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Atlantic； who have beamed and brightened at the casual mention of
his name； and have cried； 〃You know Jack Governor？ Then you know a
prince of men！〃 That he is！ And so unmistakably a naval officer；
that if you were to meet him coming out of an Esquimaux snow…hut in
seal's skin； you would be vaguely persuaded he was in full naval
uniform。
Jack once had that bright clear eye of his on my sister； but； it
fell out that he married another lady and took her to South
America； where she died。 This was a dozen years ago or more。 He
brought down with him to our haunted house a little cask of salt
beef； for； he is always convinced that all salt beef not of his own
pickling； is mere carrion； and invariably； when he goes to London；
packs a piece in his portmanteau。 He had also volunteered to bring
with him one 〃Nat Beaver；〃 an old comrade of his； captain of a
merchantman。 Mr。 Beaver； with a thick…set wooden face and figure；
and apparently as hard as a block all over； proved to be an
intelligent man； with a world of watery experiences in him； and
great practical knowledge。 At times； there was a curious
nervousness about him； apparently the lingering result of some old
illness； but； it seldom lasted many minutes。 He got the Cupboard
Room； and lay there next to Mr。 Undery； my friend and solicitor：
who came down； in an amateur capacity； 〃to go through with it；〃 as
he said； and who plays whist better than the whole Law List； from
the red cover at the beginning to the red cover at the end。
I never was happier in my life； and I believe it was the universal
feeling among us。 Jack Governor； always a man of wonderful
resources； was Chief Cook； and made some of the best dishes I ever
ate； including unapproachable curries。 My sister was pastry cook
and confectioner。 Starling and I were Cook's Mate； turn and turn
about； and on special occasions the chief cook 〃pressed〃 Mr。
Beaver。 We had a great deal of outdoor sport and exercise； but
nothing was neglected within； and there was no ill…humor or
misunderstanding among us； and our evenings were so delightful that
we had at least one good reason for being reluctant to go to bed。
We had a few night alarms in the beginning。 On the first night； I
was knocked up by Jack with a most wonderful ship's lantern in his
hand； like the gills of some monster of the deep； who informed me
that he 〃was going aloft to the main truck；〃 to have the
weathercock down。 It was a stormy night and I remonstrated； but
Jack called my attention to its making a sound like a cry of
despair； and said somebody would be 〃hailing a ghost〃 presently； if
it wasn't done。 So； up to the top of the house； where I could
hardly stand for the wind； we went； accompanied by Mr。 Beaver； and
there Jack； lantern and all； with Mr。 Beaver after him； swarmed up
to the top of a cupola； some two dozen feet above the chimneys； and
stood upon nothing particular； coolly knocking the weathercock off；
until they both got into such good spirits with the wind and the
height； that I thought they would never come down。 Another night；
they turned out again； and had a chimney…cowl off。 Another night；
they cut a sobbing and gulping water…pipe away。 Another night；
they found out something else。 On several occasions； they both； in
the coolest manner； simultaneously dropped out of their respective
bedroom windows； hand over hand by their counterpanes； to
〃overhaul〃 something mysterious in the garden。
The engagement among us was faithfully kept； and nobody revealed
anything。 All we knew was； if any one's room were haunted； no one
looked the worse for it。
The foregoing story is particularly interesting as illustrating the
leaning of Dickens's mind toward the spiritualistic and mystical
fancies current in his time； and the counterbalance of his common
sense and fun。
〃He probably never made up his own mind；〃 Mr。 Andrew Lang declares
in a discussion of this Haunted House story。 Mr。 Lang says he once
took part in a similar quest； and 〃can recognize the accuracy of
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 a