Downstillunceasinglystillinevitablydown！Igaspedandstruggledateachvibration。Ishrunkconvulsivelyatitseverysweep。Myeyesfolloweditsoutwardorupwardwhirlswiththeeagernessofthemostunmeaningdespair；theyclosedthemselvesspasmodicallyatthedescent，althoughdeathwouldhavebeenarelief，oh！howunspeakable！StillIquiveredineverynervetothinkhowslightasinkingofthemachinerywouldprecipitatethatkeen，glisteningaxeuponmybosom。Itwashopethatpromptedthenervetoquivertheframetoshrink。Itwashopethehopethattriumphsontherackthatwhisperstothedeath-condemnedeveninthedungeonsoftheInquisition。
Isawthatsometenortwelvevibrationswouldbringthesteelinactualcontactwithmyrobe，andwiththisobservationtheresuddenlycameovermyspiritallthekeen，collectedcalmnessofdespair。ForthefirsttimeduringmanyhoursorperhapsdaysIthought。Itnowoccurredtomethatthebandage，orsurcingle，whichenvelopedme，wasunique。Iwastiedbynoseparatecord。Thefirststrokeoftherazorlikecrescentathwartanyportionoftheband，wouldsodetachitthatitmightbeunwoundfrommypersonbymeansofmylefthand。Buthowfearful，inthatcase，theproximityofthesteel！Theresultoftheslighteststrugglehowdeadly！Wasitlikely，moreover，thattheminionsofthetorturerhadnotforeseenandprovidedforthispossibility！Wasitprobablethatthebandagecrossedmybosominthetrackofthependulum？Dreadingtofindmyfaint，and，asitseemed，inlasthopefrustrated，Isofarelevatedmyheadastoobtainadistinctviewofmybreast。Thesurcingleenvelopedmylimbsandbodycloseinalldirectionssaveinthepathofthedestroyingcrescent。
ScarcelyhadIdroppedmyheadbackintoitsoriginalposition，whenthereflasheduponmymindwhatIcannotbetterdescribethanastheunformedhalfofthatideaofdeliverancetowhichIhavepreviouslyalluded，andofwhichamoietyonlyfloatedindeterminatelythroughmybrainwhenIraisedfoodtomyburninglips。Thewholethoughtwasnowpresentfeeble，scarcelysane，scarcelydefinite，butstillentire。Iproceededatonce，withthenervousenergyofdespair，toattemptitsexecution。
FormanyhourstheimmediatevicinityofthelowframeworkuponwhichIlay，hadbeenliterallyswarmingwithrats。Theywerewild，bold，ravenous；theirredeyesglaringuponmeasiftheywaitedbutformotionlessnessonmyparttomakemetheirprey。“Towhatfood。”I
thought，“havetheybeenaccustomedinthewell？”
Theyhaddevoured，inspiteofallmyeffortstopreventthem，allbutasmallremnantofthecontentsofthedish。Ihadfallenintoanhabitualsee-saw，orwaveofthehandabouttheplatter：and，atlength，theunconsciousuniformityofthemovementdepriveditofeffect。Intheirvoracitytheverminfrequentlyfastenedtheirsharpfangsinmyfingers。Withtheparticlesoftheoilyandspicyviandwhichnowremained，IthoroughlyrubbedthebandagewhereverIcouldreachit；then，raisingmyhandfromthefloor，Ilaybreathlesslystill。
Atfirsttheravenousanimalswerestartledandterrifiedatthechangeatthecessationofmovement。Theyshrankalarmedlyback；
manysoughtthewell。Butthiswasonlyforamoment。Ihadnotcountedinvainupontheirvoracity。ObservingthatIremainedwithoutmotion，oneortwooftheboldestleapedupontheframe-work，andsmeltatthesurcingle。Thisseemedthesignalforageneralrush。Forthfromthewelltheyhurriedinfreshtroops。Theyclungtothewoodtheyoverranit，andleapedinhundredsuponmyperson。
