I turned round just as she
rushed in, crying out, 'I can't let you go alone! I'll save you,
even beyond.' That's all she said, before--it happened."
"You saw nothing of the Rhamda then?"
"No."
And we had neither seen nor heard of him since. Until we got in
touch with him, one important clue as to Harry's fate was out of
our reach. There remained to us just one thread of hope--the ring,
which Charlotte was now wearing on her finger.
I lit a match and held it to the face of the gem. As happened many
times before, the stone exhibited its most astounding quality. As
soon as faintly heated, the surface at first clouded, then cleared
in a curious fashion, revealing a startling distinct, miniature
likeness of the four who had vanished into the Blind Spot.
I make no attempt to explain this. Somehow or other, that stone
possesses a telescopic quality which brings to a focus, right in
front of the beholder's eyes, a tiny "close-up" of our vanished
friends. Also, the gem magnifies what it reveals, so that there is
not the slightest doubt that Dr. Holcomb, Chick Watson, Queen and
Harry Wendel are actually reproduced--I shall not say, contained--
in that gem. Neither shall I say that they are reflected; they are
simply reproduced there.
Also, it should be understood that their images are living. Only
the heads and shoulders of the men are to be seen; but there is
animation of the features, such as cannot be mistaken.
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