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happens I was wide awake half an hour before the dawn and lay with my
eyes fixed upon that door； which I bolted myself last night。 It never
opened； Baas； moreover； since this talk began I have been to look at
it。 During the night a spider has made its web from door…post to door…
post； and that web is unbroken。 If you do not believe me； come and see
for yourself。 Yet they say the woman came through the doorway and
therefore through the spider's web。 Oh！ Baas； what is the use of
wasting thought upon the ways of spooks which； like the wind； come and
go as they will； especially in this haunted land from which； as we
have all agreed； we should do well to get away。〃
I went and examined the door for myself； for by now my sciatica； or
whatever it may have been； was so much better that I could walk a
little。 What Hans said was true。 There was the spider's web with the
spider sitting in the middle。 Also some of the threads of the web were
fixed from post to post； so that it was impossible that the door could
have been opened or； if opened； that anyone could have passed through
the doorway without breaking them。 Therefore； unless the woman came
through one of the little window…places； which was almost incredible
as they were high above the ground； or dropped from the smoke…hole in
the roof； or had been shut into the place when the door was closed on
the previous night； I could not see how she had arrived there。 And if
any one of these incredible suppositions was correct； then how did she
get out again with two men watching her？
There were only two solutions to the problemnamely； that the whole
occurrence was hallucination； or that； in fact； Ragnall and Savage had
seen something unnatural and uncanny。 If the latter were correct I
only wished that I had shared the experience； as I have always longed
to see a ghost。 A real； indisputable ghost would be a great support to
our doubting minds； that is if we /knew/ its owner to be dead。
Butthis was another thoughtif by any chance Lady Ragnall were
still alive and a prisoner upon that mountain； what they had seen was
no ghost； but a shadow or /simulacrum/ of a living person projected
consciously or unconsciously by that person for some unknown purpose。
What could the purpose be？ As it chanced the answer was not difficult；
and to it the words she was reported to have uttered gave a cue。 Only
a few hours ago； just before we turned in indeed； as I have said； we
had been discussing matters。 What I have not said is that in the end
we arrived at the conclusion that our quest here was wild and useless
and that we should do well to try to escape from the place before we
became involved in a war of extermination between two branches of an
obscure tribe； one of which was quite and the other semi…savage。
Indeed； although Ragnall still hung back a little； it had been
arranged that I should try to purchase camels in exchange for guns；
unless I could get them for nothing which might be less suspicious；
and that we should attempt such an escape under cover of an expedition
to kill the elephant Jana。
Supposing such a vision to be possible； then might it not have come；
or been sent to deter us from this plan？ It would seem so。
Thus reflecting I went to sleep worn out with useless wonderment； and
did not wake again till breakfast time。 That morning； when we were
alone together； Ragnall said to me：
〃I have been thinking over what happened； or seemed to happen last
night。 I am not at all a superstitious man； or one given to vain
imaginings； but I am sure that Savage and I really did see and hear
the spirit or the shadow of my wife。 Her body it could not have been
as you will admit； though how she could utter； or seem to utter；
audible speech without one is more than I can tell。 Also I am sure
that she is captive upon yonder mountain and came to call me to rescue
her。 Under these circumstances I feel that it is my duty； as well as
my desire； to give up any idea of leaving the country and try to find
out the truth。〃
〃And how will you do that；〃 I asked； 〃seeing that no one will tell us
anything？〃
〃By going to see for myself。〃
〃It is impossible； Ragnall。 I am too lame at present to walk half a
mile； much less to climb precipices。〃
〃I know； and that is one of the reasons why I did not suggest that you
should accompany me。 The other is that there is no object in all of us
risking our lives。 I wished to face the thing alone； but that good
fellow Savage says that he will go where I go； leaving you and Hans
here to make further attempts if we do not return。 Our plan is to slip
out of the town during the night； wearing white dresses like the
Kendah； of which I have bought some for tobacco； and make the best of
our way up the slope by starlight that is very bright now。 When dawn
comes we will try to find the road through that precipice； or over it；
and for the rest trust to Providence。〃
Dismayed at this intelligence； I did all I could to dissuade him from
such a mad venture； but quite without avail； for never did I know a
more determined or more fearless man than Lord Ragnall。 He had made up
his mind and there was an end of the matter。 Afterwards I talked with
Savage； pointing out to him all the perils involved in the attempt；
but likewise without avail。 He was more depressed than usual；
apparently on the ground that 〃having seen the ghost of her ladyship〃
he was sure he had not long to live。 Still； he declared that where his
master went he would go； as he preferred to die with him rather than
alone。
So I was obliged to give in and with a melancholy heart to do what I
could to help in the simple preparations for this crazy undertaking；
realizing all the while that the only real help must come from above；
since in such a case man was powerless。 I should add that after
consultation； Ragnall gave up the idea of adopting a Kendah disguise
which was certain to be discovered； also of starting at night when the
town was guarded。
That very afternoon they went； going out of the town quite openly on
the pretext of shooting partridges and small buck on the lower slopes
of the mountain； where both were numerous； as Har？t had informed us we
were quite at liberty to do。 The farewell was somewhat sad； especially
with Savage； who gave me a letter he had written for his old mother in
England； requesting me to post it if ever again I came to a civilized
land。
I did my best to put a better spirit in him but without avail。 He only
wrung my hand warmly； said that it was a pleasure to have known such a
〃real gentleman〃 as myself； and expressed a hope that I might get out
of this hell and live to a green old age amongst Christians。 Then he
wiped away a tear with the cuff of his coat； touched his hat in the
orthodox fashion and departed。 Their outfit； I should add； was very
simple： some food in bags； a flask of spirits； two double…barrelled
guns that would shoot either shot or b