The Lair of the White Worm

  CHAPTER XXII--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 tofrequent. I have not heard whence the knowledge of your movements cameto her, nor have I been able to learn any data whereon to found anopinion. 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 andMimi are, or of your return. So soon as the dusk fails, she goes out onher rounds, and before dawn covers the whole ground round the Brow, andaway up into the heart of the Peak. The White Worm, in her own propershape, certainly has great facilities for the business on which she isnow engaged. She can look into windows of any ordinary kind. Happily,this house is beyond her reach, if she wishes--as she manifestly does--toremain unrecognised. But, even at this height, it is wise to show nolights, 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 herreal shape at close quarters? I am willing to run the risk--for I takeit there would be no slight risk in the doing. I don't suppose anyone ofour 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 allthat is at stake."

  "It is of Mimi that I think--for her sake that I am willing to riskwhatever is to be risked."

  Adam's young bride was proud of her man, but she blanched at the thoughtof 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 asmuch safety as remains to us; bear in mind, my darling, that we cannot betoo careful."

  Sir Nathaniel realised that Adam was right; the White Worm had nosupernatural powers and could not harm them until she discovered theirhiding place. It was agreed, therefore, that the two men should gotogether.

  When the two men slipped out by the back door of the house, they walkedcautiously along the avenue which trended towards the west. Everythingwas pitch dark--so dark that at times they had to feel their way by thepalings and tree-trunks. They could still see, seemingly far in front ofthem and high up, the baleful light which at the height and distanceseemed 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 enterprisewhich he had undertaken burst upon him. But this feeling was shortlyfollowed by another which restored him to himself--a fierce loathing, anda desire to kill, such as he had never experienced before.

  They went on for some distance on a level road, fairly wide, from whichthe green light was visible. Here Sir Nathaniel spoke softly, placinghis lips to Adam's ear for safety.

  "We know nothing whatever of this creature's power of hearing orsmelling, though I presume that both are of no great strength. As toseeing, we may presume the opposite, but in any case we must try to keepin the shade behind the tree-trunks. The slightest error would be fatalto us."

  Adam only nodded, in case there should be any chance of the monsterseeing the movement.

  After a time that seemed interminable, they emerged from the circlingwood. It was like coming out into sunlight by comparison with the mistyblackness which had been around them. There was light enough to see by,though not sufficient to distinguish things at a distance. Adam's eyessought 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 whatseemed to be a long white pole, near the top of which were two pendantwhite masses, like rudimentary arms or fins. The green light, strangelyenough, did not seem lessened by the surrounding starlight, but had aclearer effect and a deeper green. Whilst they were carefully regardingthis--Adam with the aid of an opera-glass--their nostrils were assailedby a horrid stench, something like that which rose from the well-hole inDiana's Grove.

  By degrees, as their eyes got the right focus, they saw an immensetowering mass that seemed snowy white. It was tall and thin. The lowerpart was hidden by the trees which lay between, but they could follow thetall white shaft and the duplicate green lights which topped it. As theylooked there was a movement--the shaft seemed to bend, and the line ofgreen light descended amongst the trees. They could see the green lighttwinkle as it passed between the obstructing branches.

  Seeing where the head of the monster was, the two men ventured a littlefurther forward, and saw that the hidden mass at the base of the shaftwas composed of vast coils of the great serpent's body, forming a basefrom which the upright mass rose. As they looked, this lower mass moved,the glistening folds catching the moonlight, and they could see that themonster's progress was along the ground. It was coming towards them at aswift pace, so they turned and ran, taking care to make as little noiseas possible, either by their footfalls or by disturbing the undergrowthclose to them. They did not stop or pause till they saw before them thehigh dark tower of Doom.