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Page 41
"I thanked her and said 'no,' at which she at once departed with a
look of still determination upon her countenance that I found it hard
to explain.
Left alone in that large, bare and dimly lighted room, with the wind
shrieking in the chimney and the powerful limbs of some huge tree
beating against the walls without, with a heavy thud inexpressibly
mournful, I found to my surprise and something like dismay, that the
sleepiness which had hitherto oppressed me, had in some unaccountable
way entirely fled. In vain I contemplated the bed, comfortable enough
now in its appearance that the stifling curtains were withdrawn; no
temptation to invade it came to arouse me from the chair into which I
had thrown myself. It was as if I felt myself under the spell of some
invisible influence that like the eye of a basilisk, held me
enchained. I remember turning my head towards a certain quarter of
the wall as if I half expected to encounter there the bewildering
glance of a serpent. Yet far from being apprehensive of any danger, I
only wondered over the weakness of mind that made such fancies
possible.
"An extra loud swirl of the foliage without, accompanied by a quick
vibration of the house, aroused me at last. If I was to lose the
sense of this furious storm careering over my head, I must court
sleep at once. Rising, I drew off my coat, unloosened my vest and was
about to throw it off, when I bethought me of a certain wallet it
contained. Going to the door in some unconscious impulse of precaution
I suppose, I locked myself in, and then drawing out my wallet, took
from it a roll of bills which I put into a small side pocket,
returning the wallet to its old place.
"Why I did this I can scarcely say. As I have before intimated, I was
under no special apprehension. I was at that time anything but a
suspicious man, and the manner and appearance of the men below struck
me as unpleasantly disagreeable but nothing more. But I not only did
what I have related, but allowed the lamp to remain lighted, lying
down finally in my clothes; an almost unprecedented act on my part,
warranted however as I said to myself, by the fury of the gale which
at that time seemed as if it would tumble the roof over our heads.
"How long I lay listening to the creakings and groanings of the
rickety old house, I cannot say, nor how long I remained in the doze
which finally seized me as I became accustomed to the sounds around
and over me. Enough that before the storm had passed its height, I
awoke as if at the touch of a hand, and leaping with a bound out of
the bed, beheld to my incredible amazement, the alert, nervous form of
Luttra standing before me. She had my coat in her hand, and it was
her touch that had evidently awakened me.
"'I want you to put this on,' said she in a low thrilling tone totally
new in my experience, 'and come with me. The house is unsafe for you
to remain in. Hear how it cracks and trembles. Another blast like
that and we shall be roofless.'
"She was moving toward the door, which to my amazement stood ajar, but
my hesitation stopped her.
"'Won't you come?' she whispered, turning her face towards me with a
look of such potent determination, I followed in spite of myself 'I
dare not let you stay here, your blood will be upon my head.'
"'You exaggerate,' I replied, shrinking back with a longing look at
the comfortable bed I had just left. 'These old houses are always
strong. It will take many such a gust as that you hear, to overturn
it, I assure you.'
"'I exaggerate!' she returned with a look of scorn impossible to
describe. 'Hark!' she said, 'hear that.'
"I did hear, and I must acknowledge that it seemed is if we were about
to be swept from our foundations.
"'Yes,' said I, 'but it is a fearful night to be out in.'
"'I shall go with you,' said she.
"'In that case--' I began with an ill-advised attempt at gallantry
which she cut short with a gesture.
"'Here is your hat,' remarked she, 'and here is your bag. The
fishing-pole must remain, you cannot carry it.'
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