s1 the monkey's paw.pdf

8/12/2019 S1 The Monkey's Paw.pdf

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THE MONKEY' S PAW by W. W. J acobs

I .

Wi t hout , t he ni ght was col d and wet , but i n t he smal l par l our ofLabur nam Vi l l a t he bl i nds wer e dr awn and t he f i r e bur ned br i ght l y.Fat her and son were at chess, t he f ormer , who possessed i deas

about t he game i nvol vi ng r adi cal changes, put t i ng hi s ki ng i nt osuch sharp and unnecessary per i l s t hat i t even pr ovoked commentf r om t he whi t e- hai r ed ol d l ady kni t t i ng pl aci dl y by t he f i r e.

"Har k at t he wi nd, " sai d Mr . Whi t e, who, havi ng seen a f at almi st ake af t er i t was t oo l at e, was ami abl y desi r ous of pr event i nghi s son f r om seei ng i t .

"I ' m l i st eni ng, " sai d t he l at t er , gr i ml y sur veyi ng t he boar d as hest r et ched out hi s hand. "Check. "

" I shoul d har dl y t hi nk t hat he' d come t o- ni ght , " sai d hi s f at her ,wi t h hi s hand poi sed over t he boar d.

"Mat e, " r epl i ed t he son.

"That ' s t he wor st of l i vi ng so f ar out , " bawl ed Mr . Whi t e, wi t hsudden and unl ooked- f or vi ol ence; "of al l t he beast l y, sl ushy,out - of - t he- way pl aces t o l i ve i n, t hi s i s t he wor st . Pat hway' s abog, and t he r oad' s a t or r ent . I don' t know what peopl e ar et hi nki ng about . I suppose because onl y t wo houses i n t he r oad ar e

l et , t hey t hi nk i t doesn' t mat t er . "

"Never mi nd, dear , " sai d hi s wi f e, soot hi ngl y; "per haps you' l l wi nt he next one. "

Mr . Whi t e l ooked up shar pl y, j ust i n t i me t o i nt er cept a knowi nggl ance bet ween mot her and son. The words di ed away on hi s l i ps,and he hi d a gui l t y gr i n i n hi s t hi n gr ey bear d.

"Ther e he i s, " sai d Her ber t Whi t e, as t he gat e banged t o l oudl yand heavy f oot st eps came t oward t he door .

The ol d man r ose wi t h hospi t abl e hast e, and openi ng t he door , washear d condol i ng wi t h t he new ar r i val . The new ar r i val al socondol ed wi t h hi msel f , so t hat Mr s. Whi t e sai d, "Tut , t ut ! " andcoughed gent l y as her husband ent ered t he r oom, f ol l owed by at al l , bur l y man, beady of eye and r ubi cund of vi sage.

"Ser geant - Maj or Mor r i s, " he sai d, i nt r oduci ng hi m.


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The ser geant - maj or shook hands, and t aki ng t he prof f er ed seat byt he f i r e, wat ched cont ent edl y whi l e hi s host got out whi skey andt umbl er s and st ood a smal l copper ket t l e on t he f i r e.

At t he t hi r d gl ass hi s eyes got br i ght er , and he began t o t al k,t he l i t t l e f ami l y ci r cl e r egar di ng wi t h eager i nt er est t hi svi si t or f r om di st ant par t s, as he squar ed hi s br oad shoul der s i n

t he chai r and spoke of wi l d scenes and dought y deeds; of wars andpl agues and st r ange peopl es.

"Twent y- one year s of i t , " sai d Mr . Whi t e, noddi ng at hi s wi f e andson. "When he went away he was a sl i p of a yout h i n t he warehouse.Now l ook at hi m. "

"He don' t l ook t o have t aken much harm, " sai d Mr s. Whi t e,pol i t el y.

"I ' d l i ke t o go t o I ndi a mysel f , " sai d t he ol d man, "j ust t o l ook

r ound a bi t , you know. "

"Bet t er wher e you ar e, " sai d t he ser geant - maj or , shaki ng hi s head.He put down t he empt y gl ass, and si ghi ng sof t l y, shook i t agai n.

