Year: 1876

stars shone out, and presently l found
myself i'll the midst of heavy snow storm
For some time I managed to keep to the
track-at least so imagined; but at length
became conscious that l had lost it.
though | flattered myself that was blum
dering on in the right direction. For
little time the snow storm seemed to
slacken; at all events, was able to make
some progress.


After shot time felt myself getting
drowsy, but I knew it would be death to
stop; and then again the flakes came down
heavier than ever, and I could hardly
make headway at all against the driving
wind and drifting snow. l was plodding-
teebly on, when suddenly, above the noise
OF the storm, heard a sound that, cold as
was, seemed to chill me through and
through. 1t was a wild, loud scream-a
mans, l concluded, for it was strangely
strong and hoarse, and it continued until
suddenly it was broken off sharply. and 7
heard no more. Something had stopped
1t, or, | argued, turn of the wind might
have suddenly swept the sound away from
me.


1t was sufficiently appalling, and on first
hearing 1t | started violently and dropped
my stick, which in the thick snow | was
unable to find. What terrible scene was
| being enacted on that wild moor on such q
night? What criminal was trusting to the
white snow to hide his crime? nerved
myself for an effort and struggled on wildly
for what seemed long time; and at last
came against door, half covered with
the drifted snow, and almost at the same
moment my foot struck against something
Ill the snow, and STOPPING down picked
up to my intense astonishment the stick I
had dropped an hour ago. Close to the
door was narrow window, throught which
| could see faint light, and in an instant
| recognized three terrible facts connected
with my situation.


In the first place had walked for hours
and had only covered the two miles which
separated Gabriel Sturm's from Hobtrush
l knew it was the house, for could feel
the sign above the low door. In the
second place ! had passed close to it an
hour or moro ago, as my stick proved.a and
therefore must be wandering in a circle.
In the third place-and this fact was the
most terrible-the awful scream | heard
must, humbly speaking have come from
some one inside the lonely inn.
Rut Hvbatavar
must have shelter, for | could not have
struggled yard farther; so l knocked
loudly at the door, and after some DELAY it
was opened.


The man who let me n-I can say now
1t was Gabriel Sturm-was most anxious.
apparently, should not see his face. lie
mad large comforter round the lower part
OF 1T; and hat slouched over the fore
head; while the horn lantern he carried
| gave out dim, uncertain light.


What d'you want?" he said in a hoarse
voice.


would have given deal to have been
able to turn away; but better the possible
dangers inside the house than the merciless
storm without, SO | answered.


"A nights lodging. can get no farther
in this snow"


The man hesitated a good deal; certainly
an innkeeper this, who did not care much
for custom, and at last he said gruffly-


Come in"


With shiver that was not owing to the
cold l crossed the threshold, and found
myself in a low room, very roughly and
scantily furnished, with a doorway in a
corner leading out of it to the upper story.
| could see also by the dim light few
rough shelves, with some bottles and
pewter pots upon them. Still keeping his
face as much as possible in the shadow,
but still, could see, intently watching me.
he took down bottle and a wineglass, and
then saying brusquely, "This road;
sleep here" led the way upstairs. As he
strobe up he said, as if an afterthought,
And there's no one else in the house -
pleasant news from such a man. / followed
him, and vas shown into small room
containing a bed, a chair and a table.
~~SANSS " oiAithil l'ASoo near tie QOOf. Sturm
put the lantern on the table, filed out
wineglass of the liquor, and saying
"Whiskey," handed it to me. Strange to
say he retained the bottle, which at once
aroused my suspicious; so I drank and
then only nodded. He grufly said " Good.
night" and strobe out of the room. The
moment his back was turned l discharged
the whisky, which ] had retained in nv
mouth, into the basin; at all events,
thought, | would not be drugged.


Two things were very noticeable; his
anxiety not to be seen himself, and his
evident desire to watch me that should
see nothing more of the house than he
chose to show me-should not take a step
into any room or passage. other than those
through which he led me. He succeeded
in both, for never, even when he offered
me the whisky, had fair look at his face
and, at the same time, l felt that he
watched me narrowly.


J felt very sleepy from the cold and ex.