What he saw would not under ordinary circumstances have
caused concern to anybody. With his special knowledge, it was
appalling--though the night was now so dark that in reality there was
little to be seen. On the western side of the tower stood a grove of old trees, of forest
dimensions. They were not grouped closely, but stood a little apart from
each other, producing the effect of a row widely planted. Over the tops
of them was seen a green light, something like the danger signal at a
railway-crossing. It seemed at first quite still; but presently, when
Adam's eye became accustomed to it, he could see that it moved as if
trembling. This at once recalled to Adam's mind the light quivering
above the well-hole in the darkness of that inner room at Diana's Grove,
Oolanga's awful shriek, and the hideous black face, now grown grey with
terror, disappearing into the impenetrable gloom of the mysterious
orifice. Instinctively he laid his hand on his revolver, and stood up
ready to protect his wife. Then, seeing that nothing happened, and that
the light and all outside the tower remained the same, he softly pulled
the curtain over the window. Sir Nathaniel switched on the light again, and in its comforting glow
they began to talk freely. CHAPTER XXII--AT CLOSE QUARTERS


"She has diabolical cunning," said Sir Nathaniel. "Ever since you left,
she has ranged along the Brow and wherever you were accustomed to
frequent. I have not heard whence the knowledge of your movements came
to her, nor have I been able to learn any data whereon to found an
opinion. She seems to have heard both of your marriage and your absence;
but I gather, by inference, that she does not actually know where you and
Mimi are, or of your return. So soon as the dusk fails, she goes out on
her rounds, and before dawn covers the whole ground round the Brow, and
away up into the heart of the Peak. The White Worm, in her own proper
shape, certainly has great facilities for the business on which she is
now engaged. She can look into windows of any ordinary kind. Happily,
this house is beyond her reach, if she wishes--as she manifestly does--to
remain unrecognised. But, even at this height, it is wise to show no
lights, lest she might learn something of our presence or absence." "Would it not be well, sir, if one of us could see this monster in her
real shape at close quarters? I am willing to run the risk--for I take
it there would be no slight risk in the doing. I don't suppose anyone of
our time has seen her close and lived to tell the tale." Sir Nathaniel held up an expostulatory hand. "Good God, lad, what are you suggesting? Think of your wife, and all
that is at stake." "It is of Mimi that I think--for her sake that I am willing to risk
whatever is to be risked." Adam's young bride was proud of her man, but she blanched at the thought
of the ghastly White Worm. Adam saw this and at once reassured her. "So long as her ladyship does not know whereabout I am, I shall have as
much safety as remains to us; bear in mind, my darling, that we cannot be
too careful." Sir Nathaniel realised that Adam was right; the White Worm had no
supernatural powers and could not harm them until she discovered their
hiding place. It was agreed, therefore, that the two men should go
together. When the two men slipped out by the back door of the house, they walked
cautiously along the avenue which trended towards the west. Everything
was pitch dark--so dark that at times they had to feel their way by the
palings and tree-trunks. They could still see, seemingly far in front of
them and high up, the baleful light which at the height and distance
seemed like a faint line. As they were now on the level of the ground,
the light seemed infinitely higher than it had from the top of the tower. At the sight Adam's heart fell; the danger of the desperate enterprise
which he had undertaken burst upon him. But this feeling was shortly
followed by another which restored him to himself--a fierce loathing, and
a desire to kill, such as he had never experienced before. They went on for some distance on a level road, fairly wide, from which
the green light was visible. Here Sir Nathaniel spoke softly, placing
his lips to Adam's ear for safety. "We know nothing whatever of this creature's power of hearing or
smelling, though I presume that both are of no great strength. As to
seeing, we may presume the opposite, but in any case we must try to keep
in the shade behind the tree-trunks. The slightest error would be fatal
to us." Adam only nodded, in case there should be any chance of the monster
seeing the movement. After a time that seemed interminable, they emerged from the circling
wood. It was like coming out into sunlight by comparison with the misty
blackness which had been around them. There was light enough to see by,
though not sufficient to distinguish things at a distance. Adam's eyes
sought the green light in the sky. It was still in about the same place,
but its surroundings were more visible. It was now at the summit of what
seemed to be a long white pole, near the top of which were two pendant
white masses, like rudimentary arms or fins. The green light, strangely
enough, did not seem lessened by the surrounding starlight, but had a
clearer effect and a deeper green. Whilst they were carefully regarding
this--Adam with the aid of an opera-glass--their nostrils were assailed
by a horrid stench, something like that which rose from the well-hole in
Diana's Grove. By degrees, as their eyes got the right focus, they saw an immense
towering mass that seemed snowy white. It was tall and thin. The lower
part was hidden by the trees which lay between, but they could follow the
tall white shaft and the duplicate green lights which topped it. As they
looked there was a movement--the shaft seemed to bend, and the line of
green light descended amongst the trees. They could see the green light
twinkle as it passed between the obstructing branches. Seeing where the head of the monster was, the two men ventured a little
further forward, and saw that the hidden mass at the base of the shaft
was composed of vast coils of the great serpent's body, forming a base
from which the upright mass rose. As they looked, this lower mass moved,
the glistening folds catching the moonlight, and they could see that the
monster's progress was along the ground. It was coming towards them at a
swift pace, so they turned and ran, taking care to make as little noise
as possible, either by their footfalls or by disturbing the undergrowth
close to them. They did not stop or pause till they saw before them the
high dark tower of Doom. CHAPTER XXIII--IN THE ENEMY'S HOUSE


Sir Nathaniel was in the library next morning, after breakfast, when Adam
came to him carrying a letter. "Her ladyship doesn't lose any time. She has begun work already!" Sir Nathaniel, who was writing at a table near the window, looked up. "What is it?" said he. Adam held out the letter he was carrying.