from the Russian who felt it bite home.

"We are attacked!" cried one of them. They whirled about, their
flashlights cutting paths through the thickening fog. With her back
to the crippled doctor's Feodrovna Androvitch held aloft a bloody
knife.

Something seemed to catch Dr. Bird by the throat and shut off his
breath. From a gash which had been cut in the lead box, a heavy gray
fog was rising and enveloping everything in its deadening blanket. The
fog penetrated into the doctor's lungs and an intolerable pain, as
though hot irons were searing the tissues, tore him. He tried to
cough, but the sound could not force its way through his stiffening
lips. Darkness closed in on him and he swayed. He was dimly conscious
that the Russians were swarming about Feodrovna, knives and clubs in
their hands. Then through the night came an ear-splitting crack and a
flash of orange flame. One of the Russians toppled and fell forward,
knocking the weakened doctor down as he did so. Again came a flash and
a report, and to the doctor's fading senses came a sound of shouts and
pounding feet. Over his head another flash split the fog and then
darkness swarmed in and with a sigh of pain, Dr. Bird let his head
fall forward on his chest.

* * * * *

He recovered consciousness slowly and looked about him. He was in a
white bed in a strange, yet somehow familiar, place with a ray of
light of almost intolerable brilliance boring its way into his brain.
He tried to raise his hand and found himself curiously weak. With a
great effort he raised his hand until he could see it and let it fall
with a cry which came from his lips only as a feeble murmur. His hand
was thin almost to the point of emaciation. Blue veins stood out on
the back and his long, slim, mobile fingers, the fingers of an artist
and dreamer, were mere claws, with the skin drawn tight over the
bones.

A man in a white uniform bent over him. "Drink this, Doctor," came in
soothing tones.

He was too weak to protest and he managed to sip the drink through a
glass tube. Slowly he felt himself sinking through vast unexplored
reaches of darkness.

How long he lay there he did not know but when he again opened his
eyes the light was no longer over him. He strove to speak and a husky
whisper came from his lips. A tall woman in white hastened forward and
bent over him.

"Where am I?" he asked with difficulty.

"You're in the hospital at Aberdeen Provi