" I shoul d l i ke t o see t hose ol d t empl es and f aki r s and j uggl er s, "sai d t he ol d man. "What was t hat you st ar t ed t el l i ng me t he ot herday about a monkey' s paw or somet hi ng, Mor r i s?"

"Not hi ng, " sai d t he sol di er , hast i l y. "Least ways not hi ng wor t h

hear i ng. "

"Monkey' s paw?" sai d Mr s. Whi t e, cur i ousl y.

"Wel l , i t ' s j ust a bi t of what you mi ght cal l magi c, per haps, "sai d the ser geant - maj or , of f handedl y.

Hi s t hr ee l i st ener s l eaned f or war d eager l y. The vi si t or absent -mi ndedl y put hi s empt y gl ass t o hi s l i ps and t hen set i t downagai n. Hi s host f i l l ed i t f or hi m.

"To l ook at , " sai d t he ser geant - maj or , f umbl i ng i n hi s pocket ," i t ' s j ust an or di nar y l i t t l e paw, dr i ed t o a mummy. "

He t ook somet hi ng out of hi s pocket and pr of f er ed i t . Mr s. Whi t edr ew back wi t h a gr i mace, but her son, t aki ng i t , exami ned i tcur i ousl y.


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He t ook t he paw, and dangl i ng i t bet ween hi s f oref i nger and t humb,suddenl y t hr ew i t upon t he f i r e. Whi t e, wi t h a sl i ght cr y, st oopeddown and snat ched i t of f .

"Bet t er l et i t bur n, " sai d t he sol di er , sol emnl y.

"I f you don' t want i t , Mor r i s, " sai d t he ot her , "gi ve i t t o me. "

"I won' t , " sai d hi s f r i end, doggedl y. " I t hr ew i t on t he f i r e. I fyou keep i t , don' t bl ame me f or what happens. Pi t ch i t on t he f i r eagai n l i ke a sensi bl e man. "

The ot her shook hi s head and exami ned hi s new possessi on cl osel y."How do you do i t ?" he i nqui r ed.

"Hol d i t up i n your r i ght hand and wi sh al oud, " sai d t he ser geant -maj or , "but I war n you of t he consequences. "

"Sounds l i ke t he Ar abi an Ni ght s, " sai d Mr s. Whi t e, as she r ose andbegan t o set t he supper . "Don' t you t hi nk you mi ght wi sh f or f ourpai r s of hands f or me?"

Her husband dr ew t he t al i sman f r om pocket , and t hen al l t hr eebur st i nt o l aught er as t he ser geant - maj or , wi t h a l ook of al ar m onhi s f ace, caught hi m by t he ar m.

" I f you must wi sh, " he sai d, gr uf f l y, "wi sh f or somet hi ngsensi bl e. "

Mr . Whi t e dr opped i t back i n hi s pocket , and pl aci ng chai r s,mot i oned hi s f r i end t o t he t abl e. I n t he busi ness of supper t het al i sman was par t l y f or got t en, and af t er war d t he t hr ee satl i st eni ng i n an ent hr al l ed f ashi on t o a second i nst al ment of t hesol di er ' s advent ur es i n I ndi a.

" I f t he t al e about t he monkey' s paw i s not mor e t r ut hf ul t hant hose he has been t el l i ng us, " sai d Her ber t , as t he door cl osedbehi nd t hei r guest , j ust i n t i me f or hi m t o cat ch t he l ast t r ai n,"we sha' nt make much out of i t . "

"Di d you gi ve hi m anyt hi ng f or i t , f at her ?" i nqui r ed Mr s. Whi t e,r egar di ng her husband cl osel y.

"A t r i f l e, " sai d he, col our i ng s l i ght l y. "He di dn' t want i t , but Imade hi m t ake i t . And he pr essed me agai n t o t hr ow i t away. "


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"Li kel y, " sai d Her ber t , wi t h pr et ended hor r or . "Why, we' r e goi ngt o be r i ch, and f amous and happy. Wi sh t o be an emperor , f at her ,t o begi n wi t h; t hen you can' t be henpecked. "

He dar t ed r ound t he tabl e, pur sued by t he mal i gned Mr s. Whi t earmed wi t h an ant i macassar .

