804-24 
A GHOST 
17 
sounds produced by the rushing of the wind. The 
lantern had swung open with the effort of my push 
and the light was extinguished. As the sounds 
died away I recognised that most melancholy and 
strangely articulate howling to which I had often 
•a the daytime listened in the circular turret, which 
received, like a colossal organ-pipe, the currents 
of air that vibrated as they rushed in through four 
or five arrow-slits in its thick walls. The effect 
t-hat a storm produced, blowing strongly from the 
soa, which was not very far distant, as it beat upon 
the walls of the old tower and played through this 
gigantic Atolian apparatus, is quite inconceivable. 
‘ When I had somewhat collected my thoughts, 
ray first idea was to return to the gateway for a 
light ; but reflection whispered “ No ; they’ll think 
you were afraid to pass the corpse room in the 
dark ; besides, they might say you couldn’t miss 
your way up the narrow spiral staircase.” So, shut- 
ting the heavy gate again, and locking it — the 
rule of the gaol being to lock every door that you 
passed through — I proceeded to mount the long 
succession of stone stairs. The loneliness of my 
position then struck coldly upon me, especially 
^hen the winds, after a moment’s silence, began 
again their dismal concert of moans, screams, and 
towls, through those arrow-slit apertures by 
^hich air and light were admitted to the stair- 
turret. In the murkiest gloom I began my 
ascent, and, arriving at the first grating, groped 
VOL. I. / ( r 
