A long space of time came and went, and then at last I entered into the shadow of the world—­plunging headlong into the dim and holy earth night.  Overhead were the old constellations, and there was a crescent moon.  Then, as I neared the earth’s surface, a dimness swept over me, and I appeared to sink into a black mist.

For a while, I knew nothing.  I was unconscious.  Gradually, I became aware of a faint, distant whining.  It became plainer.  A desperate feeling of agony possessed me.  I struggled madly for breath, and tried to shout.  A moment, and I got my breath more easily.  I was conscious that something was licking my hand.  Something damp swept across my face.  I heard a panting, and then again the whining.  It seemed to come to my ears, now, with a sense of familiarity, and I opened my eyes.  All was dark; but the feeling of oppression had left me.  I was seated, and something was whining piteously, and licking me.  I felt strangely confused, and, instinctively, tried to ward off the thing that licked.  My head was curiously vacant, and, for the moment, I seemed incapable of action or thought.  Then, things came back to me, and I called ‘Pepper,’ faintly.  I was answered by a joyful bark, and renewed and frantic caresses.

In a little while, I felt stronger, and put out my hand for the matches.  I groped about, for a few moments, blindly; then my hands lit upon them, and I struck a light, and looked confusedly around.  All about me, I saw the old, familiar things.  And there I sat, full of dazed wonders, until the flame of the match burnt my finger, and I dropped it; while a hasty expression of pain and anger, escaped my lips, surprising me with the sound of my own voice.

After a moment, I struck another match, and, stumbling across the room, lit the candles.  As I did so, I observed that they had not burned away, but had been put out.

As the flames shot up, I turned, and stared about the study; yet there was nothing unusual to see; and, suddenly, a gust of irritation took me.  What had happened?  I held my head, with both hands, and tried to remember.  Ah! the great, silent Plain, and the ring-shaped sun of red fire.  Where were they?  Where had I seen them?  How long ago?  I felt dazed and muddled.  Once or twice, I walked up and down the room, unsteadily.  My memory seemed dulled, and, already, the thing I had witnessed came back to me with an effort.

I have a remembrance of cursing, peevishly, in my bewilderment.  Suddenly, I turned faint and giddy, and had to grasp at the table for support.  During a few moments, I held on, weakly; and then managed to totter sideways into a chair.  After a little time, I felt somewhat better, and succeeded in reaching the cupboard where, usually, I keep brandy and biscuits.  I poured myself out a little of the stimulant, and drank it off.  Then, taking a handful of biscuits, I returned to my chair, and began to devour them, ravenously.  I was vaguely surprised at my hunger.  I felt as though I had eaten nothing for an uncountably long while.