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surrounded perhaps in their turn by worlds as large or larger than
our own。 Worlds beyond worlds； and others farther still； which no
man might number or even descry。 And about the distance of those
wonderful suns too；that one； for instance； at which I was
looking；what was it that I had been told？ That our world was not
yet peopled； perhaps not yet formed； when the actual spot of light
which now struck my sight first started from the star's surface！
While it flashed along； itself the very symbol of speed； the whole
of mankind had had time to be born； and live； and die！
My gaze dropped； and fell upon the dim； half…seen outline of the
Dead Stone。 That woman too。 While that one ray speeded towards me
her life had been lived and ended； and her body had rotted away
into the ground。 How close together we all were！ Her life and
mine； our joys； sufferings； deathsall crowded together into the
space of one flash of light！ And yet there was nothing there but a
horrible skeleton of dead bones； while I！
I stopped with a shudder； and turned back into the room。 I wished
that Alan had not told me what lay under the stone； I wished that I
had never asked him。 It was a ghastly thing to think about； and
spoilt all the beauty of the night to me。
I got quickly into bed； and soon dropped asleep。 I do not know how
long I slept； but when I woke it was with the consciousness again
of that haunting wind。
It was worse than ever。 The world seemed filled with its din。
Hurling itself passionately against the house； it gathered strength
with every gust； till it seemed as if the old walls must soon crash
in ruins round me。 Gust upon gust； blow upon blow； swelling；
lessening； never ceasing。 The noise surrounded me； it penetrated
my inmost being； as all…pervading as silence itself； and wrapping
me in a solitude even more complete。 There was nothing left in the
world but the wind and I； and then a weird intangible doubt as to
my own identity seized me。 The wind was real； the wind with its
echoes of passion and misery from the eternal abyss； but was there
anything else？ What was； and what had been； the world of sense and
of knowledge； my own consciousness； my very self；all seemed
gathered up and swept away in that one sole…existent fury of sound。
I pulled myself together； and getting out of bed； groped my way to
the table which stood between the bed and the fireplace。 The
matches were there； and my half…burnt candle； which I lit。 The
wind penetrating the rattling casement circled round the room； and
the flame of my candle bent and flared and shrank before it；
throwing strange moving lights and shadows in every corner。 I
stood there shivering in my thin nightdress； half stunned by the
cataract of noise beating on the walls outside； and peered
anxiously around me。 The room was not the same。 Something was
changed。 What was it？ How the shadows leaped and fell； dancing in
time to the wind's music。 Everything seemed alive。 I turned my
head slowly to the left； and then to the right； and then roundand
stopped with a sudden gasp of fear。
The cabinet was open！
I looked away； and back； and again。 There was no room for doubt。
The doors were thrown back； and were waving gently in the draught。
One of the lower drawers was pulled out； and in a sudden flare of
the candle…light I could see something glistening at its bottom。
Then the light dwindled again； the candle was almost out； and the
cabinet showed a dim black mass in the darkness。 Up and down went
the flame； and each returning brightness flashed back at me from
the thing inside the drawer。 I stood fascinated； my eyes fixed
upon the spot； waiting for the fitful glitter as it came and went。
What was there there？ I knew that I must go and see； but I did not
want to。 If only the cabinet would close again before I looked；
before I knew what was inside it。 But it stood open； and the
glittering thing lay there； dragging me towards itself。
Slowly at last； and with infinite reluctance； I went。 The drawer
was lined with soft white satin； and upon the satin lay a long；
slender knife； hilted and sheathed in antique silver； richly set
with jewels。 I took it up and turned back to the table to examine
it。 It was Italian in workmanship； and I knew that the carving and
chasing of the silver were more precious even than the jewels which
