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given。 Is anything wrong？' The answer came back； both ways； 'All
well。'〃
Resisting the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine； I
showed him how that this figure must be a deception of his sense of
sight； and how that figures； originating in disease of the delicate
nerves that minister to the functions of the eye； were known to
have often troubled patients； some of whom had become conscious of
the nature of their affliction； and had even proved it by
experiments upon themselves。 〃As to an imaginary cry；〃 said I； 〃do
but listen for a moment to the wind in this unnatural valley while
we speak so low； and to the wild harp it makes of the telegraph
wires。〃
That was all very well； he returned； after we had sat listening for
a while； and he ought to know something of the wind and the wires；
he who so often passed long winter nights there； alone and
watching。 But he would beg to remark that he had not finished。
I asked his pardon； and he slowly added these words； touching my
arm
〃Within six hours after the Appearance； the memorable accident on
this Line happened； and within ten hours the dead and wounded were
brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had
stood。〃
A disagreeable shudder crept over me； but I did my best against it。
It was not to be denied； I rejoined； that this was a remarkable
coincidence； calculated deeply to impress his mind。 But it was
unquestionable that remarkable coincidences did continually occur；
and they must be taken into account in dealing with such a subject。
Though to be sure I must admit； I added （for I thought I saw that
he was going to bring the objection to bear upon me）； men of common
sense did not allow much for coincidences in making the ordinary
calculations of life。
He again begged to remark that he had not finished。
I again begged his pardon for being betrayed into interruptions。
〃This；〃 he said； again laying his hand upon my arm； and glancing
over his shoulder with hollow eyes； 〃was just a year ago。 Six or
seven months passed； and I had recovered from the surprise and
shock； when one morning； as the day was breaking； I； standing at
the door； looked towards the red light； and saw the spectre again。〃
He stopped； with a fixed look at me。
〃Did it cry out？〃
〃No。 It was silent。〃
〃Did it wave its arm？〃
〃No。 It leaned against the shaft of the light； with both hands
before the face。 Like this。〃
Once more I followed his action with my eyes。 It was an action of
mourning。 I have seen such an attitude in stone figures on tombs。
〃Did you go up to it？〃
〃I came in and sat down； partly to collect my thoughts； partly
because it had turned me faint。 When I went to the door again；
daylight was above me； and the ghost was gone。〃
〃But nothing followed？ Nothing came of this？〃
He touched me on the arm with his forefinger twice or thrice giving
a ghastly nod each time：…
〃That very day； as a train came out of the tunnel； I noticed； at a
carriage window on my side； what looked like a confusion of hands
and heads； and something waved。 I saw it just in time to signal
the driver； Stop！ He shut off； and put his brake on； but the train
drifted past here a hundred and fifty yards or more。 I ran after
it； and； as I went along； heard terrible screams and cries。 A
beautiful young lady had died instantaneously in one of the
compartments； and was brought in here； and laid down on this floor
between us。〃
Involuntarily I pushed my chair back； as I looked from the boards
at which he pointed to himself。
〃True； sir。 True。 Precisely as it happened； so I tell it you。〃
I could think of nothing to say； to any purpose； and my mouth was
very dry。 The wind and the wires took up the story with a long
lamenting wail。
He resumed。 〃Now； sir； mark this； and judge how my mind is
troubled。 The spectre came back a week ago。 Ever since； it has
been there； now and again； by fits and starts。〃
〃At the light？〃
〃At the Danger…light。〃
〃What does it seem to do？〃
He repeated； if possible with increased passion and vehemence； that
former gesticulation of； 〃For God's sake； clear the way！〃
Then he went on。 〃I have no peace or rest for it。 It calls to me；
for many minutes together； in an agonised manner； 'Below there！
Look out！ Look out！' It stands waving to me。 It rings my little
bell〃
I caught at that。 〃Did it ring your bell yesterday evening when I
was here； and you went to the door？〃
〃Twice。〃
〃Why； see；〃 said I； 〃how your imagination misleads you。 My eyes
were on the bell； and my ears were open to the bell； and if I am a
