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stopped a moment； wondering at it。
I resumed my downward way； and stepping out upon the level of the
railroad； and drawing nearer to him； saw that he was a dark； sallow
man； with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows。 His post was in
as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw。 On either side； a
dripping…wet wall of jagged stone； excluding all view but a strip
of sky； the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this
great dungeon； the shorter perspective in the other direction
terminating in a gloomy red light； and the gloomier entrance to a
black tunnel； in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous；
depressing； and forbidding air。 So little sunlight ever found its
way to this spot； that it had an earthy； deadly smell； and so much
cold wind rushed through it； that it struck chill to me； as if I
had left the natural world。
Before he stirred； I was near enough to him to have touched him。
Not even then removing his eyes from mine； he stepped back one
step； and lifted his hand。
This was a lonesome post to occupy （I said）； and it had riveted my
attention when I looked down from up yonder。 A visitor was a
rarity； I should suppose； not an unwelcome rarity； I hoped？ In me；
he merely saw a man who had been shut up within narrow limits all
his life； and who； being at last set free； had a newly…awakened
interest in these great works。 To such purpose I spoke to him； but
I am far from sure of the terms I used； for； besides that I am not
happy in opening any conversation； there was something in the man
that daunted me。
He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the
tunnel's mouth； and looked all about it； as if something were
missing from it； and then looked it me。
That light was part of his charge？ Was it not？
He answered in a low voice；〃Don't you know it is？〃
The monstrous thought came into my mind； as I perused the fixed
eyes and the saturnine face； that this was a spirit； not a man。 I
have speculated since； whether there may have been infection in his
mind。
In my turn； I stepped back。 But in making the action； I detected
in his eyes some latent fear of me。 This put the monstrous thought
to flight。
〃You look at me；〃 I said； forcing a smile； 〃as if you had a dread
of me。〃
〃I was doubtful；〃 he returned； 〃whether I had seen you before。〃
〃Where？〃
He pointed to the red light he had looked at。
〃There？〃 I said。
Intently watchful of me； he replied （but without sound）； 〃Yes。〃
〃My good fellow； what should I do there？ However； be that as it
may； I never was there； you may swear。〃
〃I think I may；〃 he rejoined。 〃Yes； I am sure I may。〃
His manner cleared； like my own。 He replied to my remarks with
readiness； and in well…chosen words。 Had he much to do there？
Yes； that was to say； he had enough responsibility to bear； but
exactness and watchfulness were what was required of him； and of
actual workmanual laborhe had next to none。 To change that
signal； to trim those lights； and to turn this iron handle now and
then； was all he had to do under that head。 Regarding those many
long and lonely hours of which I seemed to make so much； he could
only say that the routine of his life had shaped itself into that
form； and he had grown used to it。 He had taught himself a
language down here；if only to know it by sight； and to have
formed his own crude ideas of its pronunciation； could be called
learning it。 He had also worked at fractions and decimals； and
tried a little algebra； but he was； and had been as a boy； a poor
hand at figures。 Was it necessary for him when on duty always to
remain in that channel of damp air； and could he never rise into
the sunshine from between those high stone walls？ Why； that
depended upon times and circumstances。 Under some conditions there
would be less upon the Line than under others； and the same held
good as to certain hours of the day and night。 In bright weather；
he did choose occasions for getting a little above these lower
shadows； but； being at all times liable to be called by his
electric bell； and at such times listening for it with redoubled
anxiety； the relief was less than I would suppose。
He took me into his box； where there was a fire； a desk for an
official book in which he had to make certain entries； a
telegraphic instrument with its dial； face； and needles； and the
little bell of which he had spoken。 On my trusting that he would
excuse the remark that he had been well educated； and （I hoped I
might say without offence） perhaps educated above that station； he
observed that instances of slight incongruity in such wise would
rarely be found wanting among large bodies of men； that he had
heard it was so in workhouses； in the police force； even in that
last desperate resource； the army； and that he knew it was so； more
or less； in any great railway staff。 He had been； when young （if I
could believe it； sitting in that hut；he scarcely could）； a
student of natural philosophy； and had attended lectures； but he
had run wild； misused his opportunities； gone down； and never risen
again。 He had no complaint to offer about that。 He had made his
bed； and he lay upon it。 It was far too late to make another。
All that I have here condensed he said in a quiet manner； with his
grave dark regards divided between me and the fire。 He threw in
the word； 〃Sir；〃 from time to time； and especially when he referred
to his youth；as though to request me to understand that he
claimed to be nothing but what I found him。 He was several times
interrupted by the little bell； and had to read off messages； and
send replies。 Once he had to stand without the door； and display a
flag as a train passed； and make some verbal communication to the
driver。 In the discharge of his duties； I observed him to be
remarkably exact and vigilant； breaking off his discourse at a
syllable； and remaining silent until what he had to do was done。
In a word； I should have set this man down as one of the safest of
men to be employed in that capacity； but for the circumstance that
while he was speaking to me he twice broke off with a fallen color；
turned his face towards the little bell when it did NOT ring；
opened the door of the hut （which was kept shut to exclude the
unhealthy damp）； and looked out towards the red light near the
mouth of the tunnel。 On both of those occasions； he came back to
the fire with the inexplicable air upon him which I had remarked；
without being able to define； when we were so far asunder。
Said I； when I rose to leave him； 〃You almost make me think that I
have met with a contented man。〃
（I am afraid I must acknowledge that I said it to lead him on。）
〃I believe I used to be so；〃 he rejoined； in the low voice in which
he had first spoken； 〃but I am troubled； sir； I am troubled。〃
He would have recalled the words if he could。 He had said them；
however； and I took them up quickly。
〃With what？ What is your trouble？〃
〃It is very difficult to impart； sir。 It is very； very difficult
to speak of。 If ever you make me another visit； I will try to tell
you。〃
〃But I expressly intend to make you another visit。 Say； when shall
it be？〃
〃I go off early in the morning； and I shall be on again at ten to…
morrow night； sir。〃
〃I will come at eleven。〃
He thanked me； and went out at the door with me。 〃I'll show my
white light； sir；〃 he said； in his peculiar low voice； 〃till you
have found the way up。 When you have found it； don't call out！
And when you are at the top； don't call out！〃
His manner seemed to make the place strike colder to me； but I said
no more than； 〃Very well。〃
〃And when you come down to…morrow night； don't call out！ Let me
ask you a parting question。 What made you cry； 'Halloa！ Below
there！' to…night？〃
〃Heaven knows；〃 said I。 〃I cried something to that effect〃
〃Not to that effect； sir。 Those were the very words。 I know them
well。〃
〃Admit those were the very words。 I said them； no doubt； because I
saw you below。〃
〃For no other reason？〃
〃What other reason could I possibly have？〃
〃You had no feeling that they were conveyed to you in any
supernatural way？〃
〃No。〃
He wished me good…night； and held up his light。 I walked by the
side of the down Line of rails （with a very disagreeable sensation
of a train coming behind me） until I found the path。 It was easier
to mount than to descend； and I got back to my inn without any
adventure。
Punctual to my appointment； I placed my foot on the first notch of
the zigzag next night； as the distant clocks were striking eleven。
He was waiting for me at the bottom； with his white light on。 〃I
have not called out；〃 I said； when we came close together； 〃may I
speak now？〃 〃By all means； sir。〃 〃Good…night； then； and here's my
hand。〃 〃Good