I must have slept an hour or more. I did not think of consulting my
watch before going to sleep, and I had little thought about such a thing
after I awoke. But that I had slept at least an hour, I could tell by
the length of my candle.
A fearful hour that was, as any I can remember to have spent--an hour of
horrid dreaming. But I am wrong to call it so. It was no dream, though
at the time I thought it one.
Listen!
As I have said, I lay down upon my back, covering myself with my ample
cloak from the chin to the ankles. My face and feet were alone free. I
had placed one of the bags for a pillow, and thus raised my head in such
a 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 I
could 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 was
asleep, and to this hour I think so, and yet my eyes were open, and I
plainly saw the candle before them and that portion of the floor
illumined by its rays. I thought that I endeavoured to close my eyes,
but could not; nor could I change my position, but lay regarding the
light and the surface of the floor around it. Presently a strange sight
was presented to me. A number of small shining objects began to dance
and scintillate in the darkness beyond. At first I took them for
"lightning-bugs," but although these were plenty enough without, it was
not usual to find them inside an enclosed apartment. Moreover, those I
saw were low down upon the floor of the saloon, and not suspended in the
air, as they should have been.
Gradually the number of these shining objects increased. There were now
some dozens of them, and, what was singular, they seemed to move in
pairs. They were _not_ fire-flies!
I began to experience a sensation of alarm. I began to feel that there
was danger in these fiery spots, that sparkled in such numbers along the
floor. What on earth could they be?
I had scarce asked myself the question, when I was enabled to answer it
to the satisfaction of my senses, but not to the tranquillising of my
fears. The horrid truth now flashed upon me--each pair of sparkling
points was a _pair of eyes_!
It was no relief to me to know they were the eyes of rats. You may
smile at my fears; but I tell you in all seriousness that I would not
have been more frightened had I awaked and found a panther crouching to
spring upon me. I had heard such tales of these Norway rats--had, in
fact, been witness to their bold and ferocious feats in New Orleans,
where at that time they swarmed in countless numbers--that the sight of
them filled me with disgust and horror. But what was most horrible of
all--I saw that they were approaching me--that they were each moment
coming nearer and nearer, and that _I was unable to get out of their
way_!
Yes. I could not move. My arms and limbs felt like solid blocks of
stone, 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 could
wake 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 at
other times when I have been under the influence of nightmare; and I now
no 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 left
unclosed; and I thought I was dreaming.
Dreaming or awake, my soul had not yet reached its climax of horror. As
I continued to gaze, I perceived that the number of the hideous animals
increased every moment. I could now see their brown hairy bodies--for
they 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 long
grey bristles upon their snouts--the spiteful expression in their small
penetrating eyes.
Nearer still! They climb upon the coffee-bags--they crawl along my legs
and body--they chase each other over the folds of my cloak--they are
gnawing at my boots!--Horror! horror! they will devour me!
They are around me in myriads. I cannot see on either side, but I know
that they are all around. I can hear their shrill screaming, the air is
loaded with the odour of their filthy bodies. I feel as though it will
suffocate me. Horror! horror! oh! merciful God! arouse me from this
terrible dream!
Such were my thoughts--such my feelings at that moment. I had a perfect
consciousness of all that was passing--so perfect that I believed it a
dream.
I made every effort to awake myself--to move hand and limb. It was all
in 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 in
fear of being eaten up piecemeal!
The fierce animals had only attacked my boots and my cloak, but my
terror was complete. I waited to feel them at my throat!
Was it my face and my eyes staring open that kept them off? I am
certain my eyes were open all the while. Was it that that deterred them
from attacking me? No doubt it was. They scrambled over all parts of
my body, even up to my breast, but they seemed to avoid my head and
face!
Whether they would have continued under the restraint of this salutary
fear, 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 hissing
sound through the neck of the bottle, thus extinguishing the light.
Frightened by the sudden transition from light to darkness, the hideous
animals uttered their terrible squeaking, and broke off in every
direction. I could hear the pattering of their feet upon the planks as
they scampered away.
The light seemed to have been the spell that bound me in the iron chain
of the nightmare. The moment it went out, I found myself again in
possession of muscular strength; and, springing to my feet, I caught up
my 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 my
hair felt as if on end. I still believed I was dreaming; and it was not
until the astonished negro appeared with a light, and I had evidence of
the presence of my hairy visitors in the condition of my cloak and
boots, 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.