CHAPTER FORTY THREE.
THE NORWAY RAT.
I must have slept an hour or more. I did not think of consulting mywatch before going to sleep, and I had little thought about such a thingafter I awoke. But that I had slept at least an hour, I could tell bythe length of my candle.
A fearful hour that was, as any I can remember to have spent--an hour ofhorrid dreaming. But I am wrong to call it so. It was no dream, thoughat the time I thought it one.
Listen!
As I have said, I lay down upon my back, covering myself with my amplecloak from the chin to the ankles. My face and feet were alone free. Ihad placed one of the bags for a pillow, and thus raised my head in sucha position, that I had a full view of the rest of my person. The light,set just a little way beyond my heels, was right before my eyes; and Icould see the floor in that direction to the distance of several yards.I have said that in five minutes I was asleep. I thought that I wasasleep, and to this hour I think so, and yet my eyes were open, and Iplainly saw the candle before them and that portion of the floorillumined by its rays. I thought that I endeavoured to close my eyes,but could not; nor could I change my position, but lay regarding thelight and the surface of the floor around it. Presently a strange sightwas presented to me. A number of small shining objects began to danceand scintillate in the darkness beyond. At first I took them for"lightning-bugs," but although these were plenty enough without, it wasnot usual to find them inside an enclosed apartment. Moreover, those Isaw were low down upon the floor of the saloon, and not suspended in theair, as they should have been.
Gradually the number of these shining objects increased. There were nowsome dozens of them, and, what was singular, they seemed to move inpairs. They were _not_ fire-flies!
I began to experience a sensation of alarm. I began to feel that therewas danger in these fiery spots, that sparkled in such numbers along thefloor. What on earth could they be?
I had scarce asked myself the question, when I was enabled to answer itto the satisfaction of my senses, but not to the tranquillising of myfears. The horrid truth now flashed upon me--each pair of sparklingpoints was a _pair of eyes_!
It was no relief to me to know they were the eyes of rats. You maysmile at my fears; but I tell you in all seriousness that I would nothave been more frightened had I awaked and found a panther crouching tospring upon me. I had heard such tales of these Norway rats--had, infact, been witness to their bold and ferocious feats in New Orleans,where at that time they swarmed in countless numbers--that the sight ofthem filled me with disgust and horror. But what was most horrible ofall--I saw that they were approaching me--that they were each momentcoming nearer and nearer, and that _I was unable to get out of theirway_!
Yes. I could not move. My arms and limbs felt like solid blocks ofstone, and my muscular power was quite gone! I _now_ thought that I was_dreaming_!
"Yes!" reflected I, for I still possessed the power of reflection."Yes--I am only dreaming! A horrid dream though--horrid--would I couldwake myself--'tis nightmare! I know it--if I could but move something--my toes--my fingers--oh!"
These reflections actually passed through my mind. They have done so atother times when I have been under the influence of nightmare; and I nowno longer dread this incubus, since I have learnt how to throw it off._Then_ I could not. I lay like one dead, whose eyelids have been leftunclosed; and I thought I was dreaming.
Dreaming or awake, my soul had not yet reached its climax of horror. AsI continued to gaze, I perceived that the number of the hideous animalsincreased every moment. I could now see their brown hairy bodies--forthey had approached close to the candle, and were full under its light.They were _thick upon the floor_. It appeared to be alive with them,and in motion like water under a gale. Hideous sight to behold!
Still nearer they came. I could distinguish their sharp teeth--the longgrey bristles upon their snouts--the spiteful expression in their smallpenetrating eyes.
Nearer still! They climb upon the coffee-bags--they crawl along my legsand body--they chase each other over the folds of my cloak--they aregnawing at my boots!--Horror! horror! they will devour me!
They are around me in myriads. I cannot see on either side, but I knowthat they are all around. I can hear their shrill screaming, the air isloaded with the odour of their filthy bodies. I feel as though it willsuffocate me. Horror! horror! oh! merciful God! arouse me from thisterrible dream!
Such were my thoughts--such my feelings at that moment. I had a perfectconsciousness of all that was passing--so perfect that I believed it adream.
I made every effort to awake myself--to move hand and limb. It was allin vain. I could not move a muscle. Every nerve of my body was asleep.My blood lay stagnant within my veins!
I lay suffering this monstrous pain for a long, long while. I lay infear of being eaten up piecemeal!
The fierce animals had only attacked my boots and my cloak, but myterror was complete. I waited to feel them at my throat!
Was it my face and my eyes staring open that kept them off? I amcertain my eyes were open all the while. Was it that that deterred themfrom attacking me? No doubt it was. They scrambled over all parts ofmy body, even up to my breast, but they seemed to avoid my head andface!
Whether they would have continued under the restraint of this salutaryfear, I know not, for a sudden termination was put to the horrid scene.
The candle had burnt to its end, and the remnant fell with a hissingsound through the neck of the bottle, thus extinguishing the light.
Frightened by the sudden transition from light to darkness, the hideousanimals uttered their terrible squeaking, and broke off in everydirection. I could hear the pattering of their feet upon the planks asthey scampered away.
The light seemed to have been the spell that bound me in the iron chainof the nightmare. The moment it went out, I found myself again inpossession of muscular strength; and, springing to my feet, I caught upmy cloak and swept it wildly around me, shouting at the top of my voice.
The cold perspiration was running from every pore in my skin, and myhair felt as if on end. I still believed I was dreaming; and it was notuntil the astonished negro appeared with a light, and I had evidence ofthe presence of my hairy visitors in the condition of my cloak andboots, that I was convinced the terrible episode was a reality.
I remained no longer in the "saloon," but, wrapping my cloak around me,betook myself to the open air.