Year: 1874




and lamp or two which had purchased
there. could discern no signs of any
human habitation, and the hills covered
with wood, seemed to shut me on every
side. was beginning to think seriously
of looking out for some sheltered spot un-
der thicket in which to pass the night,
when the welcome sound of footsteps be-
hind me fell upon my ears. Presently
man, dressed in the usual long shaggy coat
of a shepherd overlook me, and hearing my
difficulty offered to conduct me to q house
at short distance from the road, where l
might obtain lodging. Before we reach
ed the spot he told me that the house in
question was an inn, and that he was the
landlord Of it. He had not much custom,
he said, and he employed himself in shep-
herding during the day but he could
make me comfortable, and give me good
supper also, better than should expect to
circumstances once, and had lived in SER
vice in good families, and knew how things
ought to be, and what a 8ignore like my
self was used to.


The house to which he took me seemed
like its owner, to have seen better days.
1t was large rambling place, and much
dilapidated, but it was tolerably comfort
able within, and my landlord, after he had
thrown off his sheepskin coat, prepared me
a good and savory meal, and sat down to
look at and converse with me while ate
it. | did not much like the look of the
fellow, but he seemed anxious to be socia-
BILE, and told me a great deal about his
former life when he was in service, expect
ing to receive similar confidence from me.
l did not crafty him much, but one must
talk of something, and he seemed to think
it only proper to express an interest in his
guests, and to learn as much of their con-
Germs as they would tell him.


went to bed early, intending to resume
my journey as soon as it would be light
My landlord took up my knapsack and car
ried it to my room, observing as he so, that
it was great weight for me to travel with.
answered jokingly that it contained
great treasures, referring to my coins and
relics of course he did not understand me,
and, before l could explain, he wished me
a most happy little night, and left me.


"The room in which l found myself
was situated at the end of long passage /;
there were two rooms on the right of this
passage, and a window on the left, which
looked out upon yard or garden. Having
taken survey of the outside of the house
while smoking my cigar after supper, when
the moon was up, ] understood exactly the
position Of my chamber-the end room Of
a long narrow wing, projecting at right an
giles from the main building, with which it
was connected only by the passage and the
two side rooms already mentioned. Please
to bear this description in mind while
proceed


Before getting into bed / drove into
the floor, close to the door, small gimlet
which formed part of a complicated pocket
knife which l always carried with me, so
that it would be impossible for any one to
enter the room without my knowledge
there was lock to the door, but the key
would not turn in it; there was also a bolt,
but it would not enter the hole intended
for it, the door having sunk apparently
from its proper level. ! satisfied myself,
however, that the door was securely fasten-
ed by my gimlet, and soon fell asleep.


"How can / describe the strange and
horrible sensation which oppressed me as
woke out of my first slumberP l had
been sleeping soundly, and before quite
recovered conciousnoss had instinotively
risen from my pillow and was crouching
forward, my knees drawn up, my hands
clasped before my face, and my whole
frame quivering with horror. saw moth
ing; but sound was ringing in my ears
which seemed to make my blood run cold.
/ could not have supposed it possible that
any mere sound, whatever might be its
nature, could have produced such revul.
sion Of feeling or inspired such intense
horror as 1 then experienced. It was moi
cry Of terror that heard-that would
have reused me to action--nor the moaning
Of one in pain-that would have distressed,
and called forth sympathy rather than
aversion. True, it was like the groanine
of one in anguish and despair, but not like
any mortal voice it seemed too dreadful
too intense, for human utterance. The
sound had begun while was fast asleep
close to.the head of my bed-close to my
very pillow it continued after was wide
awake-a long, loud, hollow, protractet
0roan-malxino the midni0ht air reverher