Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock `
` my own disappointment. I was already thinking what I had best do, `
` when the driver, looking at his watch, said to the others something `
` which I could hardly hear, it was spoken so quietly and in so low a `
` tone, I thought it was "An hour less than the time." Then turning to `
` me, he spoke in German worse than my own. `
` `
` "There is no carriage here. The Herr is not expected after all. He `
` will now come on to Bukovina, and return tomorrow or the next day, `
` better the next day." Whilst he was speaking the horses began to `
` neigh and snort and plunge wildly, so that the driver had to hold them `
` up. Then, amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a `
` universal crossing of themselves, a caleche, with four horses, drove `
` up behind us, overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see `
` from the flash of our lamps as the rays fell on them, that the horses `
` were coal-black and splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, `
` with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide `
` his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright `
` eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us. `
` `
` He said to the driver, "You are early tonight, my friend." `
` `
` The man stammered in reply, "The English Herr was in a hurry." `
` `
` To which the stranger replied, "That is why, I suppose, you wished him `
` to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend. I know too `
` much, and my horses are swift." `
` `
` As he spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, `
` with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of `
` my companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore". `
` `
` "Denn die Todten reiten Schnell." ("For the dead travel fast.") `
` `
` The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a `
` gleaming smile. The passenger turned his face away, at the same time `
` putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. "Give me the Herr's `
` luggage," said the driver, and with exceeding alacrity my bags were `
` handed out and put in the caleche. Then I descended from the side of `
` the coach, as the caleche was close alongside, the driver helping me `
` with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel. His strength must `
` have been prodigious. `
` `
` `
` Without a word he shook his reins, the horses turned, and we swept `
` into the darkness of the pass. As I looked back I saw the steam from `
` the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, and projected `
` against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. `
` Then the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off `
` they swept on their way to Bukovina. As they sank into the darkness I `
` felt a strange chill, and a lonely feeling come over me. But a cloak `
` was thrown over my shoulders, and a rug across my knees, and the `
` driver said in excellent German--"The night is chill, mein Herr, and `
` my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of `
` slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you `
` should require it." `
` `
` I did not take any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the `
` same. I felt a little strangely, and not a little frightened. I `
` think had there been any alternative I should have taken it, instead `
` of prosecuting that unknown night journey. The carriage went at a `
` hard pace straight along, then we made a complete turn and went along `
` another straight road. It seemed to me that we were simply going over `
` and over the same ground again, and so I took note of some salient `
` point, and found that this was so. I would have liked to have asked `
` the driver what this all meant, but I really feared to do so, for I `
` thought that, placed as I was, any protest would have had no effect in `
` case there had been an intention to delay. `
` `
` By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I `
` struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch. It was within a `
` few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I suppose `
` the general superstition about midnight was increased by my recent `
` experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense. `
` `
` Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road, a `
` long, agonized wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by `
` another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind `
` which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which `
` seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination `
` could grasp it through the gloom of the night. `
` `
` At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver `
` spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and `
` sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright. Then, far off `
` in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder `
` and a sharper howling, that of wolves, which affected both the horses `
` and myself in the same way. For I was minded to jump from the caleche `
` and run, whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the `
` driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. `
` In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to the sound, `
` and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able to descend `
` and to stand before them. `
` `
` He petted and soothed them, and whispered something in their ears, as `
` I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect, for `
` under his caresses they became quite manageable again, though they `
` still trembled. The driver again took his seat, and shaking his `
` reins, started off at a great pace. This time, after going to the far `
` side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway which ran `
` sharply to the right. `
` `
` Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched right over `
` the roadway till we passed as through a tunnel. And again great `
` frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side. Though we were in `
` shelter, we could hear the rising wind, for it moaned and whistled `
` through the rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as `
` we swept along. It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery `
` snow began to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered `
` with a white blanket. The keen wind still carried the howling of the `
` dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way. The baying of `
` the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing `
` round on us from every side. I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses `
` shared my fear. The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed. `
` He kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see `
` anything through the darkness. `
` `
` Suddenly, away on our left I saw a faint flickering blue flame. The `
` driver saw it at the same moment. He at once checked the horses, and, `
` jumping to the ground, disappeared into the darkness. I did not know `
` what to do, the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer. But `
` while I wondered, the driver suddenly appeared again, and without a `
` word took his seat, and we resumed our journey. I think I must have `
` fallen asleep and kept dreaming of the incident, for it seemed to be `
` repeated endlessly, and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful `
` nightmare. Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in the `
` darkness around us I could watch the driver's motions. He went `
` rapidly to where the blue flame arose, it must have been very faint, `
` for it did not seem to illumine the place around it at all, and `
` gathering a few stones, formed them into some device. `
` `
