236 A TYPICAL DREAM 



effect, but how mysterious, inexplicable, how almost 

 unbelievable, the manner in which it was dealt with 

 by the mind! For the report we received from all 

 over the district was that there had been but a single 

 clap, and, heard by those who happened to be awake, 

 it came with the suddenness of an explosion of gun- 

 powder or the discharge close by of a big gun. And 

 yet my mind, or that part of it which keeps awake, 

 or which woke first, with inconceivable rapidity had 

 built up a whole series of scenes and acts and sensa- 

 tions leading up to the shock, explaining its cause 

 or, rather, exhibiting it in a picture. 



Yet this same awful dream is one of an exceedingly 

 common type I dare say I have had hundreds of 

 such. Let me give the following invention as an 

 illustration. I receive a pin or needle prick in my 

 hand or arm when sleeping, and a dream follows to 

 account for it, but albeit following it at the same 

 time leads up to it. Thus, my dream is that I am 

 rambling in a forest on a hot summer's day and 

 throw myself down in the shade to rest and cool 

 myself, and while resting, and perhaps dozing, I 

 am startled by a slight rustling sound on the dead 

 leaves, and looking quickly round I spy a venomous 

 serpent gliding towards me with uplifted head. It is 

 too late for me to jump up and escape the threatened 

 stroke ; it is flashed into my mind that there is but one 

 thing to do to save myself, though a very dangerous 

 thing, and that is to strike first, and accordingly I 

 make my blow at his head only to feel the sting of his 

 poison fang in my hand; the pain wakes me. Here 



