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I could not help feeling that the dog's mournful moans were sad；
and expressive of terror； not at all like his fierce； honest bark
of anger； but rather as if something evil and unwonted were abroad。
But soon I fell asleep。
How long I slept I never knew。 I awoke at once with that abrupt
start which we all know well； and which carries us in a second from
utter unconsciousness to the full use of our faculties。 The fire
was still burning； but was very low； and half the room or more was
in deep shadow。 I knew； I felt； that some person or thing was in
the room； although nothing unusual was to be seen by the feeble
light。 Yet it was a sense of danger that had aroused me from
slumber。 I experienced； while yet asleep； the chill and shock of
sudden alarm； and I knew； even in the act of throwing off sleep
like a mantle； WHY I awoke； and that some intruder was present。
Yet； though I listened intently； no sound was audible； except the
faint murmur of the firethe dropping of a cinder from the bars
the loud； irregular beatings of my own heart。 Notwithstanding this
silence； by some intuition I knew that I had not been deceived by a
dream； and felt certain that I was not alone。 I waited。 My heart
beat on； quicker； more sudden grew its pulsations； as a bird in a
cage might flutter in presence of the hawk。 And then I heard a
sound； faint； but quite distinct； the clank of iron； the rattling
of a chain！ I ventured to lift my head from the pillow。 Dim and
uncertain as the light was； I saw the curtains of my bed shake； and
caught a glimpse of something beyond； a darker spot in the
darkness。 This confirmation of my fears did not surprise me so
much as it shocked me。 I strove to cry aloud； but could not utter
a word。 The chain rattled again； and this time the noise was
louder and clearer。 But though I strained my eyes； they could not
penetrate the obscurity that shrouded the other end of the chamber
whence came the sullen clanking。 In a moment several distinct
trains of thought； like many…colored strands of thread twining into
one； became palpable to my mental vision。 Was it a robber？ Could
it be a supernatural visitant？ Or was I the victim of a cruel
trick； such as I had heard of； and which some thoughtless persons
love to practice on the timid； reckless of its dangerous results？
And then a new idea； with some ray of comfort in it； suggested
itself。 There was a fine young dog of the Newfoundland breed； a
favorite of my father's； which was usually chained by night in an
outhouse。 Neptune might have broken loose； found his way to my
room； and； finding the door imperfectly closed； have pushed it open
and entered。 I breathed more freely as this harmless
interpretation of the noise forced itself upon me。 It wasit must
bethe dog； and I was distressing myself uselessly。 I resolved to
call to him； I strove to utter his name〃Neptune； Neptune；〃 but a
secret apprehension restrained me； and I was mute。
Then the chain clanked nearer and nearer to the bed； and presently
I saw a dusky； shapeless mass appear between the curtains on the
opposite side to where I was lying。 How I longed to hear the whine
of the poor animal that I hoped might be the cause of my alarm。
But no； I heard no sound save the rustle of the curtains and the
clash of the iron chains。 Just then the dying flame of the fire
leaped up； and with one sweeping； hurried glance I saw that the
door was shut； and； horror！ it is not the dog！ it is the semblance
of a human form that now throws itself heavily on the bed； outside
the clothes； and lies there； huge and swart； in the red gleam that
treacherously died away after showing so much to affright； and
sinks into dull darkness。 There was now no light left； though the
red cinders yet glowed with a ruddy gleam like the eyes of wild
beasts。 The chain rattled no more。 I tried to speak； to scream
wildly for help； my mouth was parched； my tongue refused to obey。
I could not utter a cry； and； indeed； who could have heard me；
alone as I was in that solitary chamber； with no living neighbor；
and the picture…gallery between me and any aid that even the
loudest； most piercing shriek could summon。 And the storm that
howled without would have drowned my voice； even if help had been
at hand。 To call aloudto demand who was therealas！ how
useless； how perilous！ If the intruder were a robber； my outcries
would but goad him to fury； but what robber would act thus？ As for
a trick； that seemed impossible。 And yet； WHAT lay by my side； now
wholly unseen？ I strove to pray aloud as there rushed on my memory
a flood of weird legendsthe dreaded yet fascinating lore of my
childhood。 I had heard and read of the spirits of the wicked men
forced to revisit the scenes of their earthly crimesof demons
that lurked in certain accursed spotsof the ghoul and vampire of
the east； stealing amidst the graves they rifled for their ghostly
banquets； and then I shuddered as I gazed on the blank darkness
where I knew it lay。 It stirredit moaned hoarsely； and again I
heard the chain clank close beside meso close that it must almost
have touched me。 I drew myself from it； shrinking away in loathing
and terror of the evil thingwhat； I knew not； but felt that
something malignant was near。
And yet； in the extremity of my fear； I dared not speak； I was
strangely cautious to be silent； even in moving farther off； for I
had a wild hope that itthe phantom； the creature； whichever it
washad not discovered my presence in the room。 And then I
remembered all the events of the nightLady Speldhurst's ill…
omened vaticinations； her half…warnings； her singular look as we
parted； my sister's persuasions； my terror in the gallery； the
remark that 〃this was the room nurse Sherrard used to talk of。〃
And then memory； stimulated by fear； recalled the long…forgotten
past； the ill…repute of this disused chamber； the sins it had
witnessed； the blood spilled； the poison administered by unnatural
hate within its walls； and the tradition which called it haunted。
The green roomI remembered now how fearfully the servants avoided
ithow it was mentioned rarely； and in whispers； when we were
children； and how we had regarded it as a mysterious region； unfit
for mortal habitation。 Was Itthe dark form with the chaina
creature of this world； or a specter？ And againmore dreadful
stillcould it be that the corpses of wicked men were forced to
rise and haunt in the body the places where they had wrought their
evil deeds？ And was such as these my grisly neighbor？ The chain
faintly rattled。 My hair bristled； my eyeballs seemed starting
from their sockets； the damps of a great anguish were on my brow。
My heart labored as if I were crushed beneath some vast weight。
Sometimes it appeared to stop its frenzied beatings； sometimes its
pulsations were fierce and hurried； my breath came short and with
extreme difficulty； and I shivered as if with cold； yet I feared to
stir。 I