Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
IntheblazeofthegunIcaughtaglimpseofagreatshaggymass,somethingwithroughandbristlinghairofawitheredgreycolour,fadingawaytowhiteinitslowerparts,thehugebodysupporteduponshort,thick,curvinglegs.Ihadjustthatglance,andthenIheardtherattleofthestonesasthecreaturetoredownintoitsburrow.Inaninstant,withatriumphantrevulsionoffeeling,Ihadcastmyfearstothewind,anduncoveringmypowerfullantern,withmyrifleinmyhand,IsprangdownfrommyrockandrushedafterthemonsterdowntheoldRomanshaft.
Mysplendidlampcastabrilliantfloodofvividlightinfrontofme,verydifferentfromtheyellowglimmerwhichhadaidedmedownthesamepassageonlytwelvedaysbefore.AsIran,Isawthegreatbeastlurchingalongbeforeme,itshugebulkfillingupthewholespacefromwalltowall.Itshairlookedlikecoarsefadedoakum,andhungdowninlong,densemasseswhichswayedasitmoved.Itwaslikeanenormousunclippedsheepinitsfleece,butinsizeitwasfarlargerthanthelargestelephant,anditsbreadthseemedtobenearlyasgreatasitsheight.ItfillsmewithamazementnowtothinkthatIshouldhavedaredtofollowsuchahorrorintothebowelsoftheearth,butwhenone’sbloodisup,andwhenone’squarryseemstobeflying,theoldprimevalhunting-spiritawakesandprudenceiscasttothewind.Rifleinhand,Iranatthetopofmyspeeduponthetrailofthemonster.
Ihadseenthatthecreaturewasswift.NowIwastofindouttomycostthatitwasalsoverycunning.
