Presently, one of the Things squealed, softly, and I heard the sound of others approaching.  There was a short confabulation; then again, silence; and I realized that they had called several more to assist.  Feeling that now was the supreme moment, I stood ready, with my rifle presented.  If the door gave, I would, at least, slay as many as possible.

Again came the low signal; and, once more, the door cracked, under a huge force.  For, a minute perhaps, the pressure was kept up; and I waited, nervously; expecting each moment to see the door come down with a crash.  But no; the struts held, and the attempt proved abortive.  Then followed more of their horrible, grunting talk, and, whilst it lasted, I thought I distinguished the noise of fresh arrivals.

After a long discussion, during which the door was several times shaken, they became quiet once more, and I knew that they were going to make a third attempt to break it down.  I was almost in despair.  The props had been severely tried in the two previous attacks, and I was sorely afraid that this would prove too much for them.

At that moment, like an inspiration, a thought flashed into my troubled brain.  Instantly, for it was no time to hesitate, I ran from the room, and up stair after stair.  This time, it was not to one of the towers, that I went; but out on to the flat, leaded roof itself.  Once there, I raced across to the parapet, that walls it ’round, and looked down.  As I did so, I heard the short, grunted signal, and, even up there, caught the crying of the door under the assault.

There was not a moment to lose, and, leaning over, I aimed, quickly, and fired.  The report rang sharply, and, almost blending with it, came the loud splud of the bullet striking its mark.  From below, rose a shrill wail; and the door ceased its groaning.  Then, as I took my weight from off the parapet, a huge piece of the stone coping slid from under me, and fell with a crash among the disorganized throng beneath.  Several horrible shrieks quavered through the night air, and then I heard a sound of scampering feet.  Cautiously, I looked over.  In the moonlight, I could see the great copingstone, lying right across the threshold of the door.  I thought I saw something under it—­several things, white; but I could not be sure.

And so a few minutes passed.

As I stared, I saw something come ’round, out of the shadow of the house.  It was one of the Things.  It went up to the stone, silently, and bent down.  I was unable to see what it did.  In a minute it stood up.  It had something in its talons, which it put to its mouth and tore at....

For the moment, I did not realize.  Then, slowly, I comprehended.  The Thing was stooping again.  It was horrible.  I started to load my rifle.  When I looked again, the monster was tugging at the stone—­moving it to one side.  I leant the rifle on the coping, and pulled the trigger.  The brute collapsed, on its face, and kicked, slightly.