Doyouknowwhatfearis？Notordinaryfearofinsult，injuryordeath，butabject，quiveringdreadofsomethingthatyoucannotsee——fearthatdriestheinsideofthemouthandhalfofthethroat——
　　fearthatmakesyousweatonthepalmsofthehands，andgulpinordertokeeptheuvulaatwork？ThisisafineFear——agreatcowardice，andmustbefelttobeappreciatedTheveryimprobabilityofbilliardsinadak-bungalowprovedtherealityofthethingNoman——drunkorsober——couldimagineagameatbilliards，orinventthespittingcrackofa“screw-cannon。”
　　Aseverecourseofdak-bungalowshasthisdisadvantage——itbreedsinfinitecredulityIfamansaidtoaconfirmeddak-bungalow-
　　haunter：——“Thereisacorpseinthenextroom，andthere’samadgirlinthenextbutone，andthewomanandmanonthatcamelhavejustelopedfromaplacesixtymilesaway。”thehearerwouldnotdisbelievebecausehewouldknowthatnothingistoowild，grotesque，orhorribletohappeninadak-bungalow。
　　Thiscredulity，unfortunately，extendstoghostsArationalpersonfreshfromhisownhousewouldhaveturnedonhissideandslept。
　　IdidnotSosurelyasIwasgivenupasabadcarcassbythescoresofthingsinthebedbecausethebulkofmybloodwasinmyheart，sosurelydidIheareverystrokeofalonggameatbilliardsplayedintheechoingroombehindtheiron-barreddoorMydominantfearwasthattheplayersmightwantamarkerItwasanabsurdfear；becausecreatureswhocouldplayinthedarkwouldbeabovesuchsuperfluitiesIonlyknowthatthatwasmyterror；
　　anditwasreal。
　　Afteralong，longwhilethegamestopped，andthedoorbangedI
　　sleptbecauseIwasdeadtiredOtherwiseIshouldhavepreferredtohavekeptawakeNotforeverythinginAsiawouldIhavedroppedthedoor-barandpeeredintothedarkofthenextroom。
　　Whenthemorningcame，IconsideredthatIhaddonewellandwisely，andinquiredforthemeansofdeparture。
　　“Bytheway，khansamah。”Isaid，“whatwerethosethreedooliesdoinginmycompoundinthenight？”
　　“Therewerenodoolies。”saidthekhansamah。
　　IwentintothenextroomandthedaylightstreamedthroughtheopendoorIwasimmenselybraveIwould，atthathour，haveplayedBlackPoolwiththeownerofthebigBlackPooldownbelow。
　　“Hasthisplacealwaysbeenadak-bungalow？”Iasked。
　　“No。”saidthekhansamah“Tenortwentyyearsago，Ihaveforgottenhowlong，itwasabilliardroom。”
　　“Ahowmuch？”
　　“AbilliardroomfortheSahibswhobuilttheRailwayIwaskhansamahtheninthebighousewherealltheRailway-Sahibslived，andIusedtocomeacrosswithbrandy-shrabThesethreeroomswereallone，andtheyheldabigtableonwhichtheSahibsplayedeveryeveningButtheSahibsarealldeadnow，andtheRailwayruns，yousay，nearlytoKabul。”
　　“DoyourememberanythingabouttheSahibs？”
　　“Itislongago，butIrememberthatoneSahib，afatmanandalwaysangry，wasplayinghereonenight，andhesaidtome：——
　　’MangalKhan，brandy-panido，’andIfilledtheglass，andhebentoverthetabletostrike，andhisheadfelllowerandlowertillithitthetable，andhisspectaclescameoff，andwhenwe——theSahibsandImyself——rantolifthimhewasdeadIhelpedtocarryhimoutAha，hewasastrongSahib！ButheisdeadandI，oldMangalKhan，amstillliving，byyourfavor。”
　　Thatwasmorethanenough！Ihadmyghost——afirsthand，authenticatedarticleIwouldwritetotheSocietyforPsychicalResearch——IwouldparalyzetheEmpirewiththenews！ButI
　　would，firstofall，puteightymilesofassessedcroplandbetweenmyselfandthatdak-bungalowbeforenightfallTheSocietymightsendtheirregularagenttoinvestigatelateron。
　　IwentintomyownroomandpreparedtopackafternotingdownthefactsofthecaseAsIsmokedIheardthegamebeginagain，——
　　withamissinbalkthistime，forthewhirwasashortone。
　　ThedoorwasopenandIcouldseeintotheroomClick——c1ick！
　　ThatwasacannonIenteredtheroomwithoutfear，fortherewassunlightwithinandafreshbreezewithoutTheunseengamewasgoingonatatremendousrateAndwellitmight，whenarestlesslittleratwasrunningtoandfroinsidethedingyceiling-cloth，andapieceofloosewindow-sashwasmakingfiftybreaksoffthewindow-boltasitshookinthebreeze！
　　Impossibletomistakethesoundofbilliardballs！Impossibletomistakethewhirofaballovertheslate！ButIwastobeexcused。
　　EvenwhenIshutmyenlightenedeyesthesoundwasmarvelouslylikethatofafastgame。
