Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27

were it was possible to see a great distance. And far off, beyond the `
` white waste of snow, I could see the river lying like a black ribbon `
` in kinks and curls as it wound its way. Straight in front of us and `
` not far off, in fact so near that I wondered we had not noticed `
` before, came a group of mounted men hurrying along. In the midst of `
` them was a cart, a long leiter wagon which swept from side to side, `
` like a dog's tail wagging, with each stern inequality of the road. `
` Outlined against the snow as they were, I could see from the men's `
` clothes that they were peasants or gypsies of some kind. `
` `
` On the cart was a great square chest. My heart leaped as I saw it, for `
` I felt that the end was coming. The evening was now drawing close, `
` and well I knew that at sunset the Thing, which was till then `
` imprisoned there, would take new freedom and could in any of many `
` forms elude pursuit. In fear I turned to the Professor. To my `
` consternation, however, he was not there. An instant later, I saw him `
` below me. Round the rock he had drawn a circle, such as we had found `
` shelter in last night. `
` `
` When he had completed it he stood beside me again saying, "At least `
` you shall be safe here from him!" He took the glasses from me, and at `
` the next lull of the snow swept the whole space below us. "See," he `
` said, "they come quickly. They are flogging the horses, and galloping `
` as hard as they can." `
` `
` He paused and went on in a hollow voice, "They are racing for the `
` sunset. We may be too late. God's will be done!" Down came another `
` blinding rush of driving snow, and the whole landscape was blotted `
` out. It soon passed, however, and once more his glasses were fixed on `
` the plain. `
` `
` Then came a sudden cry, "Look! Look! Look! See, two horsemen follow `
` fast, coming up from the south. It must be Quincey and John. Take `
` the glass. Look before the snow blots it all out!" I took it and `
` looked. The two men might be Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris. I knew at `
` all events that neither of them was Jonathan. At the same time I knew `
` that Jonathan was not far off. Looking around I saw on the north side `
` of the coming party two other men, riding at breakneck speed. One of `
` them I knew was Jonathan, and the other I took, of course, to be Lord `
` Godalming. They too, were pursuing the party with the cart. When I `
` told the Professor he shouted in glee like a schoolboy, and after `
` looking intently till a snow fall made sight impossible, he laid his `
` Winchester rifle ready for use against the boulder at the opening of `
` our shelter. `
` `
` "They are all converging," he said. "When the time comes we shall have `
` gypsies on all sides." I got out my revolver ready to hand, for `
` whilst we were speaking the howling of wolves came louder and closer. `
` When the snow storm abated a moment we looked again. It was strange `
` to see the snow falling in such heavy flakes close to us, and beyond, `
` the sun shining more and more brightly as it sank down towards the far `
` mountain tops. Sweeping the glass all around us I could see here and `
` there dots moving singly and in twos and threes and larger numbers. `
` The wolves were gathering for their prey. `
` `
` Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in `
` fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us `
` in circling eddies. At times we could not see an arm's length before `
` us. But at others, as the hollow sounding wind swept by us, it seemed `
` to clear the air space around us so that we could see afar off. We `
` had of late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that `
` we knew with fair accuracy when it would be. And we knew that before `
` long the sun would set. It was hard to believe that by our watches it `
` was less than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the `
` various bodies began to converge close upon us. The wind came now `
` with fiercer and more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the `
` north. It seemingly had driven the snow clouds from us, for with only `
` occasional bursts, the snow fell. We could distinguish clearly the `
` individuals of each party, the pursued and the pursuers. Strangely `
` enough those pursued did not seem to realize, or at least to care, `
` that they were pursued. They seemed, however, to hasten with `
` redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower and lower on the mountain `
` tops. `
` `
` Closer and closer they drew. The Professor and I crouched down behind `
` our rock, and held our weapons ready. I could see that he was `
` determined that they should not pass. One and all were quite unaware `
` of our presence. `
` `
` All at once two voices shouted out to "Halt!" One was my Jonathan's, `
` raised in a high key of passion. The other Mr. Morris' strong `
` resolute tone of quiet command. The gypsies may not have known the `
` language, but there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the `
` words were spoken. Instinctively they reined in, and at the instant `
` Lord Godalming and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and `
` Mr. Morris on the other. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid `
` looking fellow who sat his horse like a centaur, waved them back, and `
` in a fierce voice gave to his companions some word to proceed. They `
` lashed the horses which sprang forward. But the four men raised their `
` Winchester rifles, and in an unmistakable way commanded them to stop. `
` At the same moment Dr. Van Helsing and I rose behind the rock and `
` pointed our weapons at them. Seeing that they were surrounded the men `
` tightened their reins and drew up. The leader turned to them and gave `
