第73部分(第2/7 頁)

races　left　upon　the　piers　of　the　bridge　it　appeared　that　the　animal　was　knocked　or　carried　along　some　yards　by　the　train　and　fell　into　the　brink　of　the　water　where　reeds　grow。　Here；　if　it　were　still　living　—　and；　although　the　veterinary　thinks　that　death　was　practically　instantaneous；　its　life　may　perhaps　have　lingered　for　a　few　minutes　—　it　must　have　suffocated　and　sunk；　undergoing；　I　imagine；　much　the　same　sensations　as　I　did　in　my　dream；　and　in　very　similar　surroundings　to　those　that　I　saw　therein　—　namely；　amongst　a　scrubby　growth　at　the　edge　of　water。

I　am　forced　to　conclude　that　the　dog　Bob；　between　whom　and　myself　there　existed　a　mutual　attachment；　either　at　the　moment　of　his　death；　if　his　existence　can　conceivably　have　been　prolonged　till　after　one　in　the　morning；　or；　as　seems　more　probable；　about　three　hours　after　that　event；　did　succeed　in　calling　my　attention　to　its　actual　or　recent　plight　by　placing　whatever　portion　of　my　being　is　capable　of　receiving　such　impulses　when　enchained　by　sleep；　into　its　own　terrible　position。

On　the　remarkable　issues　opened　up　by　this　occurrence　I　cannot　venture　to　speak　further　than　to　say　that　—　although　it　is　dangerous　to　generalise　from　a　particular　instance；　however　striking　and　well　supported　by　evidence；　which　is　so　rarely　obtainable　in　such　obscure　cases　—　it　does　seem　to　suggest　that　there　is　a　more　intimate　ghostly　connection　between　all　members　of　the　animal　world；　including　man；　than　has　hitherto　been　believed；　at　any　rate　by　Western　peoples；　that　they　may　be；　in　short；　all　of　them　different　manifestations　of　some　central；　informing　life；　though　inhabiting　the　universe　in　such　various　shapes。　The　matter；　however；　is　one　for　the　consideration　of　learned　people　who　have　made　a　study　of　these　mysterious　que