Out of the Dark

by Robert W. Chambers

  ‘Billy! Billy!’ I said in pleased amazement, ‘you are learning to talk! Dear me! You load your shells and you carry your own gun and you fire it yourself – hello! here’s Barris all over mud. You fellows really ought to change your rig – whew! what a frightful odor!’

  ‘It’s probably this,’ said Barris tossing something onto the hearth where it shuddered for a moment and then began to writhe; ‘I found it in the woods by the lake. Do you know what it can be, Roy?’

  To my disgust I saw it was another of those spidery wormy crablike creatures that Godfrey had in Tiffany’s.

  ‘I thought I recognized that acrid odor,’ I said; ‘for the love of the Saints take it away from the breakfast table, Barris!’

  ‘But what is it?’ he persisted, unslinging his field-glasses and revolver.

  ‘I’ll tell you what I know after breakfast,’ I replied firmly, ‘Howlett, get a broom and sweep that thing into the road – what are you laughing at, Pierpont?’

  Howlett swept the repulsive creature out and Barris and Pierpont went to change their dew-soaked clothes for dryer raiment. David came to take the dogs for an airing and in a few minutes Barris reappeared and sat down in his place at the head of the table.

  ‘Well,’ said I, ‘is there a story to tell?’

  ‘Yes, not much. They are near the lake on the other side of the woods – I mean these gold-makers. I shall collar one of them this evening. I haven’t located the main gang with any certainty – shove the toast rack this way will you, Roy – no, I am not at all certain, but I’ve nailed one anyway. Pierpont was a great help, really – and, what do you think, Roy? He wants to join the Secret Service!’

  ‘Little Willy!’

  ‘Exactly. Oh, I’ll dissuade him. What sort of reptile was it that I brought in? Did Howlett sweep it away?’

  ‘He can sweep it back again for all I care,’ I said indifferently, ‘I’ve finished my breakfast.’

  ‘No,’ said Barris, hastily swallowing his coffee, ‘it’s of no importance; you can tell me about the beast—’

  ‘Serve you right if I had it brought in on toast,’ I returned.

  Pierpont came in radiant, fresh from the bath.

  ‘Go on with your story, Roy,’ he said; and I told them about Godfrey and his reptile pet.

  ‘Now what in the name of common sense can Godfrey find interesting in that creature?’ I ended, tossing my cigarette into the fireplace.

  ‘It’s Japanese, don’t you think?’ said Pierpont.

  ‘No,’ said Barris, ‘it is not artistically grotesque, it’s vulgar and horrible – it looks cheap and unfinished—’

  ‘Unfinished – exactly,’ said I, ‘like an American humorist—’

  ‘Yes,’ said Pierpont, ‘cheap. What about that gold serpent?’

  ‘Oh, the Metropolitan Museum bought it; you must see it, it’s marvelous.’

  Barris and Pierpont had lighted their cigarettes and, after a moment, we all rose and strolled out to the lawn, where chairs and hammocks were placed under the maple trees.

  David passed, gun under arm, dogs heeling.

  ‘Three guns on the meadows at four this afternoon,’ said Pierpont.

  ‘Roy,’ said Barris as David bowed and started on, ‘what did you do yesterday?’

  This was the question that I had been expecting. All night long I had dreamed of Ysonde and the glade in the woods, where, at the bottom of the crystal fountain, I saw the reflection of her eyes. All the morning while bathing and dressing I had been persuading myself that the dream was not worth recounting and that a search for the glade and the imaginary stone carving would be ridiculous. But now, as Barris asked the question, I suddenly decided to tell him the whole story.

  ‘See here, you fellows,’ I said abruptly, ‘I am going to tell you something queer. You can laugh as much as you please to, but first I want to ask Barris a question or two. You have been in China, Barris?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Barris, looking straight into my eyes.

  ‘Would a Chinaman be likely to turn lumberman?’

  ‘Have you seen a Chinaman?’ he asked in a quiet voice.

  ‘I don’t know; David and I both imagined we did.’

  Barris and Pierpont exchanged glances.

  ‘Have you seen one also?’ I demanded, turning to include Pierpont.

  ‘No,’ said Barris slowly; ‘but I know that there is, or has been, a Chinaman in these woods.’

  ‘The devil!’ said I.

  ‘Yes,’ said Barris gravely; ‘the devil, if you like – a devil – a member of the Kuen-Yuin.’

