"Suddenly in the dead of night I was awakened out of my sleep by the
sound of heavy footsteps, as of a man wearing big boots unlaced, pacing
ceaselessly up and down a long corridor which I knew was plainly visible
from the landing outside my door, as there was a large window at the
farther end of it, and there was sufficient moonlight to enable one to
see its full length. After listening for about twenty minutes, my
curiosity was aroused, so I got up and stood on the landing. The
footsteps still continued, but I could see nothing, although the sounds
actually reached the foot of the flight of stairs which led from the
corridor to the landing on which I was standing. Suddenly the footfall
ceased, pausing at my end of the corridor, and I then considered it was
high time for me to retire, which I accordingly did, carefully closing
the door behind me.

"To my horror the footsteps ascended the stairs, and the bedroom door was
violently dashed back against a washing-stand, beside which was a bed;
the contents of the ewer were spilled over the occupant, and the steps
advanced a few paces into the room in my direction. A cold perspiration
broke out all over me; I cannot describe the sensation. It was not actual
fear--it was more than that--I felt I had come into contact with the
Unknown.

"What was about to happen? All I could do was to speak; I cried out, "Who
are you? What do you want?" Suddenly the footsteps ceased; I felt
relieved, and lay awake till morning, but no further sound reached my
ears. How or when my ghostly visitant disappeared I never knew; suffice
it to say, my story was no nightmare, but an actual fact, of which there
was found sufficient proof in the morning; the floor was still saturated
with water, the door, which we always carefully closed at night, was wide