Mr . Whi t e t ook t he paw f r om hi s pocket and eyed i t dubi ousl y. " Idon' t know what t o wi sh f or , and t hat ' s a f act , " he sai d, sl owl y." I t seems t o me I ' ve got al l I want . "

" I f you onl y cl ear ed t he house, you' d be qui t e happy, woul dn' tyou?" sai d Her ber t , wi t h hi s hand on hi s shoul der . "Wel l , wi sh f ort wo hundr ed pounds, t hen; t hat ' l l j ust do i t . "

Hi s f at her , smi l i ng shamef acedl y at hi s own cr edul i t y, hel d up t het al i sman, as hi s son, wi t h a sol emn f ace, somewhat marr ed by awi nk at hi s mot her , sat down at t he pi ano and st r uck a f ew

i mpr essi ve chor ds.

" I wi sh f or t wo hundr ed pounds, " sai d t he ol d man di st i nct l y.

A f i ne cr ash f r om t he pi ano gr eet ed t he wor ds, i nt er r upt ed by ashudder i ng cr y f r om t he ol d man. Hi s wi f e and son r an t oward hi m.

" I t moved, " he cr i ed, wi t h a gl ance of di sgust at t he obj ect as i tl ay on t he f l oor .

"As I wi shed, i t t wi st ed i n my hand l i ke a snake. "

"Wel l , I don' t see t he money, " sai d hi s son as he pi cked i t up andpl aced i t on t he t abl e, "and I bet I never shal l . "

" I t must have been your f ancy, f at her , " sai d hi s wi f e, r egar di nghi m anxi ousl y.

He shook hi s head. "Never mi nd, t hough; t here' s no harm done, buti t gave me a shock al l t he same. "

They sat down by t he f i r e agai n whi l e t he t wo men f i ni shed t hei rpi pes. Out si de, t he wi nd was hi gher t han ever , and t he ol d manst ar t ed ner vousl y at t he sound of a door bangi ng upst ai r s. Asi l ence unusual and depr essi ng set t l ed upon al l t hr ee, whi chl ast ed unt i l t he ol d coupl e r ose t o r et i r e f or t he ni ght .

" I expect you' l l f i nd t he cash t i ed up i n a bi g bag i n t he mi ddl eof your bed, " sai d Her ber t , as he bade t hem good- ni ght , "and


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somet hi ng hor r i bl e squat t i ng up on t op of t he war dr obe wat chi ngyou as you pocket your i l l - got t en gai ns. "

He sat al one i n t he dar kness, gazi ng at t he dyi ng f i r e, and seei ngf aces i n i t . The l ast f ace was so hor r i bl e and so si mi an t hat hegazed at i t i n amazement . ' I t got so vi vi d t hat , wi t h a l i t t l euneasy l augh, he f el t on t he t abl e f or a gl ass cont ai ni ng a l i t t l e

wat er t o thr ow over i t . Hi s hand gr asped t he monkey' s paw, andwi t h a l i t t l e shi ver he wi ped hi s hand on hi s coat and went up t obed.

I I .

I n t he br i ght ness of t he wi nt r y sun next mor ni ng as i t st r eamedover t he br eakf ast t abl e he l aughed at hi s f ear s. Ther e was an ai rof pr osai c whol esomeness about t he room whi ch i t had l acked on t hepr evi ous ni ght , and t he di r t y, shr i vel l ed l i t t l e paw was pi t ched

on t he si deboar d wi t h a carel essness whi ch bet okened no gr eatbel i ef i n i t s vi r t ues.

" I suppose al l ol d sol di er s ar e t he same, " sai d Mr s. Whi t e. "Thei dea of our l i st eni ng t o such nonsense! How coul d wi shes begr ant ed i n these days? And i f t hey coul d, how coul d t wo hundr edpounds hur t you, f at her ?"

"Mi ght dr op on hi s head f r om t he sky, " sai d t he f r i vol ous Her ber t .

