Carnacki, The Ghost Finder | Page 6

diameter, which I swept with a 'broom of hyssop.'
About this, I drew a circle of chalk, taking care never to step over the
circle. Beyond this I smudged, with a bunch of garlic, a broad belt right
around the chalked circle, and when this was complete, I took from
among my stores in the center a small jar of a certain water. I broke
away the parchment, and withdrew the stopper. Then, dipping my left
forefinger in the little jar, I went 'round the circle again, making upon
the floor, just within the line of chalk, the Second Sign of the Saaamaaa
Ritual, and joining each Sign most carefully with the left-handed
crescent. I can tell you, I felt easier when this was done, and the 'water
circle' complete. Then, I unpacked some more of the stuff that I had
brought, and placed a lighted candle in the 'valley' of each Crescent.
After that, I drew a Pentacle, so that each of the five points of the
defensive star touched the chalk circle. In the five points of the star I
placed five portions of the bread, each wrapped in linen, and in the five
'vales,' five opened jars of the water I had used to make the 'water
circle.' And now I had my first protective barrier complete.
"Now, anyone, except you who know something of my methods of
investigation, might consider all this a piece of useless and foolish

superstition; but you all remember the Black Veil case, in which I
believe my life was saved by a very similar form of protection, whilst
Aster, who sneered at it, and would not come inside, died. I got the idea
from the Sigsand MS., written, so far as I can make out, in the 14th
century. At first, naturally, I imagined it was just an expression of the
superstition of his time; and it was not until a year later that it occurred
to me to test his 'Defense,' which I did, as I've just said, in that horrible
Black Veil business. You know how that turned out. Later, I used it
several times, and always I came through safe, until that Moving Fur
case. It was only a partial 'defense' therefore, and I nearly died in the
pentacle. After that I came across Professor Garder's 'Experiments with
a Medium.' When they surrounded the Medium with a current, in
vacuum, he lost his power--almost as if it cut him off from the
Immaterial. That made me think a lot; and that is how I came to make
the Electric Pentacle, which is a most marvelous 'Defense' against
certain manifestations. I used the shape of the defensive star for this
protection, because I have, personally, no doubt at all but that there is
some extraordinary virtue in the old magic figure. Curious thing for a
Twentieth Century man to admit, is it not? But, then, as you all know, I
never did, and never will, allow myself to be blinded by the little cheap
laughter. I ask questions, and keep my eyes open.
"In this last case I had little doubt that I had run up against a
supernatural monster, and I meant to take every possible care; for the
danger is abominable.
"I turned-to now to fit the Electric Pentacle, setting it so that each of its
'points' and 'vales' coincided exactly with the 'points' and 'vales' of the
drawn pentagram upon the floor. Then I connected up the battery, and
the next instant the pale blue glare from the intertwining vacuum tubes
shone out.
"I glanced about me then, with something of a sigh of relief, and
realized suddenly that the dusk was upon me, for the window was grey
and unfriendly. Then 'round at the big, empty room, over the double
barrier of electric and candle light. I had an abrupt, extraordinary sense
of weirdness thrust upon me--in the air, you know; as it were, a sense

of something inhuman impending. The room was full of the stench of
bruised garlic, a smell I hate.
"I turned now to the camera, and saw that it and the flashlight were in
order. Then I tested my revolver, carefully, though I had little thought
that it would be needed. Yet, to what extent materialization of an
ab-natural creature is possible, given favorable conditions, no one can
say; and I had no idea what horrible thing I was going to see, or feel the
presence of. I might, in the end, have to fight with a materialized
monster. I did not know, and could only be prepared. You see, I never
forgot that three other people had been strangled in the bed close to me,
and the fierce slamming of the door I had heard myself. I had no doubt
that