The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09

breathing grew closer and closer to me, vague,
CHASTITY light filed the room-a light that dis
closed no object, a mere ghost of light tenu-
Gus, spectral, horrible The moldy odor became
almost unbearabIe.
About this time dark, wide-winged object
began to whirl silently around in the room, with
a ftful bat-like motion. I could not see IT, but
at the same time it was not invisible; IL was as
as if felt it with my eyes,
Slowly dimly-deiined black black face. wrin-
killed. with great age and distorted with criminal
purpose. appeared above me and leered upon me
with rheumy, deviish eyes. hungry for one more
victzn.
My terror was now an extreme ecstacy.
Every nerve was strung to the point OF break
ing, when all at once the little flame flashed up
again out OF the smouldering fragment on the
hearth, lighting the room quite clearly; at the
same instant a winged shadow passed overhead,
and with sharp clang, some heavy thing struck
me on the breast.
My strength returned to me in twinkling,
and sprung to my feet glazing wildly around
the room. big horned owl was covering and
futtering against the roof, trying to break his
way out l yelled inyoluntarily. at the top OF
my voice; it was the only vent for my pent-up
horror The owl made desperate lunge and
crashed through the rotten roof. Again the
fame went out. this time forever, leaving me to
pass the rest of that memorable night IN dark
ness.
l did not try to sleep any more but crouched
for the long delaying sunlight to come. l need
not describe how. with.my pistol elutched IN my
hand and my eyes fixed upon the olackness, |
grimly deed all the COLLINS of the Satilla, until
at last. with chorus of mocking birds scattered
far through the dusky woods, day dawned, the
fog fed away and a fine blue sky flashed down
through the hole that the big owl had made in
the roof.
groped about the floor where my bed Of
blankets lay and found what sought, heavy
nd | not
surprised to find this weapon. Indeed, should
have been puzzled beyond endurance if had not
found 1t, for knew it had struck my heart and
had been warded off by my pistol. which lay on
my breast at the time. / have the knife sJi, a
rude one it is made out of a three-cornered tlle
ground very sharp and furnished with cross -hllt
of buck horn. My opinion is that 1t had been
lying upon the cross beam ever since the time
when the cabin was inhabited and that the OWL
in flying around in the room, knocked it off and
it fell down upon my breast, it's point striking
my pistol 1t may have been that the flying
squirrels had assisted in the matter. by moving
the knife little nearer the edge each time that
they scrambled along the beam. AT all events
you have all that know about the whole mat
ter. You may draw your own differences from
the facts with perfect faith in the correctness OF
my statements.
I wonder that did not die that night. for day
light disclosed the fact that never slept 10
fouler place. No need for any special explana-
ton of my smothering sensation or of the fright
full visions that appeared to me. The knife, in
stead of killing me- no doubt saved my life, for
the shock of its smart blow started my half
paralyzed nerves into action, and caused me to
lift my head above the stratum Of foul air that
lay close to the meuldy ground
It was inexpressibly delightful to 60 forth into
the balmy morning air of May and resume my
voyage down the sweet Satilla, attended by a
light breeze and cheered by far-reaching med
ley of bird-song; but shadow got into my mind
that night which have never been able to drive
out. 1t hovers on the outer confines of my con-
seriousness, so to speak, like something nearly
forgotten or something am just about to fully
understand.