From somewhere down stairs, a sound comes up to me.  I go to the bedroom door, and listen.  It is Mary, bustling about the great, old kitchen, getting the breakfast ready.  I feel little interest.  I am not hungry.  My thoughts, however; continue to dwell upon her.  How little the weird happenings in this house seem to trouble her.  Except in the incident of the Pit creatures, she has seemed unconscious of anything unusual occurring.  She is old, like myself; yet how little we have to do with one another.  Is it because we have nothing in common; or only that, being old, we care less for society, than quietness?  These and other matters pass through my mind, as I meditate; and help to distract my attention, for a while, from the oppressive thoughts of the night.

After a time, I go to the window, and, opening it, look out.  The sun is now above the horizon, and the air, though cold, is sweet and crisp.  Gradually, my brain clears, and a sense of security, for the time being, comes to me.  Somewhat happier, I go down stairs, and out into the garden, to have a look at the dog.

As I approach the kennel, I am greeted by the same mouldy stench that assailed me at the door last night.  Shaking off a momentary sense of fear, I call to the dog; but he takes no heed, and, after calling once more, I throw a small stone into the kennel.  At this, he moves, uneasily, and I shout his name, again; but do not go closer.  Presently, my sister comes out, and joins me, in trying to coax him from the kennel.

In a little the poor beast rises, and shambles out lurching queerly.  In the daylight he stands swaying from side to side, and blinking stupidly.  I look and note that the horrid wound is larger, much larger, and seems to have a whitish, fungoid appearance.  My sister moves to fondle him; but I detain her, and explain that I think it will be better not to go too near him for a few days; as it is impossible to tell what may be the matter with him; and it is well to be cautious.

A minute later, she leaves me; coming back with a basin of odd scraps of food.  This she places on the ground, near the dog, and I push it into his reach, with the aid of a branch, broken from one of the shrubs.  Yet, though the meat should be tempting, he takes no notice of it; but retires to his kennel.  There is still water in his drinking vessel, so, after a few moments’ talk, we go back to the house.  I can see that my sister is much puzzled as to what is the matter with the animal; yet it would be madness, even to hint the truth to her.

The day slips away, uneventfully; and night comes on.  I have determined to repeat my experiment of last night.  I cannot say that it is wisdom; yet my mind is made up.  Still, however, I have taken precautions; for I have driven stout nails in at the back of each of the three bolts, that secure the door, opening from the study into the gardens.  This will, at least, prevent a recurrence of the danger I ran last night.