An Heiress from Redhorse by Ambrose Bierce
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and learned in Morryster's day should_have believed such nonsense as is rejected by most of even the ignorant in ours ."

a train of reflections followed-- for Brayton was a man of thought-- and he unconsciously lowered his book without altering the direction of_his eyes . as_soon_as_the volume had gone below the line of sight, something in an obscure corner of_the room recalled his attention to_his surroundings . what he_saw, in_the shadow under his bed, were two small points of light, apparently about an inch apart . they might_have_been reflections of_the gas jet above him, in metal nail heads; he_gave them but little thought and resumed his reading .a moment later something-- some impulse which it did_not occur to him to analyze-- impelled him to lower the book again and seek for what he_saw before . the points of light were still there . they seemed to_have become brighter than before, shining with a greenish luster which he had_not at first observed . he thought, too, that they_might have moved a trifle-- were somewhat nearer . they were still too_much in_the shadow, however, to reveal their nature and origin to an indolent attention, and he resumed his reading . suddenly something in_the text suggested a thought which made him start and drop the book for_the third time to_the side of_the sofa, whence, escaping from_his hand, it fell sprawling to_the floor, back upward .Brayton, half- risen, was staring intently into_the obscurity beneath the bed, where the points of light shone with, it seemed to him, an added fire . his attention was now fully aroused, his gaze eager and imperative . it disclosed, almost directly beneath the foot rail of_the bed, the coils of a large serpent-- the points of light were its eyes ! its horrible head, thrust flatly forth from_the innermost coil and resting upon_the outermost, was directed straight toward him, the definition of_the wide, brutal jaw and_the idiotlike forehead serving to show the direction of_its malevolent gaze . the eyes were no longer merely luminous points; they looked into his own with ameaning, a malign significance .

II

a snake in a bedroom of a modern city dwelling of_the better sort is, happily, not so common a phenomenon as to_make explanation altogether needless .Harker Brayton, a bachelor of thirty-five, a scholar, idler, and something of an athlete, rich, popular, and of sound health, had returned to San_Francisco from all manner of remote and unfamiliar countries . his tastes, always a trifle luxurious, had taken on an added exuberance from long privation; and_the resources of even the castle hotel being inadequate for their perfect gratification, he had gladly accepted the hospitality of_his friend, Dr .Druring, the distinguished scientist .Dr .Druring's house, a large, old- fashioned one in what_was now an obscure quarter of_the city, had an outer and visible aspect of reserve . it plainly would_not associate with_the contiguous elements of_its altered environment, and appeared to_have developed some_of_the eccentricities which come of isolation . one_of_these was a" wing," conspicuously irrelevant in point of architecture, and no less rebellious in_the matter of purpose; for it_was a combination of laboratory, menagerie, and museum . it_was here that_the doctor indulged the scientific side of_his nature in_the study of_such forms of animal life as engaged his interest and comforted his taste-- which, it must_be confessed, ran rather to_the lower forms . for one_of_the higher types nimbly and sweetly to recommend itself unto his gentle senses, it had at_least to retain certain rudimentary characteristics allying it to such "dragons of_the prime" as toads and snakes . his scientific sympathies were distinctly reptilian; he loved nature's vulgarians and described himself as_the Zola of zoology . his wife and daughters, not having the advantage to share his enlightened curiosity regarding the works and ways of_our ill- starred fellow-creatures, were, with needless austerity, excluded from what he_called the Snakery, and doomed to companionship with their own kind; though, to soften the rigors of_their lot, he had permitted them, out of_his great wealth, to outdo the reptiles in_the gorgeousness of_their surroundings and to shine with a superior splendor .

architecturally, and in point of "furnishing," the Snakery had a severe simplicity befitting the humble circumstances of_its occupants, many of whom, indeed, could_not safely have_been intrusted with_the liberty which_is necessary to_the full enjoyment of luxury, for they had the troublesome peculiarity of being alive . in their own apartments, however, they were under as little personal restraint as was compatible with their protection from_the baneful habit of swallowing one another; and, as Brayton had thoughtfully been apprised, it_was more than a tradition that some_of_them had at divers times been found in parts of_the premises where it would_have embarrassed them to explain their presence . despite the Snakery and its uncanny associations-- to_which, indeed, he_gave little attention--Brayton found life at_the Druring mansion very_much to_his mind .

III

beyond a smart shock of surprise and a shudder of mere loathing, Mr Brayton was not greatly affected . his first thought was to ring the call bell and bring a servant; but, although the bell cord dangled within easy reach, he_made no movement toward it; it had occurred to_his mind that_the act might subject him to_the suspicion of fear, which he certainly did_not feel . he_was more keenly conscious of_the incongruous nature of_the situation than affected by its perils; it_was revolting, but absurd .

the reptile was of a species with_which Brayton was unfamiliar . its length he_could only conjecture; the body at_the largest visible part seemed about as thick as his forearm . in what way was_it dangerous, if in any_way ? was_it venomous ? was_it aconstrictor ? his knowledge of nature's danger signals did_not enable him to_say; he had never deciphered the code .

if_not dangerous, the creature was at_least offensive . it_was de trop--" matter out of place"-- an impertinence . the gem was unworthy of_the setting . even the barbarous taste of_our time and country, which had loaded the walls of_the room with pictures, the floor with furniture, and_the furniture with bric-a-brac, had_not quite fitted the place for_this bit of_the savage life of_the jungle . besides-- insupportable thought ! -- the exhalations of_its breath mingled with_the atmosphere which he himself was breathing !

these thoughts shaped themselves with greater or less definition in Brayton's mind, and begot action . the process is what we call consideration and decision . it_is thus that we_are wise and unwise . it_is thus that_the withered leaf in an autumn breeze shows greater or less intelligence than its fellows, falling upon_the land or upon_the lake . the secret of human action is an open one-- something contracts our muscles .Does it matter if we_give to_the preparatory molecular changes the name of will ?