  I drew my chair close to the hammock where Pierpont lay at full length, holding out to me a ball of pure gold.

  ‘Well?’ said I, examining the engraving on its surface, which represented a mass of twisted creatures – dragons, I supposed.

  ‘Well,’ repeated Barris, extending his hand to take the golden ball, ‘this globe of gold engraved with reptiles and Chinese hieroglyphics is the symbol of the Kuen-Yuin.’

  ‘Where did you get it?’ I asked, feeling that something startling was impending.

  ‘Pierpont found it by the lake at sunrise this morning. It is the symbol of the Kuen-Yuin,’ he repeated, ‘the terrible Kuen-Yuin, the sorcerers of China, and the most murderously diabolical sect on earth.’

  We puffed our cigarettes in silence until Barris rose, and began to pace backward and forward among the trees, twisting his gray moustache.

  ‘The Kuen-Yuin are sorcerers,’ he said, pausing before the hammock where Pierpont lay watching him; ‘I mean exactly what I say – sorcerers. I’ve seen them – I’ve seen them at their devilish business, and I repeat to you solemnly, that as there are angels above, there is a race of devils on earth and they are sorcerers. Bah!’ he cried, ‘talk to me of Indian magic and Yogis and all that clap-trap! Why, Roy, I tell you that the Kuen-Yuin have absolute control of a hundred millions of people, mind and body, body and soul. Do you know what goes on in the interior of China? Does Europe know – could any human being conceive of the condition of that gigantic hellpit? You read the papers, you hear diplomatic twaddle about Li Hung Chang and the Emperor, you see accounts of battles on sea and land, and you know that Japan has raised a toy tempest along the jagged edge of the great unknown. But you never before heard of the Kuen-Yuin; no, nor has any European except a stray missionary or two, and yet I tell you that when the fires from this pit of hell have eaten through the continent to the coast, the explosion will inundate half a world – and God help the other half.’

  Pierpont’s cigarette went out; he lighted another, and looked hard at Barris.

  ‘But,’ resumed Barris quietly, ‘“sufficient unto the day”, you know – I didn’t intend to say as much as I did – it would do no good – even you and Pierpont will forget it – it seems so impossible and so far away – like the burning out of the sun. What I want to discuss is the possibility or probability of a Chinaman – a member of the Kuen-Yuin, being here, at this moment, in the forest.’

  ‘If he is,’ said Pierpont, ‘possibly the gold-makers owe their discovery to him.’

  ‘I do not doubt it for a second,’ said Barris earnestly.

  I took the little golden globe in my hand, and examined the characters engraved upon it.

  ‘Barris,’ said Pierpont, ‘I can’t believe in sorcery while I am wearing one of Sanford’s shooting suits in the pocket of which rests an uncut volume of the “Duchess”.’

  ‘Neither can I,’ I said, ‘for I read the Evening Post, and I know Mr Godkin would not allow it. Hello! What’s the matter with this gold ball?’

  ‘What is the matter?’ said Barris grimly.

  ‘Why – why – it’s changing color – purple, no, crimson – no, it’s green I mean – good Heavens! these dragons are twisting under my fingers—’

  ‘Impossible!’ muttered Pierpont, leaning over me; ‘those are not dragons—’

  ‘No!’ I cried excitedly; ‘they are pictures of that reptile that Barr
is brought back – see – see – how they crawl and turn—’

  ‘Drop it!’ commanded Barris; and I threw the ball on the turf. In an instant we had all knelt down on the grass beside it, but the globe was again golden, grotesquely wrought with dragons and strange signs.

  Pierpont, a little red in the face, picked it up, and handed it to Barris. He placed it on a chair, and sat down beside me.

  ‘Whew!’ said I, wiping the perspiration from my face, ‘how did you play us that trick, Barris?’

  ‘Trick?’ said Barris contemptuously.

  I looked at Pierpont, and my heart sank. If this was not a trick, what was it? Pierpont returned my glance and colored, but all he said was, ‘It’s devilish queer,’ and Barris answered, ‘Yes, devilish’. Then Barris asked me again to tell my story, and I did, beginning from the time I met David in the spinney to the moment when I sprang into the darkening thicket where that yellow mask had grinned like a phantom skull.

  ‘Shall we try to find the fountain?’ I asked after a pause.

  ‘Yes – and – er – the lady,’ suggested Pierpont vaguely.

