Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Then,beforemysenseswereclearenoughtoentirelyapprehendwhattheysaw,Iwasawareoftheround,benevolentfaceofmycousinpeeringinthroughtheopendoor.Whathesawevidentlyamazedhim.Therewasthecatcrouchingonthefloor.Iwasstretcheduponmybackinmyshirt-sleeveswithinthecage,mytrouserstorntoribbonsandagreatpoolofbloodallroundme.Icanseehisamazedfacenow,withthemorningsunlightuponit.Hepeeredatme,andpeeredagain.Thenheclosedthedoorbehindhim,andadvancedtothecagetoseeifIwerereallydead.

           Icannotundertaketosaywhathappened.Iwasnotinafitstatetowitnessortochroniclesuchevents.IcanonlysaythatIwassuddenlyconsciousthathisfacewasawayfromme—thathewaslookingtowardstheanimal.

           "GoodoldTommy!"hecried."GoodoldTommy!"

           Thenhecamenearthebars,withhisbackstilltowardsme.

           "Down,youstupidbeast!"heroared."Down,sir!Don’tyouknowyourmaster?"

           Suddenlyeveninmybemuddledbrainaremembrancecameofthosewordsofhiswhenhehadsaidthatthetasteofbloodwouldturnthecatintoafiend.Mybloodhaddoneit,buthewastopaytheprice.

           "Getaway!"hescreamed."Getaway,youdevil!Baldwin!Baldwin!Oh,myGod!"

           AndthenIheardhimfall,andrise,andfallagain,withasoundliketherippingofsacking.Hisscreamsgrewfainteruntiltheywerelostintheworryingsnarl.Andthen,afterIthoughtthathewasdead,Isaw,asinanightmare,ablinded,tattered,blood-soakedfigurerunningwildlyroundtheroom—andthatwasthelastglimpsewhichIhadofhimbeforeIfaintedonceagain.