Дагон

           OnceIsoughtoutacelebratedethnologist, andamusedhimwithpeculiarquestionsregardingtheancientPhilistinelegendofDagon, theFish-God; butsoonperceiving thathewashopelesslyconventional, Ididnotpressmyinquiries. 

           Itisatnight, especiallywhenthemoonisgibbousandwaning, thatIseethething. Itriedmorphine; butthedrughasgivenonlytransientsurcease, andhasdrawnmeintoitsclutches asahopelessslave. SonowIamtoenditall, havingwrittenafullaccountfortheinformation orthecontemptuousamusementofmyfellow-men. OftenIaskmyselfifitcouldnotallhavebeenapurephantasm —amerefreakoffeverasIlaysun-stricken andravingintheopenboataftermyescapefromtheGermanman-of-war. ThisIaskmyself, buteverdoestherecomebeforemeahideouslyvividvisioninreply. Icannotthinkofthedeepsea withoutshudderingatthenamelessthings thatmayatthisverymomentbecrawling andflounderingonitsslimybed, worshippingtheirancientstoneidols andcarvingtheirowndetestablelikenessesonsubmarineobelisksofwater-soakedgranite. Idreamofaday whentheymayriseabovethebillowstodragdown intheirreekingtalonstheremnantsofpuny,war-exhaustedmankind —ofadaywhenthelandshallsink, andthedarkoceanfloorshallascendamidstuniversalpandemonium. 

           Theendisnear. Ihearanoiseatthedoor, asofsomeimmenseslipperybodylumberingagainstit. Itshallnotfindme. God,thathand! Thewindow! Thewindow!