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the preparatory molecular changes the name of will？
Brayton rose to his feet and prepared to back softly away from the
snake； without disturbing it； if possible； and through the door。
People retire so from the presence of the great； for greatness is
power； and power is a menace。 He knew that he could walk backward
without obstruction； and find the door without error。 Should the
monster follow； the taste which had plastered the walls with
paintings had consistently supplied a rack of murderous Oriental
weapons from which he could snatch one to suit the occasion。 In
the meantime the snake's eyes burned with a more pitiless
malevolence than ever。
Brayton lifted his right foot free of the floor to step backward。
That moment he felt a strong aversion to doing so。
〃I am accounted brave；〃 he murmured； 〃is bravery； then； no more
than pride？ Because there are none to witness the shame shall I
retreat？〃
He was steadying himself with his right hand upon the back of a
chair； his foot suspended。
〃Nonsense！〃 he said aloud； 〃I am not so great a coward as to fear
to seem to myself afraid。〃
He lifted the foot a little higher by slightly bending the knee；
and thrust it sharply to the flooran inch in front of the other！
He could not think how that occurred。 A trial with the left foot
had the same result； it was again in advance of the right。 The
hand upon the chair back was grasping it； the arm was straight；
reaching somewhat backward。 One might have seen that he was
reluctant to lose his hold。 The snake's malignant head was still
thrust forth from the inner coil as before； the neck level。 It had
not moved； but its eyes were now electric sparks； radiating an
infinity of luminous needles。
The man had an ashy pallor。 Again he took a step forward； and
another； partly dragging the chair； which； when finally released；
fell upon the floor with a crash。 The man groaned； the snake made
neither sound nor motion； but its eyes were two dazzling suns。 The
reptile itself was wholly concealed by them。 They gave off
enlarging rings of rich and vivid colors； which at their greatest
expansion successively vanished like soap bubbles； they seemed to
approach his very face； and anon were an immeasurable distance
away。 He heard； somewhere； the continual throbbing of a great
drum； with desultory bursts of far music； inconceivably sweet； like
the tones of an aeolian harp。 He knew it for the sunrise melody of
Memnon's statue； and thought he stood in the Nileside reeds；
hearing； with exalted sense； that immortal anthem through the
silence of the centuries。
The music ceased； rather； it became by insensible degrees the
distant roll of a retreating thunderstorm。 A landscape； glittering
with sun and rain； stretched before him； arched with a vivid
rainbow； framing in its giant curve a hundred visible cities。 In
the middle distance a vast serpent； wearing a crown； reared its
head out of its voluminous convolutions and looked at him with his
dead mother's eyes。 Suddenly this enchanting landscape seemed to
rise swiftly upward； like the drop scene at a theater； and vanished
in a blank。 Something struck him a hard blow upon the face and
breast。 He had fallen to the floor； the blood ran from his broken
nose and his bruised lips。 For a moment he was dazed and stunned；
and lay with closed eyes； his face against the door。 In a few
moments he had recovered； and then realized that his fall； by
withdrawing his eyes； had broken the spell which held him。 He felt
that now； by keeping his gaze averted； he would be able to retreat。
But the thought of the serpent within a few feet of his head； yet
unseenperhaps in the very act of springing upon him and throwing
its coils about his throatwas too horrible。 He lifted his head；
stared again into those baleful eyes； and was again in bondage。
The snake had not moved； and appeared somewhat to have lost its
power upon the imagination； the gorgeous illusions of a few moments
before were not repeated。 Beneath that flat and brainless brow its
black； beady eyes simply glittered； as at first； with an expression
unspeakably malignant。 It was as if the creature； knowing its
triumph assured； had determined to practice no more alluring wiles。
Now ensued a fearful scene。 The man； prone upon the floor； within
a yard of his enemy； raised the upper part of his body upon his
elbows； his head thrown back； his legs extended to their full
length。 His face was white between its gouts of blood； his eyes
were strained open to their uttermost expansion。 There was froth
upon his lips； it dropped off in flakes。 Strong convulsions ran
through his body； making almost serpentine undulations。 He bent
himself at the waist； shifting his legs from side to side。 And
every movement left him a little nearer to the snake。 He thrust
his hands forward to brace himself back； yet constantly advanced
upon his elbows。
IV
Dr。 Druring and his wife sat in the library。 The scientist was in
rare good humor。
〃I have just obtained； by exchange with another collector；〃 he
said； 〃a splendid specimen of the Ophiophagus。〃
〃And what may that be？〃 the lady inquired with a somewhat languid
interest。
〃Why； bless my soul； what profound ignorance！ My dear； a man who
ascertains after marriage that his wife does not know Greek； is
entitled to a divorce。 The Ophiophagus is a snake which eats other
snakes。〃
〃I hope it will eat all yours；〃 she said； absently shifting the
lamp。 〃But how does it get the other snakes？ By charming them； I
suppose。〃
〃That is just like you； dear；〃 said the doctor； with an affectation
of petulance。 〃You know how irritating to me is any allusion to
that vulgar superstition about the snake's power of fascination。〃
The conversation was interrupted by a mighty cry which rang through
the silent house like the voice of a demon shouting in a tomb。
Again and yet again it sounded； with terrible distinctness。 They
sprang to their feet； the man confused； the lady pale and
speechless with fright。 Almost before the echoes of the last cry
had died away the doctor was out of the room； springing up the
staircase two steps at a time。 In the corridor； in front of
Brayton's chamber； he met some servants who had come from the upper
floor。 Together they rushed at the door without knocking。 It was
unfastened； and gave way。 Brayton lay upon his stomach on the
floor； dead。 His head and arms were partly concealed under the
foot rail of the bed。 They pulled the body away； turning it upon
the back。 The face was daubed with blood and froth； the eyes were
wide open； staringa dreadful sight！
〃Died in a fit；〃 said the scientist； bending his knee and placing
his hand upon the heart。 While in that position he happened to
glance under the bed。 〃Good God！〃 he added； 〃how did this thing
get in here？〃
He reached under the bed； pulled out the snake；