It will be easier to picture her wonder and uneasiness if she is compared mentally with a girl of five or six.  Easier, too, to appreciate the fact that she determined to go on anyhow.  Mile after mile was covered in the darkness.  Rolla was on the point of absolute exhaustion; but she dared not sleep until she reached a spot where there was no danger of falling.  It was only after braving the gale for over four hours in the starlight that Rolla reached a point where she was no longer half crawling, half creeping, but moved nearly erect.  Shortly she was able to face the way she was going; and by leaning backward was able to make swift progress.  In another half-hour she was walking upright.  Still no explanation of the mystery!

Finding a sheltered spot, she proceeded to make herself comparatively comfortable on the rock.  Automatically, from habit, she proceeded to keep watch; then she must have remembered that there was now no need for vigilance.  For she lay herself down in the darkness and instantly fell asleep.

Three hours later—­according to the time kept by the watchers on the earth—­Rolla awoke and sat up in great alarm.  And small wonder.

It was broad daylight!  The sun was well above the horizon; and not only the Sanusian but the people on the earth were vastly puzzled to note that it was the western horizon!  To all appearances, Rolla had slept a whole day in that brief three hours.

Shortly her nerves were steady enough for her to look about, uncomprehendingly, but interestedly, as a child will.  There was nothing but rock to be seen; a more or less level surface, such as she had toiled over the day before.  The day before!  She glanced at the sun once more, and her heart gave a great leap.

The sun was rising—­in the west!

“’Tis a world of contraries,” observed Rolla sagely to herself.  “Mayhap I shall find all else upside down.”

She ate heartily, and drank deep from her gourd.  There was not a cupful remaining.  She eyed it seriously as she got to her feet.

Another look back at that flat expanse of granite, which had so gradually and so mysteriously changed from precipice to plain, and Rolla strode on with renewed vigor and interest.  Presently she was able to make out something of a different color in the distance, and soon was near enough to see some bona-fide bushes; a low, flowerless shrub, it is true, but at least it was a living thing.

Shortly the undergrowth became dense enough to make it somewhat of an effort to get through.  And before long she was noticing all manner of small creatures, from bugs to an occasional wandering bird.  These last, especially, uttered an abrupt but cheerful chirp which helped considerably to raise her spirits.  It was all too easy to see, in her fancy, her lover helpless and suffering in the power of those cold-blooded, merciless insects.