Brayton rose to_his feet and prepared to back softly away from_the snake, without disturbing it, if possible, and through_the door . people retire so from_the presence of_the great, for greatness is power, and power is a menace . he_knew that he_could walk backward without obstruction, and find the door without error . should the monster follow, the taste which had plastered the walls with paintings had consistently supplied arack of murderous oriental weapons from_which he_could snatch one to suit the occasion . in_the meantime the snake's eyes burned with a more pitiless malevolence than ever .

Brayton lifted his right foot free of_the floor to step backward . that moment he_felt a strong aversion to doing_so .

" I_am accounted brave," he murmured; " is bravery, then, no more than pride ? because there_are none to witness the shame shall I retreat ? "

he_was steadying himself with_his right hand upon_the back of a chair, his foot suspended .

" nonsense ! " he_said aloud; " I_am not so great a coward as_to fear to seem to myself afraid ."

he lifted the foot a little higher by slightly bending the knee, and thrust it sharply to_the floor-- an inch in front of_the other ! he_could_not think how that occurred .a trial with_the left foot had the same result; it_was again in advance of_the right . the hand upon_the chair back was grasping it; the arm was straight, reaching somewhat backward . one might_have seen that he_was reluctant to lose his hold . the snake's malignant head was still thrust forth from_the inner coil as before, the neck level . it had_not moved, but its eyes were now electric Sparks, radiating an infinity of luminous needles .

the man had an ashy pallor . again he_took a step forward, and another, partly dragging the chair, which, when finally released, fell upon_the floor with a crash . the man groaned; the snake made neither sound nor motion, but its eyes were two dazzling suns . the reptile itself was wholly concealed by_them . they gave off enlarging rings of rich and vivid colors, which at their greatest expansion successively vanished like soap bubbles; they seemed to approach his very face, and anon were an immeasurable distance away . he heard, somewhere, the continual throbbing of a great drum, with desultory bursts of far music, inconceivably sweet, like the tones of an aeolian harp . he_knew it for_the sunrise melody of Memnon's statue, and thought he stood in_the Nileside reeds, hearing, with exalted sense, that immortal anthem through_the silence of_the centuries .

the music ceased; rather, it became by insensible degrees the distant roll of aretreating thunderstorm .a landscape, glittering with sun and rain, stretched before him, arched with a vivid rainbow, framing in its giant curve a hundred visible cities . in_the middle distance a vast serpent, wearing a crown, reared its head out of_its voluminous convolutions and looked at him with_his dead mother's eyes . suddenly this enchanting landscape seemed to rise swiftly upward, like the drop scene at a theater, and vanished in a blank . something struck him a hard blow upon_the face and breast . he had fallen to_the floor; the blood ran from_his broken nose and_his bruised lips . for a moment he_was dazed and stunned, and lay with closed eyes, his face against the door . in a few_moments he had recovered, and then realized that his fall, by withdrawing his eyes, had broken the spell which held him . he_felt that now, by keeping his gaze averted, he_would_be_able to retreat . but the thought of_the serpent within a few feet of_his head, yet unseen-- perhaps in_the very act of springing upon him and throwing its coils about his throat-- was too horrible . he lifted his head, stared again into those baleful eyes, and was again in bondage .

the snake had_not moved, and appeared somewhat to_have lost its power upon_the imagination; the gorgeous illusions of a few_moments before were_not repeated . beneath that flat and brainless brow its black, beady eyes simply glittered, as at first, with an expression unspeakably malignant . it_was as if_the creature, knowing its triumph assured, had determined to practice no more alluring wiles .

now ensued a fearful scene . the man, prone upon_the floor, within a yard of_his enemy, raised the upper part of_his body upon his elbows, his head thrown back, his legs extended to_their full length . his face was white between its gouts of blood; his eyes were strained open to_their uttermost expansion . there_was froth upon his lips; it dropped off in flakes . strong convulsions ran through his body, making almost serpentine undulations . he bent himself at_the waist, shifting his legs from side to side . and every movement left him a little nearer to_the snake . he thrust his hands forward to brace himself back, yet constantly advanced upon his elbows .

IV

Dr .Druring and_his wife sat in_the library . the scientist was in rare good humor .

" I_have just obtained, by exchange with another collector," he_said, "a splendid specimen of_the Ophiophagus ."

" and what may that be ? " the lady inquired with a somewhat languid interest .

" why, bless my soul, what profound ignorance ! my dear, a man who ascertains after marriage that his wife does_not know Greek, is entitled to a divorce . the Ophiophagus is a snake which eats other snakes ."

" I_hope_it_will eat all yours," she said, absently shifting the lamp ." but how does it get the other snakes ? by charming them, I suppose ."

" that_is just like you, dear," said the doctor, with an affectation of petulance ." you_know how irritating to_me is any allusion to_that vulgar superstition about_the snake's power of fascination ."

the conversation was interrupted by a mighty cry which rang through_the silent house like the voice of a demon shouting in a tomb . again and yet again it sounded, with terrible distinctness . they sprang to_their feet, the man confused, the lady pale and speechless with fright . almost before_the echoes of_the last cry had died away the doctor was out_of_the room, springing up the staircase two steps at_a_time . in_the corridor, in front of Brayton's chamber, he met some servants who had come from_the upper floor . together they rushed at_the door without knocking . it_was unfastened, and gave way .Brayton lay upon his stomach on_the floor, dead . his head and arms were partly concealed under the foot rail of_the bed . they pulled the body away, turning it upon_the back . the face was daubed with blood and froth, the eyes were wide open, staring--a dreadful

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