Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           IthoughtIheardascream;butIcan’tbesure,forIfeltthick-headedasamandoeswhenheiscalledtoosoonafteranextralongstretchofwork.Notthatsuchwasthecasethistime.Anyhowmythoughtsflewtothepistol.Itookitout,andranontothelanding.ThenIheardasortofscream,orratheracallforhelp,andranintothisroom.Theroomwasdark,forthelampbesidetheNursewasout,andtheonlylightwasthatfromthelanding,comingthroughtheopendoor.MissTrelawnywaskneelingonthefloorbesideherfather,andwasscreaming.IthoughtIsawsomethingmovebetweenmeandthewindow;so,withoutthinking,andbeinghalfdazedandonlyhalfawake,Ishotatit.Itmovedalittlemoretotherightbetweenthewindows,andIshotagain.Thenyoucameupoutofthebigchairwithallthatmufflingonyourface.Itseemedtome,beingasIsayhalfdazedandhalfawake—Iknow,sir,youwilltakethisintoaccount—asifithadbeenyou,beinginthesamedirectionasthethingIhadfiredat.AndsoIwasabouttofireagainwhenyoupulledoffthewrap."HereIaskedhim—Iwascross-examiningnowandfeltathome:

           "YousayyouthoughtIwasthethingyoufiredat.Whatthing?"Themanscratchedhishead,butmadenoreply.

           "Come,sir,"Isaid,"whatthing;whatwasitlike?"Theanswercameinalowvoice:

           "Idon’tknow,sir.Ithoughttherewassomething;butwhatitwas,orwhatitwaslike,Ihaven’tthefaintestnotion.