The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay the writing, if writing there should finally prove to be.
Again I turned the note, and went to work as I had previously done.
Having rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before--but this time several lines of MS.

in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became distinctly visible.

The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but momentary.

Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would have been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences before me--for I saw there were three.

In my anxiety, however, to read all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words, which thus appeared--"blood--your life depends upon lying close." Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note-the full meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, that admonition, even although it should have revealed a story of disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus received.