Колодец и маятник

           Iforcedmyselftoponderuponthesoundofthecrescentasitshouldpassacrossthegarment—uponthepeculiarthrillingsensationwhichthefrictionofclothproducesonthenerves. Ipondereduponallthisfrivolityuntilmyteethwereonedge. 

           Down—steadilydownitcrept. Itookafrenziedpleasureincontrastingitsdownwardwithitslateralvelocity. Totheright—totheleft—farandwide—withtheshriekofadamnedspirit;tomyheartwiththestealthypaceofthetiger! Ialternatelylaughedandhowledastheoneortheotherideagrewpredominant. 

           Down—certainly,relentlesslydown! Itvibratedwithinthreeinchesofmybosom! Istruggledviolently,furiously,tofreemyleftarm. Thiswasfreeonlyfromtheelbowtothehand. Icouldreachthelatter,fromtheplatterbesideme,tomymouth,withgreateffort,butnofarther. CouldIhavebrokenthefasteningsabovetheelbow,Iwouldhaveseizedandattemptedtoarrestthependulum. Imightaswellhaveattemptedtoarrestanavalanche! 

           Down—stillunceasingly—stillinevitablydown! Igaspedandstruggledateachvibration. Ishrunkconvulsivelyatitseverysweep. Myeyesfolloweditsoutwardorupwardwhirlswiththeeagernessofthemostunmeaningdespair; theyclosedthemselvesspasmodicallyatthedescent,althoughdeathwouldhavebeenarelief,oh!howunspeakable! StillIquiveredineverynervetothinkhowslightasinkingofthemachinerywouldprecipitatethatkeen,glisteningaxeuponmybosom.