The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-23
on my throat loosened their hold, and I
woo FROG to hraotho oooo ,oorp

intensity. Immersed in the most pro-
found darkness, totally ignorant Of the
nature of the thing by which was so
suddenly attacked, finding my grasp
clipping every moment, by reason, it
seemed to me, of the entire nakedness
Of my assailant; bitten with sharp teeth
in the shoulders, neck and chest; having
every moment to protect my throat
against pair of SNOWY, agile hands,
which my utmost efforts could not cor-
tine-these were combination of cir
cumstances which required all tho
strength. skill and courage that could
muster to overcome.
At last, after silent, deadly, e2-
hausting struggle, got my assailant
under by series Of incredible efforts of
strength. Once pinned, with my knee
on what made out to be it's chest, I
knew myself to be the victor. AS I rested
for o moment to catch my breath, I
heard the creature beneath me painting
in the darkness and felt tho violent
throbbing Of heart. It was apparently
as exhausted as l was. That was one
comfort.
At this moment l remembered that /
had removed my leather belt when pre-
pairing for rest and had throwh it across
the foot Of the cot. I reached out my
hand in the direction I thought the cot
should be- Happily my judgment was
not at fault and the first thing my hand
grasped was the belt. In few seconds
more, I had, after fashion, pinioned
the creatures arms
T now felt tolerably secure. There
was nothing more to be done but to
light my taper, and having first seen
what my midnight assailant was like
arouse my friend. T will confess to be-
ing actuated by certain pride in not
giving the alarm before. I wished to
make the capture alone and unaided.
Never losing my hold for an instant,
I gradually made my way to the place
where I had set the candle, then re-
leased my grasp with one hand and as
quickly as possible under the circum-
stances struck match and lighted the
candle. Then I turned to look at my
prisoner.
cannot even attempt to give any de-
scription of my sensations the instant I
looked. I suppose must have shrieked
with terror, but to this day cannot re-
call clearly exactly how I behaved. I
shudder even now as I think Of that
awful momentl
saw absolutely nothing!
Yes I had one arm clasped around q
breathing, painting, corporeal shape, my
other hand gripped with all its strength
throat as warm and apparently f1eshy
as my own, and yet, with this living
substance in my grasp, with its body
pressed against my own, and all within
the circle of illumination Of the candle,
I beheld literally nothing! Not even an
outline-not even vapor!
wonder that did not faint or 60
mad on the instant Some wonderful
instinct must have sustained me, for,
instead of loosening my hold on the ter
rible enigma, seemed to gain an addi-
tional strength in my moment Of horror
and frightened my grasp with such Won
derful force that I felt the creature
shivering with agony.
Just then the captain rushed into the
cell. AS soon as he behe1d my face
which suppose must lave been an aw-
full sight to look upon-he hastened for
ward, crying out:
"Great heaven, what has happened?"
Captain Captain!" I cried. "Come
and help mel Oh, this is awful have
been attacked by something or other,
which I have hold Of, but can't see it!
can't see itl''
Frank" whispered the captain,
slowly approaching ne, "your imagina-
tion, with the help of that fiery liquor
we brought from the village, has been
playing you trick"
81 swear to you, captain, that this is
no VISION" i answered in the same low
tone. "Don's you see how it shakes my
whole body with it's struggles? If You
don't believe me, convince yourself.
Feel it-touch it!''
He advanced and laid his hand on
the spot indicated. A wild cry Of hor-
ror burst from him. He had felt it'll
In moment he had produced from
somewhere about his person long and
strong piece Of cord, and the next in
stant was winding and knotting it about
the body Of the unseen being that I
clasped in my arms.
Crank" he said in hoarse, agitat-
ed voice-for, though he preserved his
presence Of mind, he was deeply moved
-"Frank, it's all safe now. You may
let go, old fellow, if you are tired. The
thing can't rove
L was utterly exhausted and gladly
loosed my hold.
Captain Hill stood holding the ends
Of the cord that bound the invisible
twisted round his band, while before
him, self supporting, as it were. was
the cord, laced and interlaced and
stretching tightly around vacant place.
He paused Tor a minute as though
trying to decide what was best to be
done, and then, suddenly bending over,
he lifted the thing in his arms and
dropped it with gesture of disgust on
the cot. There was dull sound of a
heavy body alighting on the not over
soft couch, and the strong framework
oreaked and trembled. A deep impress
sion marked itself distinctly on the cov-
erings.
We remained silent for some time,
listening to the low, irregular breath
ings Of the creature on the cot and
watching the rustic Of the blankets as it
impatiently struggled to free itself OF
confinement. Then Hill spoke:
Frank, this is awful. "
3'Yes, awful. "
"But not unaccountable. -
"Not unaccountable! What do you
mean? Such o thing has never before
occurred since the creation of man. God
grant that am not mad and that this
is not an insane fantasy!''
"Let us reason a little, Frank. Here
is solid body which we touch, but we
cannot see. The fact is SO unusual that
it strikes US with terror. Is there no
parallel, though, for such a phenome-
non? Take piece of pure glass. 1t is
tangible and transparent A certain
chemical coarseness is all that prevents
its being so utterly transparent as to be
totally invisible. It is not theoretically