  ‘Don’t be an ass,’ I said a little impatiently, ‘you need not come, you know.’

  ‘Oh, I’ll come,’ said Pierpont, ‘unless you think I am indiscreet—’

  ‘Shut up, Pierpont,’ said Barris, ‘this thing is serious; I never heard of such a glade or such a fountain, but it’s true that nobody knows this forest thoroughly. It’s worthwhile trying for; Roy, can you find your way back to it?’

  ‘Easily,’ I answered; ‘when shall we go?’

  ‘It will knock our snipe shooting on the head,’ said Pierpont, ‘but when one has the opportunity of finding a live dream-lady—’

  I rose, deeply offended, but Pierpont was not very penitent and his laughter was irresistible.

  ‘The lady’s yours by right of discovery,’ he said, ‘I’ll promise not to infringe on your dreams – I’ll dream about other ladies—’

  ‘Come, come,’ said I, ‘I’ll have Howlett put you to bed in a minute. Barris, if you are ready – we can get back to dinner—’

  Barris had risen and was gazing at me earnestly.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked nervously, for I saw that his eyes were fixed on my forehead, and I thought of Ysonde and the white crescent scar.

  ‘Is that a birthmark?’ said Barris.

  ‘Yes – why, Barris?’

  ‘Nothing – an interesting coincidence—’

  ‘What! – for Heaven’s sake!’

  ‘The scar – or rather the birthmark. It is the print of the dragon’s claw – the crescent symbol of Yue-Laou—’

  ‘And who the devil is Yue-Laou?’ I said crossly.

  ‘Yue-Laou – the Moon Maker, Dzil-Nbu of the Kuen-Yuin – it’s Chinese Mythology, but it is believed that Yue-Laou has returned to rule the Kuen-Yuin—’

  ‘The conversation,’ interrupted Pierpont, ‘smacks of peacocks’ feathers and yellow-jackets. The chicken pox has left its card on Roy, and Barris is guying us. Come on, you fellows, and make your call on the dream-lady. Barris, I hear galloping; here come your men.’

  Two mud-splashed riders clattered up to the porch and dismounted at a motion from Barris. I noticed that both of them carried repeating rifles and heavy Colt revolvers.

  They followed Barris, deferentially, into the dining room, and presently we heard the tinkle of plates and bottles and the low hum of Barris’ musical voice.

  Half an hour later they came out again, saluted Pierpont and me, and galloped away in the direction of the Canadian frontier. Ten minutes passed, and, as Barris did not appear, we rose and went into the house, to find him. He was sitting silently before the table, watching the small golden globe, now glowing with scarlet and orange fire, brilliant as a live coal. Howlett, mouth ajar, and eyes starting from the sockets, stood petrified behind him.

  ‘Are you coming,’ asked Pierpont, a little startled. Barris did not answer. The globe slowly turned to pale gold again – but the face that Barris raised to ours was white as a sheet. Then he stood up, and smiled with an effort which was painful to us all.

  ‘Give me a pencil and a bit of paper,’ he said.

  Howlett brought it. Barris went to the window and wrote rapidly. He folded the paper, placed it in the top drawer of his desk, locked the drawer, handed me the key, and motioned us to precede him.

  When we again stood under the maples, he turned to me with an impenetrable expression. ‘You will know when to use the key,’ he said; ‘Come, Pierpont, we must try to find Roy’s fountain.’

  VI

  At two o’clock that afternoon, at Barris’ suggestion, we gave up the search for the fountain in the glade and cut across the forest to the spinney where David and Howlett were waiting with our guns and the three dogs.

  Pierpont guyed me unmercifully about the ‘dream-lady’ as he called her, and, but for the significant coincidence of Ysonde’s and Barris’ questions concerning the white scar on my forehead, I should long ago have been perfectly persuaded that I had dreamed the whole thing. As it was, I had no explanation to offer. We had not been able to find the glade although fifty times I came to landmarks which convinced me that we were just about to enter it. Barris was quiet, scarcely uttering a word to either of us during the entire search. I had never before seen him depressed in spirits. However, when we came in sight of the spinney where a cold bit of grouse and a bottle of Burgundy awaited each, Barris seemed to recover his habitual good humor.

  ‘Here’s to the dream-lady!’ said Pierpont, raising his glass and standing up.

