The Subterranean Pit

: The House On The Borderland

Another week came and went, during which I spent a great deal of my time

about the Pit mouth. I had come to the conclusion a few days earlier,

that the arched hole, in the angle of the great rift, was the place

through which the Swine-things had made their exit, from some unholy

place in the bowels of the world. How near the probable truth this went,

I was to learn later.



It may be easily understood, that I was tremendously curious, though in

a frightened way, to know to what infernal place that hole led; though,

so far, the idea had not struck me, seriously, of making an

investigation. I was far too much imbued with a sense of horror of the

Swine-creatures, to think of venturing, willingly, where there was any

chance of coming into contact with them.



Gradually, however, as time passed, this feeling grew insensibly less;

so that when, a few days later, the thought occurred to me that it might

be possible to clamber down and have a look into the hole, I was not so

exceedingly averse to it, as might have been imagined. Still, I do not

think, even then, that I really intended to try any such foolhardy

adventure. For all that I could tell, it might be certain death, to

enter that doleful looking opening. And yet, such is the pertinacity of

human curiosity, that, at last, my chief desire was but to discover what

lay beyond that gloomy entrance.



Slowly, as the days slid by, my fear of the Swine-things became an

emotion of the past--more an unpleasant, incredible memory, than

aught else.



Thus, a day came, when, throwing thoughts and fancies adrift, I

procured a rope from the house, and, having made it fast to a stout

tree, at the top of the rift, and some little distance back from the Pit

edge, let the other end down into the cleft, until it dangled right

across the mouth of the dark hole.



Then, cautiously, and with many misgivings as to whether it was not a

mad act that I was attempting, I climbed slowly down, using the rope as

a support, until I reached the hole. Here, still holding on to the rope,

I stood, and peered in. All was perfectly dark, and not a sound came to

me. Yet, a moment later, it seemed that I could hear something. I held

my breath, and listened; but all was silent as the grave, and I breathed

freely once more. At the same instant, I heard the sound again. It was

like a noise of labored breathing--deep and sharp-drawn. For a short

second, I stood, petrified; not able to move. But now the sounds had

ceased again, and I could hear nothing.



As I stood there, anxiously, my foot dislodged a pebble, which fell

inward, into the dark, with a hollow chink. At once, the noise was taken

up and repeated a score of times; each succeeding echo being fainter,

and seeming to travel away from me, as though into remote distance.

Then, as the silence fell again, I heard that stealthy breathing. For

each respiration I made, I could hear an answering breath. The sounds

appeared to be coming nearer; and then, I heard several others; but

fainter and more distant. Why I did not grip the rope, and spring up out

of danger, I cannot say. It was as though I had been paralyzed. I broke

out into a profuse sweat, and tried to moisten my lips with my tongue.

My throat had gone suddenly dry, and I coughed, huskily. It came back to

me, in a dozen, horrible, throaty tones, mockingly. I peered,

helplessly, into the gloom; but still nothing showed. I had a strange,

choky sensation, and again I coughed, dryly. Again the echo took it up,

rising and falling, grotesquely, and dying slowly into a

muffled silence.



Then, suddenly, a thought came to me, and I held my breath. The other

breathing stopped. I breathed again, and, once more, it re-commenced.

But now, I no longer feared. I knew that the strange sounds were not

made by any lurking Swine-creature; but were simply the echo of my own

respirations.



Yet, I had received such a fright, that I was glad to scramble up the

rift, and haul up the rope. I was far too shaken and nervous to think of

entering that dark hole then, and so returned to the house. I felt more

myself next morning; but even then, I could not summon up sufficient

courage to explore the place.



All this time, the water in the Pit had been creeping slowly up, and

now stood but a little below the opening. At the rate at which it was

rising, it would be level with the floor in less than another week; and

I realized that, unless I carried out my investigations soon, I should

probably never do so at all; as the water would rise and rise, until the

opening, itself, was submerged.



It may have been that this thought stirred me to act; but, whatever it

was, a couple of days later, saw me standing at the top of the cleft,

fully equipped for the task.



This time, I was resolved to conquer my shirking, and go right through

with the matter. With this intention, I had brought, in addition to the

rope, a bundle of candles, meaning to use them as a torch; also my

double-barreled shotgun. In my belt, I had a heavy horse-pistol, loaded

with buckshot.