` a word at which every man of the gypsy party drew what weapon he `
` carried, knife or pistol, and held himself in readiness to attack. `
` Issue was joined in an instant. `
` `
` The leader, with a quick movement of his rein, threw his horse out in `
` front, and pointed first to the sun, now close down on the hill tops, `
` and then to the castle, said something which I did not understand. `
` For answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their `
` horses and dashed towards the cart. I should have felt terrible fear `
` at seeing Jonathan in such danger, but that the ardor of battle must `
` have been upon me as well as the rest of them. I felt no fear, but `
` only a wild, surging desire to do something. Seeing the quick `
` movement of our parties, the leader of the gypsies gave a command. His `
` men instantly formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined `
` endeavour, each one shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness `
` to carry out the order. `
` `
` In the midst of this I could see that Jonathan on one side of the ring `
` of men, and Quincey on the other, were forcing a way to the cart. It `
` was evident that they were bent on finishing their task before the sun `
` should set. Nothing seemed to stop or even to hinder them. Neither `
` the levelled weapons nor the flashing knives of the gypsies in front, `
` nor the howling of the wolves behind, appeared to even attract their `
` attention. Jonathan's impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his `
` purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him. Instinctively they `
` cowered aside and let him pass. In an instant he had jumped upon the `
` cart, and with a strength which seemed incredible, raised the great `
` box, and flung it over the wheel to the ground. In the meantime, Mr. `
` Morris had had to use force to pass through his side of the ring of `
` Szgany. All the time I had been breathlessly watching Jonathan I had, `
` with the tail of my eye, seen him pressing desperately forward, and `
` had seen the knives of the gypsies flash as he won a way through them, `
` and they cut at him. He had parried with his great bowie knife, and `
` at first I thought that he too had come through in safety. But as he `
` sprang beside Jonathan, who had by now jumped from the cart, I could `
` see that with his left hand he was clutching at his side, and that the `
` blood was spurting through his fingers. He did not delay `
` notwithstanding this, for as Jonathan, with desperate energy, attacked `
` one end of the chest, attempting to prize off the lid with his great `
` Kukri knife, he attacked the other frantically with his bowie. Under `
` the efforts of both men the lid began to yield. The nails drew with a `
` screeching sound, and the top of the box was thrown back. `
` `
` By this time the gypsies, seeing themselves covered by the `
` Winchesters, and at the mercy of Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward, had `
` given in and made no further resistance. The sun was almost down on `
` the mountain tops, and the shadows of the whole group fell upon the `
` snow. I saw the Count lying within the box upon the earth, some of `
` which the rude falling from the cart had scattered over him. He was `
` deathly pale, just like a waxen image, and the red eyes glared with `
` the horrible vindictive look which I knew so well. `
` `
` As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in `
` them turned to triumph. `
` `
` But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great `
` knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat. Whilst at `
` the same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart. `
` `
` It was like a miracle, but before our very eyes, and almost in the `
` drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from `
` our sight. `
` `
` I shall be glad as long as I live that even in that moment of final `
` dissolution, there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never `
` could have imagined might have rested there. `
` `
` The Castle of Dracula now stood out against the red sky, and every `
` stone of its broken battlements was articulated against the light of `
` the setting sun. `
` `
` The gypsies, taking us as in some way the cause of the extraordinary `
` disappearance of the dead man, turned, without a word, and rode away `
` as if for their lives. Those who were unmounted jumped upon the `
` leiter wagon and shouted to the horsemen not to desert them. The `
` wolves, which had withdrawn to a safe distance, followed in their `
` wake, leaving us alone. `
` `
` Mr. Morris, who had sunk to the ground, leaned on his elbow, holding `
` his hand pressed to his side. The blood still gushed through his `
` fingers. I flew to him, for the Holy circle did not now keep me back; `
` so did the two doctors. Jonathan knelt behind him and the wounded man `
` laid back his head on his shoulder. With a sigh he took, with a `
` feeble effort, my hand in that of his own which was unstained. `
` `
` He must have seen the anguish of my heart in my face, for he smiled at `
` me and said, "I am only too happy to have been of service! Oh, God!" `
` he cried suddenly, struggling to a sitting posture and pointing to me. `
` "It was worth for this to die! Look! Look!" `
` `
` The sun was now right down upon the mountain top, and the red gleams `
` fell upon my face, so that it was bathed in rosy light. With one `
` impulse the men sank on their knees and a deep and earnest "Amen" `
` broke from all as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger. `
` `
` The dying man spoke, "Now God be thanked that all has not been in `
` vain! See! The snow is not more stainless than her forehead! The `
` curse has passed away!" `
` `
` And, to our bitter grief, with a smile and in silence, he died, a `
` gallant gentleman. `
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