Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
Anditwascomingbeyondallquestioninmydirection.
Myskingrewcold,andmyhairstoodonendasIlistenedtothatsteadyandponderousfootfall.Therewassomecreaturethere,andsurelybythespeedofitsadvance,itwasonewhichcouldseeinthedark.Icrouchedlowonmyrockandtriedtoblendmyselfintoit.Thestepsgrewnearerstill,thenstopped,andpresentlyIwasawareofaloudlappingandgurgling.Thecreaturewasdrinkingatthestream.Thenagaintherewassilence,brokenbyasuccessionoflongsniffsandsnortsoftremendousvolumeandenergy.Haditcaughtthescentofme?Myownnostrilswerefilledbyalowfetidodour,mephiticandabominable.ThenIheardthestepsagain.Theywereonmysideofthestreamnow.ThestonesrattledwithinafewyardsofwhereIlay.Hardlydaringtobreathe,Icroucheduponmyrock.Thenthestepsdrewaway.Iheardthesplashasitreturnedacrosstheriver,andthesounddiedawayintothedistanceinthedirectionfromwhichithadcome.
ForalongtimeIlayupontherock,toomuchhorrifiedtomove.IthoughtofthesoundwhichIhadheardcomingfromthedepthsofthecave,ofArmitage’sfears,ofthestrangeimpressioninthemud,andnowcamethisfinalandabsoluteproofthattherewasindeedsomeinconceivablemonster,somethingutterlyunearthlyanddreadful,whichlurkedinthehollowofthemountain.OfitsnatureorformIcouldframenoconception,savethatitwasbothlight-footedandgigantic.Thecombatbetweenmyreason,whichtoldmethatsuchthingscouldnotbe,andmysenses,whichtoldmethattheywere,ragedwithinmeasIlay.
