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shelter from the blast； which blew from behind。 Letting himself
down by his hands； he alighted upon something that crunched beneath
his tread； and found the bones of many small animals scattered about
in front of a little cave in the rock； offering the refuge he
sought； He went in； and sat upon a stone。 The storm increased in
violence； and as the darkness grew he became uneasy； for he did not
relish the thought of spending the night in the cave。 He had parted
from his companions on the opposite side of the island； and it added
to his uneasiness that they must be full of apprehension about him。
At last there came a lull in the storm； and the same instant he
heard a footfall； stealthy and light as that of a wild beast； upon
the bones at the mouth of the cave。 He started up in some fear；
though the least thought might have satisfied him that there could
be no very dangerous animals upon the island。 Before he had time to
think； however； the face of a woman appeared in the opening。
Eagerly the wanderer spoke。 She started at the sound of his voice。
He could not see her well； because she was turned towards the
darkness of the cave。
'〃Will you tell me how to find my way across the moor to Shielness？〃
he asked。
'〃You cannot find it to…night；〃 she answered； in a sweet tone； and
with a smile that bewitched him； revealing the whitest of teeth。
'〃What am I to do； then？〃 he asked。
'〃My mother will give you shelter； but that is all she has to
offer。〃
'〃And that is far more than I expected a minute ago；〃 he replied。 〃I
shall be most grateful。〃
'She turned in silence and left the cave。 The youth followed。
'She was barefooted； and her pretty brown feet went catlike over the
sharp stones； as she led the way down a rocky path to the shore。
Her garments were scanty and torn； and her hair blew tangled in the
wind。 She seemed about five…and…twenty； lithe and small。 Her long
fingers kept clutching and pulling nervously at her skirts as she
went。 Her face was very gray in complexion； and very worn； but
delicately formed； and smooth…skinned。 Her thin nostrils were
tremulous as eyelids； and her lips； whose curves were faultless； had
no colour to give sign of indwelling blood。 What her eyes were like
he could not see； for she had never lifted the delicate films of her
eyelids。
'At the foot of the cliff they came upon a little hut leaning
against it； and having for its inner apartment a natural hollow
within it。 Smoke was spreading over the face of the rock； and the
grateful odour of food gave hope to the hungry student。 His guide
opened the door of the cottage； he followed her in； and saw a woman
bending over a fire in the middle of the floor。 On the fire lay a
large fish boiling。 The daughter spoke a few words； and the mother
turned and welcomed the stranger。 She had an old and very wrinkled；
but honest face； and looked troubled。 She dusted the only chair in
the cottage； and placed it for him by the side of the fire； opposite
the one window； whence he saw a little patch of yellow sand over
which the spent waves spread themselves out listlessly。 Under this
window was a bench； upon which the daughter threw herself in an
unusual posture； resting her chin upon her hand。 A moment after the
youth caught the first glimpse of her blue eyes。 They were fixed
upon him with a strange look of greed； amounting to craving； but as
if aware that they belied or betrayed her； she dropped them
instantly。 The moment she veiled them； her face； notwithstanding
its colourless complexion； was almost beautiful。
'When the fish was ready the old woman wiped the deal table；
steadied it upon the uneven floor； and covered it with a piece of
fine table…linen。 She then laid the fish on a wooden platter； and
invited the guest to help himself。 Seeing no other provision； he
pulled from his pocket a hunting…knife； and divided a portion from
the fish； offering it to the mother first。
'〃Come； my lamb；〃 said the old woman； and the daughter approached
the table。 But her nostrils and mouth quivered with disgust。
'The next moment she turned and hurried from the hut。
'〃She doesn't like fish；〃 said the old woman； 〃and I haven't
anything else to give her。〃
'〃She does not seem in good health；〃 he rejoined。
'The woman answered only with a sigh； and they ate their fish with
the help of a little rye…bread。 As they finished their supper； the
youth heard the sound as of the pattering of a dog's feet upon the
sand close to the door； but ere he had time to look out of the
window； the door opened and the young woman entered。 She looked
better； perhaps from having just washed her face。 She drew a stool
to the corner of the fire opposite him。 But as she sat down； to his
bewilderment； and even horror； the student spied a single drop of
blood on her white skin within her torn dress。 The woman brought
out a jar of whisky； put a rusty old kettle on the fire； and took
her place in front of it。 As soon as the water boiled； she
proceeded to make some toddy in a wooden bowl。
'Meantime the youth could not take his eyes off the young woman； so
that at length he found himself fascinated； or rather bewitched。
She kept her eyes for the most part veiled with the loveliest
eyelids fringed with darkest lashes； and he gazed entranced； for the
red glow of the little oil…lamp covered all the strangeness of her
complexion。 But as soon as he met a stolen glance out of those eyes
unveiled； his soul shuddered within him。 Lovely face and craving
eyes alternated fascination and repulsion。
'The mother placed the bowl in his hands。 He drank sparingly； and
passed it to the girl。 She lifted it to her lips； and as she
tastedonly tasted itlooked at him。 He thought the drink must
have been drugged and have affected his brain。 Her hair smoothed
itself back； and drew her forehead backwards with it； while the
lower part of her face projected towards the bowl； revealing； ere
she sipped； her dazzling teeth in strange prominence。 But the same
moment the vision vanished； she returned the vessel to her mother；
and rising； hurried out of the cottage。
'Then； the old woman pointed to a bed of heather in one corner with
a murmured apology； and the student； wearied both with the fatigues
of the day and the strangeness of the night； threw himself upon it；
wrapped in his cloak。 The moment he lay down； the storm began
afresh； and the wind blew so keenly through the crannies of the hut；
that it was only by drawing his cloak over his head that he could
protect himself from its currents。 Unable to sleep； he lay
listening to the uproar which grew in violence； till the spray was
dashing against the window。 At length the door opened； and the
young woman came in； made up the fire； drew the bench before it； and
lay down in the same strange posture； with her chin propped on her
hand and elbow； and her face turned towards the youth。 He moved a
little； she dropped her head； and lay on her face； with her arms
crossed beneath her forehead。 The mother had disappeared。
'Drowsiness crept over him。 A movement of the bench roused him； and
he fancied he saw some four…footed creature as tall as a large dog
trot quietly out of the door。 He was sure he felt a rush of cold
wind。 Gazing fixedly through the darkness； he thought he saw the
eyes of the damsel encountering his； but a glow from the falling
together of the remnants of the fire； revealed clearly enough that
the bench was vacant。 Wondering what could have made her go out in
such a storm； he fell fast asleep。
'In the middle of the night he felt a pain in his shoulder； came
broad awake； and saw the gleaming eyes and grinning teeth of some
animal close to his face。 Its claws were in his shoulder； and its
mouth was in the act of seeking his throat。 Before it had fixed its
fangs； however； he had its throat in one hand； and sought his knife
with the other。 A terrible struggle followed； but regardless of the
tearing claws； he found and opened his knife。 He had made one
futile stab； and was drawing it for a surer； when； with a spring of
the whole body； and one wildly…contorted effort； the creature
twisted its neck from his hold； and with something betwixt a scream
and a howl； darted from him。 Again he heard the door open； again
the wind blew in upon him； and it continued blowing； a sheet of
spray dashed across the floor； and over his face。 He sprung from
his couch and bounded to the door。
'It was a wild nightdark； but for the flash of whiteness from the
waves as they broke within a few yards of the cottage； the wind was
raving； and the rain pouring down the air。 A gruesome sound as of
mingled weeping and howling came from somewhere in the dark。 He
turned again into the hut and closed the door； but could find no way
of securing it。
'The lamp was nearly out； and he could not be certain whe