, since the advent of that strange thing in the gardens, I had deemed it wise to take precautions. Yet, through the whole week, there had been nothing to a

. Suddenly, I heard a crash, away in the direction of the Pit. With a quick moveme

feet, with a sharp exclamat

t. As I neared it, I heard a dull, rumbling sound, that grew quickly into a ro

hough the dust stil

s swirling hither and thither. The air was so full of the small particles, that they

ter sank, and hung in a pano

guess at what

, I had half imaginings; for, already, the thought had come to me, of those falling rocks, and that Thing in the bottom of

il, presently, I was able to a

ld see them only indistinctly. Even as I stared and wondered, I heard a rattle of stones, somewhere to my right. I glanced across; but could see nothing. I leant forward, and peered over, and down into the Pit, just beneath where I stood; and saw no further than a hideous, white swine-face, that had risen to within a couple of yards of

rd me, at a run. Instantly, I raised my gun and fired at the foremost, who plunged head-long, with a hideous howling. Then, I turned to run. More than halfway from the house to the

d in reply. 'Ru

h both hands. As I followed, I gave a glance behind. The brutes

spurred Mary to run so; for I feel convinced that she h

, my siste

ining on us, rapidly. Fortunately, I am accustomed to live, in some ways, an acti

head 'round, quickly, and saw one of those monstrous, pallid faces close to mine. One of the creatures, having outrun its companions, had almost overtaken me. Even as I turned, it made a fr

g the rest of the brutes down upon me; so that, without

ickly, slammed and bolted the door, just as the first o

into the gardens, was the last to which I went. I had just had time to note that it was secured, when I thought I heard a noise outside. I stood perfectly silent, and listened. Yes! Now I could distinctly hear a sound o

, when that first Thing peered in through my window. Then I had applied the term superhuman to it, with an almost instinctive knowledge that the creature was something different from the brute-beast. Something beyond

a wine-glass. Taking these, I went down to the kitchen, carrying a lighted candle with me. Sh

at me. Then her eyes closed, slowly, and I gave her a little more of the brandy. For, perhaps a minute longer, she lay silent, breathing quickly. All at once, her eyes opened again, and it seemed to me, as I looked, that the pupils were dilated, as though fe

ng and holding the brandy flask. I

loudly, and I knew that she had taken refuge in her room. I put the flask down on the table. My attention was distracted by a noise in the direction of the back door. I went to

it came to me that there was sense and meaning to all those swinish noises. Gradually, I seemed able to trace a semblance in it to human speech-glutinous and sticky, as

be something in the theory that the sudden change of temperature, at sundown, affects the structure of the house, somewhat-causing it to contract and settle, as it were, for the night. However, this is as may be; but, on that night in particular, I would gl

make the 'round of the basement again, and, if anything were there, face it. And then, I would go up to my study, for I knew

e-along passages, and into the hundred-and-one little blind alleys and hidden nooks that form the basement of the old house. T

with hardly any hesitation, I stepped up to the door, holding the lamp above my head. In a glance, I saw that the place was empty, save for the heavy, stone slabs, supported by brick pillars; and I was about to leave it, convinced that I had been mistaken; when, in turning, my

er of its being able to move them. And then, suddenly, in spite of the knowledge that the brute could not reach to harm me, I had a return of the horrible sensation of fear, that had assailed me on that night, a week previously. It was the same feeling of helpless, shuddering fright. I realized, dimly,

, that I had, in my agitation, unconsciously caught hold of the hot lamp-glass, and burnt my hand, badly. I looked up to the window, again. The misty appearance had gone, and, now, I saw that it was crowded with dozens of bestial faces. With a sudden access of rage, I raised the lamp, and hur

stumbling at each step. I felt dazed, as though I had received a blow on the head. At the sa

ms on the sidewall. At the sight, I remembered that I had there a power, which, as I had proved earlier,

and I crossed the room, to the rifle stand. There, I selected a heavy rifle-an old and tried weapon; and,

rhaps, where the trees stood. That was all, and I knew that it was useless to shoot down into all that darknes

occasional grunt or squeal came up to me. I did not like this silence; it made me wonder on what devilry th

en. Following this, and lasting for some fifteen minutes, there was a commotion amo

n then, I could see none of the brutes; until, happening to crane forward, I saw several of them lying prone, up against the wall of the house. What they were doing, I could not make out. It was, however, a chance too good to be ig

ndred times, from every part of the garden. This gave me some notion of the number of the creatur

n now, I doubt whether it was a vision) of the Plain of Silence. What did that mean? I wondered-And that Thing in the arena? Ugh! Lastly, I thought of the house I had seen in

ver the parapet. In the moonlight, it seemed as though the shrubberies were alive. They tossed hither and thither, as though shaken by a strong, irregular wind; while a continuous rustling, and a noise o

ir, and they would be answered by multitudinous gruntings. It occurred to me, that they were holding some kind of a council, per

ain, and examining each of the doors. Luckily, they are all, like the back one, built of solid, iron-studded oak. Then, I went upstairs to the study. I was mor

which this door opens-the windows of the study being barred on this account. All the o