"stoker-dracula-168" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

wheels and the cracking of whips; the Szgany and the Slovaks of whom
the Count had spoken were coming. With a last look around and at the
box which contained the vile body, I ran from the place and gained the
Count's room, determined to rush out at the moment the door should
be opened. With strained ears, I listened, and heard downstairs the
grinding of the key in the great lock and the falling back of the
heavy door. There must have been some other means of entry, or some
one had a key for one of the locked doors. Then there came the sound
of many feet tramping and dying away in some passage which sent up a
clanging echo. I turned to run down again towards the vault, where I
might find the new entrance; but at the moment there seemed to come
a violent puff of wind, and the door to the winding stair blew to with
a shock that set the dust from the lintels flying. When I ran to
push it open, I found that it was hopelessly fast. I was again a
prisoner, and the net of doom was closing round me more closely.

As I write there is in the passage below a sound of many tramping
feet and the crash of weights being set down heavily, doubtless the
boxes, with their freight of earth. There is a sound of hammering;
it is the box being nailed down. Now I can hear the heavy feet
tramping again along the hall, with many other idle feet coming behind
them.

The door is shut, and the chains rattle; there is a grinding of
the key in the lock; I can hear the key withdraw: then another door
opens and shuts; I hear the creaking of lock and bolt.

Hark! in the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy
wheels, the crack of whips, and the chorus of the Szgany as they
pass into the distance.

I am alone in the castle with those awful women. Faugh! Mina is a
woman, and there is nought in common. They are devils of the Pit!

I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to scale the
castle wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of
the gold with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this
dreadful place.

And then away for home! away to the quickest and nearest train! away
from this cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and
his children still walk with earthly feet!

At least God's mercy is better than that of these monsters, and
the precipice is steep and high. At its foot a man may sleep- as a
man. Good-bye, all! Mina!

CHAPTER V.

LETTERS, ETC.