But they could see
now, irregularly placed on one side, a few short hairs. They were just
like human hairs.
'Is it alive?' whispered Susie, struck with horror and amazement.
'Yes!'
Arthur seemed fascinated. He could not take his eyes off the loathsome
thing. He watched it slowly heave with even motion.
'What can it mean?' he asked.
He looked at Dr Porhoet with pale startled face. A thought was coming to
him, but a thought so unnatural, extravagant, and terrible that he pushed
it from him with a movement of both hands, as though it were a material
thing. Then all three turned around abruptly with a start, for they heard
again the wild gibbering which had first shocked their ears. In the
wonder of this revolting object they had forgotten all the rest. The
sound seemed extraordinarily near, and Susie drew back instinctively, for
it appeared to come from her very side.
'There's nothing here,' said Arthur. 'It must be in the next room.'
'Oh, Arthur, let us go,' cried Susie. 'I'm afraid to see what may be in
store for us.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373