"Mor r i s sai d t he t hi ngs happened so nat ur al l y, " sai d' hi s f at her ," t hat you mi ght i f you so wi shed at t r i but e i t t o coi nci dence. "

"Wel l , don' t br eak i nt o the money bef or e I come back, " sai dHer ber t as he r ose f r om t he t abl e. " I ' m af r ai d i t ' l l t ur n you i nt oa mean, avar i ci ous man, and we shal l have t o di sown you. "

Hi s mot her l aughed, and f ol l owi ng hi m t o t he door , wat ched hi mdown t he road; and r et ur ni ng t o the br eakf ast t abl e, was ver yhappy at t he expense of her husband' s cr edul i t y. Al l of whi ch di dnot pr event her f r om scur r yi ng t o the door at t he post man' s knock,nor pr event her f r om r ef er r i ng somewhat shor t l y t o r et i r edsergeant - maj or s of bi bul ous habi t s when she f ound t hat t he postbrought a t ai l or ' s bi l l .

"Herber t wi l l have some more of hi s f unny r emar ks, I expect , whenhe comes home, " she sai d, as t hey sat at di nner .

" I dar e say, " sai d Mr . Whi t e, pour i ng hi msel f out some beer ; "butf or al l t hat , t he t hi ng moved i n my hand; t hat I ' l l swear t o. "


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"You t hought i t di d, " sai d t he ol d l ady soot hi ngl y.

" I say i t di d, " r epl i ed t he ot her . "Ther e was no t hought about i t ;I had j ust - What ' s t he mat t er ?"

Hi s wi f e made no repl y. She was wat chi ng t he myst er i ous movement s

of a man out si de, who, peer i ng i n an undeci ded f ashi on at t hehouse, appear ed t o be t r yi ng t o make up hi s mi nd t o ent er . I nment al connect i on wi t h t he t wo hundr ed pounds, she not i ced t hatt he st r anger was wel l dr essed, and wor e a si l k hat of gl ossynewness. Thr ee t i mes he paused at t he gat e, and t hen wal ked onagai n. The f our t h t i me he st ood wi t h hi s hand upon i t , and t henwi t h sudden r esol ut i on f l ung i t open and wal ked up t he pat h. Mr s.Whi t e at t he same moment pl aced her hands behi nd her , andhur r i edl y unf ast eni ng t he st r i ngs of her apr on, put t hat usef ular t i cl e of appar el beneat h t he cushi on of her chai r .

She br ought t he st r anger , who seemed i l l at ease, i nt o t he room.He gazed at her f ur t i vel y, and l i st ened i n a pr eoccupi ed f ashi onas t he ol d l ady apol ogi zed f or t he appear ance of t he r oom, and herhusband' s coat , a garment whi ch he usual l y reser ved f or t hegar den. She t hen wai t ed as pat i ent l y as her sex woul d per mi t , f orhi m t o br oach hi s busi ness, but he was at f i r st st r angel y si l ent .

" I was asked t o cal l , " he sai d at l ast , and st ooped and pi cked api ece of cot t on f r om hi s t r ouser s. " I come f r om ' Maw andMeggi ns. ' "

The ol d l ady st ar t ed. " I s anyt hi ng t he mat t er ?" she asked,br eat hl essl y. "Has anyt hi ng happened to Her ber t ? What i s i t ? Whati s i t ?"

Her husband i nt er posed. "Ther e, t her e, mot her , " he sai d, hast i l y."Si t down, and don' t j ump to concl usi ons. You' ve not br ought badnews, I ' m sur e, si r ; " and he eyed t he ot her wi st f ul l y.

"I ' m sor r y" began t he vi si t or .

" I s he hur t ?" demanded t he mot her , wi l dl y.

The vi si t or bowed i n assent . "Badl y hur t , " he sai d, qui et l y, "buthe i s not i n any pai n. "

"Oh, t hank God! " sai d t he ol d woman, cl aspi ng her hands. "ThankGod f or t hat ! Thank"


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She br oke of f suddenl y as t he si ni st er meani ng of t he assurancedawned upon her and she saw t he awf ul conf i r mat i on of her f ear s i nt he ot her ' s per ver t ed f ace. She caught her br eat h, and t ur ni ng t oher sl ower - wi t t ed husband, l ai d her t r embl i ng ol d hand upon hi s.

