Колодец и маятник

           TheplungeintothispitIhadavoidedbythemerestofaccidents,Iknewthatsurprise,orentrapmentintotorment,formedanimportantportionofallthegrotesquerieofthesedungeondeaths. Havingfailedtofall,itwasnopartofthedemonplantohurlmeintotheabyss;andthus(therebeingnoalternative)adifferentandamilderdestructionawaitedme. Milder! IhalfsmiledinmyagonyasIthoughtofsuchapplicationofsuchaterm. 

           Whatbootsittotellofthelong,longhoursofhorrormorethanmortal,duringwhichIcountedtherushingvibrationsofthesteel! Inchbyinch—linebyline—withadescentonlyappreciableatintervalsthatseemedages—downandstilldownitcame! Dayspassed—itmighthavebeenthatmanydayspassed—ereitsweptsocloselyovermeastofanmewithitsacridbreath. Theodorofthesharpsteelforceditselfintomynostrils. Iprayed—Iweariedheavenwithmyprayerforitsmorespeedydescent. Igrewfranticallymad,andstruggledtoforcemyselfupwardagainstthesweepofthefearfulscimitar. AndthenIfellsuddenlycalm,andlaysmilingattheglitteringdeath,asachildatsomerarebauble. 

           Therewasanotherintervalofutterinsensibility;itwasbrief;for,uponagainlapsingintolifetherehadbeennoperceptibledescentinthependulum. Butitmighthavebeenlong;forIknewthereweredemonswhotooknoteofmyswoon,andwhocouldhavearrestedthevibrationatpleasure.