24 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. i. 



angles," " prognathic jaws," and that " peculiar 

 whiteness of the osseous tissue " upon which my 

 favourite author had dilated, drove out of my head 

 all the former broodings on immaterial beings 

 which had so disturbed my first ascent of the tower. 

 I particularly remember fastening after me the 

 heavy door which led into the dark wide stone 

 chamber of the dead, in order to be secure from 

 any interruption in my work. The gloom of the 

 apartment was just made visible by the light of 

 the lantern, but it served for the business im- 

 mediately in hand. The various instruments had 

 judiciously been left behind ; and when I returned 

 through the gates — the bag under my cloak — the 

 intimation that all was now ready for interment 

 was received with a nod of intelligence by the 

 old turnkey, which assured me that no inquisition 

 nor discovery was to be apprehended on that side 

 of the castle walls. 



' As soon as I was outside I began to hurry 

 down the hill ; but the pavement was coated with 

 a thin sheet of ice, my foot slipped, and, being 

 encumbered with my cloak, I lost my balance and 

 fell forward with a shock which jerked the negro's 

 head out of the bag, and sent it bounding down 

 the slippery surface of the steep descent. As 

 soon as I recovered my legs I raced desperately 

 after it, but was too late to arrest its progress. I 

 saw it bounce against the door of a cottage facing 

 the descent, which flew open and received me at 



