Колодець і маятник

           Theyshrankalarmedlyback;manysoughtthewell. Butthiswasonlyforamoment. Ihadnotcountedinvainupontheirvoracity. ObservingthatIremainedwithoutmotion,oneortwooftheboldestleapedupontheframe-work,andsmeltatthesurcingle. Thisseemedthesignalforageneralrush. Forthfromthewelltheyhurriedinfreshtroops. Theyclungtothewood—theyoverranit,andleapedinhundredsuponmyperson. Themeasuredmovementofthependulumdisturbedthemnotatall. Avoidingitsstrokestheybusiedthemselveswiththeanointedbandage. Theypressed—theyswarmeduponmeineveraccumulatingheaps. Theywritheduponmythroat;theircoldlipssoughtmyown;Iwashalfstifledbytheirthrongingpressure; disgust,forwhichtheworldhasnoname,swelledmybosom,andchilled,withaheavyclamminess,myheart. Yetoneminute,andIfeltthatthestrugglewouldbeover. PlainlyIperceivedthelooseningofthebandage. Iknewthatinmorethanoneplaceitmustbealreadysevered. WithamorethanhumanresolutionIlaystill. 

           NorhadIerredinmycalculations—norhadIenduredinvain. IatlengthfeltthatIwasfree. Thesurcinglehunginribandsfrommybody. Butthestrokeofthependulumalreadypresseduponmybosom. Ithaddividedthesergeoftherobe. Ithadcutthroughthelinenbeneath. Twiceagainitswung,andasharpsenseofpainshotthrougheverynerve. Butthemomentofescapehadarrived. Atawaveofmyhandmydeliverershurriedtumultuouslyaway.