the notch on the ax and on being found out-第6章
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most of Dickens's remarks。 Indeed； even to persons not on the
level of the Odd Girl in education； the temptation to produce
'phenomena' for fun is all but overwhelming。 That people
communicate hallucinations to each other 'in some diseased way
without words；' is a modern theory perhaps first formulated here by
Dickens。〃
〃The Signal Man's Story；〃 which follows； is likewise； Mr。 Lang
believes； 〃probably based on some real story of the kind； some
anecdote of premonitions。 There are scores in the records of the
Society for Psychical Research。〃The Editor。
NO。 1 BRANCH LINE： THE SIGNAL…MAN
〃Halloa！ Below there！〃
When he heard a voice thus calling to him； he was standing at the
door of his box； with a flag in his hand； furled round its short
pole。 One would have thought； considering the nature of the
ground； that he could not have doubted from what quarter the voice
came； but instead of looking up to where I stood on the top of the
steep cutting nearly over his head； he turned himself about； and
looked down the Line。 There was something remarkable in his manner
of doing so； though I could not have said for my life what。 But I
know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice； even though his
figure was foreshortened and shadowed； down in the deep trench； and
mine was high above him； so steeped in the glow of an angry sunset；
that I had shaded my eyes with my hand before I saw him at all。
〃Halloa！ Below！〃
From looking down the Line； he turned himself about again； and；
raising his eyes； saw my figure high above him。
〃Is there any path by which I can come down and speak to you？〃
He looked up at me without replying； and I looked down at him
without pressing him too soon with a repetition of my idle
question。 Just then there came a vague vibration in the earth and
air； quickly changing into a violent pulsation； and an oncoming
rush that caused me to start back； as though it had a force to draw
me down。 When such vapor as rose to my height from this rapid
train had passed me； and was skimming away over the landscape； I
looked down again； and saw him refurling the flag he had shown
while the train went by。
I repeated my inquiry。 After a pause； during which he seemed to
regard me with fixed attention； he motioned with his rolled…up flag
towards a point on my level； some two or three hundred yards
distant。 I called down to him； 〃All right！〃 and made for that
point。 There； by dint of looking closely about me； I found a rough
zigzag descending path notched out； which I followed。
The cutting was extremely deep； and unusually precipitate。 It was
made through a clammy stone； that became oozier and wetter as I
went down。 For these reasons； I found the way long enough to give
me time to recall a singular air of reluctance or compulsion with
which he had pointed out the path。
When I came down low enough upon the zigzag descent to see him
again； I saw that he was standing between the rails on the way by
which the train had lately passed； in an attitude as if he were
waiting for me to appear。 He had his left hand at his chin； and
that left elbow rested on his right hand； crossed over his breast。
His attitude was one of such expectation and watchfulness that I
stopped a moment； wondering at it。
I resumed my downward way； and stepping out upon the level of the
railroad； and drawing nearer to him； saw that he was a dark； sallow
man； with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows。 His post was in
as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw。 On either side； a
dripping…wet wall of jagged stone； excluding all view but a strip
of sky； the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this
great dungeon； the shorter perspective in the other direction
terminating in a gloomy red light； and the gloomier entrance to a
black tunnel； in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous；
depressing； and forbidding air。 So little sunlight ever found its
way to this spot； that it had an earthy； deadly smell； and so much
cold wind rushed through it； that it struck chill to me； as if I
had left the natural world。
Before he stirred； I was near enough to him to have touched him。
Not even then removing his eyes from mine； he stepped back one
step； and lifted his hand。
This was a lonesome post to occupy （I said）； and it had riveted my
attention when I looked down from up yonder。 A visitor was a
rarity； I should suppose； not an unwelcome rarity； I hoped？ In me；
he merely saw a man who had been shut up within narrow limits all
his life； and who； being at last set free； had a newly…awakened
interest in these great works。 To such purpose I spoke to him； but
I am far from sure of the terms I used； for； besides that I am not
happy in opening any conversation； there was something in the man
that daunted me。
He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the
tunnel's mouth； and looked all about it； as if something were
missing from it； and then looked it me。
That light was part of his charge？ Was it not？
He answered in a low voice；〃Don't you know it is？〃
The monstrous thought came into my mind； as I perused the fixed
eyes and the saturnine face； that this was a spirit； not a man。 I
have speculated since； whether there may have been infection in his
mind。
In my turn； I stepped back。 But in making the action； I detected
in his eyes some latent fear of me。 This put the monstrous thought
to flight。
〃You look at me；〃 I said； forcing a smile； 〃as if you had a dread
of me。〃
〃I was doubtful；〃 he returned； 〃whether I had seen you before。〃
〃Where？〃
He pointed to the red light he had looked at。
〃There？〃 I said。
Intently watchful of me； he replied （but without sound）； 〃Yes。〃
〃My good fellow； what should I do there？ However； be that as it
may； I never was there； you may swear。〃
〃I think I may；〃 he rejoined。 〃Yes； I am sure I may。〃
His manner cleared； like my own。 He replied to my remarks with
readiness； and in well…chosen words。 Had he much to do there？
Yes； that was to say； he had enough responsibility to bear； but
exactness and watchfulness were what was required of him； and of
actual workmanual laborhe had next to none。 To change that
signal； to trim those lights； and to turn this iron handle now and
then； was all he had to do under that head。 Regarding those many
long and lonely hours of which I seemed to make so much； he could
only say that the routine of his life had shaped itself into that
form； and he had grown used to it。 He had taught himself a
language down here；if only to know it by sight； and to have
formed his own crude ideas of its pronunciation； could be called
learning it。 He had also worked at fractions and decimals； and
tried a little algebra； but he was； and had been as a boy； a poor
hand at figures。 Was it necessary for him when on duty always to
remain in that channel of damp air； and could he never rise into
the sunshine from between those high stone walls？ Why； that
depended upon times and circumstances。 Under some conditions there
would be less upon the Line than under others； and the same held
good as to certain hours of the day and night。 In bright weather；
he did choose occasions for getting a little above these lower
shadows； but； being at all times liable to be called by his
electric bell； and at such times listening for it with redoubled
anxiety； the relief was less than I would suppose。
He took me into his box； where there was a fire； a desk for an
official book in which he had to make certain entries； a
telegraphic instrument with its dial； face； and needles； and the
little bell of which he had spoken。 On my trusting that he would
excuse the remark that he had been well educated； and （I hoped I
might say without offence） perhaps educated above that station； he
observed that instances of slight incongruity in such wise would
rarely be found wanting among large bodies of men； that he had
heard it was so in workhouses； in the police force； even in that
last desperate resource； the army； and that he knew it was so； more
or less； in any great railway staff。 He had been； when young （if I
could believe it； sitting in that hut；