Ther e was a l ong si l ence.

"He was caught i n t he machi ner y, " sai d t he vi si t or at l engt h i n a

l ow voi ce.

"Caught i n t he machi ner y, " r epeat ed Mr . Whi t e, i n a dazed f ashi on,"yes. "

He sat st ar i ng bl ankl y out at t he wi ndow, and t aki ng hi s wi f e' shand bet ween hi s own, pr essed i t as he had been wont t o do i nt hei r ol d cour t i ng- days near l y f or t y year s bef or e.

"He was t he onl y one l ef t t o us, " he sai d, t ur ni ng gent l y t o t hevi si t or . " I t i s har d. "

The ot her coughed, and r i si ng, wal ked sl owl y t o t he wi ndow. "Thef i r m wi shed me t o convey t hei r si ncer e sympat hy wi t h you i n yourgr eat l oss, " he sai d, wi t hout l ooki ng r ound. "I beg t hat you wi l lunder st and I am onl y t hei r ser vant and mer el y obeyi ng or der s. "

Ther e was no r epl y; t he ol d woman' s f ace was whi t e, her eyesst ar i ng, and her br eat h i naudi bl e; on t he husband' s f ace was al ook such as hi s f r i end t he ser geant mi ght have car r i ed i nt o hi sf i r s t act i on.

" I was t o say t hat Maw and Meggi ns di scl ai m al l r esponsi bi l i t y, "cont i nued t he ot her . "They admi t no l i abi l i t y at al l , but i nconsi der at i on of your son' s ser vi ces, t hey wi sh t o pr esent youwi t h a cer t ai n sum as compensat i on. "

Mr . Whi t e dr opped hi s wi f e' s hand, and r i si ng t o hi s f eet , gazedwi t h a l ook of hor r or at hi s vi si t or . Hi s dr y l i ps shaped t hewor ds, "How much?"

"Two hundred pounds, " was t he answer .

Unconsci ous of hi s wi f e' s shr i ek, t he ol d man smi l ed f ai nt l y, putout hi s hands l i ke a si ght l ess man, and dr opped, a sensel ess heap,t o t he f l oor .

I I I .


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I n t he huge new cemet ery, some t wo mi l es di st ant , t he ol d peopl ebur i ed t hei r dead, and came back t o a house st eeped i n shadow andsi l ence. I t was al l over so qui ckl y t hat at f i r st t hey coul dhar dl y r eal i ze i t , and r emai ned i n a st at e of expect at i on ast hough of somet hi ng el se t o happen somet hi ng el se whi ch was t ol i ght en t hi s l oad, t oo heavy f or ol d hear t s t o bear .

But t he days passed, and expect at i on gave pl ace t o resi gnat i ont hehopel ess r esi gnat i on of t he ol d, somet i mes mi scal l ed, apat hy.Somet i mes t hey hardl y exchanged a word, f or now t hey had not hi ngt o t al k about , and t hei r days wer e l ong t o wear i ness.

I t was about a week af t er t hat t he ol d man, waki ng suddenl y i n t heni ght , st r et ched out hi s hand and f ound hi msel f al one. The r oomwas i n darkness, and t he sound of subdued weepi ng came f r om t hewi ndow. He r ai sed hi msel f i n bed and l i st ened.

"Come back, " he sai d, t ender l y. "You wi l l be col d. "

" I t i s col der f or my son, " sai d t he ol d woman, and wept af r esh.

The sound of her sobs di ed away on hi s ear s. The bed was war m, andhi s eyes heavy wi t h sl eep. He dozed f i t f ul l y, and t hen sl ept unt i la sudden wi l d cr y f r om hi s wi f e awoke hi m wi t h a st ar t .

"The paw! " she cr i ed wi l dl y. "The monkey' s paw! "

He st ar t ed up i n al arm. "Where? Wher e i s i t ? What ' s t he mat t er ?"

