Newberry stirred the logs in the fireplace to a blaze, and we moved our chairs close to the flickering circle of warmth. The dim light was still burning in the corner of the room, and Glitch was snoring on the davenport.
"Funny thing," said Newberry, "the instructions your uncle left."
"Instructions? What instructions?" I asked.
"Why, didn't you know? But of course you didn't. He left written instructions with Mrs. Rhodes that in case of his sudden death his body was not to be embalmed, packed in ice, or preserved in any way, and that it was not to be buried under any consideration, until decomposition had set in. He also ordered that no autopsy should be held until it had been definitely decided that putrefaction had taken place."
"Have these instructions been carried out?" I asked.
"To the letter," he replied.
"And how long will it take for putrefaction to set in?"
"The doctors say it will probably be noticed in twenty-four hours."
I reflected on this strange order of my uncle's. It seemed to me that he must have feared being buried alive, or something of the sort, and I recalled several instances, of which I had heard, where bodies, upon being exhumed, were found turned over in their coffins, while others had apparently torn their hair and clawed the lid in their efforts to escape from a living tomb.
I was beginning to feel sleepy again and had just started to doze, when Newberry grasped my arm.
"Look!" he exclaimed, pointing toward the body.
I looked quickly and seemed to see something white for an instant, near the nostrils.
"Did you see it?" he asked breathlessly.
"See what?" I replied, wishing to learn if he had seen the same thing I had.
"I saw something white, like a thick vapor or filmy veil, come out of his nose. When I spoke to you it seemed to jerk back. Didn't you see it?"
"Thought I saw a white flash there when you spoke, but it must have been imagination."
The time had now arrived for Glitch to watch, so my companion awakened him, and they exchanged places. Newberry was soon asleep, and Glitch, being a stoical German, said little. I presently became drowsy, and was asleep in my chair in a short time.
A cry from Glitch brought me to my feet. "Vake up and help catch der cat!"
"What cat?" demanded Newberry, also awakening.
"Der big vite cat," said Glitch, visibly excited. "Chust now he came der door through and yumped der coffin in."
The three of us rushed to the coffin, but there was no sign of a cat, and everything seemed undisturbed.
"Dot's funny," said Glitch. "Maybe it's hiding someveres in der room."
We searched the room, without result.
"You've been seeing things," said Newberry.
"What did the animal look like?" I asked.
"Vite, und big as a dog. It kommt der door in, so, und gallped across der floor, so, und yumped in der casket chust like dot. Ach! It vos a fierce-looking beast."
Glitch was very much in earnest and gesticulated rapidly as he described the appearance and movements of the feline. Perhaps I should have felt inclined to laugh, had it not been for my own experience that night. I noticed, too, that Newberry's expression was anything but jocular.
It was now nearly four o'clock, time for Newberry to watch, but Glitch protested that he could not sleep another wink, so the three of us drew chairs up close to the fire. On each side of the fireplace was a large window. The shades were completely drawn and the windows were draped with heavy lace curtains. Happening to look up at the window to the left, I noticed something of a mouse-gray color hanging near the top of one of the curtains. As I looked, I fancied I saw a slight movement as of a wing being stretched a bit and