living man； it did NOT ring at those times。 No； nor at any other
time； except when it was rung in the natural course of physical
things by the station communicating with you。〃
He shook his head。 〃I have never made a mistake as to that yet；
sir。 I have never confused the spectre's ring with the man's。 The
ghost's ring is a strange vibration in the bell that it derives
from nothing else； and I have not asserted that the bell stirs to
the eye。 I don't wonder that you failed to hear it。 But I heard
it。〃
〃And did the spectre seem to be there； when you looked out？〃
〃It WAS there。〃
〃Both times？〃
He repeated firmly： 〃Both times。〃
〃Will you come to the door with me； and look for it now？〃
He bit his under lip as though he were somewhat unwilling； but
arose。 I opened the door； and stood on the step； while he stood in
the doorway。 There was the Danger…light。 There was the dismal
mouth of the tunnel。 There were the high； wet stone walls of the
cutting。 There were the stars above them。
〃Do you see it？〃 I asked him； taking particular note of his face。
His eyes were prominent and strained； but not very much more so；
perhaps； than my own had been when I had directed them earnestly
towards the same spot。
〃No；〃 he answered。 〃It is not there。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said I。
We went in again； shut the door； and resumed our seats。 I was
thinking how best to improve this advantage； if it might be called
one； when he took up the conversation in such a matter…of…course
way； so assuming that there could be no serious question of fact
between us； that I felt myself placed in the weakest of positions。
〃By this time you will fully understand； sir；〃 he said； 〃that what
troubles me so dreadfully is the question； What does the spectre
mean？〃
I was not sure； I told him； that I did fully understand。
〃What is its warning against？〃 he said； ruminating； with his eyes
on the fire； and only by times turning them on me。 〃What is the
danger？ Where is the danger？ There is danger overhanging
somewhere on the Line。 Some dreadful calamity will happen。 It is
not to be doubted this third time； after what has gone before。 But
surely this is a cruel haunting of ME。 What can I do？〃
He pulled out his handkerchief； and wiped the drops from his heated
forehead。
〃If I telegraph Danger； on either side of me； or on both； I can
give no reason for it；〃 he went on； wiping the palms of his hands。
〃I should get into trouble； and do no good。 They would think I was
mad。 This is the way it would work；Message： 'Danger！ Take
care！' Answer： 'What Danger？ Where？' Message： 'Don't know。
But； for God's sake； take care！' They would displace me。 What
else could they do？〃
His pain of mind was most pitiable to see。 It was the mental
torture of a conscientious man； oppressed beyond endurance by an
unintelligible responsibility involving life。
〃When it first stood under the Danger…light；〃 he went on； putting
his dark hair back from his head； and drawing his hands outward
across and across his temples in an extremity of feverish distress；
〃why not tell me where that accident was to happen；if it must
happen？ Why not tell me how it could be averted；if it could have
been averted？ When on its second coming it hid its face； why not
tell me； instead； 'She is going to die。 Let them keep her at
home'？ If it came； on those two occasions； only to show me that
its warnings were true； and so to prepare me for the third； why not
warn me plainly now？ And I； Lord help me！ A mere poor signal…man
on this solitary station！ Why not go to somebody with credit to be
believed； and power to act？〃
When I saw him in this state； I saw that for the poor man's sake；
as well as for the public safety； what I had to do for the time was
to compose his mind。 Therefore； setting aside all question of
reality or unreality between us； I represented to him that whoever
thoroughly discharged his duty must do well； and that at least it
was his comfort that he understood his duty； though he did not
understand these confounding Appearances。 In this effort I
succeeded far better than in the attempt to reason him out of his
conviction。 He became calm； the occupations incidental to his post
as the night advanced began to make larger demands on his
attention： and I left him at two in the morning。 I had offered to
stay through the night； but he would not hear of it。
That I more than once looked back at the red light as I ascended
the pathway； that I did not like the red light； and that I should
have slept but poorly if my bed had