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glance under the bed。 〃Good God！〃 he added； 〃how did this thing
get in here？〃
He reached under the bed； pulled out the snake； and flung it； still
coiled； to the center of the room； whence； with a harsh； shuffling
sound； it slid across the polished floor till stopped by the wall；
where it lay without motion。 It was a stuffed snake； its eyes were
two shoe buttons。
From 〃Tales of Soldiers and Civilians；〃 by Ambrose Bierce。
Copyright； 1891； by E。 L。 G。 Steele。
Edgar Allan Poe
The Oblong Box
Some years ago； I engaged passage from Charleston； S。 C； to the
city of New York； in the fine packet…ship 〃Independence；〃 Captain
Hardy。 We were to sail on the fifteenth of the month （June）；
weather permitting； and on the fourteenth； I went on board to
arrange some matters in my stateroom。
I found that we were to have a great many passengers； including a
more than usual number of ladies。 On the list were several of my
acquaintances； and among other names； I was rejoiced to see that of
Mr。 Cornelius Wyatt； a young artist； for whom I entertained
feelings of warm friendship。 He had been with me a fellow…student
at C University； where we were very much together。 He had the
ordinary temperament of genius； and was a compound of misanthropy；
sensibility； and enthusiasm。 To these qualities he united the
warmest and truest heart which ever beat in a human bosom。
I observed that his name was carded upon THREE state…rooms； and；
upon again referring to the list of passengers； I found that he had
engaged passage for himself； wife； and two sistershis own。 The
state…rooms were sufficiently roomy； and each had two berths； one
above the other。 These berths； to be sure； were so exceedingly
narrow as to be insufficient for more than one person； still； I
could not comprehend why there were THREE staterooms for these four
persons。 I was； just at that epoch； in one of those moody frames
of mind which make a man abnormally inquisitive about trifles： and
I confess； with shame； that I busied myself in a variety of ill…
bred and preposterous conjectures about this matter of the
supernumerary stateroom。 It was no business of mine； to be sure；
but with none the less pertinacity did I occupy myself in attempts
to resolve the enigma。 At last I reached a conclusion which
wrought in me great wonder why I had not arrived at it before。 〃It
is a servant of course；〃 I said； 〃what a fool I am； not sooner to
have thought of so obvious a solution！〃 And then I again repaired
to the listbut here I saw distinctly that NO servant was to come
with the party； although； in fact； it had been the original design
to bring onefor the words 〃and servant〃 had been first written
and then over…scored。 〃Oh； extra baggage； to be sure；〃 I now said
to myself〃something he wishes not to be put in the hold
something to be kept under his own eyeah； I have ita painting
or soand this is what he has been bargaining about with Nicolino；
the Italian Jew。〃 This idea satisfied me； and I dismissed my
curiosity for the nonce。
Wyatt's two sisters I knew very well； and most amiable and clever
girls they were。 His wife he had newly married； and I had never
yet seen her。 He had often talked about her in my presence；
however； and in his usual style of enthusiasm。 He described her as
of surpassing beauty； wit； and accomplishment。 I was； therefore；
quite anxious to make her acquaintance。
On the day in which I visited the ship （the fourteenth）； Wyatt and
party were also to visit itso the captain informed meand I
waited on board an hour longer than I had designed； in hope of
being presented to the bride； but then an apology came。 〃Mrs。 W。
was a little indisposed； and would decline coming on board until
to…morrow； at the hour of sailing。〃
The morrow having arrived； I was going from my hotel to the wharf；
when Captain Hardy met me and said that； 〃owing to circumstances〃
（a stupid but convenient phrase）； 〃he rather thought the
'Independence' would not sail for a day or two； and that when all
was ready； he would send up and let me know。〃 This I thought
strange； for there was a stiff southerly breeze； but as 〃the
circumstances〃 were not forthcoming； although I pumped for them
with much perseverance； I had nothing to do but to return home and
digest my impatience at leisure。
I did not receive the expected message from the captain for nearly
a week。 It came at length； however； and I immediately went on
board。 The ship was crowded with passengers； and every thing was
in the bustle attendant upon making sail。 Wyatt's party arrived in
about ten minutes after myself。 There were the two sisters； the
bride； and the artistthe latter in one of his customary fits of
moody misanthropy。 I was too well used to these； however； to pay
them any special attention。 He did not even introduce me to his
wife；this courtesy devolving； per force； upon his sister Marian
a very sweet and intelligent girl； who； in a few hurried words；
made us acquainted。
Mrs。 Wyatt had been closely veiled； and when she raised her veil；
in acknowledging my bow； I confess that I was very profoundly
astonished。 I should have been much more so； however； had not long
experience advised me not to trust； with too implicit a reliance；
the enthusiastic descriptions of my friend； the artist； when
indulging in comments upon the loveliness of woman。 When beauty
was the theme； I well knew with what facility he soared into the
regions of the purely ideal。
The truth is； I could not help regarding Mrs。 Wyatt as a decidedly
plain…looking woman。 If not positively ugly； she was not； I think；
very far from it。 She was dressed； however； in exquisite taste
and then I had no doubt that she had captivated my friend's heart
by the more enduring graces of the intellect and soul。 She said
very few words； and passed at once into her state…room with Mr。 W。
My old inquisitiveness now returned。 There was NO servantTHAT
was a settled point。 I looked； therefore； for the extra baggage。
After some delay； a cart arrived at the wharf； with an oblong pine
box； which was every thing that seemed to be expected。 Immediately
upon its arrival we made sail； and in a short time were safely over
the bar and standing out to sea。
The box in question was； as I say； oblong。 It was about six feet
in length by two and a half in breadth； I observed it attentively；
and like to be precise。 Now this shape was PECULIAR； and no sooner
had I seen it； than I took credit to myself for the accuracy of my
guessing。 I had reached the conclusion； it will be remembered；
that the extra baggage of my friend； the artist； would prove to be
pictures； or at least a picture； for I knew he had been for several
weeks in conference with Nicolino：and now here was a box； which；
from its shape； COULD possibly contain nothing in the world but a
copy of Leonardo's 〃Last Supper；〃 and a copy of this very 〃Last