ed me.
(_Crosses to_ JARVIS L.C. _slowly_.)

JARVIS. Well, a black thing followed me, treading on my heels every step
I've taken.

RUSTY. Oh, I couldn't see where I was steppin'.

JARVIS. (_Looking about_) That goes to the Armory.

RUSTY. (L.C. JARVIS _on steps_) Ah seen eyes in there, and a cold,
grimy, green, slimy smell in there. Ain't that where that broad-faced
bird flew at me and I fell down them slippery stairs?

JARVIS. (_Laughing_) That broad-faced bird was an owl, Rusty--just a
common, ordinary owl. You know what an owl is.

RUSTY. O--ooh--ooh!

JARVIS. (_Sees door_ R.C.) Where can that door lead to? That's it.
(JARVIS _goes to the door in_ R.C. _Steps on trap and falls suddenly._)
Wow! That was a close one. (_Lantern goes out._)

RUSTY. (_Advancing_) Lord, Marse Warren, what is it? (_Starts up to
Jarvis._)

JARVIS. Get back! Give me that lantern. (RUSTY _hands lantern_.) Give me
your hand. Can you hold me? (RUSTY _holds out hand and_ JARVIS
_cautiously steps on trap door; it sinks and other end rises_.) God! I
thought so. Water and a long drop! No wonder people disappear in this
castle. Good Lord, what if her brother went down there? Rusty, whatever
happens, keep clear of this. If you step on this you will never see
Kentucky again for sure. (_Groan heard off left._)

RUSTY. Did you hear that groan? (_Wind changes to low moan._)

JARVIS. Groan---- There it is again. It sounded just like a man.

RUSTY. Ough! Ough!

JARVIS. Shut up! (_Crosses to_ L.C.)

RUSTY. Marse Warren--look out!

JARVIS. Listen! (_Crosses and stands moment at door. Wind moans._) I
guess it's the wind. (_He crosses to fireplace._) This place is getting
on my nerves.

RUSTY. (R.C.) That wasn't no wind, Marse Warren. Ah hope to die if that
wasn't a sure enough human groan. (_He looks at picture_ L.) And Ah want
to tell you som'pin' else. Have you ever been in church or somewhere and
all of a sudden a feelin' come over you that there was eyes a-starin' at
the back of your head? You just knowed it--until you couldn't stand it
no longer, and just turned around and see who it was?

JARVIS. Why, yes, Rusty, I have had that happen. Why?

RUSTY. That's just the way I feel now, like there was eyes a-lookin' at
me. (_Turns to picture._) You see that picture? Seems like that feller
was lookin' at me--like he'd step right out of the frame. (_He points to
armor on steps._) Or them two battleship boogies--just jump right down
here.