The next week it became known throughout Amherst that strange things were going on at Dan Teed’s cottage.  The mysterious sounds had been heard by people in the street as they passed the house, and the poundings now commenced in the morning and were to be heard all day long.  Esther always felt relieved when the sounds were produced by the unknown power.

Dr. Caritte called every night, and sometimes during the day, but could not afford her the slightest relief.  One night, about three weeks after the doctor’s first visit, as he and the family were standing around her bed listening to the loud knockings, Esther suddenly threw her arms up towards the head of the bed, and seemed to be seized with a spasm, for she became cold and perfectly rigid.  While in this state she commenced to talk, and told all that had occurred between herself and Bob McNeal on the night of the fatal ride.  This was the first anybody knew of the affair, for she had never told of it, and Bob had never been seen in the locality after that night.  When she came to her senses again, they told her what had been said by herself during the strange state from which she had just emerged.  Upon hearing this she commenced to cry, and told them that it was all true; that he had threatened her with his revolver, but becoming frightened by the sound of wheels in the distance, had driven her home without offering her any further show of violence.

“There!” exclaimed Olive, “Didn’t I tell you that I felt it in my bones, that harm would come to you through that young man, and now you see he really is at the bottom of all this.  Ah, it is Bob, who makes all these strange sounds about the house; I know he is the cause.”  Instantly three distinct reports were heard, shaking the whole house with their violence.

“Do you know doctor,” said Jane, “that I believe that whatever agency makes these noises, it can hear and understand what we are talking about, and perhaps see us.”  The moment she had finished the sentence, three distinct reports were heard as loud as before.

“Ask if it can hear us doctor?” said Dan.  “Can you, whatever you are, hear what we say?” asked Dr. Caritte.

Again three reports were heard, which shook the entire house.

“Why, that is very singular,” remarked the doctor.  “I believe Jane was right, it can hear.”

“Well, let us try again,” said Dan.  “If you can see and hear, tell us how many persons are in this room?” Esther did not know how many were present, for she was lying in the bed, with her face buried in the pillow trembling with fear.  As Dan did not receive an answer, he asked again.

“How many persons are in the room?  Give us a knock on the floor for each one.”  Five distinct knocks were made by the strange force on the floor, and there were just five persons in the room, as follows:—­Dr. Caritte, Dan, Olive, Esther and Jane, William Cox and John Teed having left the room after Esther had burried her face in the pillow.  “Well, it certainly is strange remarked the doctor, but I must go, it is getting late.”  So he departed after saying he would call the next evening.