Island of Deep Moat Grange--yet another of that
hideous crew left free and alive--the sooner the world knew about it
the better. I had always thought, and my father had said that the
official researches in the catacombs, called after the old Cistercian
Monks, had been much too summary.

The moisture came slowly back to my mouth. I was still scared, of
course, but I had got over the paralysis that comes with a first
surprise. If the Thing could swim, I could run, though not quite so
noiselessly, as there was an abundance of brushwood which I had to
traverse, while the wave undulated like oil off the creature's back, as
from an otter crossing a stream. You never saw anything swim so
lightly and yet so fast.

It crossed the Pond obliquely, evidently making for the entrance of the
Backwater. I could not follow directly. You see, I was constrained to
cross at the drawbridge. But, between ourselves, I burned the path
under my feet. I have many times run fast, but never so quickly as
then. Talk about second wind--second courage is worth ten of it any
day; quite as real, too, though less talked about.

It seemed a dreadful long way round about, and my heart was as much in
my mouth now lest I should lose _It_, as it had been before, lest _It_
should find me.

But I got there just ahead.

As I expected it had turned down the long, straight cut of the
Backwater, and was swimming straight toward me. Now, thought I, I will
surely see what the Thing is. But I could only make out--vague, round,
and shining, a head that turned this way and that in swimming.

Suddenly the speed was checked. The swimmer, whatever it might be,
turned sharply, searched a little, and appeared to hesitate. I took a
step and bent forward to listen. A rotten branch cracked sharply under
my careless foot. There was a sort of "wallop" like a seal or sea lion
turning off a spring-board into a pond. Then came the sharp click of
sliding iron. A square of darkness yawned in the canal bank.
Something entered, and the door shut with several jerks like machinery
in infrequent usage. The Thing had vanished. I was alone with the new
terror of the woods of Deep Moat Grange.

Nevertheless I had had a certain lesson some time before. I could not
again be altogether deceived. It _was_ something human, though in all
probability just so much the more dangerous and cruel for that. He, or
she, knew the secret of the iron door which Mr. Ablethorpe h