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had seen them staring hard at it that night。 And in her vapour…invoked
dream the 〃Heavenly Child；〃 /alias/ Horus； or the double of Horus； the
/Ka/； I think the Egyptians called it； had awakened at the sight of
her and kissed her and given her the necklace of the goddess； andall
the rest。 What did it mean？
I went to sleep at last wondering what on earth it /could/ mean； till
presently that confounded clock woke me up again and I must go through
the whole business once more。
By degrees； this was towards dawn； I became aware that all hope of
rest had vanished from me utterly； that I was most painfully awake；
and what is more； oppressed by a curious fear to the effect that
something was going to happen to Miss Holmes。 So vivid did this fear
become that at length I arose； lit a candle and dressed myself。 As it
happened I knew where Miss Holmes slept。 Her room； which I had seen
her enter； was on the same corridor as mine though at the other end of
it near the head of a stair that ran I knew not whither。 In my
portmanteau that had been sent over from Miss Manners's house； amongst
other things was a small double…barrelled pistol which from long habit
I always carried with me loaded； except for the caps that were in a
little leather case with some spare ammunition attached to the pistol
belt。 I took it out； capped it and thrust it into my pocket。 Then I
slipped from the room and stood behind a tall clock in the corridor；
watching Miss Holmes's door and reflecting what a fool I should look
if anyone chanced to find me。
Half an hour or so later by the light of the setting moon which
struggled through a window； I saw the door open and Miss Holmes emerge
in a kind of dressing…gown and still wearing the necklace which Har？t
and Mar？t had given her。 Of this I was sure for the light gleamed upon
the red stones。
Also it shone upon her face and showed me without doubt that she was
walking in her sleep。
Gliding as silently as a ghost she crossed the corridor and vanished。
I followed and saw that she had descended an ancient； twisting
stairway which I had noted in the castle wall。 I went after her； my
stockinged feet making no noise； feeling my way carefully in the
darkness of the stair； for I did not dare to strike a match。 Beneath
me I heard a noise as of someone fumbling with bolts。 Then a door
creaked on its hinges and there was some light。 When I reached the
doorway I caught sight of the figure of Miss Holmes flitting across a
hollow garden that was laid out in the bottom of the castle moat which
had been drained。 The garden； as I had observed when we walked through
it on the previous day on our way to the first covert that we shot；
was bordered by a shrubbery through which ran paths that led to the
back drive of the castle。
Across the garden glided the figure of Miss Holmes and after it went
I； crouching and taking cover behind every bush as though I were
stalking big game； which indeed I was。 She entered the shrubbery；
moving much more swiftly now； for as she went she seemed to gather
speed； like a stone which is rolled down a hill。 It was as though
whatever might be attracting her； for I felt sure that she was being
drawn by something； acted more strongly upon her sleeping will as she
drew nearer to it。 For a while I lost sight of her in the shadow of
the tall trees。 Then suddenly I saw her again； standing quite still in
an opening caused by the blowing down in the gale of one of the avenue
of elms that bordered the back drive。 But now she was no longer alone；
for advancing towards her were two cloaked figures in whom I
recognized Har？t and Mar？t。
There she stood with outstretched arms； and towards her； stealthily as
lions stalking a buck； came Har？t and Mar？t。 Moreover； between the
naked boughs of the fallen elm I caught sight of what looked like the
outline of a closed carriage standing upon the drive。 Also I heard a
horse stamp upon the frosty ground。 Round the edge of the little glade
I ran； keeping in the dark shadow； as I went cocking the pistol that
was in my pocket。 Then suddenly I darted out and stood between Har？t
and Mar？t and Miss Holmes。
Not a word passed between us。 I think that all three of us
subconsciously were anxious not to awake the sleeping woman； knowing
that if we did so there would be a terrible scene。 Only after
motioning to me to stand aside； of course in vain； Har？t and Mar？t
drew from their robes curved and cruel…looking knives and bowed； for
even now their politeness did not forsake them。 I bowed back and when
I straightened myself those enterprising Easterns found that I was
covering the heart of Har？t with my pistol。 Then with that perception
which is part of the mental outfit of the great； they saw that the
game was up since I could have shot them both before a knife touched
me。
〃You have won this time； O Watcher…by…Night；〃 whispered Har？t softly；
〃but another time you will lose。 That beautiful lady belongs to us and
the People of the White Kendah； for she is marked with the holy mark
of the young moon。 The call of the Child of Heaven is heard in her
heart； and will bring her home to the Child as it has brought her to
us to…night。 Now lead her hence still sleeping； O brave and clever
one； so well named Watcher…by…Night。〃
Then they were gone and presently I heard the sound of horses being
driven rapidly along the drive。
For a moment I hesitated as to whether I would or would not run in and
shoot those horses。 Two considerations stayed me。 The first was that
if I did so my pistol would be empty； or even if I shot one horse and
retained a barrel loaded； with it I could only kill a single man；
leaving myself defenceless against the knife of the other。 The second
consideration was that now as before I did not wish to wake up Miss
Holmes。
I crept to her and not knowing what else to do； took hold of one of
her outstretched hands。 She turned and came with me at once as though
she knew me； remaining all the while fast asleep。 Thus we went back to
the house； through the still open door； up the stairway straight to
her own room； on the threshold of which I loosed her hand。 The room
was dark and I could see nothing； but I listened until I heard a sound
as of a person throwing herself upon the bed and drawing up the
blankets。 Then knowing that she was safe for a while； I shut the door；
which opened outwards as doors of ancient make sometimes do； and set
against it a little table that stood in the passage。
Next； after reflecting for a minute； the circumstances being awkward
in many ways； I went to my room and lit a candle。 Obviously it was my
duty to inform Lord Ragnall of what had happened and that as soon as
possible。 But I had no idea in what part of that huge building his
sleeping place might be； nor； for patent reasons； was it desirable
that I should disturb the house and so create talk。 In this dilemma I
remembered that Lord Ragnall's confidential