Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
Ihadimaginedthatitwasinpanicflight,andthatIhadonlytopursueit.Theideathatitmightturnuponmeneverenteredmyexcitedbrain.IhavealreadyexplainedthatthepassagedownwhichIwasracingopenedintoagreatcentralcave.IntothisIrushed,fearfullestIshouldlosealltraceofthebeast.Buthehadturneduponhisowntraces,andinamomentwewerefacetoface.
Thatpicture,seeninthebrilliantwhitelightofthelantern,isetchedforeveruponmybrain.Hehadreareduponhishindlegsasabearwoulddo,andstoodaboveme,enormous,menacing—suchacreatureasnonightmarehadeverbroughttomyimagination.Ihavesaidthatherearedlikeabear,andtherewassomethingbear-like—ifonecouldconceiveabearwhichwasten-foldthebulkofanybearseenuponearth—inhiswholeposeandattitude,inhisgreatcrookedforelegswiththeirivory-whiteclaws,inhisruggedskin,andinhisred,gapingmouth,fringedwithmonstrousfangs.Onlyinonepointdidhedifferfromthebear,orfromanyothercreaturewhichwalkstheearth,andevenatthatsuprememomentashudderofhorrorpassedovermeasIobservedthattheeyeswhichglistenedintheglowofmylanternwerehuge,projectingbulbs,whiteandsightless.Foramomenthisgreatpawsswungovermyhead.Thenexthefellforwarduponme,Iandmybrokenlanterncrashedtotheearth,andIremembernomore.
WhenIcametomyselfIwasbackinthefarm-houseoftheAllertons.TwodayshadpassedsincemyterribleadventureintheBlueJohnGap.
