'Find your tongue, man!' I said angrily.
'Where are they ?' He rose from his knees and stood staring at me.

'They are gone!' he said stupidly.
'Gone ?' I exclaimed.

'Impossible! When?
Whither ?' 'Half an hour ago.

Whither--I do not know.' Confounded and amazed, I glared at him between fear and rage.

'You do not know ?' I cried.