Themeasuredmovementofthependulumdisturbedthemnotatall。
Avoidingitsstrokestheybusiedthemselveswiththeanointedbandage。Theypressedtheyswarmeduponmeineveraccumulatingheaps。Theywritheduponmythroat；theircoldlipssoughtmyown；I
washalfstifledbytheirthrongingpressure；disgust，forwhichtheworldhasnoname，swelledmybosom，andchilled，withaheavyclamminess，myheart。Yetoneminute，andIfeltthatthestrugglewouldbeover。PlainlyIperceivedthelooseningofthebandage。I
knewthatinmorethanoneplaceitmustbealreadysevered。WithamorethanhumanresolutionIlaystill。
NorhadIerredinmycalculationsnorhadIenduredinvain。IatlengthfeltthatIwasfree。Thesurcinglehunginribandsfrommybody。Butthestrokeofthependulumalreadypresseduponmybosom。
Ithaddividedthesergeoftherobe。Ithadcutthroughthelinenbeneath。Twiceagainitswung，andasharpsenseofpainshotthrougheverynerve。Butthemomentofescapehadarrived。Atawaveofmyhandmydeliverershurriedtumultuouslyaway。Withasteadymovementcautious，sidelong，shrinking，andslowIslidfromtheembraceofthebandageandbeyondthereachofthescimitar。Forthemoment，atleast，Iwasfree。
Free！andinthegraspoftheInquisition！Ihadscarcelysteppedfrommywoodenbedofhorroruponthestoneflooroftheprison，whenthemotionofthehellishmachineceasedandIbehelditdrawnup，bysomeinvisibleforce，throughtheceiling。ThiswasalessonwhichI
tookdesperatelytoheart。Myeverymotionwasundoubtedlywatched。
Free！Ihadbutescapeddeathinoneformofagony，tobedelivereduntoworsethandeathinsomeother。WiththatthoughtI
rolledmyevesnervouslyaroundonthebarriersofironthathemmedmein。Somethingunusualsomechangewhich，atfirst，Icouldnotappreciatedistinctlyitwasobvious，hadtakenplaceintheapartment。Formanyminutesofadreamyandtremblingabstraction，I
busiedmyselfinvain，unconnectedconjecture。Duringthisperiod，I
becameaware，forthefirsttime，oftheoriginofthesulphurouslightwhichilluminedthecell。Itproceededfromafissure，abouthalfaninchinwidth，extendingentirelyaroundtheprisonatthebaseofthewalls，whichthusappeared，andwere，completelyseparatedfromthefloor。Iendeavored，butofcourseinvain，tolookthroughtheaperture。
AsIarosefromtheattempt，themysteryofthealterationinthechamberbrokeatonceuponmyunderstanding。Ihaveobservedthat，althoughtheoutlinesofthefiguresuponthewallsweresufficientlydistinct，yetthecolorsseemedblurredandindefinite。Thesecolorshadnowassumed，andweremomentarilyassuming，astartlingandmostintensebrilliancy，thatgavetothespectralandfiendishportraituresanaspectthatmighthavethrilledevenfirmernervesthanmyown。Demoneyes，ofawildandghastlyvivacity，glareduponmeinathousanddirections，wherenonehadbeenvisiblebefore，andgleamedwiththeluridlustreofafirethatIcouldnotforcemyimaginationtoregardasunreal。
Unreal！EvenwhileIbreathedtherecametomynostrilsthebreathofthevapourofheatediron！Asuffocatingodourpervadedtheprison！Adeeperglowsettledeachmomentintheeyesthatglaredatmyagonies！Arichertintofcrimsondiffuseditselfoverthepicturedhorrorsofblood。Ipanted！Igaspedforbreath！Therecouldbenodoubtofthedesignofmytormentorsoh！mostunrelenting！
