Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-08-19


I could not be dreaming. I knew was
not asleep. I was broad awake, and
every nerve in me was twitching and
quivering with excitement. And now,
as l opened my eyes and looked fear
fully at the corners of the room, trying
TO pierce the shadows as people will do
when badly scared in the dark,a strange
thing happened, which l don't suppose
anybody will believe, but it's as true as
that I'm living.
The room, AS have said, was intensely
dark, but as / looked toward the outside
wall, it seemed to me it was not quite SO
dark there as elsewhere. A faint, lum-
nous haze seemed to grow ont of the
lessly, it gradually took form and sub
stance, and grew into the pale likeness
of human being, with something, but
1 could not see what, crouching at its
feet. | rubbed my eyes hard and stared
at these strange appearances until I
seemed dimly to perceive that the thing
crouching on the floor was the shadowy
presentment of dog. At the mo-
ment l fancied l had made
this discovery, long, low,
mournful howl sounded through the
room-the most dolefal and lusubrious
wall ever heard. At the same instant,
shadowy hand from the human figure
seemed to point to spot on the floor
over which it lowered. Then the ap-
partitions vanished and all was dark
ness.
AS will sometimes happen, extremity
Of fear now gave me courage. With
desperate determination to fathom these
mysteries, if possible, leaped from the
bed, huddled on my clothes, and, light
ing the candle, l approached the spot
where had seen, or fancied had seen,
these strange appearances. After as close
scrutiny as the wretched light would
allow, I found something that looked
suspicious.
In the floor, close by the outer wall,
a space had been sawed, large enough to
admit the body of a man, and the planks
fitted in again closely enough to avoid
attracting notice, yet so as to be easily
raised from beneath. Locks and bars
| were useless with such means of in
gress as this, and my late supernatural ter
rors were now succeeded by more reason
able bodily fears. recalled the william
Gus countenance of my landlord, the still
more repulsive look of his wife, thought
of my valuable possessions, and decided
was fairly trapped in murderous den
where, probably, many an unfortunate
traveller had persisted before me. Just
as made this pleasing discovery, the
remnant of the candle expired and was
left in total darkness.
am not a coward, though don't set
up for hero, and, like many others who
| find themselves in a strait from which
nothing but courage and presence of
mind can deliver them, I suddenly de-
veloped hitherto unknown reserves of
those admirable qualities. resolved
that, if must be robbed and murdered,
I would at least die hard.
Among the goods purchased in Nor
folk was hunting knife bought on COM
mission for a planter near Staunton. It
was a splendid weapon, with richly
carved handle and sheath, and a short,
strong blade, sharp and true as Toledo
steel. Luckily, had not packed
it in my bales, but had placed
it in the valise which con-
tanned my clothes. stole like shadow
across the room, trembling. lest the
creaking of plank in the crazy floor
should betray me, opened the bag AID
seized the knife. With this in my
hand, I did not feel entirely defence
less, and with renewed hope and conf
dence l took my stand close by the trap,
determined if my room were entered,
to do my utmost in defense of my life
and property, and devoutly hoping the
number of my assallants might be limited
to the landlord and his wife.
| I waited minute after minute, until
my blood, so lately stirred by sense
of extreme peril, grew chill In my veins
| from the excessive cold. Suddenly |
heard what seemed stealthy step
crunching the snow without. Directly
after, the trap was very slowly and softly
raised; a long bony hand, holding tai
low candle, protruded through the open
ing, and a gray, withered face appeared
below, with widely staring eyes follow
ing the light of the candle around the
room.
7 shrank as close to the wall as could,
| but knew could not remain long un-
discovered, and as the light and the eyes
approached me, I started forward and
struck with all my force on the wrist
that upheld the candle.
The keen blade cut through bone and
muscle, and hand and candle fell with
sickening thud on the floor, while a
single shrill, agonized scream told that
my victim was a woman. I shivered