As before, I fastened the rope to the tree. Then, having tied my gun

across my shoulders, with a piece of stout cord, I lowered myself over

the edge of the Pit. At this movement, Pepper, who had been eyeing my

actions, watchfully, rose to his feet, and ran to me, with a half bark,

half wail, it seemed to me, of warning. But I was resolved on my

enterprise, and bade him lie down. I would much have liked to take him

with me; but this was next to impossible, in the existing circumstances.

As my face dropped level with the Pit edge, he licked me, right across

the mouth; and then, seizing my sleeve between his teeth, began to pull

back, strongly. It was very evident that he did not want me to go. Yet,

having made up my mind, I had no intention of giving up the attempt;

and, with a sharp word to Pepper, to release me, I continued my descent,

leaving the poor old fellow at the top, barking and crying like a

forsaken pup.



Carefully, I lowered myself from projection to projection. I knew that

a slip might mean a wetting.



Reaching the entrance, I let go the rope, and untied the gun from my

shoulders. Then, with a last look at the sky--which I noticed was

clouding over, rapidly--I went forward a couple of paces, so as to be

shielded from the wind, and lit one of the candles. Holding it above my

head, and grasping my gun, firmly, I began to move on, slowly, throwing

my glances in all directions.



For the first minute, I could hear the melancholy sound of Pepper's

howling, coming down to me. Gradually, as I penetrated further into the

darkness, it grew fainter; until, in a little while, I could hear

nothing. The path tended downward somewhat, and to the left. Thence it

kept on, still running to the left, until I found that it was leading me

right in the direction of the house.



Very cautiously, I moved onward, stopping, every few steps, to listen.

I had gone, perhaps, a hundred yards, when, suddenly, it seemed to me

that I caught a faint sound, somewhere along the passage behind. With my

heart thudding heavily, I listened. The noise grew plainer, and appeared

to be approaching, rapidly. I could hear it distinctly, now. It was the

soft padding of running feet. In the first moments of fright, I stood,

irresolute; not knowing whether to go forward or backward. Then, with a

sudden realization of the best thing to do, I backed up to the rocky

wall on my right, and, holding the candle above my head, waited--gun in

hand--cursing my foolhardy curiosity, for bringing me into such

a strait.



I had not long to wait, but a few seconds, before two eyes reflected

back from the gloom, the rays of my candle. I raised my gun, using my

right hand only, and aimed quickly. Even as I did so, something leapt

out of the darkness, with a blustering bark of joy that woke the echoes,

like thunder. It was Pepper. How he had contrived to scramble down the

cleft, I could not conceive. As I brushed my hand, nervously, over his

coat, I noticed that he was dripping; and concluded that he must have

tried to follow me, and fallen into the water; from which he would not

find it very difficult to climb.



Having waited a minute, or so, to steady myself, I proceeded along the

way, Pepper following, quietly. I was curiously glad to have the old

fellow with me. He was company, and, somehow, with him at my heels, I

was less afraid. Also, I knew how quickly his keen ears would detect the

presence of any unwelcome creature, should there be such, amid the

darkness that wrapped us.



For some minutes we went slowly along; the path still leading straight

toward the house. Soon, I concluded, we should be standing right beneath

it, did the path but carry far enough. I led the way, cautiously, for

another fifty yards, or so. Then, I stopped, and held the light high;

and reason enough I had to be thankful that I did so; for there, not

three paces forward, the path vanished, and, in place, showed a hollow

blackness, that sent sudden fear through me.



Very cautiously, I crept forward, and peered down; but could see

nothing. Then, I crossed to the left of the passage, to see whether

there might be any continuation of the path. Here, right against the

wall, I found that a narrow track, some three feet wide, led onward.

Carefully, I stepped on to it; but had not gone far, before I regretted

venturing thereon. For, after a few paces, the already narrow way,

resolved itself into a mere ledge, with, on the one side the solid,

unyielding rock, towering up, in a great wall, to the unseen roof, and,

on the other, that yawning chasm. I could not help reflecting how

helpless I was, should I be attacked there, with no room to turn, and

where even the recoil of my weapon might be sufficient to drive me

headlong into the depths below.



