“I’ve had you in a cataleptic state for just eight hours at a temperature as low as forty degrees. The thing is practically possible without a doubt. Is it all aboard for the twenty-first century?” I found myself replying as though perfectly conscious of an ulterior decision. “I wouldn’t change places with you for the world. On with the great adventure!” “Bon voyage, you lucky dog!” said Sachaloff grasping my hand. “Now look me fixedly in the eyes, so.” I saw the steely eyes, through the bushy dark whiskers, felt a sudden pain from the pressure of the fingers on my brow and again all outlines became watery and evasive. _THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS_ THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS CHAPTER I My first sensation on awakening was of being submerged and fighting my way back to the surface. Then a murmur of women’s voices. “He’s breathing naturally now, but keep the pulmonator ready in case of a relapse.” My mouth was forced open and some liquid of a salty taste ran like fire down my throat. “What temperature?” “Raise him to ten above zero, but slowly and hold it there for ten minutes. Then continue to heat the body gradually until we reach forty. How is the heart action?” “Strong.” “Respiration?” “Excellent.” “Give him the saline every half hour.” After that I must have lapsed into unconsciousness again, for the next impressions were fitful and interrupted like the lifting and settling of a fog at sea. Gradually under the effects of some powerful restorative I became feebly awake, but every sensation of the body was diminished. I heard sounds as though from a great distance. From time to time I was aware of the same salty, fiery liquid passing down my throat. My eyes perceived the glimmerings of a colored light and my body felt in its numbness a touch of warmth, as though a myriad of small flies were delicately passing over the dried surfaces of my skin. This feeling of returning sensation became more acute. I opened my eyes, but the effort was like a straining of the back muscles to raise an unaccustomed weight. I tried to raise my hand but found no reaction. Again I went through the mental processes of ordering my limbs to move only to find that not the slightest physical response occurred. My mind was awake, my body asleep. Some heavy substance enclosed my eyes and let in a diluted minimum of feeble purple light. My first thought was that I was coming out of ether but my brain was clearing so rapidly that I rejected this explanation. I tried to remember and discovered that my memories were clear. I recalled distinctly the last words of my friend, Dr. Sachaloff, the boring sensation of his eyes above me and the pleasant sensation of fading consciousness. Was I awake or in the grip of an artificial dream induced by an opiate? Were the voices I heard about me simply the figments of my imagination?