oh！mostdemoniacofmen！Ishrankfromtheglowingmetaltothecentreofthecell。Amidthethoughtofthefierydestructionthatimpended，theideaofthecoolnessofthewellcameovermysoullikebalm。Irushedtoitsdeadlybrink。Ithrewmystrainingvisionbelow。Theglarefromtheenkindledroofillumineditsinmostrecesses。Yet，forawildmoment，didmyspiritrefusetocomprehendthemeaningofwhatIsaw。Atlengthitforceditwrestleditswayintomysoulitburneditselfinuponmyshudderingreason。Oh！
foravoicetospeak！oh！horror！oh！anyhorrorbutthis！Withashriek，Irushedfromthemargin，andburiedmyfaceinmyhands
weepingbitterly。
Theheatrapidlyincreased，andonceagainIlookedup，shudderingaswithafitoftheague。Therehadbeenasecondchangeinthecell
andnowthechangewasobviouslyintheform。Asbefore，itwasinvainthatI，atfirst，endeavouredtoappreciateorunderstandwhatwastakingplace。ButnotlongwasIleftindoubt。TheInquisitorialvengeancehadbeenhurriedbymytwo-foldescape，andtherewastobenomoredallyingwiththeKingofTerrors。Theroomhadbeensquare。
Isawthattwoofitsironangleswerenowacutetwo，consequently，obtuse。Thefearfuldifferencequicklyincreasedwithalowrumblingormoaningsound。Inaninstanttheapartmenthadshifteditsformintothatofalozenge。Butthealterationstoppednothere-Ineitherhopednordesiredittostop。Icouldhaveclaspedtheredwallstomybosomasagarmentofeternalpeace。“Death。”I
said，“anydeathbutthatofthepit！”Fool！mightIhavenotknownthatintothepititwastheobjectoftheburningirontourgeme？
CouldIresistitsglow？or，ifeventhat，couldIwithstanditspressureAndnow，flatterandflattergrewthelozenge，witharapiditythatleftmenotimeforcontemplation。Itscentre，andofcourse，itsgreatestwidth，camejustovertheyawninggulf。Ishrankbackbuttheclosingwallspressedmeresistlesslyonward。Atlengthformysearedandwrithingbodytherewasnolongeraninchoffootholdonthefirmflooroftheprison。Istrugglednomore，buttheagonyofmysoulfoundventinoneloud，long，andfinalscreamofdespair。IfeltthatItottereduponthebrinkIavertedmyeyes
Therewasadiscordanthumofhumanvoices！Therewasaloudblastasofmanytrumpets！Therewasaharshgratingasofathousandthunders！Thefierywallsrushedback！AnoutstretchedarmcaughtmyownasIfell，fainting，intotheabyss。ItwasthatofGeneralLasalle。TheFrencharmyhadenteredToledo。TheInquisitionwasinthehandsofitsenemies。
THEREarecertainthemesofwhichtheinterestisall-absorbing，butwhicharetooentirelyhorribleforthepurposesoflegitimatefiction。Thesethemereromanticistmusteschew，ifhedonotwishtooffendortodisgust。TheyarewithproprietyhandledonlywhentheseverityandmajestyofTruthsanctifyandsustainthem。Wethrill，forexample，withthemostintenseof“pleasurablepain“overtheaccountsofthePassageoftheBeresina，oftheEarthquakeatLisbon，ofthePlagueatLondon，oftheMassacreofSt。Bartholomew，orofthestiflingofthehundredandtwenty-threeprisonersintheBlackHoleatCalcutta。Butintheseaccountsitisthefact-itisthereality-itisthehistorywhichexcites。Asinventions，weshouldregardthemwithsimpleabhorrence。
Ihavementionedsomefewofthemoreprominentandaugustcalamitiesonrecord；butintheseitistheextent，notlessthanthecharacterofthecalamity，whichsovividlyimpressesthefancy。Ineednotremindthereaderthat，fromthelongandweirdcatalogueofhumanmiseries，Imighthaveselectedmanyindividualinstancesmorerepletewithessentialsufferingthananyofthesevastgeneralitiesofdisaster。Thetruewretchedness，indeedtheultimatewoe-