She came st umbl i ng across t he r oom t oward hi m. " I want i t , " shesai d, qui et l y. "You' ve not dest r oyed i t ?"

"I t ' s i n t he par l our , on t he br acket , " he r epl i ed, mar vel l i ng."Why?"

She cr i ed and l aughed t oget her , and bendi ng over , ki ssed hi scheek.

"I onl y j ust t hought of i t , " she sai d, hyst er i cal l y. "Why di dn' t It hi nk of i t bef or e? Why di dn' t you t hi nk of i t ?"

"Thi nk of what ?" he quest i oned.

"The ot her t wo wi shes, " she r epl i ed, r api dl y.

"We' ve onl y had one. "

"Was not t hat enough?" he demanded, f i ercel y.


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"No, " she cr i ed, t r i umphant l y; "we' l l have one more. Go down andget i t qui ckl y, and wi sh our boy al i ve agai n. "

The man sat up i n bed and f l ung t he bedcl ot hes f r om hi s quaki ngl i mbs. "Good God, you ar e mad! " he cr i ed, aghast .

"Get i t , " she pant ed; "get i t qui ckl y, and wi shOh, my boy, myboy!"

Her husband st r uck a mat ch and l i t t he candl e. "Get back t o bed, "he sai d, unst eadi l y. "You don' t know what you ar e sayi ng. "

"We had t he f i r st wi sh gr ant ed, " sai d t he ol d woman, f ever i shl y;"why not t he second?"

"A coi nci dence, " st ammered t he ol d man.

"Go and get i t and wi sh, " cr i ed hi s wi f e, qui ver i ng wi t hexci t ement .

The ol d man t urned and r egar ded her , and hi s voi ce shook. "He hasbeen dead t en days, and besi des heI woul d not t el l you el se, but I coul d onl y r ecogni ze hi m by hi s cl ot hi ng. I f he was t oo t er r i bl ef or you t o see t hen, how now?"

"Br i ng hi m back, " cr i ed t he ol d woman, and dr agged hi m t owar d t hedoor . "Do you t hi nk I f ear t he chi l d I have nur sed?"

He went down i n t he darkness, and f el t hi s way t o t he par l our , andt hen t o t he mant el pi ece. The t al i sman was i n i t s pl ace, and ahor r i bl e f ear t hat t he unspoken wi sh mi ght br i ng hi s mut i l at ed sonbef or e hi m er e he coul d escape f r om t he r oom sei zed upon hi m, andhe caught hi s br eat h as he f ound t hat he had l ost t he di r ect i on oft he door . Hi s brow col d wi t h sweat , he f el t hi s way round t het abl e, and gr oped al ong t he wal l unt i l he f ound hi msel f i n t hesmal l passage wi t h t he unwhol esome t hi ng i n hi s hand.

Even hi s wi f e' s f ace seemed changed as he ent ered t he room. I t waswhi t e and expect ant , and t o hi s f ear s seemed t o have an unnat ur all ook upon i t . He was af r ai d of her .

"Wi sh! " she cr i ed, i n a st r ong voi ce.

"I t i s f ool i sh and wi cked, " he f al t er ed.

"Wi sh! " r epeat ed hi s wi f e.


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He r ai sed hi s hand. " I wi sh my son al i ve agai n. "

The t al i sman f el l t o t he f l oor , and he r egar ded i t f ear f ul l y. Thenhe sank t r embl i ng i nt o a chai r as t he ol d woman, wi t h bur ni ngeyes, wal ked to t he wi ndow and rai sed t he bl i nd.

He sat unt i l he was chi l l ed wi t h t he col d, gl anci ng occasi onal l y

at t he f i gur e of t he ol d woman peer i ng t hr ough t he wi ndow. Thecandl e- end, whi ch had bur ned bel ow t he r i m of t he chi nacandl est i ck, was t hr owi ng pul sat i ng shadows on t he cei l i ng andwal l s, unt i l , wi t h a f l i cker l ar ger t han t he r est , i t expi r ed. Theol d man, wi t h an unspeakabl e sense of r el i ef at t he f ai l ur e of t het al i sman, cr ept back t o hi s bed, and a mi nut e or t wo af t er war d t heol d woman came si l ent l y and apat het i cal l y besi de hi m.

