No one seemed quite inclined for that.
As we lay endeavouring to screw up our courage to the necessary pitch, the sound once more recommenced, with a violent motion towards the edge of the roof.

The moon at the same moment broke out from behind the clouds and shot its pale light in at the big windows.

There was a momentary pause above us, and then, casting a sudden shadow across the dormitory floor, a dim white figure, as of a body without limbs, floated down outside the window.

The moon once more was obscured, and we were left motionless and horrified in utter silence and darkness! What would come next?
How long we might have remained in suspense I can't say, had not Lamb and another fellow, by a combined effort of heroism, dashed arm in arm from bed and secured the matches.

They were in the act of striking a light (one match had broken, and another had had no head)--they were in the act of striking a light when Lamb, who was close to the window, suddenly exclaimed--"Look!" There was such terror in his tone that we knew only too well what he had seen.