isparticular，notdiffuse。Thattheghastlyextremesofagonyareenduredbymantheunit，andneverbymanthemass-forthisletusthankamercifulGod！
Tobeburiedwhilealiveis，beyondquestion，themostterrificoftheseextremeswhichhaseverfallentothelotofmeremortality。
Thatithasfrequently，veryfrequently，sofallenwillscarcelybedeniedbythosewhothink。TheboundarieswhichdivideLifefromDeathareatbestshadowyandvague。Whoshallsaywheretheoneends，andwheretheotherbegins？Weknowthattherearediseasesinwhichoccurtotalcessationsofalltheapparentfunctionsofvitality，andyetinwhichthesecessationsaremerelysuspensions，properlysocalled。Theyareonlytemporarypausesintheincomprehensiblemechanism。Acertainperiodelapses，andsomeunseenmysteriousprincipleagainsetsinmotionthemagicpinionsandthewizardwheels。Thesilvercordwasnotforeverloosed，northegoldenbowlirreparablybroken。Butwhere，meantime，wasthesoul？
Apart，however，fromtheinevitableconclusion，apriorithatsuchcausesmustproducesucheffects-thatthewell-knownoccurrenceofsuchcasesofsuspendedanimationmustnaturallygiverise，nowandthen，toprematureintermentsapartfromthisconsideration，wehavethedirecttestimonyofmedicalandordinaryexperiencetoprovethatavastnumberofsuchintermentshaveactuallytakenplace。Imightreferatonce，ifnecessarytoahundredwellauthenticatedinstances。Oneofveryremarkablecharacter，andofwhichthecircumstancesmaybefreshinthememoryofsomeofmyreaders，occurred，notverylongago，intheneighboringcityofBaltimore，whereitoccasionedapainful，intense，andwidely-extendedexcitement。Thewifeofoneofthemostrespectablecitizens-alawyerofeminenceandamemberofCongresswasseizedwithasuddenandunaccountableillness，whichcompletelybaffledtheskillofherphysicians。Aftermuchsufferingshedied，orwassupposedtodie。Noonesuspected，indeed，orhadreasontosuspect，thatshewasnotactuallydead。Shepresentedalltheordinaryappearancesofdeath。Thefaceassumedtheusualpinchedandsunkenoutline。Thelipswereoftheusualmarblepallor。Theeyeswerelustreless。Therewasnowarmth。Pulsationhadceased。Forthreedaysthebodywaspreservedunburied，duringwhichithadacquiredastonyrigidity。Thefuneral，inshort，washastened，onaccountoftherapidadvanceofwhatwassupposedtobedecomposition。
Theladywasdepositedinherfamilyvault，which，forthreesubsequentyears，wasundisturbed。Attheexpirationofthistermitwasopenedforthereceptionofasarcophagus；-but，alas！howfearfulashockawaitedthehusband，who，personally，threwopenthedoor！Asitsportalsswungoutwardlyback，somewhite-apparelledobjectfellrattlingwithinhisarms。Itwastheskeletonofhiswifeinheryetunmouldedshroud。
Acarefulinvestigationrendereditevidentthatshehadrevivedwithintwodaysafterherentombment；thatherstruggleswithinthecoffinhadcausedittofallfromaledge，orshelftothefloor，whereitwassobrokenastopermitherescape。Alampwhichhadbeenaccidentallyleft，fullofoil，withinthetomb，wasfoundempty；itmighthavebeenexhausted，however，byevaporation。Ontheuttermostofthestepswhichleddownintothedreadchamberwasalargefragmentofthecoffin，withwhich，itseemed，thatshehadendeavoredtoarrestattentionbystrikingtheirondoor。Whilethusoccupied，sheprobablyswooned，orpossiblydied，throughsheerterror；and，infailing，hershroudbecameentangledinsomeiron