Page 311 - The snake's pass

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A GRIM WARNING. 299 ;
to touch us, and as I clasped Norah to me, so that we
might die together, and whilst her despairing cry was
in my ear, the whole mighty mass turned into loath-
some, writhing snakes, sweeping into the sea!
I awoke with a scream which brought nearly every one
in the hotel into my bedroom. Dick was first, and found
me standing on the floor, white and drunk with terror.
" What is it, old fellow ?—oh ! I see, only a nightmare !
Come on ! he's all right ; it's only a dream ! " and almost
before I had realized that the waking world and not the
world of shadows was around me, the room was cleared
and I was alone. I lit a candle and put on some clothes
as it was of no use trying to sleep again after such an
experience, I got a book and resolutely set to reading.
The effort was successful, as such efforts always are, and
I quite forgot the cause of my disturbance in what I
read. Then the matter itself grew less interesting ....
There was a tap at my door. I started awake—it
was broad daylight, and the book lay with crumpled
leaves beside me on the floor. It was a message to tell
me that Mr. Sutherland was waiting breakfast for me. I
called out that I would be down in a few minutes, which
promise I carried out as nearly as was commensurate with
the requirements of the tub and the toilet. I found Dick
awaiting me; he looked at me keenly as I came in,
and then said heartily:
"I see your nightmare has not left any ill-effects. I
say! old chap, it must have been a whopper—a regular
Derby winner among nightmares—worse than Andy's old