The Secret Chamber at Chad | Page 3

white-livered poltroon!" he cried, as the chill sweat
of fear ceased to break out upon him, and he rallied his courage and his
determination.
"I am no better than a maid! Shame upon me for a coward! I will not
call to Edred and Julian. It shall not be said of me, even by mine own
self, that I dared not face even a spirit from the lower world alone. I
will find out what this sound is, and that without the help of any other
living soul, else shall I despise myself forever!"
And with that resolve hot within him, Bertram threw back his coverings
and prepared to rise from his bed, when his attention was arrested by
some strange stealthy sounds close against the great carved chimney
piece, on the same side of the room as his own bed.
His brothers slept on the opposite side of the big room. None of the
sounds which were so astonishing Bertram would penetrate to their
sleeping senses. Had the eldest boy not been awake at the beginning, he
would scarce have heard the sound, so cautious and soft it was. But this
noise was something new. It was like hands fumbling and groping in
search of something. Bertram held his breath to listen, growing hot and
cold by turns. But he drew some of his clothes cautiously towards him,
and silently slipped into his nether garments. He felt that if there were
some unseen enemy striving in mysterious fashion to penetrate into this
room, he could better meet him if he were clothed, however scantily,
than he could do as he was; and he had ample time to put on even his
doublet and hose, and to cover himself up again in bed, with his small
poniard closely held in his hand, before there was any further
development of that strange night's drama which he was so breathlessly
watching.

That something or somebody was seeking to find entrance into the
room, he could not doubt for a moment; but, on the other hand, it
seemed an incredible surmise, because the wall along which the
unknown visitor had plainly felt his way was an outside wall, and if
there really were any person thus moving, he must be walking along
some secret passage in the thickness of the wall itself.
Such a thing was not impossible. Bertram knew of more than one such
passage contrived in the thickness of the wall in his ancient home, and
all the family were acquainted with a certain secret hiding place that
existed, cleverly contrived in the rambling old building, which, with its
various levels and its wilderness of chimneys, might well defy
detection, even with the most skilled search. But the boy knew of no
such passage or chamber in connection with their sleeping room, and
he was sure his parents did not know of one either, or any member of
the household. Therefore it was immensely surprising to hear these
uncanny sounds, and it was small wonder if they did give rise to a wave
of supernatural terror, of which the boy was man enough to feel
ashamed the moment reason had time to assert her sway.
"I have done no wrong; I confessed but three days since, and received
blessing and absolution. If any spirit were to come to visit this room, it
could do me no hurt. Besides, methinks a spirit would pass easily along
the straightest place, and would not need to fumble thus as if in search
of hidden bolts.
"Ha! what is that! Methought some spring shot back. Hist! here IT
comes!"
The boy lay back upon his bed, drawing the clothes silently up to his
very eyes. The moonlight had shifted just a little, and no longer
illumined his face. That was now in shadow, and would scarce reveal
the fact that he was awake. He lay perfectly still, scarce daring to draw
his breath, and the next moment a strange thing happened.
The whole of one of the great carved pillars that supported the high
mantle shelf swung noiselessly forward, and stood out at right angles to
the wall. From where he lay Bertram could not see, but he could well
understand that when this was done a narrow doorway had been
revealed, and the next moment a shadowy figure glided with noiseless
steps into the room.
The figure was poorly clad in a doublet of serge much the worse for

wear, and the moonlight showed a strangely haggard face and soiled
and torn raiment. Yet there was an air of dignity about the mysterious
visitor which showed to the astonished boy that he must at some time
have been in better circumstances, and lying quite still Bertram
watched his movements with breathless attention.
With a quick, scared