　　Enteredangrilythefaithfulpartnerofmysorrows，KadirBaksh。
　　“Thisbungalowisverybadandlow-caste！NowonderthePresencewasdisturbedandisspeckledThreesetsofdoolie-
　　bearerscametothebungalowlatelastnightwhenIwassleepingoutside，andsaidthatitwastheircustomtorestintheroomssetapartfortheEnglishpeople！Whathonorhasthekhansamah？
　　Theytriedtoenter，butItoldthemtogoNowonder，iftheseOoriashavebeenhere，thatthePresenceissorelyspottedItisshame，andtheworkofadirtyman！”
　　KadirBakshdidnotsaythathehadtakenfromeachgangtwoannasforrentinadvance，andthen，beyondmyearshot，hadbeatenthemwiththebiggreenumbrellawhoseuseIcouldneverbeforedivineButKadirBakshhasnonotionsofmorality。
　　Therewasaninterviewwiththekhansamah，butashepromptlylosthishead，wrathgaveplacetopity，andpityledtoalongconversation，inthecourseofwhichheputthefatEngineer-
　　Sahib’stragicdeathinthreeseparatestations——twoofthemfiftymilesawayThethirdshiftwastoCalcutta，andtheretheSahibdiedwhiledrivingadogcart。
　　IfIhadencouragedhimthekhansamahwouldhavewanderedallthroughBengalwithhiscorpse。
　　IdidnotgoawayassoonasIintendedIstayedforthenight，whilethewindandtheratandthesashandthewindow-boltplayedading-dong“hundredandfiftyup。”Thenthewindranoutandthebilliardsstopped，andIfeltthatIhadruinedmyonegenuine，hall-markedghoststory。
　　HadIonlystoppedatthepropertime，Icouldhavemadeanythingoutofit。
　　Thatwasthebitterestthoughtofall！
　　THESTRANGERIDEOFMORROWBIEJUKES
　　Aliveordead-thereisnootherway-
　　NativeProverb。
　　THEREis，astheconjurerssay，nodeceptionaboutthistale。
　　Jukesbyaccidentstumbleduponavillagethatiswellknowntoexist，thoughheistheonlyEnglishmanwhohasbeenthereA
　　somewhatsimilarinstitutionusedtoflourishontheoutskirtsofCalcutta，andthereisastorythatifyougointotheheartofBikanir，whichisintheheartoftheGreatIndianDesert，youshallcomeacrossnotavillagebutatownwheretheDeadwhodidnotdiebutmaynotlivehaveestablishedtheirheadquartersAnd，sinceitisperfectlytruethatinthesameDesertisawonderfulcitywherealltherichmoneylendersretreataftertheyhavemadetheirfortunesfortunessovastthattheownerscannottrusteventhestronghandoftheGovernmenttoprotectthem，buttakerefugeinthewaterlesssands，anddrivesumptuousC-springbarouches，andbuybeautifulgirlsanddecoratetheirpalaceswithgoldandivoryandMintontilesandmother-n’-pearl，IdonotseewhyJukes’staleshouldnotbetrueHeisaCivilEngineer，withaheadforplansanddistancesandthingsofthatkind，andhecertainlywouldnottakethetroubletoinventimaginarytrapsHecouldearnmorebydoinghislegitimateworkHenevervariesthetaleinthetelling，andgrowsveryhotandindignantwhenhethinksofthedisrespectfultreatmenthereceivedHewrotethisquitestraightforwardlyatfirst，buthehassincetoucheditupinplacesandintroducedMoralReflections，thus：
　　InthebeginningitallarosefromaslightattackoffeverMyworknecessitatedmybeingincampforsomemonthsbetweenPakpattanandMuharakpur-adesolatesandystretchofcountryaseveryonewhohashadthemisfortunetogotheremayknowMycoolieswereneithermorenorlessexasperatingthanothergangs，andmyworkdemandedsufficientattentiontokeepmefrommoping，hadIbeeninclinedtosounmanlyaweakness。
　　Onthe23dDecember，1884，IfeltalittlefeverishTherewasafullmoonatthetime，and，inconsequence，everydognearmytentwasbayingitThebrutesassembledintwosandthreesanddrovemefranticAfewdayspreviouslyIhadshotoneloud-mouthedsingerandsuspendedhiscarcassinterroremaboutfiftyyardsfrommytent-doorButhisfriendsfellupon，foughtfor，andultimatelydevouredthebody；and，asitseemedtome，sangtheirhymnsofthanksgivingafterwardwithrenewedenergy。
　　Thelight-heartednesswhichaccompaniesfeveractsdifferentlyondifferentmenMyirritationgaveway，afterashorttime，toafixeddeterminationtoslaughteronehugeblackandwhitebeastwhohadbeenforemostinsongandfirstinflightthroughouttheeveningThankstoashakinghandandagiddyheadIhadalreadymissedhimtwicewithbothbarrelsofmyshot-gun，whenitstruckmethatmybestplanwouldbetoridehimdownintheopenandfinishhimoffwithahog-spearThis，ofcourse，wasmerelythesemi-deliriousnotionofafeverpatient；butIrememberthatitstruckmeatthetimeasbeingeminentlypracticalandfeasible。
