A third time the ray shone and died away, and lo! her madness left her, and she awoke to know that she was dying, and that a voice she loved spoke without the hole, saying in hollow accents:-- "Nada?
Do you still live, Nada ?" "Yea," she answered hoarsely.

"Water! give me water!" Next she heard a sound as of a great snake dragging itself along painfully.

A while passed, then a trembling hand thrust a little gourd of water through the hole.

She drank, and now she could speak, though the water seemed to flow through her veins like fire.
"Is it indeed you, Umslopogaas ?" she said, "or are you dead, and do I dream of you ?" "It is I, Nada," said the voice.

"Hearken! have you drawn the rock home ?" "Alas! yes," she answered.