|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 12
"Robert!" I said, "you shall tell me that story another day with
pleasure; but no time is to be lost now. I mean to follow the hand: will
you come with me and take care of me?"
"Go in, ma'am," he said; "wrap up warm, and put on thick shoes, and come
quietly down to this door. I'll just slip in and quiet the servants, and
meet you."
"And bring a lantern," I said; "this light does not light you."
In five minutes we were there again; and the hand was vivid as ever.
"Do you see it now?" whispered the butler, anxiously.
"Yes," I said; "it is moving."
"Go on," he said; "I will keep close behind you."
It was pitch dark, and, except for the gleaming hand, and the erratic
circles of light cast by the lantern, we could see nothing. The hand
gradually moved faster, increasing to a good walking pace, passing over
the garden-gate and leading us on till I completely lost knowledge of
our position; but still we went steadily forward. At last we got into a
road, and went along by a wall; and, after a few steps, the hand, which
was before me, moved sharply aside.
"Robert," I said, "it has gone over a gate--we must go too! Where are
we?"
He answered, in a tone of the deepest horror--
"Miss Dorothy! for the Lord's sake, think what you are doing, and let us
turn back while we can! You've had sore affliction; but it's an awful
thing to bring an innocent man to trouble."
"The innocent man _is_ in trouble!" I said, passionately. "Is it nothing
that he should die, if truth could save him? You may go back if you
like; but I shall go on. Tell me, whose place is this?"
"Never mind, my dear young lady," he said, soothingly. "Go on, and the
Lord be with you! But be careful. You're sure you see it now?"
"Certain," I said. "It is moving. Come on."
We went forward, and I heard a click behind me.
"What is that?" I said.
"Hush!" he whispered; "make no noise! It was my pistol. Go gently, my
dear young lady. It is a farmyard, and you may stumble."
"It has stopped over a building!" I whispered.
"Not the house!" he returned, hoarsely.
"I am going on," I said. "Here we are. What is it? Whose is it?"
He came close to me, and whispered solemnly--
"Miss Dorothy! be brave, and make no noise! We are in Farmer Parker's
yard; and this is a barn."
Then the terror came over me.
"Let us turn back," I said. "You are right. One may bear one's own
troubles, but not drag in other people. Take me home!"
But Robert would not take me home; and my courage came back, and I held
the lantern whilst he unfastened the door. Then the ghastly hand passed
into the barn, and we followed it.
"It has stopped in the far corner," I said. "There seems to be wood or
something."
"It's bundles of wood," he whispered. "I know the place. Sit down, and
tell me if it moves."
I sat down, and waited long and wearily, while he moved heavy bundles of
firewood, pausing now and then to ask, "Is it here still?" At last he
asked no more; and in a quarter of an hour he only spoke once: then it
was to say--
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|