All at once, I heard a sound—very faint but nonetheless unmistakable. It was the distant whinny of a horse. Drifting through the stillness of the undisturbed night, it carried down the open stairwell and—faint as it was—filled my ears like the trumpeting of an angelic herald.

“Someone approaches!” muttered Lenore to herself. “But who—? Of course, it must be that meddling backwoodsman. I should have guessed he would be near.” Addressing me directly, she continued thusly: “Brother, do not think me rude for departing so abruptly, but I must leave you to your fate. There is a matter of the utmost urgency which requires my immediate attention.” Then, turning briskly on her heels, she hurried away in the direction of the stairwell and quickly vanished from my sight.

I was now left in total darkness—a condition that rendered my situation even more seemingly hopeless than before. Unless I could contrive a way to reach the edge of the pit, I would—in a matter of mere seconds—plunge into the bottomless chasm. But how to save myself? I could accomplish nothing with my hands, the left being engaged in clinging to the hook, the right remaining more or less totally incapacitated. Only my legs were free to move.

All at once, I was struck with an inspiration. Slowly at first, then with ever-increasing velocity, I began to swing my lower limbs back and forth, causing my entire body to move over the pit with the smooth, rhythmic oscillation of a clock pendulum. Back and forth I swayed in an ever-widening arc, until—having reached the farthest extension that the chain would permit—I silently uttered a brief, desperate prayer—let go of the hook—flew through the darkness—and landed with a thud upon solid ground!

For several moments, I lay face forward on the cold, rough stonework of the cellar floor, the breath having been knocked out of me. At length—impelled by the knowledge that I had not a moment to waste—I pushed myself to my feet and groped my way blindly through the black, subterranean passage until I perceived, directly ahead of me, the spectral glow of moonlight filtering down the stairwell Picking up my speed, I stumbled forward, staggered up the steps, and found myself once again on the surface!

Immediately, the clopping sound of Crockett’s approaching horse reached my ears. Dashing towards the nearest casement, I thrust my head through the opening and observed the frontiersman riding over the causeway towards the house. But where was Lenore?