The time drags along; Thursday comes: the boat arrives in a pouring storm toward midnight.] At last there was a knock at the door and the anxious family jumped to open it.

Two negro men entered, each carrying a trunk, and proceeded upstairs toward the guest-room.

Then followed a stupefying apparition--a double-headed human creature with four arms, one body, and a single pair of legs! It--or they, as you please--bowed with elaborate foreign formality, but the Coopers could not respond immediately; they were paralyzed.

At this moment there came from the rear of the group a fervent ejaculation--"My lan'!"-- followed by a crash of crockery, and the slave-wench Nancy stood petrified and staring, with a tray of wrecked tea-things at her feet.

The incident broke the spell, and brought the family to consciousness.