The Fiend's Delight

By: Bierce, Ambrose

It was midnight-a black, wet, midnight-in a great city by the sea. The churchclocks were booming the hour, in tones half-smothered by the marching rain, whenan officer of the watch saw a female figure glide past him like a ghost in the gloom, and make directly toward a wharf. The officer felt that some dreadful tragedy wasabout to be enacted, and started in pursuit. Through the sleeping city sped thosetwo dark figures like shadows athwart a tomb. Out along the deserted wharf to itsfarther end fled the mysterious fugitive, the guardian of the night vainlyendeavouring to overtake, and calling to her to stay. Soon she stood upon theextreme end of the pier, in the scourging rain which lashed her fragile figure andblinded her eyes with other tears than those of grief. The night wind tossed hertresses wildly in air, and beneath her bare feet the writhing billows struggledblackly upward for their prey. At this fearful moment the panting officer stumbledand fell! He was badly bruised; he felt angry and misanthropic. Instead of rising tohis feet, he sat doggedly up and began chafing his abraded shin. The desperatewoman raised her white arms heavenward for the final plunge, and the voice of thegale seemed like the dread roaring of the waters in her ears, as down, down, shewent-in imagination-to a black death among the spectral piles. She backed a fewpaces to secure an impetus, cast a last look upon the stony officer, with a wildshriek sprang to the awful verge and came near losing her balance. Recoveringherself with an effort, she turned her face again to the officer, who was clawingabout for his missing club. Having secured it, he started to leave

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B092HNXP12
• ISBN13: 9798736250011
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.0" x 10.0"