“‘Let us creep along the floor, perhaps we may find it.  Do try,’ said I.

“‘No, no, I cannot move.  I wish we had never come.  I am dying.’  She was shaking with fright, and would not leave my arm for an instant.

“Just then, from somewhere near us, we could not tell from what side, came a long low whistle, so mournful and unearthly, with such a summons in its tone, that I shivered:  then a faint movement followed from the same place.

“‘It is a signal for the other,’ gasped Annie:  ’it is in that door:  they are coming, they are here.  Shall I scream murder? shall I?’ giving my arm an emphasizing grip.

“‘No, no, wait:  it will do no good.’

“She groaned, slipped down on her knees, with one arm still round me, her face pressed against my side, holding her other hand over the unprotected ear, so that she should hear no more; and in this position she began to repeat ‘Now I lay me down to sleep’ just as fast as she could gabble it.

“I was no less frightened, and would willingly have crouched down also, but she held me so tight that I could not without a struggle, and above all things I did not want to make a noise.

“It was thus we awaited the crisis.  The steps were certainly coming to our room, but whether by the door we had entered or by the one Annie had seen behind the bed, I could not tell.  I was too bewildered to locate the sound, nor did I know whether the bed was at my right or left hand.  I had a slight hope that the steps might pass on.

“It was for that I waited.

“They came—­near, nearer.  For a time my heart ceased beating.  Annie slipped lower, until she lay on the floor, and I could no longer hear her breathe.  My whole being was merged in listening to that step.  I could feel that now it was on a level with our room—­was there almost beside us.  Lightly though distinctly a hand passed over the door, as if fumbling for the latch.  This was the intense moment.  Had the person paused or hesitated an instant, I think it would have killed us both.  But no, he did not falter.  Steadily on, the step, guided by the hand, went as it had come, and as I stood, not daring to move, I heard it receding in the distance of the great house.  Then all was silence.

“When sensation returned to me I felt as if I had awakened from a nightmare, and found myself shaking from the nervous reaction and the cold.  I stooped to find poor Nan on the floor, and said through my chattering teeth, ’It must have been only a late boarder.  Don’t be afraid.  It is all over:  come, get up.’

“‘Can’t you get a light?’ she begged.  ’I cannot move until you have a light.  I am still afraid.’

“I now remembered that the bureau must be behind me, for I had merely turned when I encountered Annie and dropped the candle.  There were probably matches upon it:  yes, there they were.  I struck one and easily found the candle:  then Annie rose with the meekest air possible, and, without looking at the obnoxious corner where the bed stood, we walked into the other room and locked the door.