Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Itwaslaterrepeatedlessloudly,andfurtherbutmoremuffledevidencesofgunfireensued;togetherwithaloudexplosionofpowderfromthedirectionoftheriver.Aboutanhourafterwardallthedogsbegantobarkfrightfully,andtherewerevaguegroundrumblingssomarkedthatthecandlestickstotteredonthemantelpiece.Astrongsmellofsulphurwasnoted;andLukeFenner’sfatherdeclaredthatheheardthethirdoremergencywhistlesignal,thoughtheothersfailedtodetectit.Muffledmusketrysoundedagain,followedbyadeepscreamlesspiercingbutevenmorehorriblethanthethosewhichhadprecededit;akindofthroaty,nastilyplasticcoughorgurglewhosequalityasascreammusthavecomemorefromitscontinuityandpsychologicalimportthanfromitsactualacousticvalue.

           ThentheflamingthingburstintosightatapointwheretheCurwenfarmoughttolie,andthehumancriesofdesperateandfrightenedmenwereheard.Musketsflashedandcracked,andtheflamingthingfelltotheground.Asecondflamingthingappeared,andashriekofhumanoriginwasplainlydistinguished.Fennerwrotethathecouldevengatherafewwordsbelchedinfrenzy:Almighty,protectthylamb!Thenthereweremoreshots,andthesecondflamingthingfell.Afterthatcamesilenceforaboutthree-quartersofanhour;attheendofwhichtimelittleArthurFenner,Luke’sbrother,exclaimedthathesaw"aredfog"goinguptothestarsfromtheaccursedfarminthedistance.