To my great relief, a little further on, the track suddenly broadened

out again to its original breadth. Gradually, as I went onward, I

noticed that the path trended steadily to the right, and so, after some

minutes, I discovered that I was not going forward; but simply circling

the huge abyss. I had, evidently, come to the end of the great passage.



Five minutes later, I stood on the spot from which I had started;

having been completely 'round, what I guessed now to be a vast pit, the

mouth of which must be at least a hundred yards across.



For some little time, I stood there, lost in perplexing thought. 'What

does it all mean?' was the cry that had begun to reiterate through

my brain.



A sudden idea struck me, and I searched 'round for a piece of stone.

Presently, I found a bit of rock, about the size of a small loaf.

Sticking the candle upright in a crevice of the floor, I went back from

the edge, somewhat, and, taking a short run, launched the stone forward

into the chasm--my idea being to throw it far enough to keep it clear of

the sides. Then, I stooped forward, and listened; but, though I kept

perfectly quiet, for at least a full minute, no sound came back to me

from out of the dark.



I knew, then, that the depth of the hole must be immense; for the

stone, had it struck anything, was large enough to have set the echoes

of that weird place, whispering for an indefinite period. Even as it

was, the cavern had given back the sounds of my footfalls,

multitudinously. The place was awesome, and I would willingly have

retraced my steps, and left the mysteries of its solitudes unsolved;

only, to do so, meant admitting defeat.



Then, a thought came, to try to get a view of the abyss. It occurred to

me that, if I placed my candles 'round the edge of the hole, I should be

able to get, at least, some dim sight of the place.



I found, on counting, that I had brought fifteen candles, in the

bundle--my first intention having been, as I have already said, to make

a torch of the lot. These, I proceeded to place 'round the Pit mouth,

with an interval of about twenty yards between each.



Having completed the circle, I stood in the passage, and endeavored to

get an idea of how the place looked. But I discovered, immediately, that

they were totally insufficient for my purpose. They did little more than

make the gloom visible. One thing they did, however, and that was, they

confirmed my opinion of the size of the opening; and, although they

showed me nothing that I wanted to see; yet the contrast they afforded

to the heavy darkness, pleased me, curiously. It was as though fifteen

tiny stars shone through the subterranean night.



Then, even as I stood, Pepper gave a sudden howl, that was taken up by

the echoes, and repeated with ghastly variations, dying away, slowly.

With a quick movement, I held aloft the one candle that I had kept, and

glanced down at the dog; at the same moment, I seemed to hear a noise,

like a diabolical chuckle, rise up from the hitherto, silent depths of

the Pit. I started; then, I recollected that it was, probably, the echo

of Pepper's howl.



Pepper had moved away from me, up the passage, a few steps; he was

nosing along the rocky floor; and I thought I heard him lapping. I went

toward him, holding the candle low. As I moved, I heard my boot go sop,

sop; and the light was reflected from something that glistened, and

crept past my feet, swiftly toward the Pit. I bent lower, and looked;

then gave vent to an expression of surprise. From somewhere, higher up

the path, a stream of water was running quickly in the direction of the

great opening, and growing in size every second.



Again, Pepper gave vent to that deep-drawn howl, and, running at me,

seized my coat, and attempted to drag me up the path toward the

entrance. With a nervous gesture, I shook him off, and crossed quickly

over to the left-hand wall. If anything were coming, I was going to have

the wall at my back.



Then, as I stared anxiously up the pathway, my candle caught a gleam,

far up the passage. At the same moment, I became conscious of a

murmurous roar, that grew louder, and filled the whole cavern with

deafening sound. From the Pit, came a deep, hollow echo, like the sob of

a giant. Then, I had sprung to one side, on to the narrow ledge that ran

'round the abyss, and, turning, saw a great wall of foam sweep past me,

and leap tumultuously into the waiting chasm. A cloud of spray burst

over me, extinguishing my candle, and wetting me to the skin. I still

held my gun. The three nearest candles went out; but the further ones

gave only a short flicker. After the first rush, the flow of water eased

down to a steady stream, maybe a foot in depth; though I could not see

this, until I had procured one of the lighted candles, and, with it,

started to reconnoiter. Pepper had, fortunately, followed me as I leapt

for the ledge, and now, very much subdued, kept close behind.



