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the revolver softly slid from the table；softly； softly； no
visible hand；it was gone。 I sprang up； seizing the revolver with
the one hand； the dagger with the other； I was not willing that my
weapons should share the fate of the watch。 Thus armed； I looked
round the floor；no sign of the watch。 Three slow； loud； distinct
knocks were now heard at the bed head； my servant called out； 〃Is
that you； sir？〃
〃No； be on your guard。〃
The dog now roused himself and sat on his haunches； his ears moving
quickly backward and forward。 He kept his eyes fixed on me with a
look so strange that he concentered all my attention on himself。
Slowly he rose up； all his hair bristling； and stood perfectly
rigid； and with the same wild stare。 I had no time； however； to
examine the dog。 Presently my servant emerged from his room； and
if ever I saw horror in the human face； it was then。 I should not
have recognized him had we met in the street； so altered was every
lineament。 He passed by me quickly； saying； in a whisper that
seemed scarcely to come from his lips； 〃Run； run！ it is after me！〃
He gained the door to the landing； pulled it open； and rushed
forth。 I followed him into the landing involuntarily； calling him
to stop； but； without heeding me； he bounded down the stairs；
clinging to the balusters； and taking several steps at a time。 I
heard； where I stood； the street door open；heard it again clap
to。 I was left alone in the haunted house。
It was but for a moment that I remained undecided whether or not to
follow my servant； pride and curiosity alike forbade so dastardly a
flight。 I re…entered my room； closing the door after me； and
proceeded cautiously into the interior chamber。 I encountered
nothing to justify my servant's terror。 I again carefully examined
the walls； to see if there were any concealed door。 I could find
no trace of one；not even a seam in the dull…brown paper with
which the room was hung。 How； then； had the THING； whatever it
was； which had so scared him； obtained ingress except though my own
chamber？
I returned to my room； shut and locked the door that opened upon
the interior one； and stood on the hearth； expectant and prepared。
I now perceived that the dog had slunk into an angle of the wall；
and was pressing himself close against it； as if literally striving
to force his way into it。 I approached the animal and spoke to it；
the poor brute was evidently beside itself with terror。 It showed
all its teeth； the slaver dropping from its jaws； and would
certainly have bitten me if I had touched it。 It did not seem to
recognize me。 Whoever has seen at the Zoological Gardens a rabbit；
fascinated by a serpent； cowering in a corner； may form some idea
of the anguish which the dog exhibited。 Finding all efforts to
soothe the animal in vain； and fearing that his bite might be as
venomous in that state as in the madness of hydrophobia； I left him
alone； placed my weapons on the table beside the fire； seated
myself； and recommenced my Macaulay。
Perhaps； in order not to appear seeking credit for a courage； or
rather a coolness； which the reader may conceive I exaggerate； I
may be pardoned if I pause to indulge in one or two egotistical
remarks。
As I hold presence of mind； or what is called courage； to be
precisely proportioned to familiarity with the circumstances that
lead to it； so I should say that I had been long sufficiently
familiar with all experiments that appertain to the marvelous。 I
had witnessed many very extraordinary phenomena in various parts of
the world；phenomena that would be either totally disbelieved if I
stated them； or ascribed to supernatural agencies。 Now； my theory
is that the supernatural is the impossible； and that what is called
supernatural is only a something in the laws of Nature of which we
have been hitherto ignorant。 Therefore； if a ghost rise before me；
I have not the right to say； 〃So； then； the supernatural is
possible；〃 but rather； 〃So； then； the apparition of a ghost is；
contrary to received opinion； within the laws of Nature；that is；
not supernatural。〃
Now； in all that I had hitherto witnessed； and indeed in all the
wonders which the amateurs of mystery in our age record as facts； a
material living agency is always required。 On the Continent you
will find still magicians who assert that they can raise spirits。
Assume for the moment that they assert truly； still the living
material form of the magician is present； and he is the material
agency by which； from some constitutional peculiarities； certain
strange phenomena are represented to your natural senses。
Accept； again； as truthful； the tales of spirit manifestation in
America；musical or other sounds； writings on paper； produced by
no discernible hand； articles of furniture moved without apparent
human agency； or the actual sight and touch of hands； to which no
bodies seem to belong；still there must be found the MEDIUM； or
living being； with constitutional peculiarities capable of
obtaining these signs。 In fine； in all such marvels； supposing
even that there is no imposture； there must be a human being like
ourselves by whom； or through whom； the effects presented to human
beings are produced。 It is so with the now familiar phenomena of
mesmerism or electro…biology； the mind of the person operated on is
affected through a material living agent。 Nor； supposing it true
that a mesmerized patient can respond to the will or passes of a
mesmerizer a hundred miles distant； is the response less occasioned
by a material being； it may be through a material fluidcall it
Electric； call it Odic； call it what you willwhich has the power
of traversing space and passing obstacles； that the material effect
is communicated from one to the other。 Hence； all that I had
hitherto witnessed； or expected to witness； in this strange house；
I believed to be occasioned through some agency or medium as mortal
as myself； and this idea necessarily prevented the awe with which
those who regard as supernatural things that are not within the
ordinary operations of Nature； might have been impressed by the
adventures of that memorable night。
As； then； it was my conjecture that all that was presented； or
would be presented to my senses； must originate in some human being
gifted by constitution with the power so to present them； and
having some motive so to do； I felt an interest in my theory which；
in its way； was rather philosophical than superstitious。 And I can
sincerely say that I was in as tranquil a temper for observation as
any practical experimentalist could be in awaiting the effects of
some rare； though perhaps perilous； chemical combination。 Of
course； the more I kept my mind detached from fancy； the more the
temper fitted for observation would be obtained； and I therefore
riveted eye and thought on the strong daylight sense in the page of
my Macaulay。
I now became aware that something interposed between the page and
the light；the page was overshadowed。 I looked up； and I saw what
I shall find it very difficult； perhaps impossible； to describe。
It was a Darkness shaping itself forth from the air in very
undefined outline。 I cannot say it was of a human form； and yet it
had more resemblance to a human form； or rather shadow； than to
anything else。 As it stood； wholly apart and distinct from the air
and the light around it； its dimensions seemed gigantic； the summit
nearly touching the ceiling。 While I gazed； a feeling of intense
cold seized me。 An iceberg before me could not more have chilled
me； nor could the cold of an iceberg have been more purely
physical。 I feel convinced that it was not the cold caused by
fear。 As I continued to gaze； I thoughtbut this I cannot say
with precisionthat I distinguished two eyes looking down on me
from the height。 One moment I fancied that I distinguished them
clearly； the next they seemed gone； but still two rays of a pale…
blue light frequently shot through the darkness； as from the height
on which I half believed； half doubted； that I had encountered the
eyes。
I strove to speak；my voice utterly failed me； I could only think
to myself； 〃Is this fear？ It is NOT fear！〃 I strove to rise；in
vain； I felt as if weighed down by an irresistible force。 Indeed；
my impression was that of an immense and overwhelming Power opposed
to my volition；that sense of utter inadequacy to cope with a
force beyond man's； which one may feel PHYSICALLY in a storm at
sea； in a conflagration； or when confronting some terrible wild
beast； or rather； perhaps； the shark of the ocean； I felt MORALLY。
Opposed to my will was another will； as far superior to its
strength as storm； fire； and shark are superior in material force
to the force of man。
And now； as this impression grew on me；now came； at last； horror；
horror to a degree that no words can convey。 Still I retained