He does not eat--at least, the nourishment he takes is wholely
negligible. But he still has energy. To be sure, he rarely moves about
and his body remains practically inert. But we must never forget that
the mind is a muscle and calls for continual rebuilding. And the mind
of Mr. Cumberland is never inactive. It works ceaselessly. It will not
permit him to sleep. For three days, now, as far as I can tell, he has
not closed his eyes. It might be assumed that he is in a state of
trance, but by a series of careful experiments, I have ascertained that
he is constantly thinking in the most vigourous fashion.
"What does it mean? There is in the man a flame-like quality; something
is burning in him every instant. But on what does the flame feed? I know
that material cannot be created and that energy means dissolution of
matter: but why does not the life of Joseph Cumberland dissolve?
"The subject possesses me. I dare not ponder it too steadily or my brain
begins to whirl. I make no progress towards any reasonable solution. I
only feel that I am living in the presence of an astounding mystery.
"Strange thoughts possess me. What is the fire that burns but does not
consume Joe Cumberland? What is the thing in the wandering Dan Barry
which Kate Cumberland fears and yet waits for? Why was it that Daniels
trembled with dread when he started out to find a man who, by his own
profession, he holds to be his best friend?
"You see how the mystery assumes shape? It is before me.
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