discourse kept the drowsy sportsman awake long after his
usual hour. At length, however, wearied nature could be charmed no
more, and the company began to steal away by degrees to their repose.
On his observing the society diminish, he discovered manifest signs of
uneasiness; he therefore gave new force to his spirits, and new charms
to his conversation, in order to detain the remaining few some time
longer. This had some little effect; but the period could not be long
delayed when he was to be conducted to his chamber. The remains of the
company retired also; but they had scarce closed their eyes, when the
house was alarmed by the most terrible shrieks that were ever heard;
several persons were awakened by the noise; but, its continuance being
short, they concluded it to proceed from a dog which might be
accidentally confined in some part of the house; they very soon,
therefore, composed themselves to sleep, but were again soon awakened
by shrieks and cries of still greater terror than the former. Alarmed
at what they heard, several of them rang their bells, and when the
servants came, they declared that the horrid sounds proceeded from the
stranger's chamber. Some of the gentlemen immediately arose to inquire
into this extraordinary disturbance; and while they were dressing
themselves for that purpose, deeper groans of despair, and shriller
shrieks of agony, again astonished and terrified them. After knocking
some time at the stranger's chamber door, he answered them as one
awakened from sleep, declared he had heard no noise, and, rather in an
angry tone, desired he might not be again disturbed. Upon this, they
returned to their chambers, and had scarce began to communicate their
sentiments to each other, when their conversation was interrupted by a
renewal of yells, screams, and shrieks, which, from the horror of
them, seemed to issue from the throats of damned and tortured spirits.
The gentlemen listened attentively, and traced the sounds to the
stranger's room, the door of which they instantly burst open, and
found him upon his knees in bed, in the act of scourging himself with
the most unrelenting severity, his body streaming with blood. On
their seizing his hands to stop the strokes, he begged them, in the
most ringing tone of voice, as an act of mercy, that they would
retire, assuring them that the cause of their disturbance was over,
and that in the morning he would acquaint them with the reasons of the
terribl