The San Francisco call., 1899-04-09

tionless outlines Of the trees; not leaf
stirred, not branch moved.
A few moments of this awful silence,
and then L was aware Of a soft tread on
the boards Of the veranda, so stealthy It
seemed an impression directly on my
brain rather than upon the nerves OF
hearing. Immediately afterward a black
figure darkened the glass door, and per-
cetVed that a face was pressed against
the upper panes. shiver ran down my
back, and my hair was conscious of ten
dency to rise and stand at right angles TO
my head.
It was the figure OF an Indian, broad
Bhouldered and immense; indeed, the
largest figure of a man 1 have ever seen
outside Of a circus hall. BY some power
OF light thst seemed to generate itself in
the brain. saw the strong dark face
with the a4uiIine nose and high cheek
bones flattened against the glass. The
direction OF the gaze 1 could not deter
mine. but faint CLEANS Of light as the big
eyes rolled round and showed their
whites told me plainly that no corner OF
the room escaped their searching.
For what seemed fully five minutes the
dark figure stood there, with the huge
shoulders bent forward so as to bring the
head down to the level of the glass; while
behind him, though not nearly so large,
swayed to and fro like a bent tree the
shadowy form of the other Indian. While
I waited in an agony Of suspense and agi-
tation for their next movement, little cur
rents of icy sensation ran up and down
my spine, and my heart seemed alter
nately to stop beating, and then start
off again with terrifying rapidity. They
must have heard its humping and the
singing Of the blood in my head! More
over 1 was conscious as L felt cold
stream of perspIration trtckle down my
face, of a desire to scream, to shout, to
bang the walls like a child, to make
hot raltn
the suspense and bring things to a speedy
climax.
1t was probably this inclination that led
me to another discovery, for when tried
to bring my rife from behind my back
to raise it and have 1t pointed at the door
ready to fire, found that I was powerless
to move The muscles, paralyzed by this
strange fear, refused to obey the will.
Here indeed was a terrifying compltca-
ton!
There was a faint sound Of rafting at
the brass knob and the door was pushed
omen a couple of inches. A pause OF
few seconds and 1t was pushed open still
farther Without a sound of footsteps that
was appreciable to my ears, the two f1g-
ures glided into the room, and the man
behind gently closed the door after him.
They were alone with me between the
four walls. Could they see me standing
there, so still and straight in my corner?
Had they, perhaps, already seen me? My
blood surged and sang like the roll of
drums in an orchestra; and though did
my best to suppress my breathing 1t
sounded like the rushing Of wind through
a pneumatic tube.
NV suspense as to the next move was
soon at an end-only, however. to give
place to a new and keener alarm. The
men had hitherto exchanged no words
and no signs, but there were general indi-
cations Of a movement across the room,
and whichever way they went they would
have to pass round the table. II they
came my way they would have to pass
within six inches Of my person. While
I was considering this very disagreeable
possibility I perceived that the smaller
Indian (smaller by comparison) suddenly
raised his arm and pointed to the ceiling.
The big fellow raised his head and fol-
lowed the direction Of his companions
arm. 1 began to understand at last They
were going upstairs, and the room direct
ly overhead to which they pointed had
been until this night my bedroom. 1t was
the room in which had experienced that
very morning so strange a sensation of
fear, and but for which 1 should then
have been lying asleep in the narrow bed
against the window.
The Indians then began to move silently
around the room; they were going up
stairs, and they were coming round nv
side Of the table. So stealthy were their
movements that, but for the abnormally
sensitive state Of the nerves, I should
never have heard them. AS 1t was. their
cat-like tread was distinctly audible. Like
two monstrous black cats they came
round the table toward me, and for the
first time 1 perceived that the smaller Of
the two dragged something on the floor
behind him. AS 1t trailed along over the
floor with soft, sweeping sound, l some
how got the impression that 1t was q
large dead thing with outstretched wings.
or large spreading cedar branch.
Whatever 1t was, L was unable to see it
even in outline, and I was too terrified.
even had possessed the power over my
muscles, to carry my neck forward In the
effort TO determine its nature
Nearer and nearer they came. The
leader rested a giant hand upon the table
as he moved. My lips were glued together
and the air seemed to burn in nv nostrils
l tried to close my eyes, so that I might
not see as they passed me; but my eve
lids had stlffened and refused to obev.
Would they never get by me? Sensation
seemed also to have left my legs, and II
was If 1 were standing on mere sun
ports of wood or stone Worse still I was
conscious that I was losing the power oP
balance, the power to stand upright or
even to lean backward against the wall
Some force was drawing me forward. and
i
lose my balance and topple forward
against the Indians just as they were in
the act Of passing me.
Even moments drawn out into hours
must come to an end some time and AL
most before 1 knew 1t the figures had
passed me and had their feet upon the
lower step of the stairs leading to the
upper bedrooms. There cannot have been
six inches between us, and yet 1 was con-
scious only of current of cold air that
followed them. They had not touched me
and 1 was convinced that they had not
seen me. Even the trailing thing on the
floor behind them had not touched nv
feet, as I had dreaded 1t would, and ON
such an occasion as this I was grateful
even for the smallest mercies.
. The absence of the Indians from NV i'm
mediate neighborhood brought little sense
Of relief. stood shivering and shudder-
ing in my corner, and, beyond being able
to breathe more freely, I felt no whit less
uncomfortable. Also I was aware that a
certain light, which, without apparent
source or rays, had enabled me to follow