It was soft and warm and heavy.

Hurriedly I lifted it and held it up against the faint starlight.
_It was a newly severed human head!_ I am an old hand and not easily upset, but I own that that ghastly sight made me feel sick.

How had the thing come there?
Whose was it?
I put it down and ran to the little doorway.

I could see nothing, hear nobody.

I was about to go out into the darkness beyond, but remembering that to do so was to expose myself to the risk of being stabbed, I drew back, shut the door, and bolted it.
Then I returned to the veranda, and in as careless a voice as I could command called Curtis.