　　IthereforeorderedmygroomtosaddlePornicandbringhimroundquietlytotherearofmytentWhentheponywasready，I
　　stoodathisheadpreparedtomountanddashoutassoonasthedogshouldagainliftuphisvoicePornic，bytheway，hadnotbeenoutofhispicketsforacoupleofdays；thenightairwascrispandchilly；andIwasarmedwithaspeciallylongandsharppairofpersuaderswithwhichIhadbeenrousingasluggishcobthatafternoonYouwilleasilybelieve，then，thatwhenhewasletgohewentquicklyInonemoment，forthebruteboltedasstraightasadie，thetentwasleftfarbehind，andwewereflyingoverthesmoothsandysoilatracingspeed。
　　Inanotherwehadpassedthewretcheddog，andIhadalmostforgottenwhyitwasthatIhadtakenthehorseandhogspear。
　　ThedeliriumoffeverandtheexcitementofrapidmotionthroughtheairmusthavetakenawaytheremnantofmysensesIhaveafaintrecollectionofstandinguprightinmystirrups，andofbrandishingmyhog-spearatthegreatwhiteMoonthatlookeddownsocalmlyonmymadgallop；andofshout-logchallengestothecamel-thornbushesastheywhizzedpastOnceortwiceI
　　believe，IswayedforwardonPornic’sneck，andliterallyhungonbymyspurs-asthemarksnextmorningshowed。
　　Thewretchedbeastwentforwardlikeathingpossessed，overwhatseemedtobealimitlessexpanseofmoonlitsandNext，I
　　remember，thegroundrosesuddenlyinfrontofus，andaswetoppedtheascentIsawthewatersoftheSutlejshininglikeasilverbarbelowThenPornicblunderedheavilyonhisnose，andwerolledtogetherdownsomeunseenslope。
　　Imusthavelostconsciousness，forwhenIrecoveredIwaslyingonmystomachinaheapofsoftwhitesand，andthedawnwasbeginningtobreakdimlyovertheedgeoftheslopedownwhichI
　　hadfallenAsthelightgrewstrongerIsawthatIwasatthebottomofahorse-shoeshapedcraterofsand，openingononesidedirectlyontotheshoalsoftheSutlejMyfeverhadaltogetherleftme，and，withtheexceptionofaslightdizzinessinthehead，Ifeltnohadeffectsfromthefallovernight。
　　Pornic，whowasstandingafewyardsaway，wasnaturallyagooddealexhausted，buthadnothurthimselfintheleastHissaddle，afavoritepoloonewasmuchknockedabout，andhadbeentwistedunderhisbellyIttookmesometimetoputhimtorights，andinthemeantimeIhadampleopportunitiesofobservingthespotintowhichIhadsofoolishlydropped。
　　Attheriskofbeingconsideredtedious，Imustdescribeitatlength：inasmuchasanaccuratementalpictureofitspeculiaritieswillbeofmaterialassistanceinenablingthereadertounderstandwhatfollows。
　　Imaginethen，asIhavesaidbefore，ahorseshoe-shapedcraterofsandwithsteeplygradedsandwallsaboutthirty-fivefeethigh。
　　Theslope，Ifancy，musthavebeenabout65degrees。Thiscraterenclosedalevelpieceofgroundaboutfiftyyardslongbythirtyatitsbroadestpart，withacrudewellinthecentreRoundthebottomofthecrater，aboutthreefeetfromthelevelofthegroundproper，ranaseriesofeighty-threesemi-circularovoid，square，andmultilateralholes，allaboutthreefeetatthemouthEachholeoninspectionshowedthatitwascarefullyshoredinternallywithdrift-woodandbamboos，andoverthemouthawoodendrip-boardprojected，likethepeakofajockey’scap，fortwofeetNosignoflifewasvisibleinthesetunnels，butamostsickeningstenchpervadedtheentireamphitheatre-astenchfoulerthananywhichmywanderingsinIndianvillageshaveintroducedmeto。
　　HavingremountedPornic，whowasasanxiousasItogetbacktocamp，IroderoundthebaseofthehorseshoetofindsomeplacewhenceanexitwouldbepracticableTheinhabitants，whoevertheymightbe，hadnotthoughtfittoputinanappearance，soIwaslefttomyowndevicesMyfirstattemptto“rush“Pornicupthesteepsand-banksshowedmethatIhadfallenintoatrapexactlyonthesamemodelasthatwhichtheant-lionsetsforitspreyAteachsteptheshiftingsandpoureddownfromaboveintons，andrattledonthedrip-boardsoftheholeslikesmallshotAcoupleofineffectualchargessentusbothrollingdowntothebottom，halfchokedwiththetorrentsofsand；andIwasconstrainedtoturnmyattentiontotheriver-bank。