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flask。 I had my eye fixed at the time upon the projecting cliff I have
mentioned； and noticed nothing unusual about it。 I then put up my flask
and took a step or two forward； when in a moment there burst； apparently
from the base of the rock； about eight feet from the ground and a hundred
yards from me； a strange； lurid glare； flickering and oscillating； gradually
dying away and then reappearing again。 No； no； I've seen many a glow…
worm and fireflynothing of that sort。 There it was； burning away； and I
suppose I gazed at it； trembling in every limb； for fully ten minutes。 Then I
took a step forward； when instantly it vanished； vanished like a candle
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blown out。 I stepped back again； but it was some time before I could find
the exact spot and position from which it was visible。 At last； there it was；
the weird reddish light； flickering away as before。 Then I screwed up my
courage； and made for the rock； but the ground was so uneven that it was
impossible to steer straight； and though I walked along the whole base of
the cliff； I could see nothing。 Then I made tracks for home； and I can tell
you； boys； that； until you remarked it； I never knew it was raining； the
whole way along。 But hollo！ what's the matter with Tom？〃
What indeed？ Tom was now sitting with his legs over the side of the
bunk； and his whole face betraying excitement so intense as to be almost
painful。 〃The fiend would have two eyes。 How many lights did you see；
Dick？ Speak out！〃
〃Only one。〃
〃Hurrah！〃 cried Tom； 〃that's better。〃 Whereupon he kicked the blankets
into the middle of the room； and began pacing up and down with long
feverish strides。 Suddenly he stopped opposite Dick； and laid his hand
upon his shoulder。 〃I say； Dick； could we get to Sasassa Valley before
sunrise？〃
〃Scarcely；〃 said Dick。
〃Well； look here； we are old friends； Dick Wharton； you and I。 Now
don't you tell any other man what you have told us； for a week。 You'll
promise that； won't you？〃
I could see by the look on Dick's face as he acquiesced that he
considered poor Tom to be mad； and indeed I was myself completely
mystified by his conduct。 I had； however； seen so many proofs of my
friend's good sense and quickness of apprehension that I thought it quite
possible that Wharton's story had had a meaning in his eyes which I was
too obtuse to take in。
All night Tom Donahue was greatly excited； and when Wharton left he
begged him to remember his promise； and also elicited from him a
description of the exact spot at which he had seen the apparition； as well
as the hour at which it appeared。 After his departure； which must have
been about four in the morning； I turned into my bunk and watched Tom
sitting by the fire splicing two sticks together； until I fell asleep。 I suppose
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I must have slept about two hours； but when I awoke Tom was still sitting
working away in almost the same position。 He had fixed the one stick
across the top of the other so as to form a rough T； and was now busy in
fitting a smaller stick into the angle between them； by manipulating which；
the cross one could be either cocked up or depressed to any extent。 He had
cut notches； too； in the perpendicular stick； so that； by the aid of the small
prop； the cross one could be kept in any position for an indefinite time。
〃Look here； Jack！〃 he cried； when he saw that I was awake。 〃Come
and give me your opinion。 Suppose I put this cross…stick pointing straight
at a thing； and arranged this small one so as to keep it so； and left it； I
could find that thing again if I wanted itdon't you think I could； Jack
don't you think so？〃 he continued； nervously； clutching me by the arm。
〃Well；〃 I answered； 〃it would depend on how far off the thing was； and
how accurately it was pointed。 If it were any distance； I'd cut sights on
your cross…stick； then a string tied to the end of it； and held in a plumb…line
forward； would lend you pretty near what you wanted。 But surely； Tom；
you don't intend to localise the ghost in that way？〃
〃You'll see to…night； old friendyou'll see to…night。 I'll carry this to the
Sasassa Valley。 You get the loan of Madison's crowbar； and come with me；
but mind you tell no man where you are going； or what you want it for。〃
All day Tom was walking up and down the room； or working hard at
the apparatus。 His eyes were glistening； his cheeks hectic； and he had all
the symptoms of high fever。 〃Heaven grant that Dick's diagnosis be not
correct！〃 I thought； as I returned with the crowbar； and yet； as evening
drew near； I found myself imperceptibly sharing the excitement。
About six o'clock Tom sprang to his feet and seized his sticks。 〃I can
stand it no longer； Jack；〃 he cried； 〃up with your crowbar； and hey for
Sasassa Valley！ To…night's work； my lad； will either make us or mar us！
Take your six…shooter； in case we meet the Kaffirs。 I daren't take mine；
Jack；〃 he continued； putting his hands upon my shoulders 〃I daren't take
mine； for if my ill luck sticks to me to…night； I don't know what I might not
do with it。〃
Well； having filled our pockets with provisions； we set out； and； as we
took our wearisome way toward the Sasassa Valley； I frequently attempted
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to elicit from my companion some clue as to his intentions。 But his only
answer was： 〃Let us hurry on； Jack。 Who knows how many have heard of
Wharton's adventure by this time！ Let us hurry on； or we may not be first
in the field！〃
Well； sir； we struggled on through the hills for a matter of ten miles；
till at last； after descending a crag； we saw opening out in front of us a
ravine so sombre and dark that it might have been the gate of Hades itself；
cliffs many hundred feet shut in on every side the gloomy boulder…studded
passage which led through the haunted defile into Kaffirland。 The moon；
rising above the crags； threw into strong relief the rough； irregular
pinnacles of rock by which they were topped； while all below was dark as
Erebus。