The consequence was, that he soon began to exhibit symptoms of awakening.

At first he groaned deeply, as if under the influence of physical pain, or probably from the consciousness of some apprehension arising from the experience of what he had already suffered.

By and by the groan subsided to a sigh, whose expression was so replete with misery and dread, that it might well have touched and softened any heart.

As yet, however, the fumes of intoxication had not departed, and his language was so mingled with the feeble delirium resulting from it, and the terrors arising from the situation in which he felt himself placed, that it was not only wild and melancholy by turns, but often scarcely intelligible.

Still it was evident that one great apprehension absorbed all his other thoughts and sensations, and seemed, whilst it lasted, to bury him in the darkness of despair.
"Hold!" he exclaimed; "where am I ?--what is this?
Let me see, or, rather, let me feel where I am, for that is the more appropriate expression, considering that I am in utter obscurity.