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had heard it was so in workhouses； in the police force； even in that last
desperate resource； the army； and that he knew it was so； more or less； in
any great railway staff。 He had been； when young （if I could believe it；
sitting in that hut；he scarcely could）； a student of natural philosophy； and
had attended lectures； but he had run wild； misused his opportunities； gone
down； and never risen again。 He had no complaint to offer about that。 He
had made his bed； and he lay upon it。 It was far too late to make another。
All that I have here condensed he said in a quiet manner； with his
grave dark regards divided between me and the fire。 He threw in the word；
〃Sir；〃 from time to time； and especially when he referred to his youth；as
though to request me to understand that he claimed to be nothing but what
I found him。 He was several times interrupted by the little bell； and had to
read off messages； and send replies。 Once he had to stand without the door；
and display a flag as a train passed； and make some verbal communication
to the driver。 In the discharge of his duties； I observed him to be
remarkably exact and vigilant； breaking off his discourse at a syllable； and
remaining silent until what he had to do was done。
In a word； I should have set this man down as one of the safest of men
to be employed in that capacity； but for the circumstance that while he was
speaking to me he twice broke off with a fallen colour； turned his face
towards the little bell when it did NOT ring； opened the door of the hut
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（which was kept shut to exclude the unhealthy damp）； and looked out
towards the red light near the mouth of the tunnel。 On both of those
occasions； he came back to the fire with the inexplicable air upon him
which I had remarked； without being able to define； when we were so far
asunder。
Said I； when I rose to leave him； 〃You almost make me think that I
have met with a contented man。〃
（I am afraid I must acknowledge that I said it to lead him on。）
〃I believe I used to be so；〃 he rejoined； in the low voice in which he
had first spoken； 〃but I am troubled； sir； I am troubled。〃
He would have recalled the words if he could。 He had said them；
however； and I took them up quickly。
〃With what？ What is your trouble？〃
〃It is very difficult to impart； sir。 It is very； very difficult to speak of。 If
ever you make me another visit； I will try to tell you。〃
〃But I expressly intend to make you another visit。 Say； when shall it
be？〃
〃I go off early in the morning； and I shall be on again at ten to…
morrow night； sir。〃
〃I will come at eleven。〃
He thanked me； and went out at the door with me。 〃I'll show my white
light； sir；〃 he said； in his peculiar low voice； 〃till you have found the way
up。 When you have found it； don't call out！ And when you are at the top；
don't call out！〃
His manner seemed to make the place strike colder to me； but I said no
more than； 〃Very well。〃
〃And when you come down to…morrow night； don't call out！ Let me
ask you a parting question。 What made you cry； 'Halloa！ Below there！' to…
night？〃
〃Heaven knows；〃 said I。 〃I cried something to that effect〃
〃Not to that effect； sir。 Those were the very words。 I know them well。〃
〃Admit those were the very words。 I said them； no doubt； because I
saw you below。〃
〃For no other reason？〃
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〃What other reason could I possibly have？〃
〃You had no feeling that they were conveyed to you in any
supernatural way？〃
〃No。〃
He wished me good…night； and held up his light。 I walked by the side
of the down Line of rails （with a very disagreeable sensation of a train
coming behind me） until I found the path。 It was easier to mount than to
descend； and I got back to my inn without any adventure。
Punctual to my appointment； I placed my foot on the first notch of the
zigzag next night； as the distant clocks were striking eleven。 He was
waiting for me at the bottom； with his white light on。 〃I have not called
out；〃 I said； when we came close together； 〃may I speak now？〃 〃By all
means； sir。〃 〃Good…night； then； and here's my hand。〃 〃Good…night； sir； and
here's mine。〃 With that we walked side by side to his box； entered it；
closed the door； and sat down by the fire。
〃I have made up my mind； sir；〃 he began； bending forward as soon as
we were seated； and speaking in a tone but a little above a whisper； 〃that
you shall not have to ask me twice what troubles me。 I took you for some
one else yesterday evening。 That troubles me。〃
〃That mistake？〃
〃No。 That some one else。〃
〃Who is it？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Like me？〃
〃I don't know。 I never saw the face。 The left arm is across the face； and
the right arm is waved；violently waved。 This way。〃
I followed his action with my eyes； and it was the action of an arm
gesticulating； with the utmost passion and vehemence； 〃For God's sake；
clear the way！〃
〃One moonlight night；〃 said the man； 〃I was sitting here； when I heard
a voice cry； 'Halloa！ Below there！' I started up； looked from that door； and
saw this Some one else standing by the red light near the tunnel； waving as
I just now showed you。 The voice seemed hoarse with shouting； and it
cried； 'Look out！ Look out！' And then attain； 'Halloa！ Below there！ Look
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out！' I caught up my lamp； turned it on red； and ran towards the figure；
calling； 'What's wrong？ What has happened？ Where？' It stood just outside
the blackness of the tunnel。 I advanced so close upon it that I wondered at
its keeping the sleeve across its eyes。 I ran right up at it； and had my hand
stretched out to pull the sleeve away； when it was gone。〃
〃Into the tunnel？〃 said I。
〃No。 I ran on into the tunnel； five hundred yards。 I stopped； and held
my lamp above my head； and saw the figures of the measured distance；
and saw the wet stains stealing down the walls and trickling through the
arch。 I ran out again faster than I had run in （for I had a mortal abhorrence
of the place upon me）； and I looked all round the red light with my own
red light； and I went up the iron ladder to the gallery atop of it； and I came
down again； and ran back here。 I telegraphed both ways； 'An alarm has
been given。 Is anything wrong？' The answer came back； both ways； 'All
well。'〃
Resisting the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine； I
showed him how that this figure must be a deception of his sense of sight；
and how that figures； originating in disease of the delicate nerves that
minister to the functions of the eye； were known to have often troubled
patients； some of whom had become conscious of the nature of their
affliction； and had even proved it by experiments upon themselves。 〃As to
an imaginary cry；〃 said I； 〃do but listen for a moment to the wind in this
unnatural valley while we speak so low； and to the wild harp it makes of
the telegraph wires。〃
That was all very well； he returned； after we had sat listening for a
while； and he ought to know something of the wind and the wires； he
who so often passed long winter nights there； alone and watching。 But he
would beg to remark that he had not finished。
I asked his pardon； and he slowly added these words； touching my arm；
…
〃Within six hours after the Appearance； the memorable accident on
this Line happened； and within ten hours the dead and wounded were
brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had
stood。〃
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A disagreeable shudder crept over me； but I did my best against it。 It
was not