` Once there appeared a strange optical effect. When he stood between `
` me and the flame he did not obstruct it, for I could see its ghostly `
` flicker all the same. This startled me, but as the effect was only `
` momentary, I took it that my eyes deceived me straining through the `
` darkness. Then for a time there were no blue flames, and we sped `
` onwards through the gloom, with the howling of the wolves around us, `
` as though they were following in a moving circle. `
` `
` At last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he `
` had yet gone, and during his absence, the horses began to tremble `
` worse than ever and to snort and scream with fright. I could not see `
` any cause for it, for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether. `
` But just then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared `
` behind the jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its `
` light I saw around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling `
` red tongues, with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair. They were a `
` hundred times more terrible in the grim silence which held them than `
` even when they howled. For myself, I felt a sort of paralysis of `
` fear. It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such `
` horrors that he can understand their true import. `
` `
` All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had `
` some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and `
` looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to `
` see. But the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side, `
` and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman `
` to come, for it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break `
` out through the ring and to aid his approach, I shouted and beat the `
` side of the caleche, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from the `
` side, so as to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came `
` there, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious `
` command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. `
` As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable `
` obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then a `
` heavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again `
` in darkness. `
` `
` When I could see again the driver was climbing into the caleche, and `
` the wolves disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a `
` dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The `
` time seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost `
` complete darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. `
` `
` We kept on ascending, with occasional periods of quick descent, but in `
` the main always ascending. Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact `
` that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the `
` courtyard of a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came `
` no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line `
` against the sky. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 2 `
` `
` `
` Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued `
` `
` 5 May.--I must have been asleep, for certainly if I had been fully `
` awake I must have noticed the approach of such a remarkable place. In `
` the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size, and as several `
` dark ways led from it under great round arches, it perhaps seemed `
` bigger than it really is. I have not yet been able to see it by `
` daylight. `
` `
` When the caleche stopped, the driver jumped down and held out his hand `
` to assist me to alight. Again I could not but notice his prodigious `
` strength. His hand actually seemed like a steel vice that could have `
` crushed mine if he had chosen. Then he took my traps, and placed them `
` on the ground beside me as I stood close to a great door, old and `
`
` my own disappointment. I was already thinking what I had best do, `
` when the driver, looking at his watch, said to the others something `
` which I could hardly hear, it was spoken so quietly and in so low a `
` tone, I thought it was "An hour less than the time." Then turning to `
` me, he spoke in German worse than my own. `
` `
` "There is no carriage here. The Herr is not expected after all. He `
` will now come on to Bukovina, and return tomorrow or the next day, `
` better the next day." Whilst he was speaking the horses began to `
` neigh and snort and plunge wildly, so that the driver had to hold them `
` up. Then, amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a `
` universal crossing of themselves, a caleche, with four horses, drove `
` up behind us, overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see `
` from the flash of our lamps as the rays fell on them, that the horses `
` were coal-black and splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, `
` with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide `
` his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright `
` eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us. `
` `
` He said to the driver, "You are early tonight, my friend." `
` `
` The man stammered in reply, "The English Herr was in a hurry." `
` `
` To which the stranger replied, "That is why, I suppose, you wished him `
` to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend. I know too `
` much, and my horses are swift." `
` `
` As he spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, `
` with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of `
` my companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore". `
` `
` "Denn die Todten reiten Schnell." ("For the dead travel fast.") `
` `
` The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a `
` gleaming smile. The passenger turned his face away, at the same time `
` putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. "Give me the Herr's `
` luggage," said the driver, and with exceeding alacrity my bags were `
` handed out and put in the caleche. Then I descended from the side of `
` the coach, as the caleche was close alongside, the driver helping me `
` with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel. His strength must `
` have been prodigious. `
` `
` `
` Without a word he shook his reins, the horses turned, and we swept `
` into the darkness of the pass. As I looked back I saw the steam from `
` the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, and projected `
` against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. `
` Then the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off `
` they swept on their way to Bukovina. As they sank into the darkness I `
` felt a strange chill, and a lonely feeling come over me. But a cloak `
` was thrown over my shoulders, and a rug across my knees, and the `
` driver said in excellent German--"The night is chill, mein Herr, and `
` my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of `
` slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you `
` should require it." `
` `
` I did not take any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the `
` same. I felt a little strangely, and not a little frightened. I `
` think had there been any alternative I should have taken it, instead `
` of prosecuting that unknown night journey. The carriage went at a `
` hard pace straight along, then we made a complete turn and went along `
` another straight road. It seemed to me that we were simply going over `
` and over the same ground again, and so I took note of some salient `
` point, and found that this was so. I would have liked to have asked `
` the driver what this all meant, but I really feared to do so, for I `
` thought that, placed as I was, any protest would have had no effect in `
` case there had been an intention to delay. `
