stopped　a　moment；　wondering　at　it。
  I　resumed　my　downward　way；　and　stepping　out　upon　the　level　of　the
  railroad；　and　drawing　nearer　to　him；　saw　that　he　was　a　dark；　sallow
  man；　with　a　dark　beard　and　rather　heavy　eyebrows。　　His　post　was　in
  as　solitary　and　dismal　a　place　as　ever　I　saw。　　On　either　side；　a
  dripping…wet　wall　of　jagged　stone；　excluding　all　view　but　a　strip
  of　sky；　the　perspective　one　way　only　a　crooked　prolongation　of　this
  great　dungeon；　the　shorter　perspective　in　the　other　direction
  terminating　in　a　gloomy　red　light；　and　the　gloomier　entrance　to　a
  black　tunnel；　in　whose　massive　architecture　there　was　a　barbarous；
  depressing；　and　forbidding　air。　　So　little　sunlight　ever　found　its
  way　to　this　spot；　that　it　had　an　earthy；　deadly　smell；　and　so　much
  cold　wind　rushed　through　it；　that　it　struck　chill　to　me；　as　if　I
  had　left　the　natural　world。
  Before　he　stirred；　I　was　near　enough　to　him　to　have　touched　him。
  Not　even　then　removing　his　eyes　from　mine；　he　stepped　back　one
  step；　and　lifted　his　hand。
  This　was　a　lonesome　post　to　occupy　（I　said）；　and　it　had　riveted　my
  attention　when　I　looked　down　from　up　yonder。　　A　visitor　was　a
  rarity；　I　should　suppose；　not　an　unwelcome　rarity；　I　hoped？　　In　me；
  he　merely　saw　a　man　who　had　been　shut　up　within　narrow　limits　all
  his　life；　and　who；　being　at　last　set　free；　had　a　newly…awakened
  interest　in　these　great　works。　　To　such　purpose　I　spoke　to　him；　but
  I　am　far　from　sure　of　the　terms　I　used；　for；　besides　that　I　am　not
  happy　in　opening　any　conversation；　there　was　something　in　the　man
  that　daunted　me。
  He　directed　a　most　curious　look　towards　the　red　light　near　the
  tunnel's　mouth；　and　looked　all　about　it；　as　if　something　were
  missing　from　it；　and　then　looked　it　me。
  That　light　was　part　of　his　charge？　　Was　it　not？
  He　answered　in　a　low　voice；〃Don't　you　know　it　is？〃
  The　monstrous　thought　came　into　my　mind；　as　I　perused　the　fixed
  eyes　and　the　saturnine　face；　that　this　was　a　spirit；　not　a　man。　　I
  have　speculated　since；　whether　there　may　have　been　infection　in　his
  mind。
  In　my　turn；　I　stepped　back。　　But　in　making　the　action；　I　detected
  in　his　eyes　some　latent　fear　of　me。　　This　put　the　monstrous　thought
  to　flight。
  〃You　look　at　me；〃　I　said；　forcing　a　smile；　〃as　if　you　had　a　dread
  of　me。〃
  〃I　was　doubtful；〃　he　returned；　〃whether　I　had　seen　you　before。〃
  〃Where？〃
  He　pointed　to　the　red　light　he　had　looked　at。
  〃There？〃　I　said。
  Intently　watchful　of　me；　he　replied　（but　without　sound）；　〃Yes。〃
  〃My　good　fellow；　what　should　I　do　there？　　However；　be　that　as　it
  may；　I　never　was　there；　you　may　swear。〃
  〃I　think　I　may；〃　he　rejoined。　　〃Yes；　I　am　sure　I　may。〃
  His　manner　cleared；　like　my　own。　　He　replied　to　my　remarks　with
  readiness；　and　in　well…chosen　words。　　Had　he　much　to　do　there？
  Yes；　that　was　to　say；　he　had　enough　responsibility　to　bear；　but
  exactness　and　watchfulness　were　what　was　required　of　him；　and　of
  actual　workmanual　laborhe　had　next　to　none。　　To　change　that
