按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A disagreeable shudder crept over me； but I did my best against it。 It
was not to be denied； I rejoined； that this was a remarkable coincidence；
calculated deeply to impress his mind。 But it was unquestionable that
remarkable coincidences did continually occur； and they must be taken
into account in dealing with such a subject。 Though to be sure I must
admit； I added （for I thought I saw that he was going to bring the objection
to bear upon me）； men of common sense did not allow much for
coincidences in making the ordinary calculations of life。
He again begged to remark that he had not finished。
I again begged his pardon for being betrayed into interruptions。
〃This；〃 he said； again laying his hand upon my arm； and glancing over
his shoulder with hollow eyes； 〃was just a year ago。 Six or seven months
passed； and I had recovered from the surprise and shock； when one
morning； as the day was breaking； I； standing at the door； looked towards
the red light； and saw the spectre again。〃 He stopped； with a fixed look at
me。
〃Did it cry out？〃
〃No。 It was silent。〃
〃Did it wave its arm？〃
〃No。 It leaned against the shaft of the light； with both hands before the
face。 Like this。〃
Once more I followed his action with my eyes。 It was an action of
mourning。 I have seen such an attitude in stone figures on tombs。
〃Did you go up to it？〃
〃I came in and sat down； partly to collect my thoughts； partly because
it had turned me faint。 When I went to the door again； daylight was above
me； and the ghost was gone。〃
〃But nothing followed？ Nothing came of this？〃
He touched me on the arm with his forefinger twice or thrice giving a
ghastly nod each time：…
〃That very day； as a train came out of the tunnel； I noticed； at a
carriage window on my side； what looked like a confusion of hands and
heads； and something waved。 I saw it just in time to signal the driver； Stop！
He shut off； and put his brake on； but the train drifted past here a hundred
9
… Page 10…
Three Ghost Stories
and fifty yards or more。 I ran after it； and； as I went along； heard terrible
screams and cries。 A beautiful young lady had died instantaneously in one
of the compartments； and was brought in here； and laid down on this floor
between us。〃
Involuntarily I pushed my chair back； as I looked from the boards at
which he pointed to himself。
〃True； sir。 True。 Precisely as it happened； so I tell it you。〃
I could think of nothing to say； to any purpose； and my mouth was
very dry。 The wind and the wires took up the story with a long lamenting
wail。
He resumed。 〃Now； sir； mark this； and judge how my mind is troubled。
The spectre came back a week ago。 Ever since； it has been there； now and
again； by fits and starts。〃
〃At the light？〃
〃At the Danger…light。〃
〃What does it seem to do？〃
He repeated； if possible with increased passion and vehemence； that
former gesticulation of； 〃For God's sake； clear the way！〃
Then he went on。 〃I have no peace or rest for it。 It calls to me； for
many minutes together； in an agonised manner； 'Below there！ Look out！
Look out！' It stands waving to me。 It rings my little bell〃
I caught at that。 〃Did it ring your bell yesterday evening when I was
here； and you went to the door？〃
〃Twice。〃
〃Why； see；〃 said I； 〃how your imagination misleads you。 My eyes
were on the bell； and my ears were open to the bell； and if I am a living
man； it did NOT ring at those times。 No； nor at any other time； except
when it was rung in the natural course of physical things by the station
communicating with you。〃
He shook his head。 〃I have never made a mistake as to that yet； sir。 I
have never confused the spectre's ring with the man's。 The ghost's ring is a
strange vibration in the bell that it derives from nothing else； and I have
not asserted that the bell stirs to the eye。 I don't wonder that you failed to
hear it。 But I heard it。〃
10
… Page 11…
Three Ghost Stories
〃And did the spectre seem to be there； when you looked out？〃
〃It WAS there。〃'
〃Both times？〃
He repeated firmly： 〃Both times。〃
〃Will you come to the door with me； and look for it now？〃
He bit his under lip as though he were somewhat unwilling； but arose。
I opened the door； and stood on the step； while he stood in the doorway。
There was the Danger…light。 There was the dismal mouth of the tunnel。
There were the high； wet stone walls of the cutting。 There were the stars
above them。
〃Do you see it？〃 I asked him； taking particular note of his face。 His
eyes were prominent and strained； but not very much more so； perhaps；
than my own had been when I had directed them earnestly towards the
same spot。
〃No；〃 he answered。 〃It is not there。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said I。
We went in again； shut the door； and resumed our seats。 I was thinking
how best to improve this advantage； if it might be called one； when he
took up the conversation in such a matter…of…course way； so assuming that
there could be no serious question of fact between us； that I felt myself
placed in the weakest of positions。
〃By this time you will fully understand； sir；〃 he said； 〃that what
troubles me so dreadfully is the question； What does the spectre mean？〃
I was not sure； I told him； that I did fully understand。
〃What is its warning against？〃 he said； ruminating； with his eyes on
the fire； and only by times turning them on me。 〃What is the danger？
Where is the danger？ There is danger overhanging somewhere on the Line。
Some dreadful calamity will happen。 It is not to be doubted this third time；
after what has gone before。 But surely this is a cruel haunting of me。 What
can I do？〃
He pulled out his handkerchief； and wiped the drops from his heated
forehead。
〃If I telegraph Danger； on either side of me； or on both； I can give no
reason for it；〃 he went on； wiping the palms of his hands。 〃I should get
11
… Page 12…
Three Ghost Stories
into trouble； and do no good。 They would think I was mad。 This is the way
it would work；Message： 'Danger！ Take care！' Answer： 'What Danger？
Where？' Message： 'Don't know。 But； for God's sake； take care！' They
would displace me。 What else could they do？〃
His pain of mind was most pitiable to see。 It was the mental torture of
a conscientious man； oppressed beyond endurance by an unintelligible
responsibility involving life。
〃When it first stood under the Danger…light；〃 he went on； putting his
dark hair back from his head； and drawing his hands outward across and
across his temples in an extremity of feverish distress； 〃why not tell me
where that accident was to happen；if it must happen？ Why not tell me
how it could be averted；if it could have been averted？ When on its
second coming it hid its face； why not tell me； instead； 'She is going to die。
Let them keep her at home'？ If it came； on those two occasions； only to
show me that its warnings were true； and so to prepare me for the third；
why not warn me plainly now？ And I； Lord help me！ A mere poor signal…
man on this solitary station！ Why not go to somebody with credit to be
believed； and power to act？〃
When I saw him in this state； I saw that for the poor man's sake； as
well as for the public safety； what I had to do for the time was to compose
his mind。 Therefore； setting aside all question of reality or unreality
between us； I represented to him that whoever thoroughly discharged his
duty must do well； and that at least it was his comfort that he understood
his duty； though he did not understand these confounding Appearances。 In
this effort I succeeded far better than in the attempt to reason him out of
his conviction。 He became calm； the occupations incidental to his post as
the night advanced began to make larger demands on his attention： and