按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The letters were short；they were dated； the dates exactly thirty…
five years ago。 They were evidently from a lover to his mistress；
or a husband to some young wife。 Not only the terms of expression；
but a distinct reference to a former voyage； indicated the writer
to have been a seafarer。 The spelling and handwriting were those
of a man imperfectly educated； but still the language itself was
forcible。 In the expressions of endearment there was a kind of
rough； wild love； but here and there were dark unintelligible hints
at some secret not of love；some secret that seemed of crime。 〃We
ought to love each other；〃 was one of the sentences I remember；
〃for how everyone else would execrate us if all was known。〃 Again：
〃Don't let anyone be in the same room with you at night；you talk
in your sleep。〃 And again： 〃What's done can't be undone； and I
tell you there's nothing against us unless the dead could come to
life。〃 Here there was underlined in a better handwriting （a
female's）； 〃They do！〃 At the end of the letter latest in date the
same female hand had written these words： 〃Lost at sea the 4th of
June； the same day as〃
I put down the letters； and began to muse over their contents。
Fearing； however； that the train of thought into which I fell might
unsteady my nerves； I fully determined to keep my mind in a fit
state to cope with whatever of marvelous the advancing night might
bring forth。 I roused myself； laid the letters on the table；
stirred up the fire； which was still bright and cheering； and
opened my volume of Macaulay。 I read quietly enough till about
half past eleven。 I then threw myself dressed upon the bed； and
told my servant he might retire to his own room； but must keep
himself awake。 I bade him leave open the door between the two
rooms。 Thus alone； I kept two candles burning on the table by my
bed head。 I placed my watch beside the weapons； and calmly resumed
my Macaulay。 Opposite to me the fire burned clear； and on the
hearth rug； seemingly asleep； lay the dog。 In about twenty minutes
I felt an exceedingly cold air pass by my cheek； like a sudden
draught。 I fancied the door to my right； communicating with the
landing place； must have got open； but no；it was closed。 I then
turned my glance to my left； and saw the flame of the candles
violently swayed as by a wind。 At the same moment the watch beside
the revolver softly slid from the table；softly； softly； no
visible hand；it was gone。 I sprang up； seizing the revolver with
the one hand； the dagger with the other； I was not willing that my
weapons should share the fate of the watch。 Thus armed； I looked
round the floor；no sign of the watch。 Three slow； loud； distinct
knocks were now heard at the bed head； my servant called out； 〃Is
that you； sir？〃
〃No； be on your guard。〃
The dog now roused himself and sat on his haunches； his ears moving
quickly backward and forward。 He kept his eyes fixed on me with a
look so strange that he concentered all my attention on himself。
Slowly he rose up； all his hair bristling； and stood perfectly
rigid； and with the same wild stare。 I had no time； however； to
examine the dog。 Presently my servant emerged from his room； and
if ever I saw horror in the human face； it was then。 I should not
have recognized him had we met in the street； so altered was every
lineament。 He passed by me quickly； saying； in a whisper that
seemed scarcely to come from his lips； 〃Run； run！ it is after me！〃
He gained the door to the landing； pulled it open； and rushed
forth。 I followed him into the landing involuntarily； calling him
to stop； but； without heeding me； he bounded down the stairs；
clinging to the balusters； and taking several steps at a time。 I
heard； where I stood； the street door open；heard it again clap
to。 I was left alone in the haunted house。
It was but for a moment that I remained undecided whether or not to
follow my servant； pride and curiosity alike forbade so dastardly a
flight。 I re…entered my room； closing the door after me； and
proceeded cautiously into the interior chamber。 I encountered
nothing to justify my servant's terror。 I again carefully examined
the walls； to see if there were any concealed door。 I could find
no trace of one；not even a seam in the dull…brown paper with
which the room was hung。 How； then； had the THING； whatever it
was； which had so scared him； obtained ingress except though my own
chamber？
I returned to my room； shut and locked the door that opened upon
the interior one； and stood on the hearth； expectant and prepared。
I now perceived that the dog had slunk into an angle of the wall；
and was pressing himself close against it； as if literally striving
to force his way into it。 I approached the animal and spoke to it；
the poor brute was evidently beside itself with terror。 It showed
all its teeth； the slaver dropping from its jaws； and would
certainly have bitten me if I had touched it。 It did not seem to
recognize me。 Whoever has seen at the Zoological Gardens a rabbit；
fascinated by a serpent； cowering in a corner； may form some idea
of the anguish which the dog exhibited。 Finding all efforts to
soothe the animal in vain； and fearing that his bite might be as
venomous in that state as in the madness of hydrophobia； I left him
alone； placed my weapons on the table beside the fire； seated
myself； and recommenced my Macaulay。
Perhaps； in order not to appear seeking credit for a courage； or
rather a coolness； which the reader may conceive I exaggerate； I
may be pardoned if I pause to indulge in one or two egotistical
remarks。
As I hold presence of mind； or what is called courage； to be
precisely proportioned to familiarity with the circumstances that
lead to it； so I should say that I had been long sufficiently
familiar with all experiments that appertain to the marvelous。 I
had witnessed many very extraordinary phenomena in various parts of
the world；phenomena that would be either totally disbelieved if I
stated them； or ascribed to supernatural agencies。 Now； my theory
is that the supernatural is the impossible； and that what is called
supernatural is only a something in the laws of Nature of which we
have been hitherto ignorant。 Therefore； if a ghost rise before me；
I have not the right to say； 〃So； then； the supernatural is
possible；〃 but rather； 〃So； then； the apparition of a ghost is；
contrary to received opinion； within the laws of Nature；that is；
not supernatural。〃
Now； in all that I had hitherto witnessed； and indeed in all the
wonders which the amateurs of mystery in our age record as facts； a
material living agency is always required。 On the Continent you
will find still magicians who assert that they can raise spirits。
Assume for the moment that they assert truly； still the living
material form of the magician is present； and he is the material
agency by which； from some constitutional peculiarities； certain
strange phenomena are represented to your natural senses。
Accept； again； as truthful； the tales of spirit manifestation in
America；musical or other sounds； writings on paper； produced by
no discernible hand； articles of furniture