And at this thought I paused. I dared not go farther
than this reflection. I dwelt upon it with a pertinacity of
attention --as if, in so dwelling, I could arrest here the descent
of the steel. I forced myself to ponder upon the sound of the crescent
as it should pass across the garment --upon the peculiar thrilling
sensation which the friction of cloth produces on the nerves. I
pondered upon all this frivolity until my teeth were on edge.
Down --steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in
contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity. To the right
--to the left --far and wide --with the shriek of a damned spirit;
to my heart with the stealthy pace of the tiger! I alternately laughed
and howled as the one or the other idea grew predominant.
Down --certainly, relentlessly down! It vibrated within three inches
of my bosom! I struggled violently, furiously, to free my left arm.
This was free only from the elbow to the hand. I could reach the
latter, from the platter beside me, to my mouth, with great effort,
but no farther. Could I have broken the fastenings above the elbow,
I would have seized and attempted to arrest the pendulum. I might as
well have attempted to arrest an avalanche!
Down --still unceasingly --still inevitably down! I gasped and
struggled at each vibration.
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