The Shrieking Pit

e table in the bay embrasure, and he became so absorbed in watching him that he permitted his own meal to grow cold, impatiently wav

ide hotel, who had been in the habit of giving you a courteous nod on his morning journey across the archipelago of snowy-topped tables under the convoy of the head waiter to his own table, comes in to breakfast with shaking hands, flushed face, and passes your table with unseeing eyes, you would probably conclude that he was under the influence of liquor, and in your English way you would severely blame him, not so much for the

king that the splendid specimen of young physical manhood at the far table was the victim of any of them. His own impression was that it was a case of shell-shock. It was true that, apart from the doubtful evidence of a bronzed skin and upright frame, there was nothing about him to suggest that he had been a soldier: no service lapel or regimental badge in his grey Norfolk jacket. But an Englishman

bly supposed to be cured, and sent up here to recu

her guests might have been alarmed by the young man's behaviour, and h

upporting a frescoed ceiling, and lighted by numerous bay windows opening on to the North Sea, which was sparkling brightly in a brilliant October sunshine. The thirty people comprised the w

r was a pure accident, a German oversight which was not likely to happen again. Off the nervous ones went, and left the big hotel, the long curved seafront, the miles of yellow sand, the high green headlands, the be

fast to bother their heads about the conduct of the young man at the alcove table. They were, for the most part, characteristic war-time holiday-makers: the men, obviously above military age, in Norfolk tweeds or golf suits; two young officers at

le not far from Colwyn's, and Colwyn noticed that he kept glancing at the alcove table where the young man sat. As Colwyn looked in his direction their eyes met, and the portly gentleman nodded portentously in the dir

there directly," he added, sinking his voice as he nodded in the direction of the distant alcove table. "We may have to

rything. The tall man in glasses looked too human for a lawyer, too intelligent for a schoolmaster, and too well-dressed for an ordinary medical man. Colwyn, versed in judging men swiftly from externals, noting the urbane, somewhat pompous face, the authoritative,

over the waters of the North Sea, an untasted sole in front of him, and an impassive waiter pouring out his coffee as though the spectacle of a young man sticking a knife into the table-cloth was a commonplace occurrence at the Grand Hotel

yn, turning to his companion. "What do you

sional manner. "But I will go so far as to say that I do not think it is a case of shell-shock. If it is what I suspect, that firs

ith his gaze bent on the open sea. His left hand was extended rigidly on the table in front

nd at anybody, and makes the slightest move, we must secure hi

eyes vacantly on the table nearest him, where an elderly clergyman, a golfing friend, and their wives, were

lass doors which were the only exit from the breakfast-room. But Colwyn's companion did not wait for the matter to be put to the test. At the first movement of the young man he sprang to his feet and, without waiting to see whether Colwyn was following him, raced across the room and caught the young man by the arm while

e opened his eyes, glanced listlessly at the circle of frightened people who had gathered around him, and feebly endeavoured to sit up. Colwyn's companio

lease move back

check golfing suit who spoke. "But the ladies ar

him more air. Here, you!"-this to one of the gaping waiters-"just slip

usly prepared for the worst. His demeanour was that of a man who, already overloaded by misfortune, was bracing his sinews to bear the last straw. As he approached the group near the alcove tabl

erstand from Antoine what you wanted or what had happened. Anto

ittle so as to enable the young man to lean against his shoulder. "Haven't you eyes in your h

sed no visible gratification. To a man who had had his hotel emptied by a Zeppelin raid

ber of his room?" continued Sir Henry. "He

his room is No. 32-on the

ll take him up

e carried up. One of the waiters could take his

o the patient on the carpet, who, from a sitting posture, was now endeavouring to struggle to his feet. "You think you can get up, eh? Well, it won't do you any harm. That's the way!" Sir Henry assisted the young man to rise, and supported him with his arm.

eyes were half-closed, and that his head sagged slightly from side to side as he was led along. A waiter held open the glass doors which led into the lounge, and a palp