After The Attack

: The House On The Borderland

It was now about three a.m., and, presently, the Eastern sky began to

pale with the coming of dawn. Gradually, the day came, and, by its

light, I scanned the gardens, earnestly; but nowhere could I see any

signs of the brutes. I leant over, and glanced down to the foot of the

wall, to see whether the body of the Thing I had shot the night before

was still there. It was gone. I supposed that others of the monsters had

r
moved it during the night.



Then, I went down on to the roof, and crossed over to the gap from

which the coping stone had fallen. Reaching it, I looked over. Yes,

there was the stone, as I had seen it last; but there was no appearance

of anything beneath it; nor could I see the creatures I had killed,

after its fall. Evidently, they also had been taken away. I turned, and

went down to my study. There, I sat down, wearily. I was thoroughly

tired. It was quite light now; though the sun's rays were not, as yet,

perceptibly hot. A clock chimed the hour of four.



I awoke, with a start, and looked 'round, hurriedly. The clock in the

corner, indicated that it was three o'clock. It was already afternoon. I

must have slept for nearly eleven hours.



With a jerky movement, I sat forward in the chair, and listened. The

house was perfectly silent. Slowly, I stood up, and yawned. I felt

desperately tired, still, and sat down again; wondering what it was that

had waked me.



It must have been the clock striking, I concluded, presently; and was

commencing to doze off, when a sudden noise brought me back, once more,

to life. It was the sound of a step, as of a person moving cautiously

down the corridor, toward my study. In an instant, I was on my feet, and

grasping my rifle. Noiselessly, I waited. Had the creatures broken in,

whilst I slept? Even as I questioned, the steps reached my door, halted

momentarily, and then continued down the passage. Silently, I tiptoed to

the doorway, and peeped out. Then, I experienced such a feeling of

relief, as must a reprieved criminal--it was my sister. She was going

toward the stairs.



I stepped into the hall, and was about to call to her, when it occurred

to me, that it was very queer she should have crept past my door, in

that stealthy manner. I was puzzled, and, for one brief moment, the

thought occupied my mind, that it was not she, but some fresh mystery of

the house. Then, as I caught a glimpse of her old petticoat, the thought

passed as quickly as it had come, and I half laughed. There could be no

mistaking that ancient garment. Yet, I wondered what she was doing; and,

remembering her condition of mind, on the previous day, I felt that it

might be best to follow, quietly--taking care not to alarm her--and see

what she was going to do. If she behaved rationally, well and good; if

not, I should have to take steps to restrain her. I could run no

unnecessary risks, under the danger that threatened us.



Quickly, I reached the head of the stairs, and paused a moment. Then,

I heard a sound that sent me leaping down, at a mad rate--it was the

rattle of bolts being unshot. That foolish sister of mine was actually

unbarring the back door.



Just as her hand was on the last bolt, I reached her. She had not seen

me, and, the first thing she knew, I had hold of her arm. She glanced up

quickly, like a frightened animal, and screamed aloud.



'Come, Mary!' I said, sternly, 'what's the meaning of this nonsense? Do

you mean to tell me you don't understand the danger, that you try to

throw our two lives away in this fashion!'



To this, she replied nothing; only trembled, violently, gasping and

sobbing, as though in the last extremity of fear.



Through some minutes, I reasoned with her; pointing out the need for

caution, and asking her to be brave. There was little to be afraid of

now, I explained--and, I tried to believe that I spoke the truth--but

she must be sensible, and not attempt to leave the house for a few days.



At last, I ceased, in despair. It was no use talking to her; she was,

obviously, not quite herself for the time being. Finally, I told her she

had better go to her room, if she could not behave rationally.



Still, she took not any notice. So, without more ado, I picked her up

in my arms, and carried her there. At first, she screamed, wildly; but

had relapsed into silent trembling, by the time I reached the stairs.



Arriving at her room, I laid her upon the bed. She lay there quietly

enough, neither speaking nor sobbing--just shaking in a very ague of

fear. I took a rug from a chair near by, and spread it over her. I could

do nothing more for her, and so, crossed to where Pepper lay in a big

basket. My sister had taken charge of him since his wound, to nurse him,

for it had proved more severe than I had thought, and I was pleased to

note that, in spite of her state of mind, she had looked after the old

dog, carefully. Stooping, I spoke to him, and, in reply, he licked my

hand, feebly. He was too ill to do more.



Then, going to the bed, I bent over my sister, and asked her how she

felt; but she only shook the more, and, much as it pained me, I had to

admit that my presence seemed to make her worse.



And so, I left her--locking the door, and pocketing the key. It seemed

to be the only course to take.



The rest of the day, I spent between the tower and my study. For food,

I brought up a loaf from the pantry, and on this, and some claret, I

lived for that day.



What a long, weary day it was. If only I could have gone out into the

gardens, as is my wont, I should have been content enough; but to be

cooped in this silent house, with no companion, save a mad woman and a

sick dog, was enough to prey upon the nerves of the hardiest. And out in

the tangled shrubberies that surrounded the house, lurked--for all I

could tell--those infernal Swine-creatures waiting their chance. Was

ever a man in such straits?



Once, in the afternoon, and again, later, I went to visit my sister.

The second time, I found her tending Pepper; but, at my approach, she

slid over, unobtrusively, to the far corner, with a gesture that

saddened me beyond belief. Poor girl! her fear cut me intolerably, and I

would not intrude on her, unnecessarily. She would be better, I trusted,

in a few days; meanwhile, I could do nothing; and I judged it still

needful--hard as it seemed--to keep her confined to her room. One thing

there was that I took for encouragement: she had eaten some of the food

I had taken to her, on my first visit.



And so the day passed.



As the evening drew on, the air grew chilly, and I began to make

preparations for passing a second night in the tower--taking up two

additional rifles, and a heavy ulster. The rifles I loaded, and laid

alongside my other; as I intended to make things warm for any of the

creatures who might show, during the night. I had plenty of ammunition,

and I thought to give the brutes such a lesson, as should show them the

uselessness of attempting to force an entrance.



After that, I made the 'round of the house again; paying particular

attention to the props that supported the study door. Then, feeling that

I had done all that lay in my power to insure our safety, I returned to

the tower; calling in on my sister and Pepper, for a final visit, on the

way. Pepper was asleep; but woke, as I entered, and wagged his tail, in

recognition. I thought he seemed slightly better. My sister was lying on

the bed; though whether asleep or not, I was unable to tell; and thus I

left them.



Reaching the tower, I made myself as comfortable as circumstances would

permit, and settled down to watch through the night. Gradually, darkness

fell, and soon the details of the gardens were merged into shadows.

During the first few hours, I sat, alert, listening for any sound that

might help to tell me if anything were stirring down below. It was far

too dark for my eyes to be of much use.



Slowly, the hours passed; without anything unusual happening. And the

moon rose, showing the gardens, apparently empty, and silent. And so,

through the night, without disturbance or sound.



Toward morning, I began to grow stiff and cold, with my long vigil;

also, I was getting very uneasy, concerning the continued quietness on

the part of the creatures. I mistrusted it, and would sooner, far, have

had them attack the house, openly. Then, at least, I should have known

my danger, and been able to meet it; but to wait like this, through a

whole night, picturing all kinds of unknown devilment, was to jeopardize

one's sanity. Once or twice, the thought came to me, that, perhaps, they

had gone; but, in my heart, I found it impossible to believe that it

was so.



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