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II |
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CHAPTER III
THE RAVEN
I turned and looked behind me: all was vague and uncertain, as when one cannot distinguish between fog and field, between cloud and mountain-side. One fact only was plain—that I saw nothing I knew. Imagining myself involved in a visual illusion, and that touch would correct sight, I stretched my arms and felt about me, walking in this direction and that, if haply, where I could see nothing, I might yet come in contact with something; but my search was vain. Instinctively then, as to the only living thing near me, I turned to the raven, which stood a little way off, regarding me with an expression at once respectful and quizzical. Then the absurdity of seeking counsel from such a one struck me, and I turned again, overwhelmed with bewilderment, not unmingled with fear. Had I wandered into a region where both the material and psychical relations of our world had ceased to hold ? Might a man at any moment step beyond the realm of order, and become the sport of the lawless ? Yet I saw the raven, felt the ground under my feet, and heard a sound as of wind in the lowly plants around me !
' How did I get here ? ' I said —apparently aloud, for the question was immediately answered. |
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