` `
` By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I `
` struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch. It was within a `
` few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I suppose `
` the general superstition about midnight was increased by my recent `
` experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense. `
` `
` Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road, a `
` long, agonized wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by `
` another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind `
` which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which `
` seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination `
` could grasp it through the gloom of the night. `
` `
` At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver `
` spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and `
` sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright. Then, far off `
` in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder `
` and a sharper howling, that of wolves, which affected both the horses `
` and myself in the same way. For I was minded to jump from the caleche `
` and run, whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the `
` driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. `
` In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to the sound, `
` and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able to descend `
` and to stand before them. `
` `
` He petted and soothed them, and whispered something in their ears, as `
` I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect, for `
` under his caresses they became quite manageable again, though they `
` still trembled. The driver again took his seat, and shaking his `
` reins, started off at a great pace. This time, after going to the far `
` side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway which ran `
` sharply to the right. `
` `
` Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched right over `
` the roadway till we passed as through a tunnel. And again great `
` frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side. Though we were in `
` shelter, we could hear the rising wind, for it moaned and whistled `
` through the rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as `
` we swept along. It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery `
` snow began to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered `
` with a white blanket. The keen wind still carried the howling of the `
` dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way. The baying of `
` the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing `
` round on us from every side. I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses `
` shared my fear. The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed. `
` He kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see `
` anything through the darkness. `
` `
` Suddenly, away on our left I saw a faint flickering blue flame. The `
` driver saw it at the same moment. He at once checked the horses, and, `
` jumping to the ground, disappeared into the darkness. I did not know `
` what to do, the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer. But `
` while I wondered, the driver suddenly appeared again, and without a `
` word took his seat, and we resumed our journey. I think I must have `
` fallen asleep and kept dreaming of the incident, for it seemed to be `
` repeated endlessly, and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful `
` nightmare. Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in the `
` darkness around us I could watch the driver's motions. He went `
` rapidly to where the blue flame arose, it must have been very faint, `
` for it did not seem to illumine the place around it at all, and `
` gathering a few stones, formed them into some device. `
` `
` Once there appeared a strange optical effect. When he stood between `
` me and the flame he did not obstruct it, for I could see its ghostly `
` flicker all the same. This startled me, but as the effect was only `
` momentary, I took it that my eyes deceived me straining through the `
` darkness. Then for a time there were no blue flames, and we sped `
` onwards through the gloom, with the howling of the wolves around us, `
` as though they were following in a moving circle. `
` `
` At last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he `
` had yet gone, and during his absence, the horses began to tremble `
` worse than ever and to snort and scream with fright. I could not see `
` any cause for it, for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether. `
` But just then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared `
` behind the jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its `
` light I saw around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling `
` red tongues, with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair. They were a `
` hundred times more terrible in the grim silence which held them than `
` even when they howled. For myself, I felt a sort of paralysis of `
` fear. It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such `
` horrors that he can understand their true import. `
` `
` All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had `
` some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and `
` looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to `
` see. But the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side, `
` and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman `
` to come, for it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break `
` out through the ring and to aid his approach, I shouted and beat the `
` side of the caleche, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from the `
` side, so as to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came `
` there, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious `
` command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. `
` As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable `
` obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then a `
` heavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again `
` in darkness. `
` `
` When I could see again the driver was climbing into the caleche, and `
` the wolves disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a `
` dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The `
` time seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost `
` complete darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. `
` `
` We kept on ascending, with occasional periods of quick descent, but in `
` the main always ascending. Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact `
` that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the `
` courtyard of a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came `
` no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line `
` against the sky. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 2 `
` `
` `
` Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued `
` `
` 5 May.--I must have been asleep, for certainly if I had been fully `
` awake I must have noticed the approach of such a remarkable place. In `
` the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size, and as several `
` dark ways led from it under great round arches, it perhaps seemed `
` bigger than it really is. I have not yet been able to see it by `
` daylight. `
` `
` When the caleche stopped, the driver jumped down and held out his hand `
` to assist me to alight. Again I could not but notice his prodigious `
` strength. His hand actually seemed like a steel vice that could have `
` crushed mine if he had chosen. Then he took my traps, and placed them `
` on the ground beside me as I stood close to a great door, old and `
`