Detective and mystery stories, English; Horror tales, English
But there is something more serious than that. Young Armitage has
disappeared also. He left his moorland cottage early on Wednesday
night and has never been heard of since. He was an unattached man, so
there is less sensation than would otherwise be the case. The popular
explanation is that he owes money, and has found a situation in some
other part of the country, whence he will presently write for his
belongings. But I have grave misgivings. Is it not much more likely
that the recent tragedy of the sheep has caused him to take some steps
which may have ended in his own destruction? He may, for example, have
lain in wait for the creature and been carried off by it into the
recesses of the mountains. What an inconceivable fate for a civilized
Englishman of the twentieth century! And yet I feel that it is
possible and even probable. But in that case, how far am I answerable
both for his death and for any other mishap which may occur? Surely
with the knowledge I already possess it must be my duty to see that
something is done, or if necessary to do it myself. It must be the
latter, for this morning I went down to the local police-station and
told my story. The inspector entered it all in a large book and bowed
me out with commendable gravity, but I heard a burst of laughter before
I had got down his garden path. No doubt he was recounting my
adventure to his family.
June 10.--I am writing this, propped up in bed, six weeks after my last
entry in this journal. I have gone through a terrible shock both to
mind and body, arising from such an experience as has seldom befallen a
human being before. But I have attained my end. The danger from the
Terror which dwells in the Blue John Gap has passed never to return.
Thus much at least I, a broken invalid, have done for the common good.
Let me now recount what occurred as clearly as I may.
The night of Friday, May 3rd, was dark and cloudy--the very night for
the monster to walk. About eleven o'clock I went from the farm-house
with my lantern and my rifle, having first left a note upon the table
of my bedroom in which I said that, if I were missing, search should be
made for me in the direction of the Gap. I made my way to the mouth of
the Roman shaft, and, having perched myself among the rocks close to
the opening, I shut off my lantern and waited patiently with my loaded
rifle ready to my hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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