A TRUE GHOST STORY 121 



sound! Was I to be disappointed? Half-past 

 eleven, and still no ghost came. Evidently he 

 was not disposed to be sociable. I was getting 

 sleepy, and had a long day's travelling to do next 

 day. Placing some matches close at hand I put 

 out the lamp and turned in. My head had 

 hardly touched the pillow when I heard a light 

 rap on the house and then footsteps. I listened 

 intently in the absolute silence that reigned for a 

 time. Then I could hear distinctly, tramp! 

 tramp! Someone was coming up the stairs. Now 

 was my time. I crept out of bed stealthily, grasp- 

 ed the axe handle, and having left my bedroom 

 door open on purpose, I made for the stairs; 

 with arms outstretched I could touch each side of 

 the stairway. I bumped against the door at the 

 foot, it was still firmly closed. I opened it and 

 entered the sitting room. The dog was lying near 

 the stove, whining. Nothing visible; but hark! 

 what was that ? The footsteps sounded in my 

 room. Things were getting interesting. I hur- 

 ried to the stairs, closing the door quietly. On 

 reaching my bedroom I also closed it, went to the 

 table quickly, and was striking a match when, 

 as if to mock me, a tremendous knock was given, 

 loud and strong enough to vibrate through the 

 house; then a rush of footsteps on the stairs and 

 everything was quiet again. The heavy blow had 

 apparently come from under my bed, or in that 

 corner, which, as I have said before, was the north- 



