The yellow night-light was there, the bars of gold upon the walls, the cool, grey shadows, the white square of the window; but there, surely, also, were the beasts.

He knew that they were there--one crouching right away there in the shadow, all black, damp; one crawling, blacker and damper, across the floor; one--yes, beyond question--one, the blackest and cruellest of them all, there beneath the bed.

The bed seemed to heave, the room flamed with terror.

He thought of his friend; on other nights he had invoked him, and instantly there had been assurance and comfort.

Now that was of no avail; his friend would not come.