' So I now resolutely shut my eyes, and tried to sleep
perforce, in which usually fruitless attempt, I was actually beginning
to succeed, do you know, when a strong odour of palm oil came through
the window, and on opening my eyes, I saw by the increasing light a
naked negro standing at it, with his head and shoulders in sharp relief
against the pale broad disk of the moon, at that moment just peering
over the dark summit of the Long mountain.
"I rubbed my eyes, and looked again; the dark figure was still there,
but as if aware that some one was on the watch, it gradually sank down,
until nothing but the round bullet head appeared above the window sill.
This was trying enough, but I made an effort, and lay still. The
stratagem succeeded; the figure, deceived by my feigned snoring and
quietude, slowly rose, and once more stood erect. Presently it slipped
one foot into the room, and then another, but so noiselessly that when I
saw the black figure standing before me on the floor, I had some
misgivings as to its being really a being of this world. However, I had
small space for speculation, when it slid past the foot of the bed
towards my open bureau--I seized the opportunity--started up--turned the
key of the door--and planted myself right between the thief and the open
window. 'Now, you scoundrel, surrender, or I will murder you on the
spot.' I had scarcely spoken the word, when with the speed of light, the
fellow threw himself on me--we closed--I fell--when, clip, he slipped
through my fingers like an eel--bolted through the window--cleared the
balcony at a bound, and disappeared.
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