"
XIX
THE AWAKING
Still Jacob Meyer hesitated. The great secret was unlearned, and, if
this occasion passed, might never be learned. But if he hesitated, Mr.
Clifford did not. The knowledge of his child's danger, the sense that
her life was mysteriously slipping away from her under pressure of the
ghastly spell in which she lay enthralled, stirred him to madness. His
strength and manhood came back to him. He sprang straight at Meyer's
throat, gripped it with one hand, and with the other drew the knife he
wore.
"You devil!" he gasped. "Wake her or you shall go with her!" and he
lifted the knife.
Then Jacob gave in. Shaking off his assailant he stepped to Benita, and
while her father stood behind him with the lifted blade, began to make
strange upward passes over her, and to mutter words of command. For a
long while they took no effect; indeed, both of them were almost sure
that she was gone. Despair gripped her father, and Meyer worked at his
black art so furiously that the sweat burst out upon his forehead and
fell in great drops to the floor.
Oh, at last, at last she stirred! Her head lifted itself a little, her
breast heaved.
"Lord in Heaven, I have saved her!" muttered Jacob in German, and worked
on.
Now the eyes of Benita opened, and now she stood up and sighed.
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