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THE STORY
Part II
After having partaken of the magic water
and of the magic meal, we observe Von Scholtz has already lost his objective
sense of locality in the fact that he does not know that he is still in the
cave but he thinks he is in an open country, and his objective mind, controlled
by Marbado, is wandering about in the shadows of the superimposed thought to
find his way again into the cave.
Now to find how von Scholtz's subjective
mind is working in connection with—and yet independent of—Marbado's
influence, we must follow him and note his every act, and when he comes out of
his hypnotic trance, or rather when again he is in control of his objective
mind, he will tell us in his own words what were the thoughts and influences
that caused him to think, feel, and act in an abnormal way.
We see von Scholtz walking up and down
the cave as though in a partial trance, first very steadily, but with hands up
and fists closed and a foot and a half apart as if he were holding something
such as a wheel which every now and then he would turn slightly to the right,
then to the left. His countenance was serene as though he were contented, but
soon he looked more serious as he turned the wheel more often, began staggering
like a drunken man as he walked along within the cave. But as he neared the
mouth of the cave, the contortions of his face, the quick turning to the right,
then to the left, his sudden glance up to the roof of the cave and down to its
floor denoted that his objective mind was greatly alarmed.
When he reached the mouth of the cave he
fell over exhausted into a sound sleep.
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