Жах Данвіча

           Noonecaredtoremainthereamidstthestenchandtarrystickiness,butallturnedinstinctivelytothelineofhorribleprintsleadingontowardsthewreckedWhateleyfarmhouseandthealtar-crownedslopesofSentinelHill. 

           AsthemenpassedthesiteofWilburWhateley’sabodetheyshudderedvisibly,andseemedagaintomixhesitancywiththeirzeal. Itwasnojoketrackingdownsomethingasbigasahousethatonecouldnotsee,butthathadalltheviciousmalevolenceofadaemon. OppositethebaseofSentinelHillthetrackslefttheroad,andtherewasafreshbendingandmattingvisiblealongthebroadswathmarkingthemonster’sformerroutetoandfromthesummit. 

           Armitageproducedapockettelescopeofconsiderablepowerandscannedthesteepgreensideofthehill. ThenhehandedtheinstrumenttoMorgan,whosesightwaskeener. AfteramomentofgazingMorgancriedoutsharply,passingtheglasstoEarlSawyerandindicatingacertainspotontheslopewithhisfinger. Sawyer,asclumsyasmostnon-usersofopticaldevicesare,fumbledawhile;buteventuallyfocusedthelenseswithArmitage’said. WhenhedidsohiscrywaslessrestrainedthanMorgan’shadbeen. 

           ‘Gawdalmighty,thegrassan’bushesisa’movin’! It’sa-goin’up—slow-like—creepin’—upterthetopthisminute,heavenonlyknowswhatfur!’ 

           Thenthegermofpanicseemedtospreadamongtheseekers. Itwasonethingtochasethenamelessentity,butquiteanothertofindit