air。 Then his eyelids lifted； revealing a wonderful pair of
dark glowing eyes beneath。 Next he tried to sit up but would have
fallen； had not Bickley supported him with his arm。
I do not think he saw Bickley； indeed he shut his eyes again as
though the light hurt them； and went into a kind of faint。 Then
it was that Tommy； who all this while had been watching the
proceedings with grave interest； came forward； wagging his tail；
and licked the man's face。 At the touch of the dog's red tongue；
he opened his eyes for the second time。 Now he sawnot us but
Tommy； for after contemplating him for a few seconds； something
like a smile appeared upon his fierce but noble face。 More； he
lifted his hand and laid it on the dog's head； as though to pat
it kindly。 Half a minute or so later his awakening senses
appreciated our presence。 The incipient smile vanished and was
replaced by a somewhat terrible frown。
Meanwhile Bickley had poured out some of the hot coffee laced
with brandy into the cup that was screwed on the top of the
thermos flask。 Advancing to the man whom I supported； he put it
to his lips。 He tasted and made a wry face； but presently he
began to sip； and ultimately swallowed it all。 The effect of the
stimulant was wonderful； for in a few minutes he came to life
completely and was even able to sit up without support。
For quite a long while he gazed at us gravely； talking us in and
everything connected with us。 For instance； Bickley's medicine…
case which lay open showing the little vulcanite tubes； a few
instruments and other outfit； engaged his particular attention；
and I saw at once that he understood what it was。 Thus his arm
still smarted where the needle had been driven in and on the
blanket lay the syringe。 He looked at his arm； then looked at the
syringe； and nodded。 The paraffin hurricane lamps also seemed to
interest and win his approval。 We two men； as I thought；
attracted him least of all； he just summed us up and our
garments； more especially the garments； with a few shrewd
glances； and then seemed to turn his thoughts to Tommy； who had
seated himself quite contentedly at his side； evidently accepting
him as a new addition to our party。
I confess that this behaviour on Tommy's part reassured me not
a little。 I am a great believer in the instincts of animals；
especially of dogs； and I felt certain that if this man had not
been in all essentials human like ourselves； Tommy would not have
tolerated him。 In the same way the sleeper's clear liking for
Tommy； at whom he looked much oftener and with greater kindness
than he did at us； suggested that there was goodness in him
somewhere； since although a dog in its wonderful tolerance may
love a bad person in whom it smells out hidden virtue； no really
bad person ever loved a dog； or； I may add； a child or a flower。
As a matter of fact； the 〃old god；〃 as we had christened him
while he was in his coffin； during all our association with him；
cared infinitely more for Tommy than he did for any of us； a
circumstance that ultimately was not without its influence upon
our fortunes。 But for this there was a reason as we learned
afterwards； also he was not really so amiable as I hoped。
When we had looked at each other for a long while the sleeper
began to arrange his beard； of which the length seemed to
surprise him； especially as Tommy was seated on one end of it。
Finding this out and apparently not wishing to disturb Tommy； he
gave up the occupation； and after one or two attempts； for his
tongue and lips still seemed to be stiff； addressed us in some
sonorous and musical language； unlike any that we had ever heard。
We shook our heads。 Then by an afterthought I said 〃Good day〃 to
him in the language of the Orofenans。 He puzzled over the word as
though it were more or less familiar to him； and when I repeated
it； gave it back to me with a difference indeed； but in a way
which convinced us that he quite understood what I meant。 The
conversation went no further at the moment because just then some
memory seemed to strike him。
He was sitting with his back against the coffin of the
Glittering Lady； whom therefore he had not seen。 Now he began to
turn round； and being too weak to do so； motioned me to help him。
I obeyed； while Bickley； guessing his purpose； held up one of the
hurricane lamps that he might see better。 With a kind of fierce
eagerness he surveyed her wh