"Down, Bart!" she called, and went to admit him to the room.
The moment she turned the handle the door burst open and Bart fell in
against her. She cried out at sight of the gleaming teeth and eyes,
but he fawned about her feet, alternately whining and snarling.
"What is it, boy?" she asked, gathering her skirts close about her
ankles and stepping back, for she never was without some fear of this
black monster. "What do you want, Bart?"
For reply he stood stock still, raised his nose, and emitted a long
wail, a mournful, a ghastly sound, with a broken-hearted quaver at the
end. Kate Cumberland shrank back still farther until the wall blocked
her retreat. Black Bart had never acted like this before. He followed
her with a green light in his eyes, which shone phosphorescent and
distinct through the growing shadows. And most terrible of all was
the sound which came deep in his throat as if his brute nature was
struggling to speak human words. She felt a great impulse to cry out
for help, but checked herself. He was still crouching about her feet.
Obviously he meant no harm to her.
He turned and ran towards the door, stopped, looked back to her, and
made a sound which was nearer to the bark of a dog than anything he
had ever uttered.
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