I see
myself lying in the deck-house of which I have spoken, while Kari fed me
with food and water and sometimes thrust into my mouth little pellets of
I knew not what, which he took from the leathern bag he wore about him.
I remembered that bag. It had been on his person when I rescued him at
the quay, for I had seen it first as he washed himself afterwards, half
full of something, and wondered what it contained. Later, I had seen it
in his hand again when we left my house after the death of Blanche. I
noted that whenever he gave me one of these pellets I seemed to grow
strong for a while, and then to fall into sleep, deep and prolonged.
After more days--or weeks, I began to behold marvels and to hear strange
voices. I thought that I was talking with my mother and with my patron,
St. Hubert; also that Blanche came to me and explained everything,
showing how little she had been to blame for all that had happened to me
and her. These things made me certain that I was dead and I was glad to
be dead, since now I knew there would be no more pain or strivings; that
the endeavours which make up life from hour to hour had ceased and
that rest was won.
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