Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Terror of Blue John Gap
ItseemsthatIhadlainallnightinthecaveinsensiblefromconcussionofthebrain,withmyleftarmandtworibsbadlyfractured.Inthemorningmynotehadbeenfound,asearchpartyofadozenfarmersassembled,andIhadbeentrackeddownandcarriedbacktomybedroom,whereIhadlaininhighdeliriumeversince.Therewas,itseems,nosignofthecreature,andnobloodstainwhichwouldshowthatmybullethadfoundhimashepassed.Saveformyownplightandthemarksuponthemud,therewasnothingtoprovethatwhatIsaidwastrue.
Sixweekshavenowelapsed,andIamabletositoutoncemoreinthesunshine.Justoppositemeisthesteephillside,greywithshalyrock,andyonderonitsflankisthedarkcleftwhichmarkstheopeningoftheBlueJohnGap.Butitisnolongerasourceofterror.Neveragainthroughthatill-omenedtunnelshallanystrangeshapeflitoutintotheworldofmen.Theeducatedandthescientific,theDr.Johnsonsandthelike,maysmileatmynarrative,butthepoorerfolkofthecountrysidehadneveradoubtastoitstruth.OnthedayaftermyrecoveringconsciousnesstheyassembledintheirhundredsroundtheBlueJohnGap.AstheCastletonCouriersaid:
"Itwasuselessforourcorrespondent,orforanyoftheadventurousgentlemenwhohadcomefromMatlock,Buxton,andotherparts,tooffertodescend,toexplorethecavetotheend,andtofinallytesttheextraordinarynarrativeofDr.JamesHardcastle.Thecountrypeoplehadtakenthematterintotheirownhands,andfromanearlyhourofthemorningtheyhadworkedhardinstoppinguptheentranceofthetunnel.
