The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eo THE MUTINY ON THE FLYING CLOUD. ~ 357 Tossing aside his book and springing to his feet, Grant at once rushed off to the laboratory, with all the others close at his heels, and there they dis- covered the unfortunate doctor in a most extraordinary state of mind and body, and at the same time became conscious of a faint fragrant odor per- vading the atmosphere of the room. Pale as death, with all his limbs hanging limp as if paralyzed, the poor fellow was huddled up in a chair upon which he had evidently flung himself when the seizure—or whatever it was—first came upon him. His eyes we:e rolling wildly, and his teeth chattered as though he were suffering from an ague fit. But it was evident that he still retained his reason, for the moment that he saw the little crowd pouring into the room he cried out in a weak but piping voice : “Fly ! fly for your lives! My dear fellow,’’ turning to Grant, ‘‘ drive them out ; ¢hvow them out if they will not go otherwise ! And throw open that window at once ; this atmosphere is deadly.”’ This statement had the desired effect; the room was cleared promptly, everybody beating a somewhat precipitate retreat but the engineer and Mrs. Henderson, the latter refusing to be removed, upon the double plea that it was no more dangerous for her than for Grant, and that, whether or no, her proper place was beside her husband. As for Grant, he acted with his usual decision, first dashing the window wide open, and next stooping to raise his friend and convey him into a pre- ‘ sumably more healthy atmosphere ; and if any additional motive beyond so- licitude for the sufferer were needed to impel him to this step he had it in a curious sickly feeling of lassitude and languor which he felt stealing over himself. He raised the doctor in his arms and, notwithstanding the increas- ing sensation of feebleness and numbness which oppressed him, staggered with his burden into the outer air of the courtyard, closely followed of course by Mrs. Henderson. The patient was then conveyed to his own room and laid on his bed. He could do nothiug but shiver and moan and cower down aniong the coverings. The little party were almost beside themselves with anxiety and terror, which feelings were increased when poor Mrs. Henderson exhibited symptoms of a similar character. As for Grant, he was thoroughly alarmed ; for not only did the feeling of feebleness increase, but he also found himself gradually becoming the victim ofa blind, unreasoning terror for which the term ‘‘ abject cowardice ’’ afforded but a very inadequate description. Fully alive, however, to the possibly critical state of affairs, he battled desperately against the influences at work upon him, and, with infinite patience, at length succeeded in extort- ing from Henderson a few suggestions toward the adoption of remedial “measures, which he put in force for the benefit of the doctor, next for Mrs. Henderson—who had also succumbed to a similar though a much milder attack—and lastly for himself. Nothing that was done, however, appeared to be of the slightest service, the symptoms continuing with unmitigated severity for fully eight hours, after which they gradually subsided. Grant was quite himself again by noon GoOmichbookssco