Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
HereIwasshutupforthenightwiththeferociousbeast.Myowninstincts,tosaynothingofthewordsoftheplausiblevillainwholaidthistrapforme,warnedmethattheanimalwasassavageasitsmaster.HowcouldIstaveitoffuntilmorning?Thedoorwashopeless,andsowerethenarrow,barredwindows.Therewasnoshelteranywhereinthebare,stone-flaggedroom.Tocryforassistancewasabsurd.Iknewthatthisdenwasanouthouse,andthatthecorridorwhichconnecteditwiththehousewasatleastahundredfeetlong.Besides,withthegalethunderingoutside,mycrieswerenotlikelytobeheard.Ihadonlymyowncourageandmyownwitstotrustto.
Andthen,withafreshwaveofhorror,myeyesfelluponthelantern.Thecandlehadburnedlow,andwasalreadybeginningtogutter.Intenminutesitwouldbeout.Ihadonlytenminutestheninwhichtodosomething,forIfeltthatifIwereonceleftinthedarkwiththatfearfulbeastIshouldbeincapableofaction.Theverythoughtofitparalysedme.Icastmydespairingeyesroundthischamberofdeath,andtheyrestedupononespotwhichseemedtopromiseIwillnotsaysafety,butlessimmediateandimminentdangerthantheopenfloor.
Ihavesaidthatthecagehadatopaswellasafront,andthistopwasleftstandingwhenthefrontwaswoundthroughtheslotinthewall.Itconsistedofbarsatafewinches’interval,withstoutwirenettingbetween,anditresteduponastrongstanchionateachend.Itstoodnowasagreatbarredcanopyoverthecrouchingfigureinthecorner.