  signal；　to　trim　those　lights；　and　to　turn　this　iron　handle　now　and
  then；　was　all　he　had　to　do　under　that　head。　　Regarding　those　many
  long　and　lonely　hours　of　which　I　seemed　to　make　so　much；　he　could
  only　say　that　the　routine　of　his　life　had　shaped　itself　into　that
  form；　and　he　had　grown　used　to　it。　　He　had　taught　himself　a
  language　down　here；if　only　to　know　it　by　sight；　and　to　have
  formed　his　own　crude　ideas　of　its　pronunciation；　could　be　called
  learning　it。　　He　had　also　worked　at　fractions　and　decimals；　and
  tried　a　little　algebra；　but　he　was；　and　had　been　as　a　boy；　a　poor
  hand　at　figures。　　Was　it　necessary　for　him　when　on　duty　always　to
  remain　in　that　channel　of　damp　air；　and　could　he　never　rise　into
  the　sunshine　from　between　those　high　stone　walls？　　Why；　that
  depended　upon　times　and　circumstances。　　Under　some　conditions　there
  would　be　less　upon　the　Line　than　under　others；　and　the　same　held
  good　as　to　certain　hours　of　the　day　and　night。　　In　bright　weather；
  he　did　choose　occasions　for　getting　a　little　above　these　lower
  shadows；　but；　being　at　all　times　liable　to　be　called　by　his
  electric　bell；　and　at　such　times　listening　for　it　with　redoubled
  anxiety；　the　relief　was　less　than　I　would　suppose。
  He　took　me　into　his　box；　where　there　was　a　fire；　a　desk　for　an
  official　book　in　which　he　had　to　make　certain　entries；　a
  telegraphic　instrument　with　its　dial；　face；　and　needles；　and　the
  little　bell　of　which　he　had　spoken。　　On　my　trusting　that　he　would
  excuse　the　remark　that　he　had　been　well　educated；　and　（I　hoped　I
  might　say　without　offence）　perhaps　educated　above　that　station；　he
  observed　that　instances　of　slight　incongruity　in　such　wise　would
  rarely　be　found　wanting　among　large　bodies　of　men；　that　he　had
  heard　it　was　so　in　workhouses；　in　the　police　force；　even　in　that
  last　desperate　resource；　the　army；　and　that　he　knew　it　was　so；　more
  or　less；　in　any　great　railway　staff。　　He　had　been；　when　young　（if　I
  could　believe　it；　sitting　in　that　hut；he　scarcely　could）；　a
  student　of　natural　philosophy；　and　had　attended　lectures；　but　he
  had　run　wild；　misused　his　opportunities；　gone　down；　and　never　risen
  again。　　He　had　no　complaint　to　offer　about　that。　　He　had　made　his
  bed；　and　he　lay　upon　it。　　It　was　far　too　late　to　make　another。
  All　that　I　have　here　condensed　he　said　in　a　quiet　manner；　with　his
  grave　dark　regards　divided　between　me　and　the　fire。　　He　threw　in
  the　word；　〃Sir；〃　from　time　to　time；　and　especially　when　he　referred
  to　his　youth；as　though　to　request　me　to　understand　that　he
  claimed　to　be　nothing　but　what　I　found　him。　　He　was　several　times
  interrupted　by　the　little　bell；　and　had　to　read　off　messages；　and
  send　replies。　　Once　he　had　to　stand　without　the　door；　and　display　a
  flag　as　a　train　passed；　and　make　some　verbal　communication　to　the
  driver。　　In　the　discharge　of　his　duties；　I　observed　him　to　be
  remarkably　exact　and　vigilant；　breaking　off　his　discourse　at　a
