Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
Icouldnotbutsmileatthis,knowing,asIdo,thestrangereverberationswhichcomeoutofanundergroundwatersystemrunningamidthechasmsofalimestoneformation.MyincredulityannoyedArmitagesothatheturnedandleftmewithsomeabruptness.
Andnowcomesthequeerpointaboutthewholebusiness.IwasstillstandingnearthemouthofthecaveturningoverinmymindthevariousstatementsofArmitage,andreflectinghowreadilytheycouldbeexplainedaway,whensuddenly,fromthedepthofthetunnelbesideme,thereissuedamostextraordinarysound.HowshallIdescribeit?Firstofall,itseemedtobeagreatdistanceaway,fardowninthebowelsoftheearth.Secondly,inspiteofthissuggestionofdistance,itwasveryloud.Lastly,itwasnotaboom,noracrash,suchasonewouldassociatewithfallingwaterortumblingrock,butitwasahighwhine,tremulousandvibrating,almostlikethewhinnyingofahorse.Itwascertainlyamostremarkableexperience,andonewhichforamoment,Imustadmit,gaveanewsignificancetoArmitage’swords.IwaitedbytheBlueJohnGapforhalfanhourormore,buttherewasnoreturnofthesound,soatlastIwanderedbacktothefarmhouse,rathermystifiedbywhathadoccurred.DecidedlyIshallexplorethatcavernwhenmystrengthisrestored.Ofcourse,Armitage’sexplanationistooabsurdfordiscussion,andyetthatsoundwascertainlyverystrange.ItstillringsinmyearsasIwrite.
April20.
