fought with that
lid. Seven devils were within me and helped me; and all the while I
knew that I was dying, that unless the box were opened in a moment or
two it would be too late.

The sweat ran off my eyebrows and dripped on the box. My breath came
and went in sobs. I could not die. I could not, must not die. And so
I tugged and strained and tugged again.

Then, as I felt the black anguish of the Blue Room descending a second
time upon me, I seemed to put all my strength into my hands. From the
lid or from my own throat--I could not distinguish--there came a creak
and a long groan. I tore back the board and fell on the heath with one
shuddering breath of relief.

And drawing it, I raised my head and looked over the coffin's edge.
Still drawing it, I tumbled back.

White, cold, with the last struggle fixed on its features and open eyes,
it was my own dead face that stared up at me!

IV.

WHAT I HAVE SINCE LEARNT.

They found me, next morning, lying on the brink of the tarn, and carried
me back to the inn. There I lay for weeks in a brain fever and talked--
as they assure me--the wildest nonsense. The landlord had first guessed
that something was amiss on finding the front door open when he came
down at five o'clock. I must have turned to the left on leaving the
house, travelled up the road for a hundred yards, and then struck almost
at right angles across the moor. One of my shoes was found a furlong
from the highway, and this had guided them. Of course they found no
coffin beside me, and I was prudent enough to hold my tongue when I
became convalescent. But the effect of that night was to shatter my
health for a year and more, and force me to throw up my post of School
Inspector. To this day I have never examined the school at Pitt's
Scawens. But somebody else has; and last winter I received a letter,
which I will give in full:--

21, Chesterham Road, KENSINGTON, W.
December 3rd, 1891.

Dear Wraxall,--

It is a long time since we have corresponded, but I have just
returned from Cornwall, and while visiting Pitt's Scawens
professionally, was reminded of you. I put up at the inn where
you had your long illness. The people there were delighted to
find that I knew you, and desired me to send "their duty" when
next I wrote. By the way, I suppose you were introduced to their
state apartment--the Blue R