Chapter 33: At the Door

Between the trees the darkness was as if you might have cut it. Where the lantern looked there were momentary revelations as they strode along. Its rays seemed to cut pieces out of the surrounding gloom. But the pieces were small. Its penetrating power was slight; where its penetration ceased the darkness was blacker than before. The silence which prevailed had its own peculiar property; it served to exaggerate the slightest disturbance. Their very footsteps were differentiated with an almost morbid clearness. The firm, resolute descent of the woman’s foot, the loose, indeterminate shuffle of the man’s; the sounds seemed to set themselves against each other and to ring through the trees. They gradually became conscious of the movements of unseen creatures among the grasses and the herbage, disturbed by their approach. Once she observed, as she swung the lantern to one side--

“That’s a rabbit. There used to be thousands of them when I was here. I expect there are more now. I daresay the whole place is overrun with them.”

“It may be a rabbit, though, with due deference to your superior woodcraft, I doubt if there are many rabbits abroad at this hour of the night----But that’s not!”

“What? Where?”

“Are there deer about the place as well?”

“Deer? I don’t think so. I don’t remember seeing any.”

“Then give me the lantern!”

Mrs. Lamb was holding the lantern out in front of her. Snatching it, he swung it slightly round. As he did so it went out.

“Luker!” she exclaimed. “How did you manage that? What a clumsy fool you are!”

There was a new intonation in his voice.

“Some one blew it out. Hollo, where are you coming to? Who the devil, sir, are you? Confound the man, where’s he gone?”

“Luker, what’s the matter?”

“Some one was walking behind us--didn’t you hear him? I not only heard but I felt him; he was as close as that. When I swung the lantern round I almost dashed it against his face. He blew it out. He tried to snatch it from me; I felt his fingers. Can you hear him?”

“Is that a footstep?”

“He stepped upon a twig. There’s more than one. I tell you they’re all round us. The lantern serves as a beacon; they can see us though we can’t see them.”

They were speaking in whispers.

“Is that another footstep?”

“Curse the fellow, I believe he’s still within three or four feet of us. I believe I heard him breathe. I’ve a revolver in my pocket; I’ve half a mind----”

“I also have a revolver, and I’ve a whole mind. Look out! I’m going to fire!”

There was a flash; a report which seemed to wake the echoes of the forest for miles and miles; then a scream which rose high above the echoes, and seemed to hang quivering in, and rending, the silent air. The stillness which again ensued was rendered the more striking by its contrast with the previous turmoil.

“You’ve shot some one.”

“Not I!--that wasn’t a man. I shouldn’t be surprised if it was some kind of a bird. There are birds in these woods which make noises at night which go right through you. Where’s your friend?”

“I’ll strike a match and try to get a light again. You cover me while I’m doing it.”