studded it； and whose rough setting gave so firm a grasp to my
hand。 Was the blade as fair as the covering； I wondered？ A little
resistance at first； and then the long thin steel slid easily out。
Sharp； and bright； and finely tempered it looked with its deadly；
tapering point。 Stains； dull and irregular； crossed the fine
engraving on its surface and dimmed its polish。 I bent to examine
them more closely； and as I did so a sudden stronger gust of wind
blew out the candle。 I shuddered a little at the darkness and
looked up。 But it did not matter： the curtain was still drawn away
from the window opposite my bedside； and through it a flood of
moonlight was pouring in upon floor and bed。
Putting the sheath down upon the table； I walked to the window to
examine the knife more closely by that pale light。 How gloriously
brilliant it was！ darkened now and again by the quickly passing
shadows of wind…driven clouds。 At least so I thought； and I
glanced up and out of the window to see them。 A black world met my
gaze。 Neither moon was there nor moonlight： the broad silver beam
in which I stood stretched no farther than the window。 I caught my
breath； and my limbs stiffened as I looked。 No moon； no cloud； no
movement in the clear； calm； starlit sky； while still the ghastly
light stretched round me； and the spectral shadows drifted across
the room。
But it was not all dark outside： one spot caught my eye； bright
with a livid unearthly brightnessthe Dead Stone shining out into
the night like an ember from hell's furnace！ There was a horrid
semblance of life in the light；a palpitating； breathing glow；
and my pulses beat in time to it； till I seemed to be drawing it
into my veins。 It had no warmth； and as it entered my blood my
heart grew colder； and my muscles more rigid。 My fingers clutched
the dagger…hilt till its jeweled roughness pressed painfully into
my palm。 All the strength of my strained powers seemed gathered in
that grasp； and the more tightly I held the more vividly did the
rock gleam and quiver with infernal life。 The dead woman！ The
dead woman！ What had I to do with her？ Let her bones rest in the
filth of their own decay；out there under the accursed stone。
And now the noise of the wind lessens in my ears。 Let it go on；
yes； louder and wilder； drowning my senses in its tumult。 What is
there with me in the roomthe great empty room behind me？
Nothing； only the cabinet with its waving doors。 They are waving
to and fro； to and froI know it。 But there is no other life in
the room but thatno； no； no other life in the room but that。
Oh！ don't let the wind stop。 I can't hear anything while it goes
on；but if it stops！ Ah！ the gusts grow weaker； struggling；
forced into rest。 Nownowthey have ceased。
Silence！
A fearful pause。
What is that that I hear？ There； behind me in the room？
Do I hear it？ Is there anything？
The throbbing of my own blood in my ears。
No； no！ There is something as well；something outside myself。
What is it？
Low； heavy； regular。
God！ it isit is the breath of a living creature！ A living
creature！ hereclose to mealone with me！
The numbness of terror conquers me。 I can neither stir nor speak。
Only my whole soul strains at my ears to listen。
Where does the sound come from？
Close behind meclose。
Ah…h！
It is from therefrom the bed where I was lying a moment ago！ 。 。 。
I try to shriek； but the sound gurgles unuttered in my throat。 I
clutch the stone mullions of the window； and press myself against
the panes。 If I could but throw myself out！anywhere； anywhere
away from that dreadful soundfrom that thing close behind me in
the bed！ But I can do nothing。 The wind has broken forth again
now； the storm crashes round me。 And still through it all I hear
the ghastly breathingeven； low； scarcely audiblebut I hear it。
I shall hear it as long as I live！ 。 。 。
Is the thing moving？
Is it coming nearer？
No； no； not that；that was but a fancy to freeze me dead。
But to stand here； with that creature behind me； listening； waiting
for the warm horror of its breath to touch my neck！ Ah！ I cannot。
I will look。 I will see it face to face。 Better any agony than
this one。
Slowly； with held breath； and eyes aching in their stretched
fixity； I turn。 There it is！ Clear in the moonlight I see the
monstrous form within the bed；the dark coverlet rises and falls
with its heaving breath。 。 。 。 Ah！ heaven have mercy！ Is