Chapter 4

           ForadecadetheannalsoftheWhateleyssinkindistinguishablyintothegenerallifeofamorbidcommunityusedtotheirqueerwaysandhardenedtotheirMayEveandAll–Hallowsorgies. TwiceayeartheywouldlightfiresonthetopofSentinelHill,atwhichtimesthemountainrumblingswouldrecurwithgreaterandgreaterviolence; whileatallseasonstherewerestrangeandportentousdoingsatthelonelyfarm-house. Inthecourseoftimecallersprofessedtohearsoundsinthesealedupperstoreyevenwhenallthefamilyweredownstairs,andtheywonderedhowswiftlyorhowlingeringlyacoworbullockwasusuallysacrificed. TherewastalkofacomplainttotheSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsbutnothingevercameofit,sinceDunwichfolkareneveranxioustocalltheoutsideworld’sattentiontothemselves. 

           About1923,whenWilburwasaboyoftenwhosemind,voice,stature,andbeardedfacegavealltheimpressionsofmaturity,asecondgreatsiegeofcarpentrywentonattheoldhouse. Itwasallinsidethesealedupperpart,andfrombitsofdiscardedlumberpeopleconcludedthattheyouthandhisgrandfatherhadknockedoutallthepartitionsandevenremovedtheatticfloor,leavingonlyonevastopenvoidbetweenthegroundstoreyandthepeakedroof. Theyhadtorndownthegreatcentralchimney,too,andfittedtherustyrangewithaflimsyoutsidetinstove-pipe. 

           InthespringafterthiseventOldWhateleynoticedthegrowingnumberofwhippoorwillsthatwouldcomeoutofColdSpringGlentochirpunderhiswindowatnight.