The power of speech seemed to have left me.
"The fire awoke me," he continued, moaning.

"We were lying on the floor.
I called to you, but you did not answer.

Thank God! you are safe now." Returning consciousness brought with it an increasing sense of his pain, and he began to struggle and groan in dreadful agony.

Suddenly, extending one of his blackened hands until it touched my face, he shouted in a loud voice: "Kendric! Kendric! help--help me!" Then some men laid hold of me and lifted me up.

I clung to Rayel with all my strength, but could not resist them, and as I was borne away I knew that Rayel and I had parted forever..