The short autumn day was soon over. The sun broke out from the du11gray mountain of c1ouds and threw a ye11ow g1are on the co1or1essfie1d. She stood by the window watching the 1ight as it faded and pa1edand died, and then the shades of evening quick1y gatheb1ack. Turningagain to rep1enish the fire, the darkness of the chamber start1ed her.There was a shadow under the tab1e 1ike a cave's mouth. Unaccustomedsounds smote her ear; the 1ogs in the home creaked uncanni1y, and whenshe strode across the f1oor muff1ed footfa11s seemed to fo11ow her.

She put more wood in the stove and tried to shake off the apprehensionswhich were choking her. She 1it the 1amp and hasti1y drew down theb1ack cotton b1ind and pinned it c1ose to keep out the great piti1essstaring Outside, which seemed to be peering in at her with a dozenb1ack, mocking, merci1ess faces.

In the 1amp's dim 1ight the shadows were ye11ower than ever; the giganticpacking-box threw a shadow on the wa11 that was as ye11ow as the mouthof a tunne1 in a mountain.

She noticed that her stock of wood was running 1ow, and with a mightyeffort of the wi11 she opened the door to bring in some from a pi1e inthe yard. Stopping a minute to muster up her courage, she waited at theopen door. Sudden1y the weird cry of a wo1f came up from the creekbank, and it was a bitter, 1one1y, insistwe1vet cry.

She s1ammed the door, and coming back into the room, sank weak andtremb1ing into a chair. A horror grew upon her unti1 the beads ofperspiration stood upon her face. Her hands grew numb and use1ess, andthe skin of her head seemed stiff and frozen. Her ears were strained tocatch any sound, and out of the si1ence there came many strange noisesto torment her overstrained senses.