It was a terrible thing to look on a being, to all appearance more or less human, who alleged that he had been asleep for two hundred and fifty thousand years, and proceeded to prove it by certain ancient star charts.

Of course at the time I could not check those charts, lacking the necessary knowledge, but I have done so since and found that they are quite accurate.

However this made no difference, since the circumstances and something in his manner convinced me that he spoke the absolute truth.
He and his daughter had been asleep for two hundred and fifty thousand years.

Oh! Heavens, for two hundred and fifty thousand years!.