The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-08-03

Suppose they had cremated your body
in your absence?
Then would have been ousted from
my habitation by arson; but. as it was |
returned to it and found myself in a coffin
and buried in the bosom of my mother
earth soon realized that | was buried
alive There was the lid Of the coffin
screwed over me against which | vainlv
kicked in my efforts to get out. | beat
against il with my fists. but only succeed
ed in battering and bruising my knuckles.
Convinced that any eXertion to recover my
liberty would be unavailing. | ceased to
struggle and became qniescent [ discov-
cred that they had buried me in my best
suit Of clothes, and as | felt about with
my hands found that they had laid on my
breast the slouch hat which had worn as
a traveller 1t may be that the mind of
the kindly landlord was imbued with some
Of the superstitons of certain tribes of In
dams and that he supposed that it would
by my wish to make my appearance on the
happy hunting grounds in suitable apparel.
Lying within the narrow limits of my
coffin my mind began to be occupied bv
thoughts suggested by my peculiar stu
alton. i am not dead. | said to myself.
i can say with Descartes, Ego ooqito erqo
sHD'. But how long will my cogitations
continue. Here | am comfortably clad. it
is true, but how am to obtain food and
drink? And above all. how am | to pro
cure a supply of fresh air?'
The limited quantity of oxygen confined
within the narrow coffin, and which my
body did not consume while in state Of
suspended animation, would now soon be
exhausted, and then-and then-But hist
hear 1.-THE sound of mattock over
head All | said 10 myself, they
have discovered that | was not dead and
have come TO dig me up The sound
continued and became more distinct.
lay as quiet as a mouse in its nest; for |
said to myself, If make the least noise
they may become frightened and run away,
and then how viii ever escape from this
coffin Z At last | could hear them scrap
ing the earth from its i'd and then they
lifted 1t from the grave lay quiet for
heard them operating with a screw
driver. Presently they threw off the lid.
The fresh air invigorated me and | sprang
to my feet and exclaimed
Hello ! what are you about p
Two men stood before me Mortified and
appalled,. One of them aimed at me an
Intellectual blow with his mattock. and
then with yells Of terror they fed from the
spot
They must have been body -snatcherS.
They were; and intended to trade in
my flesh and blood with parties at the
medical college. | brushed the soil from
my clothes, put on my hat and wandered
about until the dawn of day, when | dis
covered the road which led to the public
house from which | had been carried To
my grave. The sun had Just risen when
entered There stood the landlord
washing bottle He looked up and ut
tered an exclamation of horror | ad-
yanced toward him. Stand back he
yelled. and as | continued To approach
/ him. he hurled the bottle at my head with
Intellectual aim He then snatched up a
revolver and retreated towards a back door
As with uplifted hand and deprecatory
gestures | still moved towards him, he fred
1 a shot at me with tremaious hand and
then. with horrifc outcries. fed from the
premises The landlady rushed in, but as
soOn As she saw me she uttered shrek after
shrek and followed her husband. And
So did the big burly hostler who burst into
/ the room brandishin. a club With a
ghastly expression of terror he dropped his
hickory and fed from my presence And
50 did all who were in the house as soon
as they saw me. Being left in exclusive
possession, | hurried 10 the apartment
which had occupied anterior 10 my burial
My property had not been interfered with,
The honest landlord had advertised and
was waiting for the coming of the legal
claimant left on table ample funds To
defray my funeral expenses and, stopping
public coach which was moving along the
road in the proper direction, was soon eoa-
veyed to the city, Here, after my long
fast. was refreshed by an abundant
breakfast | then entered train of cars
and in few hours was more than hun,
dred miles from the place where | had
been buried
/ now observed, said Seaton, that
day had dawned, and ! arose TO bid my
host faFewell He urged me to repeat
my visit promised 10 do so, hut on the
following day | was compelled to leave the
city on business of importance, did not
return until after the lapse of several
weeks When | called at his house it was
closed He had gone and no one knew
whittier. Since the morning when list
ened to the conclusion of his story and
bade him adieu have never heard aught
Of Adamastor