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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。 IT moved； it moaned； its fetters clanked dismally； the couch
creaked and shook。 This was no phantom； thenno air…drawn
specter。 But its very solidity； its palpable presence； were a
thousand times more terrible。 I felt that I was in the very grasp
of what could not only affright but harm； of something whose
contact sickened the soul with deathly fear。 I made a desperate
resolve： I glided from the bed； I seized a warm wrapper； threw it
around me； and tried to grope； with extended hands； my way to the
door。 My heart beat high at the hope of escape。 But I had
scarcely taken one step before the moaning was renewedit changed
into a threatening growl that would have suited a wolf's throat；
and a hand clutched at my sleeve。 I stood motionless。 The
muttering growl sank to a moan again； the chain sounded no more；
but still the hand held its gripe of my garment； and I feared to
move。 It knew of my presence； then。 My brain reeled； the blood
boiled in my ears； and my knees lost all strength； while my heart
panted like that of a deer in the wolf's jaws。 I sank back； and
the benumbing influence of excessive terror reduced me to a state
of stupor。
When my full consciousness returned I was sitting on the edge of
the bed； shivering with cold； and barefooted。 All was silent； but
I felt that my sleeve was still clutched by my unearthly visitant。
The silence lasted a long time。 Then followed a chuckling laugh
that froze my very marrow； and the gnashing of teeth as in demoniac
frenzy； and then a wailing moan； and this was succeeded by silence。
Hours may have passednay； though the tumult of my own heart
prevented my hearing the clock strike； must have passedbut they
seemed ages to me。 And how were they passed？ Hideous visions
passed before the aching eyes that I dared not close； but which
gazed ever into the dumb darkness where It laymy dread companion
through the watches of the night。 I pictured It in every abhorrent
form which an excited fancy could summon up： now as a skeleton；
with hollow eye…holes and grinning； fleshless jaws； now as a
vampire； with livid face and bloated form； and dripping mouth wet
with blood。 Would it never be light！ And yet； when day should
dawn I should be forced to see It face to face。 I had heard that
specter and fiend were compelled to fade as morning brightened； but
this creature was too real； too foul a thing of earth； to vanish at
cock…crow。 No！ I should see itthe Horrorface to face！ And
then the cold prevailed； and my teeth chattered； and shiverings ran
through me； and yet there was the damp of agony on my bursting
brow。 Some instinct made me snatch at a shawl or cloak that lay on
a chair within reach； and wrap it round me。 The moan was renewed；
and the chain just stirred。 Then I sank into apathy； like an
Indian at the stake； in the intervals of torture。 Hours fled by；
and I remained like a statue of ice； rigid and mute。 I even slept；
for I remember that I started to find the cold gray light of an
early winter's day was on my face； and stealing around the room
from between the heavy curtains of the window。
Shuddering； but urged by the impulse that rivets the gaze of the
bird upon the snake； I turned to see the Horror of the night。 Yes；
it was no fevered dream； no hallucination of sickness； no airy
phantom unable to face the dawn。 In the sickly light I saw it
lying on the bed； with its grim head on the pillow。 A man？ Or a
corpse arisen from its unhallowed grave； and awaiting the demon
that animated it？ There it laya gaunt； gigantic form； wasted to
a skeleton； half…clad； foul with dust and clotted gore； its huge
limbs flung upon the couch as if at random； its shaggy hair
streaming over the pillows like a lion's mane。 His face was toward
me。 Oh； the wild hideousness of that face； even in sleep！ In
features it was human； even through its horrid mask of mud and
half…dried bloody gouts； but the expression was brutish and
savagely fierce； the white teeth were visible between the parted
lips； in a malignant grin； the tangled hair and beard were mixed in
leonine confusion； and there were scars disfiguring the brow。
Round the creature's waist was a ring of iron； to which was
attached a heavy but broken chainthe chain I had heard clanking。
With a second glance I noted that part of the chain was wrapped in
straw to prevent its galling the wearer。 The creatureI cannot
call it a manhad the marks of fetters on its wrists； the bony arm
that protruded through one tattered sleeve was scarred and bruised；
the feet were bare； and lacerated by pebbles and briers； and one of
them was wounded； and wrapped in a morsel of rag。 And the lean
hands； one of which held my sleeve； were armed with talons like an
eagle's。 In an instant the horrid truth flashed upon meI was in
the grasp of a madman。 Better the phantom that scares the sight
than the wild beast that rends and tears the quivering fleshthe
pitiless human brute that has no heart to be softened； no reason at
whose bar to plead； no compassion； naught of man save the form and
the cunning。 I gasped in terror。 Ah！ the mystery of those
ensanguined fingers； those gory； wolfish jaws！ that face； all
besmeared with blackening blood； is revealed！
The slain sheep； so mangled and rentthe fantastic butcherythe
print of the naked footall； all were explained； and the chain；
the broken link of which was found near the slaughtered animalsit
came from his broken chainthe chain he had snapped； doubtless； in
his escape from the asylum where his raging frenzy had been
fettered and bound； in vain！ in vain！ Ah me！ how had this grisly
Samson broken manacles and prison barshow had he eluded guardian
and keeper and a hostile world； and come hither on his wild way；
hunted like a beast of prey； and snatching his hideous banquet like
a beast of prey； too！ Yes； through the tatters of his mean and
ragged garb I could see the marks of the seventies； cruel and
foolish； with which men in that time tried to tame the might of
madness。 The scourgeits marks were there； and the scars of the
hard iron fetters； and many a cicatrice and welt； that told a
dismal tale of hard usage。 But now he was loose； free to play the
brutethe baited； tortured brute that they had made himnow
without the cage； and ready to gloat over the victims his strength
should overpower。 Horror！ horror！ I was the preythe victim
already in the tiger's clutch； and a deadly sickness came over me；
and the iron entered into my soul； and I longed to scream； and was
dumb！ I died a thousand deaths as that morning wore on。 I DARED
NOT faint。 But words cannot paint what I suffered as I waited
waited till the moment when he should open his eyes and be aware of
my presence； for I was assured he knew it not。 He had entered the
chamber as a lair； when weary