  I did not like it. Even if she was only a dream, it irritated me to hear Pierpont’s mocking voice. Perhaps Barris understood – I don’t know, but he bade Pierpont drink his wine without further noise, and that young man obeyed with a childlike confidence which almost made Barris smile.

  ‘What about the snipe, David,’ I asked; ‘the meadows should be in good condition.’

  ‘There is not a snipe on the meadows, sir,’ said David solemnly.

  ‘Impossible,’ exclaimed Barris, ‘they can’t have left.’

  ‘They have, sir,’ said David in a sepulchral voice which I hardly recognized.

  We all three looked at the old man curiously, waiting for his explanation of this disappointing but sensational report.

  David looked at Howlett and Howlett examined the sky.

  ‘I was going,’ began the old man, with his eyes fastened on Howlett, ‘I was going along by the spinney with the dogs when I heard a noise in the covert and I seen Howlett come walkin’ very fast toward me. In fact,’ continued David, ‘I may say he was runnin’. Was you runnin’, Howlett?’

  Howlett said ‘Yes’, with a decorous cough.

  ‘I beg pardon,’ said David, ‘but I’d rather Howlett told the rest. He saw things which I did not.’

  ‘Go on, Howlett,’ commanded Pierpont, much interested.

  Howlett coughed again behind his large red hand.

  ‘What David says is true sir,’ he began; ‘I h’observed the dogs at a distance ’ow they was a workin’ sir, and David stood a lightin’ of ’s pipe be’ind the spotted beech when I see a ’ead pop up in the covert ’oldin’ a stick like ’e was h’aimin’ at the dogs sir—’

  ‘A head holding a stick?’ said Pierpont severely.

  ‘The ’ead ’ad ’ands, sir,’ explained Howlett, ‘’ands that ’eld a painted stick – like that, sir. ’Owlett, thinks I to myself, this ’ere’s queer, so I jumps in an’ runs, but the beggar ’e seen me an’ w’en I comes alongside of David ’e was gone. “’Ello ’Owlett,” sez David, “what the ’ell” – I beg pardon, sir – “’ow did you come ’ere,” sez ’e very loud. “Run!” sez I, “the Chinaman is harryin’ the dawgs!” “For Gawd’s sake wot Chinaman?” sez David, h’aimin’ ’is gun at every bush. Then I thinks I see ’im an’ we run an’ run, the dawgs a boundin’ close to heel sir, but we don’t see no Chinaman.’

  ‘I’ll tell the res
t,’ said David, as Howlett coughed and stepped in a modest corner behind the dogs.

  ‘Go on,’ said Barris in a strange voice.

  ‘Well sir, when Howlett and I stopped chasin’, we was on the cliff overlooking the south meadow. I noticed that there was hundreds of birds there, mostly yellowlegs and plover, and Howlett seen them too. Then before I could say a word to Howlett, something out in the lake gave a splash – a splash as if the whole cliff had fallen into the water. I was that scared that I jumped straight into the bush and Howlett he sat down quick, and all those snipe wheeled up – there was hundreds – all asquealin’ with fright, and the woodduck came bowlin’ over the meadows as if the old Nick was behind.’

  David paused and glanced meditatively at the dogs.

  ‘Go on,’ said Barris in the same strained voice.

  ‘Nothing more sir. The snipe did not come back.’

  ‘But that splash in the lake?’

  ‘I don’t know what it was sir.’

  ‘A salmon? A salmon couldn’t have frightened the duck and the snipe that way?’

  ‘No – oh no, sir. If fifty salmon had jumped they couldn’t have made that splash. Couldn’t they, Howlett?’

  ‘No ’ow,’ said Howlett.

  ‘Roy,’ said Barris at length, ‘what David tells us settles the snipe shooting for today. I am going to take Pierpont up to the house. Howlett and David will follow with the dogs – I have something to say to them. If you care to come, come along; if not, go and shoot a brace of grouse for dinner and be back by eight if you want to see what Pierpont and I discovered last night.’

  David whistled Gamin and Mioche to heel and followed Howlett and his hamper toward the house. I called Voyou to my side, picked up my gun and turned to Barris.

  ‘I will be back by eight,’ I said; ‘you are expecting to catch one of the gold-makers are you not?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Barris listlessly.

  Pierpont began to speak about the Chinaman but Barris motioned him to follow, and, nodding to me, took the path that Howlett and David had followed toward the house. When they disappeared I tucked my gun under my arm and turned sharply into the forest, Voyou trotting close to my heels.