Kabanata Kabanata 22 · AT CLOSE QUARTERS

. AT CLOSE QUARTERS

"She has diabolical cunning," said Sir Nathaniel. "Ever since you left,

she has ranged along the Brow and wherever you were accustomed to

frequent. I have not heard whence the knowledge of your movements came

to her, nor have I been able to learn any data whereon to found an

opinion. She seems to have heard both of your marriage and your absence;

but I gather, by inference, that she does not actually know where you and

Mimi are, or of your return. So soon as the dusk fails, she goes out on

her rounds, and before dawn covers the whole ground round the Brow, and

away up into the heart of the Peak. The White Worm, in her own proper

shape, certainly has great facilities for the business on which she is

now engaged. She can look into windows of any ordinary kind. Happily,

this house is beyond her reach, if she wishes--as she manifestly does--to

remain unrecognised. But, even at this height, it is wise to show no

lights, lest she might learn something of our presence or absence."

"Would it not be well, sir, if one of us could see this monster in her

real shape at close quarters? I am willing to run the risk--for I take

it there would be no slight risk in the doing. I don't suppose anyone of

our time has seen her close and lived to tell the tale."

Sir Nathaniel held up an expostulatory hand.

"Good God, lad, what are you suggesting? Think of your wife, and all

that is at stake."

"It is of Mimi that I think--for her sake that I am willing to risk

whatever is to be risked."

Adam's young bride was proud of her man, but she blanched at the thought

of the ghastly White Worm. Adam saw this and at once reassured her.

"So long as her ladyship does not know whereabout I am, I shall have as

much safety as remains to us; bear in mind, my darling, that we cannot be

too careful."

Sir Nathaniel realised that Adam was right; the White Worm had no

supernatural powers and could not harm them until she discovered their

hiding place. It was agreed, therefore, that the two men should go

together.

When the two men slipped out by the back door of the house, they walked

cautiously along the avenue which trended towards the west. Everything

was pitch dark--so dark that at times they had to feel their way by the

palings and tree-trunks. They could still see, seemingly far in front of

them and high up, the baleful light which at the height and distance

seemed like a faint line. As they were now on the level of the ground,

the light seemed infinitely higher than it had from the top of the tower.

At the sight Adam's heart fell; the danger of the desperate enterprise

which he had undertaken burst upon him. But this feeling was shortly

followed by another which restored him to himself--a fierce loathing, and

a desire to kill, such as he had never experienced before.

They went on for some distance on a level road, fairly wide, from which

the green light was visible. Here Sir Nathaniel spoke softly, placing

his lips to Adam's ear for safety.

"We know nothing whatever of this creature's power of hearing or

smelling, though I presume that both are of no great strength. As to

seeing, we may presume the opposite, but in any case we must try to keep

in the shade behind the tree-trunks. The slightest error would be fatal

to us."

Adam only nodded, in case there should be any chance of the monster

seeing the movement.

After a time that seemed interminable, they emerged from the circling

wood. It was like coming out into sunlight by comparison with the misty

blackness which had been around them. There was light enough to see by,

though not sufficient to distinguish things at a distance. Adam's eyes

sought the green light in the sky. It was still in about the same place,

but its surroundings were more visible. It was now at the summit of what

seemed to be a long white pole, near the top of which were two pendant

white masses, like rudimentary arms or fins. The green light, strangely

enough, did not seem lessened by the surrounding starlight, but had a

clearer effect and a deeper green. Whilst they were carefully regarding

this--Adam with the aid of an opera-glass--their nostrils were assailed

by a horrid stench, something like that which rose from the well-hole in

Diana's Grove.

By degrees, as their eyes got the right focus, they saw an immense

towering mass that seemed snowy white. It was tall and thin. The lower

part was hidden by the trees which lay between, but they could follow the

tall white shaft and the duplicate green lights which topped it. As they

looked there was a movement--the shaft seemed to bend, and the line of

green light descended amongst the trees. They could see the green light

twinkle as it passed between the obstructing branches.

Seeing where the head of the monster was, the two men ventured a little

further forward, and saw that the hidden mass at the base of the shaft

was composed of vast coils of the great serpent's body, forming a base

from which the upright mass rose. As they looked, this lower mass moved,

the glistening folds catching the moonlight, and they could see that the

monster's progress was along the ground. It was coming towards them at a

swift pace, so they turned and ran, taking care to make as little noise

as possible, either by their footfalls or by disturbing the undergrowth

close to them. They did not stop or pause till they saw before them the

high dark tower of Doom.