Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
Finally,Iwasalmostreadytopersuademyselfthatthisexperiencehadbeenpartofsomeevildream,andthatmyabnormalconditionmighthaveconjuredupanhallucination.Butthereremainedonefinalexperiencewhichremovedthelastpossibilityofdoubtfrommymind.
Ihadtakenmymatchesfrommyarmpitandfeltthem.Theyseemedperfectlyhardanddry.Stoopingdownintoacreviceoftherocks,Itriedoneofthem.Tomydelightittookfireatonce.Ilitthecandle,and,withaterrifiedbackwardglanceintotheobscuredepthsofthecavern,IhurriedinthedirectionoftheRomanpassage.AsIdidsoIpassedthepatchofmudonwhichIhadseenthehugeimprint.NowIstoodastonishedbeforeit,fortherewerethreesimilarimprintsuponitssurface,enormousinsize,irregularinoutline,ofadepthwhichindicatedtheponderousweightwhichhadleftthem.Thenagreatterrorsurgedoverme.Stoopingandshadingmycandlewithmyhand,Iraninafrenzyoffeartotherockyarchway,hastenedupit,andneverstoppeduntil,withwearyfeetandpantinglungs,Irushedupthefinalslopeofstones,brokethroughthetangleofbriars,andflungmyselfexhausteduponthesoftgrassunderthepeacefullightofthestars.ItwasthreeinthemorningwhenIreachedthefarm-house,andtodayIamallunstrungandquiveringaftermyterrificadventure.AsyetIhavetoldnoone.Imustmovewarilyinthematter.Whatwouldthepoorlonelywomen,ortheuneducatedyokelsherethinkofitifIweretotellthemmyexperience?Letmegotosomeonewhocanunderstandandadvise.
April25.
