And , as I sat up to make out where it was , another sound caught my attentive ear . Drip , drip , drip , went something out in the hall , and in an instant the tale told me on Sunset Hill came back with unpleasant vividness . `` Nonsense ! it is raining , and the roof leaks , '' I said to myself , while a disagreeable thrill went through me , and fancy , aided by indigestion , began to people the house with uncanny inmates . No rain had fallen for weeks , and peeping through my curtain I saw the big , bright stars shining in a cloudless sky ; so that explanation failed , and still the drip , drip , drip went on . Likewise the moaning , so distinctly now that it was evident the little back bedroom was next the chamber in which I was quaking at that identical moment . `` Some one is sleeping there , '' I said , and then recollected that all the rooms were locked , and all the keys but mine in Mrs. Grant 's pocket up at the house . `` Well , let the goblins enjoy themselves ; I wo n't disturb them if they let me alone . Some of the ladies thought me brave to dare to sleep here , and it will never do to own I was scared by a foolish story and an odd sound . '' So down I lay , and said the multiplication table industriously for several minutes , trying to turn a deaf ear to the outer world , and curb my unruly thoughts . But it was a failure , and , when I found myself saying over and over `` Four times twelve is twenty-four , '' I gave up affecting courage , and went in for a good honest scare . As a cheerful subject for midnight meditation I kept thinking of B. Tucker , in spite of every effort to abstain . In vain I recalled the fact that the departed gentleman was `` allers civil to the ladies . '' I still was in mortal fear lest he might think it necessary to come and apologize in person for `` bothering '' me . Presently a clock struck three , and I involuntarily gave a groan that beat the ghost 's all hollow , so full of anguish was I at the thought of several hours of weary waiting in such awesome suspense . I was not sure at what time the daylight would appear , and bitterly regretted not gathering useful information about sunrise , tides , and such things , instead of listening to the foolish gossip of Uncle Peter on the hill-top . Minute after minute dragged slowly on , and I was just thinking that I should be obliged to shout `` Fire ! '' as the only means of relief in my power , when a stealthy step under the window gave me a new sensation . This was a start , not a scare , for the new visitor was a human foe , and I had little fear of such , being possessed of good lungs , strong arms , and a Roman dagger nearly as big as a carving-knife . That step broke the spell , and , creeping noiselessly to the window , I peeped out to see a dark figure coming up the stem of the tall tree close by , hand over hand , like a sailor or a monkey .
`` Two can play at that game , my friend ; you scare me , and I 'll scare you ; '' and with an actual sense of relief in breaking the oppressive silence , I suddenly flung up the curtain , and , leaning out , brandished my XXXXX with what I intended to be an awe-inspiring screech , but , owing to the flutter of my breath , the effort ended in a curious mixture of howl and bray .
Grant Tucker carving-knife dagger daylight hill-top minute minutes moaning weeks