A short examination showed me that the water reached right across the

passage, and was running at a tremendous rate. Already, even as I stood

there, it had deepened. I could make only a guess at what had happened.

Evidently, the water in the ravine had broken into the passage, by some

means. If that were the case, it would go on increasing in volume, until

I should find it impossible to leave the place. The thought was

frightening. It was evident that I must make my exit as hurriedly

as possible.



Taking my gun by the stock, I sounded the water. It was a little under

knee-deep. The noise it made, plunging down into the Pit, was deafening.

Then, with a call to Pepper, I stepped out into the flood, using the gun

as a staff. Instantly, the water boiled up over my knees, and nearly to

the tops of my thighs, with the speed at which it was racing. For one

short moment, I nearly lost my footing; but the thought of what lay

behind, stimulated me to a fierce endeavor, and, step-by-step, I

made headway.



Of Pepper, I knew nothing at first. I had all I could do to keep on my

legs; and was overjoyed, when he appeared beside me. He was wading

manfully along. He is a big dog, with longish thin legs, and I suppose

the water had less grasp on them, than upon mine. Anyway, he managed a

great deal better than I did; going ahead of me, like a guide, and

wittingly--or otherwise--helping, somewhat, to break the force of the

water. On we went, step by step, struggling and gasping, until somewhere

about a hundred yards had been safely traversed. Then, whether it was

because I was taking less care, or that there was a slippery place on

the rocky floor, I cannot say; but, suddenly, I slipped, and fell on my

face. Instantly, the water leapt over me in a cataract, hurling me down,

toward that bottomless hole, at a frightful speed. Frantically I

struggled; but it was impossible to get a footing. I was helpless,

gasping and drowning. All at once, something gripped my coat, and

brought me to a standstill. It was Pepper. Missing me, he must have

raced back, through the dark turmoil, to find me, and then caught, and

held me, until I was able to get to my feet.



I have a dim recollection of having seen, momentarily, the gleams of

several lights; but, of this, I have never been quite sure. If my

impressions are correct, I must have been washed down to the very brink

of that awful chasm, before Pepper managed to bring me to a standstill.

And the lights, of course, could only have been the distant flames of

the candles, I had left burning. But, as I have said, I am not by any

means sure. My eyes were full of water, and I had been badly shaken.



And there was I, without my helpful gun, without light, and sadly

confused, with the water deepening; depending solely upon my old friend

Pepper, to help me out of that hellish place.



I was facing the torrent. Naturally, it was the only way in which I

could have sustained my position a moment; for even old Pepper could not

have held me long against that terrific strain, without assistance,

however blind, from me.



Perhaps a minute passed, during which it was touch and go with me;

then, gradually I re-commenced my tortuous way up the passage. And so

began the grimmest fight with death, from which ever I hope to emerge

victorious. Slowly, furiously, almost hopelessly, I strove; and that

faithful Pepper led me, dragged me, upward and onward, until, at last,

ahead I saw a gleam of blessed light. It was the entrance. Only a few

yards further, and I reached the opening, with the water surging and

boiling hungrily around my loins.



And now I understood the cause of the catastrophe. It was raining

heavily, literally in torrents. The surface of the lake was level with

the bottom of the opening--nay! more than level, it was above it.

Evidently, the rain had swollen the lake, and caused this premature

rise; for, at the rate the ravine had been filling, it would not have

reached the entrance for a couple more days.



Luckily, the rope by which I had descended, was streaming into the

opening, upon the inrushing waters. Seizing the end, I knotted it

securely 'round Pepper's body, then, summoning up the last remnant of my

strength, I commenced to swarm up the side of the cliff. I reached the

Pit edge, in the last stage of exhaustion. Yet, I had to make one more

effort, and haul Pepper into safety.



Slowly and wearily, I hauled on the rope. Once or twice, it seemed that

I should have to give up; for Pepper is a weighty dog, and I was utterly

done. Yet, to let go, would have meant certain death to the old fellow,

and the thought spurred me to greater exertions. I have but a very hazy

remembrance of the end. I recall pulling, through moments that lagged

strangely. I have also some recollection of seeing Pepper's muzzle,

appearing over the Pit edge, after what seemed an indefinite period of

time. Then, all grew suddenly dark.