  syllable；　and　remaining　silent　until　what　he　had　to　do　was　done。
  In　a　word；　I　should　have　set　this　man　down　as　one　of　the　safest　of
  men　to　be　employed　in　that　capacity；　but　for　the　circumstance　that
  while　he　was　speaking　to　me　he　twice　broke　off　with　a　fallen　color；
  turned　his　face　towards　the　little　bell　when　it　did　NOT　ring；
  opened　the　door　of　the　hut　（which　was　kept　shut　to　exclude　the
  unhealthy　damp）；　and　looked　out　towards　the　red　light　near　the
  mouth　of　the　tunnel。　　On　both　of　those　occasions；　he　came　back　to
  the　fire　with　the　inexplicable　air　upon　him　which　I　had　remarked；
  without　being　able　to　define；　when　we　were　so　far　asunder。
  Said　I；　when　I　rose　to　leave　him；　〃You　almost　make　me　think　that　I
  have　met　with　a　contented　man。〃
  （I　am　afraid　I　must　acknowledge　that　I　said　it　to　lead　him　on。）
  〃I　believe　I　used　to　be　so；〃　he　rejoined；　in　the　low　voice　in　which
  he　had　first　spoken；　〃but　I　am　troubled；　sir；　I　am　troubled。〃
  He　would　have　recalled　the　words　if　he　could。　　He　had　said　them；
  however；　and　I　took　them　up　quickly。
  〃With　what？　　What　is　your　trouble？〃
  〃It　is　very　difficult　to　impart；　sir。　　It　is　very；　very　difficult
  to　speak　of。　　If　ever　you　make　me　another　visit；　I　will　try　to　tell
  you。〃
  〃But　I　expressly　intend　to　make　you　another　visit。　　Say；　when　shall
  it　be？〃
  〃I　go　off　early　in　the　morning；　and　I　shall　be　on　again　at　ten　to…
  morrow　night；　sir。〃
  〃I　will　come　at　eleven。〃
  He　thanked　me；　and　went　out　at　the　door　with　me。　　〃I'll　show　my
  white　light；　sir；〃　he　said；　in　his　peculiar　low　voice；　〃till　you
  have　found　the　way　up。　　When　you　have　found　it；　don't　call　out！
  And　when　you　are　at　the　top；　don't　call　out！〃
  His　manner　seemed　to　make　the　place　strike　colder　to　me；　but　I　said
  no　more　than；　〃Very　well。〃
  〃And　when　you　come　down　to…morrow　night；　don't　call　out！　　Let　me
  ask　you　a　parting　question。　　What　made　you　cry；　'Halloa！　　Below
  there！'　to…night？〃
  〃Heaven　knows；〃　said　I。　　〃I　cried　something　to　that　effect〃
  〃Not　to　that　effect；　sir。　　Those　were　the　very　words。　　I　know　them
  well。〃
  〃Admit　those　were　the　very　words。　　I　said　them；　no　doubt；　because　I
  saw　you　below。〃
  〃For　no　other　reason？〃
  〃What　other　reason　could　I　possibly　have？〃
  〃You　had　no　feeling　that　they　were　conveyed　to　you　in　any
  supernatural　way？〃
  〃No。〃
  He　wished　me　good…night；　and　held　up　his　light。　　I　walked　by　the
  side　of　the　down　Line　of　rails　（with　a　very　disagreeable　sensation
  of　a　train　coming　behind　me）　until　I　found　the　path。　　It　was　easier
  to　mount　than　to　descend；　and　I　got　back　to　my　inn　without　any
  adventure。
  Punctual　to　my　appointment；　I　placed　my　foot　on　the　first　notch　of
  the　zigzag　next　night；　as　the　distant　clocks　were　striking　eleven。
  He　was　waiting　for　me　at　the　bottom；　with　his　white　light　on。　　〃I
  have　not　called　out；〃　I　said；　when　we　came　close　together；　〃may　I
  speak　now？〃　　〃By　all　means；　sir。〃　　〃Good…night；　then；　and　here's　my
  hand。〃　　〃Good