Nei t her spoke, but l ay si l ent l y l i st eni ng t o t he t i cki ng of t hecl ock. A st ai r cr eaked, and a squeaky mouse scur r i ed noi si l yt hr ough t he wal l . The dar kness was oppr essi ve, and af t er l yi ng f or

some t i me scr ewi ng up hi s cour age, he t ook t he box of mat ches, andst r i ki ng one, went downst ai r s f or a candl e.

At t he f oot of t he st ai r s t he match went out , and he paused t ost r i ke anot her ; and at t he same moment a knock, so qui et andst eal t hy as t o be scar cel y audi bl e, sounded on t he f r ont door .

The mat ches f el l f r om hi s hand and spi l l ed i n t he passage. Hest ood mot i onl ess, hi s br eat h suspended unt i l t he knock wasr epeat ed. Then he t ur ned and f l ed swi f t l y back t o hi s r oom, and

cl osed t he door behi nd hi m. A t hi r d knock sounded t hr ough t hehouse.

002. j pg ( 73K)

"What ' s t hat ?" cr i ed t he ol d woman, st ar t i ng up.

"A r at , " sai d t he ol d man i n shaki ng t ones"a r at . I t passed me ont he stai r s . "

Hi s wi f e sat up i n bed l i st eni ng. A l oud knock resounded t hr ought he house.

"I t ' s Her ber t ! " she scr eamed. "I t ' s Her ber t ! "

She r an t o t he door , but her husband was bef ore her , and cat chi ngher by the ar m, hel d her t i ght l y.


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"What are you goi ng t o do?" he whi sper ed hoar sel y.

"I t ' s my boy; i t ' s Her ber t ! " she cri ed, st r uggl i ng mechani cal l y." I f orgot i t was t wo mi l es away. What are you hol di ng me f or ? Letgo. I must open t he door .

"For God' s sake don' t l et i t i n, " cri ed t he ol d man, t r embl i ng.

"You' r e af r ai d of your own son, " she cr i ed, st r uggl i ng. "Let mego. I ' m comi ng, Her ber t ; I ' m comi ng. "

Ther e was anot her knock, and anot her . The ol d woman wi t h a suddenwr ench br oke f r ee and r an f r om t he r oom. Her husband f ol l owed t ot he l andi ng, and cal l ed af t er her appeal i ngl y as she hur r i eddownst ai r s. He hear d t he chai n r at t l e back and t he bot t om bol tdr awn sl owl y and st i f f l y f r om t he socket . Then t he ol d woman' svoi ce, st r ai ned and pant i ng.

"The bol t , " she cr i ed, l oudl y. "Come down. I can' t r each i t . "

But her husband was on hi s hands and knees gr opi ng wi l dl y on t hef l oor i n sear ch of t he paw. I f he coul d onl y f i nd i t bef or e t het hi ng out si de got i n. A per f ect f usi l l ade of knocks r ever ber at edt hr ough t he house, and he hear d t he scr api ng of a chai r as hi swi f e put i t down i n t he passage agai nst t he door . He heard t hecr eaki ng of t he bol t as i t came sl owl y back, and at t he samemoment he f ound t he monkey' s paw, and f r ant i cal l y br eat hed hi st hi r d and l ast wi sh.

The knocki ng ceased suddenl y, al t hough t he echoes of i t wer e st i l li n t he house. He hear d t he chai r dr awn back, and t he door opened.A col d wi nd r ushed up t he st ai r case, and a l ong l oud wai l ofdi sappoi nt ment and mi sery f r om hi s wi f e gave hi m cour age t o r undown t o her si de, and t hen t o the gat e beyond. The st r eet l ampf l i cker i ng opposi t e shone on a qui et and deser t ed r oad.

End of t he Pr oj ect Gut enberg EBook of The Monkey' s Paw, by W. W.J acobs

s1 the monkey's paw.pdf

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